Introduction & General Information

Ikaria owes its name to Icarus, the hero of Greek mythology son of Daedalus, both of which managed to escape from the labyrinth of Crete, due to the feathers and waxwings they made. However, Icarus flew too close to the sun, so his wings melted and he fell into the Aegean Sea, where he died. When he was found, he was buried in an island that was given its name (Ikaria), in honor of the fallen Icarus.

However, apart from the legend of Icarus, Ikaria island has been known from ancient times due to elements, such as its thermal springs, east, and west of the main port of Agios Kirikos, and its famous dark red wine.

In comparison to its neighbors, Ikaria may not result immediately appealing for some types of visitors. However, those who love hiking around wild beauty, with no added infrastructure and crowds will enjoy the typical immaculate ancient Greek vibe of the island, almost untouched by tourism influence.

For example, the twisting, mountainous road that connects Agios Kirikos, the capital of the island, with its second port, named Evdilos in the north; this is recommended for those who like adventure, and as a final result it offers the greatest views of the coast, the sea, and neighboring islands.

In fact, Ikaria is one of the greenest islands of the Aegean Sea, counting on a great variety of wildlife. The most popular resort is found in Armenistis, an area with some excellent beaches and an increasing amount of tour facilities, which does not mean it ends up being ideal for package-holiday enjoyers.

In fact, the whole profile of the island is orientated to those who enjoy simple and traditional facts, instead of tourist whims. But despite these facts, Ikaria counts on several places for amusement, since locals are actually fun and hospitable people that enjoy socializing and partying.

However, Ikaria is not an isolated island in its culture. It is welcoming foreign cultures and people and show them the Greek culture. In fact, a center for Greek Language Courses works in Ikaria to get foreigners in contact with the Greek spirit.

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