WHERE TO STAY

Icaria has plenty of luxury hotels, traditional pensions, seaside apartments and mountain villas to choose from. All you have to do is find the one that suits you best.

The Balcony Studios

Overlooking Kambos beach, each studio is cool, spacious, has its own small garden and a hammock. Double rooms from €50 per night, breakfast included.

Kambos • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.31604

Cusco Studios

Highlights include stunning sea views and a delicious, homemade breakfast prepared with local products. Double rooms from €50 per night, breakfast included. Kampos •

Tel. (+ 30) 22750.31381 • www.ikariautopia.com

Karras Star

Situated between the villages of Kampos and Messakti, this family hotel features a swimming pool and playground. Double rooms from €60 per night, breakfast included.

Avlaki • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.71024 • www.karrasstarhotel.gr

Pyrgos

The nine individual, stone-built traditional villas are all decorated with wooden roof beams and have remarkably comfortable mattresses. Rates from €100 per couple.

Aghios Kirikos • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.22105 • www.pyrgos-ikaria.com

Kimite Studios

These modern, small apartments built by the sea are ideal for couples, while two-story houses are also available which can accommodate up to six persons. Rates €60 per couple.

Armenistis • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.71545 • www.ikariarooms.gr

WHERE TO EAT

The world knows Icaria for the longevity of its population, which has been attributed to the local cuisine and products.

Anna

Depending on the catch of the day, the restaurant serves a selection of fresh fish and seafood dishes on its cozy terrace. Highlights include the grilled sea bream and the kathouropita, a pie made with tomatoes, onions, peppers and the local goat cheese, kathoura.

Nas Beach • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.71489

Arodou

Skilled cook Eleftheria prepares mouth-watering dishes served in a leafy, green courtyard with a breathtaking view of the nearby islands of Patmos, Samos and, in the distance, Naxos. House specialties include Eleftheria’s pitarakia (small pies made with local cheese) and the kolokythokeftedes (zucchini balls). The menu goes beyond local delicacies and includes a tempting selection of small fried fish and grilled meat dishes.

Xylossyrtis, 5 km from Aghios Kirikos • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.22700

Iliovassilema

Cook Irini prepares delicious, traditional, homemade fare, specializing in different kinds of pies and mouth-watering meat dishes. The restaurant terrace offers a unique view of the Aegean.

Xylossyrtis • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.24025

Platanos

Choosing what to order is a challenge, as all the dishes are homemade and tasty, including tempting starters like melitzanosalata (eggplant dip), local kopanisti cheese, bourekakia vegetable pastries but also scrumptious mains such as octopus served with fava (yellow split-pea dip) and pork cooked in wine sauce.

Aghios Dimitrios • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.41395

Filitsa

A variety of homemade pies, goat stew, soufiko (a local version of the Greek roast vegetable dish briam) and giouvetsaki (beef stew), all prepared with local products, are just some of the delectable choices.

Karydies in the village of Raches • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.41696

O Kelaris

Situated above the shipyard, far from the busy streets, this restaurant has been serving fresh fish supplied daily by local fishermen since the 1960s. It is one of the best locations to try fish such as balas (large-eye dentex), melanouri (saddled sea bream) and fagri (common sea bream).

Gialiskari • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.71227

Filoti

Delicious and filling, the restaurant’s pizzas have earned a solid reputation that prompts guests to return again and again, even from the most remote parts of the island.

Aghios Kirikos • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.23088

Sta Perix

With its laid-back, friendly atmosphere, live music nights and a small yet interesting menu, this restaurant is the perfect place to relax, drink tsipouro (traditional Greek spirit) and nibble on various meze (tapas-like small dishes) including grilled shrimps, taramosalata (traditional fish roe dip), as well as smoked pork steaks and tigania (chunks of fried pork).

Akamatra • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.31056

ENTERTAINMENT

Icaria is all about chilling out, having fun and forgetting to look at what time it is.

Stou Tsarou Café

Local meze, wine and coffee are served in a naturally cool, shaded and friendly environment, in this all-day café that stays open all year round.

Arethoussa • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.61375

Cazino Café

According to the locals, this particular café has been serving coffee, orange juice and homemade desserts since 1830. Its unique environment as well as its delicious rizogalo (rice pudding) and selection of traditional pan-baked desserts drenched in syrup make for a memorable experience.

Aghios Kirikos • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.23290

Carte Postale Café Bar

Situated right above Armenistis Beach, the bar serves good coffee, club sandwiches, salads and tapas dishes during the day, before switching to drinks and cocktails well into the night.

Armenistis • Tel. (+ 30) 22750.71031

GETTING THERE

Icaria can be conveniently reached by air directly from Athens. Ferry boats regularly connect Icaria with Piraeus, and the islands of Syros, Paros, Naxos, Patmos, Myconos, Fourni, Samos, Chios, Mytilini and Limnos.

Olympic Air (Tel. +30 801.801.0101) flies daily to Icaria. Ticket prices for the 45-minute flight vary, depending on availability.

Hellenic Seaways (Tel. +30 210-41.99.000) runs ferries from the port of Piraeus to both Aghios Kirikos and Evdilos on Icaria. The 11-hour service to Aghios Kirikos runs Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while the 7½-hour service to Evdilos runs daily. Single tickets for either route cost €35 per adult and €70 per vehicle, with an additional limited number of tickets on offer costing €19 per adult.