Karpathos
Photo: Greece Field Guide
The Verdict
A long, mountainous Dodecanese island where the north keeps its own dialect and dress — the wildest and least developed of the group.
Why go
Karpathos is mountainous, dry and long, with one road down its length and the wind blowing most of the time. The south has two good bays and some development; the north is the reason to come, with the village of Olympos built high on a ridge, where older women still wear the local dress and the dialect is its own, and the beaches at Apella and Kyra Panagia below the cliffs. It is not a polished island, and there is little to do but walk, swim and eat.
Understand the place
A long, thin, mountainous island between Rhodes and Crete, with beaches on the east coast and villages in the north that keep their own traditions.
Where to swim
Beaches
Towns & villages
Easy to combine with
Logically reachable by transport. Confirm current ferry/flight schedules before booking.
Nearby
Related
Sources
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Plan this trip
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