Best of Ikaria

Best of Icaria

Icaria’s landscape is defined by its rugged mountains, turquoise coastlines, and ancient history. This selection features the iconic Seychelles Beach, formed by a landslide, and the ruins of the 4th-century BC Drakano Tower. Cultural highlights include the Byzantine Kastro Koskina and the unique Theoktisti Monastery, where a chapel is sheltered by giant granite boulders. Archaeological collections in Agios Kirikos and Kampos preserve Neolithic and Hellenistic artifacts, while the beaches of Nas and Messakti offer natural beauty near the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.

Best of Icaria — Map

A

Kastro Koskina;Castle of Lepides

A 10th-century Byzantine fortress built on a mountain peak near Kosikia. The site includes the small church of Agios Georgios and provides views across the island's central plateau.

Man77 / Public domain

B

Icaria

Icaria, also spelled Ikaria, is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, 10 nautical miles southwest of Samos.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

C

Seychelles

This pebble beach was created by a landslide during the construction of a nearby tunnel. It is characterized by bright white limestone rocks and clear turquoise water.

D

Theoktisti Monastery

A Byzantine monastery featuring the Theoskepasti chapel, which is uniquely built into the hollow space beneath two massive granite boulders.

E

Archaeological Museum of Agios Kirikos

Located in a neoclassical building, this museum displays Neolithic tools, geometric pottery, and marble reliefs discovered across Icaria, particularly from the ancient city of Thermae.

F

Archaeological Collection of Kampos

Situated on the site of ancient Oenoe, this collection features Neolithic artifacts, classical sculptures, and pottery found in the surrounding area of Kampos.

G

Palaiokastro of Icaria

Ruins of an ancient settlement and fortification dating from the Neolithic period through the Hellenistic era, located on a hill overlooking the northern coast.

H

Messakti

A wide, sandy beach near Armenistis known for its surf and two freshwater streams that flow into the Aegean Sea.

I

Nas

Located at the mouth of the Chalaris Gorge, this small beach sits adjacent to the ruins of the ancient Temple of Artemis Tauropolos.

J

Monte Monastery

A 15th-century monastery dedicated to the Annunciation, situated in a forested area. It contains a detailed wood-carved iconostasis and frescoes from the post-Byzantine period.

Other Lists

Icaria Essentials Hidden Gems of Icaria Best Beaches in Ikaria Churches and Monasteries