Karpathos is best explored slowly and by car or scooter, because the island is long, mountainous, and full of small villages and remote beaches that buses don’t reliably connect.
A good approach is renting a car to get access to;
- mountain villages
- west coast beaches
- remote tavernas
- sunrise/sunset viewpoints
- the road to Olympos
Split the island into regions
South Karpathos
More accessible and beach-focused:
- Pigadia — main town and base
- Amoopi — calm swimming beaches
- Arkasa — sunsets and tavernas
- Lefkos — beautiful beaches and relaxed atmosphere
North Karpathos
More traditional and dramatic:
- Olympos — famous preserved village culture
- Diafani — fishing village and ferry port
- mountain roads and viewpoints
Take a boat trip
Boat excursions are one of the highlights:
- beaches only reachable by sea
- snorkeling coves
- nearby Saria island
- west coast sea caves
Karpathos is unusually strong culturally compared with many Greek islands so make sure to explore the villages to
- traditional dress still appears in Olympos
- local music and dancing are important
- family tavernas often serve homemade dishes you won’t find elsewhere