Travel Guide
Move Over Mykonos! This Stunning Greek Island Has Cheaper Prices & Smaller Crowds
Apr
A country of 227 sun-drenched islands, exuding Old World charm and surrounded by turquoise seas, Greece is one of Europe’s trendiest summer destinations this year.
Between Mykonos’ riotous party scene, Santorini’s whitewashed villages bestriding coastal cliffs, and Crete’s cosmopolitan feel, there’s plenty to choose from.
Your options are more limited, however, if you’re actively looking to beat the crowds, and you’re not exactly keen on breaking the bank on a vacation.
In that case, the Aegean’s usual sunny spots would not make the cut, but despair not:
There is a more offbeat Greek island home to stunning sights, an unspoiled coastal scenery, and that’s yet to be ruined by mass tourism—and may we add, it feels far more authentic than Mykonos.
This Is Why You Should Swap Mykonos For Karpathos This Year
A tiny landmass in the Easternmost part of the Aegean Sea, Karpathos is a laid-back, 6,000-people-strong island community best known for its ancient culture, rich tradition, and unspoiled nature.
Sounds like the broad description of any Greek island, true, but before you go ahead and scroll through to the next article, you should know this one is far less busy.
Seeing it’s not as widely commercialized as a tourist destination, compared to Mykonos, Santorini and the like, Karpathos feels significantly more quaint, and bucolic compared to other Aegean tourism hotspots.
Take Pigadia, for instance:
Meet Karpathos’ Beautiful Coastal Capital
The main port, as well as the administrative center of Karpathos, Pigadia is a well-developed town offering guests a mix of Old World allure and modernity, with a guesthouse-lined harbor front, and a timeless historic center criss-crossed with stone-paved narrow streets.
These are lined with family-owned taverns, where homemade moussaka and delicious seafood are served at affordable prices—at To Perasma, ordering a pork souvlaki and a pint of local beer will set you back by $14.75.
Pigadia is also great bang for your buck if you’re dreaming of a coastal getaway on a budget:
An overnight at the Regina Studios & Hotel costs only $51, and there are equally inexpensive options at Atlantis Hotel, for $52, the privately managed Venetia Studios, with standard studios starting at $48, and for a luxurious apartment right on the water, Nereus has suites for $138.
Whitewashed Villages & Turquoise Seas
The best way to experience Karpathos, however, is to get out of Pigadi and its adjacent harbor, and explore beyond the main settlements.
You’re here to beat the Mykonos crowds, remember?
Well, a good place to start is Olympos, a charming whitewashed village bestriding a hill where some of the local yayas continue to wear traditional costumes, and a landmark Edem Garden Restaurant serves classics such as pasticcio and Greek salad from as cheap as $8.
For an idyllic beach, there’s Apella, near the namesake fishing village, bounded by pine trees and backed by rugged mountains.
The best part, though, is that it’s bathed by the most turquoise waters you’ve ever seen, and they start warming up as soon as May, when temperatures in Karpathos rise to a pleasant average of 73.4°F during the day.
Aegean islands are famous around the world for their chalk-white churches topped with blue domes, yet in Kyra Panagia, a quieter coastal stretch in Karpathos, you’ll find a striking red-domed church overlooking a scenic pebbly beach.
Can you still not get enough of Karpathos’s paradisaical nature? Try Lefkos next, a coastal village frozen in time that acts as a gateway to the wild beaches on the west coast.
If you’re lucky enough, you might spot monk seals flopping about in offshore water.
How Does Karpathos Compare To Mykonos When It Comes To Nightlife?
You may be wondering where does the Mykonos comparisons stem from, considering Karpathos’ peaceful vibes, in stark contrast with the more-notorious island’s riotous nightlife and resort scene.
Definitely don’t expect to find a similar range of five-star amenities here, but on the other hand, you’re covered for fun on a Friday night, especially if you’re based in Pigadia:
Anói Bar has delicious expert-crafted cocktails, some of which are made from homemade syrup, and it tends to get busy on the weekend, when visitation numbers increase.
Sharing a name with a Green Day anthem, Boulevard of Broken Dreams is often described as the best bar in Karpathos, due to its attractive prices—cocktails start at only $5.67—and quirky aesthetics, as in, order a drink and it might come in a skull-shaped mug.
Looking for a nightclub instead? Your best bet is Life Club, highly sought-after for its themed events and youthful clientele.
It’s no Mykonos JackieO’, that’s for sure, but it’s fun enough.
From getting the praise of Geo Magazine, to featuring across a range of media outlets over the past few weeks, including the Daily Express and NatGeo, the latter of which have named it one of the best islands to visit this year, it looks like Karpathos is all the rage right now.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
