Ikaria
The people of Ikaria have a wry saying that sums up the island's fame better than any statistic: they say they simply 'forgot to d...
Updated 10 July 2026
Ikaria
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Ikaria now
The story
The story of Ikaria
The myth of Icarus and ancient origins
According to Greek mythology, it was in these very waters that Icarus plunged after flying too close to the sun, disobeying the warnings of his father Daedalus, giving his name to both the island and the surrounding sea, the Icarian Sea. Beyond the myth, the island was inhabited since antiquity and hosted sanctuaries dedicated to Artemis Tauropolos, of which archaeological traces remain near Nas, on the northern coast. It later came under Byzantine, Genoese and finally Ottoman control, yet always retained a degree of relative marginality that preserved its traditional customs and ways of life more than elsewhere.
Hidden villages against pirates
For centuries, Ikaria's exposed position along maritime routes made it a frequent target of pirate raids, to the point that its inhabitants developed a uniquely distinctive settlement strategy: building villages high up, on inland slopes not visible from the sea, and staying ready to flee quickly into the mountainous interior in case of alarm. This everyday defensive architecture still shapes the layout of many settlements today, perched and set back from the coast, and helped forge a strong sense of communal self-sufficiency.
The radioactive hot springs of Therma
Near Agios Kirykos, the island's main town, the thermal springs of Therma have been known since antiquity for their waters with weak natural radioactivity, visited for their supposed beneficial properties for rheumatism and joint ailments. The ancient Romans already built bathing facilities there, and even today the natural pools and small public facilities along the coast allow visitors to soak in these warm waters in direct contact with the sea, a ritual the islanders have practiced for generations.
Nas and the wild beaches
On the northwestern coast, Nas is a small settlement overlooking a beach reached via a path that runs alongside a river canyon, at whose mouth lie the remains of an ancient temple dedicated to Artemis. The atmosphere here is deliberately informal and free of large tourist infrastructure, in keeping with the free-spirited, uncommercial character that distinguishes the whole island. The crystal-clear waters and the steep cliffs surrounding it make it one of Ikaria's most striking coastal destinations.
The panigyria, the social heart of the island
The villages' patron-saint festivals, called panigyria, are Ikaria's most characteristic social phenomenon: organized to coincide with religious holidays, they often carry on until dawn with live music played on local violins and lutes, circle dances and long shared tables open to residents and visitors alike. Blue zone researchers consider these occasions of intense sociability one of the key factors in the island's longevity, capable of strengthening community bonds and tangibly reducing everyday stress.
The landscape: mountains, chestnut trees and sea
Ikaria is a predominantly mountainous island, crossed by a ridge that rises above 1,000 metres and covered with woods of chestnut, oak and pine trees, unusual for the typically barer vegetation of the Aegean. Its coasts alternate rocky, jagged stretches with small, isolated sandy beaches, often reachable only on foot. Numerous streams and freshwater springs flow down toward the sea, feeding a lush green landscape that, according to scholars, also contributes to the islanders' quality of life.
Local flavours and products
Ikaria's traditional diet, now the subject of international scientific study, is based on wild greens gathered from the fields, legumes, mountain honey, local olive oil and a robust red wine made from native grape varieties grown on the island's steep slopes. Village taverns serve simple, genuine dishes, often featuring local goat cheeses and homemade bread, in a gastronomic expression that favours seasonality and near-zero-mile production over any tourist trend.
When to go and how to experience the island
Ikaria is best experienced at a slow pace, leaving room for days without rigid plans: the ideal season runs from June to September, with August bringing the most crowded panigyria but also the largest influx of visitors, often Greeks living abroad returning home for the holidays. Spring is perfect for hikes through the mountain woods, while the island remains essentially authentic even out of season, with local life carrying on regardless of the tourist calendar.
- Take part in a nighttime panigyri in a mountain village
- Bathe in the radioactive hot springs of Therma
- Walk to the wild beach of Nas
- Walk through the chestnut woods of the interior
- Visit the perched villages built to defend against pirates
- Taste the native red wine in the village taverns
FAQ
Come si arriva a Ikaria?
Perché Ikaria è famosa per la longevità?
Cosa sono le panigyria?
Serve l'auto a noleggio?
Ikaria è adatta a chi cerca relax?
Getting there
- Aeroporto di Ikaria (JIK), a circa 13 km da Agios Kirykos, con voli interni spesso via Atene
- Traghetti dal Pireo (Atene) in circa 7-10 ore, con scalo frequente a Samo o Mykonos a seconda della rotta.
- Pianifica gli spostamenti interni con calma: le strade di montagna sono panoramiche ma richiedono più tempo del previsto rispetto alla distanza sulla mappa.
Perfect for
Come blue zone mondiale, Ikaria attira chi cerca un modello di vita sano e un ritmo più lento.
Le panigyria notturne offrono un'immersione autentica nella cultura sociale locale.
Boschi di castagni, torrenti e sentieri di montagna caratterizzano l'entroterra dell'isola.
Le sorgenti radioattive di Therma sono frequentate fin dall'antichità per le proprietà curative.
To see
