Where To Stay In Ikaria Greece? Ikaria is a place unto itself. Famous for living at it’s own pace – here many shops, restaurants and cafes have their own opening hours decided by the daily whim of the owners – Ikaria has never been as hungry for the tourist dollar as the rest of Greece. Indeed the best places to stay on Ikaria are also very low key.

Can you stay on Ikaria? Ikaria is a place unto itself. Famous for living at it’s own pace – here many shops, restaurants and cafes have their own opening hours decided by the daily whim of the owners – Ikaria has never been as hungry for the tourist dollar as the rest of Greece. Indeed the best places to stay on Ikaria are also very low key.

Does Ikaria have sandy beaches? Ikaria’s most popular sandy beaches are predominantly located on the North side of the island. On the South side there are less crowded sand and rock/pebble beaches.

How do you get to Ikaria island? How to get to Ikaria. You can travel by ferry to Ikaria from the port of Piraeus in Athens in about 7 hours as well as from the port of Kavala in northern Greece in about 17 hours. You can also easily get to Ikaria from the neighboring island of Samos in approximately 2 hours.





What is special about Ikaria Greece?

Ikaria Greece is particularly famous for one thing: the longevity of the islanders! The inhabitants of Ikaria live for many many years thanks to the nutritious Ikarian diet, walking, stress-free everyday life, and optimism!

Is Ikaria a touristy?

Over the last years, Ikaria tourism is also developing in terms of agrotourism. In Ikaria, there is no tourist office except the various travel agencies found close to the port where visitors can obtain all the necessary information about the island.

Why is Ikaria Greece a Blue Zone?

A Blue Zone is defined as a place where the environment is conducive to old age and in Ikaria it was found that residents are several times more likely to reach the age of 90+ compared to normal.

Do they speak English in Ikaria?

Language: Ikaria’s official language is Greek. Public and tourist services, accommodation and transportation providers and shops,/businesses in Ikaria generally also speak English.

How long is the ferry from Athens to Ikaria?

How long is the ferry ride from Athens (Piraeus) to Ikaria? The ferry trip from the port of Piraeus to Ikaria takes from 6 to 7.5 hours, depending on the port of arrival and vessel.

What is the Ikarian diet?

The Ikarian diet especially emphasizes legumes, wild greens, potatoes, goat milk, honey, some fruit, and small amounts of fish. This plant-based diet focuses on local produce and appears to be a key to longevity. With more than 150 varieties of wild greens all over the island, there is plenty for the picking.

What kind of wine do they drink in Ikaria?

Here, grower Stelios Paidas produces Ikaria’s traditional grape varieties, Fokiano, the red grape pictured below, as well as Begleri, a local white grape, muscat grapes, and sultaninas. He uses these last two and the red Fokiano to produce raisins, too, which were once a renowned export from the island.

Is Ikaria an island?

Ikaria, an island of 99 square miles and home to almost 10,000 Greek nationals, lies about 30 miles off the western coast of Turkey. Its jagged ridge of scrub-covered mountains rises steeply out of the Aegean Sea.

Why do people live long in Ikaria Greece?

Of the thousands of tourists visiting Ikaria each year, few have failed to ask why the island’s inhabitants live so long, muses Pylaras. Perhaps the answer is stress—or the lack thereof. Perhaps it’s diet, perhaps genetics, perhaps some completely unknown factor, or maybe it’s a combination of all of them.

How many days do you need in Ikaria?

How Long to Stay in Ikaria. Given its remote nature and relatively small size, activities on Ikaria are limited, so if you’re the kind of traveler who loves constantly exploring and seeing new things, you’ll probably want to stay four or five days before hopping to another island or visiting the mainland.

What is life like in Ikaria?

Natives of the Greek island Ikaria have remarkably long life-spans. On average, they live an astounding 8 to 10 years longer than Americans, are 2.5 times as likely to survive to 90, and are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Where do the healthiest eaters live?

Residents of Naples, Florida, are the healthiest eaters in the nation, a new poll finds.

Does Ikaria have a hospital?

Despite its relatively small size and population, Ikaria has a small hospital: Ikaria Prefectural General Hospital, located in Agios Kirikos. (Doctors can also be found in Evdilos, Christos Rachon, and there is a doctor’s practice in Armenistis).

What is the climate like in Ikaria Greece?

Climate – Ikaria (Greece) In Ikaria, an island of the Eastern Aegean Sea, belonging to the Southern Sporades, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and warm, sunny summers. The average temperature ranges from 10 °C (50 °F) in January and February to 25 °C (77 °F) in July and August.

How many miles long is Ikaria?

Icaria is an oblong about 21 miles long by three of five miles wide. The Atheras (ancient Pramnos) mountains range from 600 to 1041 metres in height. Icaria is rich in woodlands, and deep ravines carry torrents of water into the sea, forming bays and inlets.

How much is ferry from Athens to Ikaria?

More specifically, there are 1-3 ferries from Piraeus to Evdilos port and 1-3 ferries from Piraeus to Agios Kirikos port per day. The ferry trip from Athens to Ikaria lasts for 6-9 hours. The cost of a ferry ticket from Athens to Ikaria is 30 EUR – 40 EUR .

How do you get from Ikaria to mainland?

Ferries to Ikaria You can reach Ikaria by ferry from Athens, as ferries depart from Piraeus port about 3 times per week. However, the trip lasts about 11 hours. There is a ferry connection between Ikaria and some nearby islands, too, including Samos, Syros, Mykonos and Chios.

What do people in Ikaria eat for breakfast?

In terms of meals Ikarians typically have a late morning breakfast comprised of goat’s milk, yogurt and or cheese, fruits, herbal tea or coffee, whole grain bread and local honey.

What is the number 1 healthiest food in the world?

1. SPINACH. This nutrient-dense green superfood is readily available – fresh, frozen or even canned. One of the healthiest foods on the planet, spinach is packed with energy while low in calories, and provides Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and essential folate.