Are you planning a trip to Ikaria, Greece? We just came back from an amazing anniversary trip there, and we have the perfect 24 hour itinerary for you!
Read on to learn everything you need to know for 24 amazing hours on Ikaria, Greece!
Arriving on Ikaria Island
You will likely arrive to Ikaria by Ferry, in one of the two main port towns – Agia Kyriaki or Evdilos.
If you are a confident and experienced driver, definitely rent a car for Ikaria, to make the most of the various beaches, hot springs, and mountain towns. But go slow, these roads are often on cliffs and can get quite narrow!
We rented from CarJet Rentals, and had a great experience renting from Stella! She met us with a sign at the ferry and had our car waiting for us in the parking lot. She then met us in the lot before our departure ferry and made the process so easy!
If you’re looking to book ferry tickets, we recommend using Ferry Scanner
Where to Stay – Ikaria, Greece Hotels
We strongly recommend staying in one of three places – Evdilos (port town), Agia Kyriaki (port town), or Armenistis. These are the places with the most restaurants and things to do.
Ikaria, Greece Hotels – Evdilos
You should stay here if your ferry is either arriving or leaving this port. It has a beautiful waterfront with many restaurants and is near many beautiful sandy beaches (but with big waves!) Great area for surfers.
Book your perfect stay in Evdilos here.
Ikaria, Greece Hotels – Agia Kyriaki
You should stay here if your ferry is either arriving or leaving this port, and if you have interest in the natural thermal hot springs in Therma.
Book your perfect stay in Agia Kyriaki here.
Ikaria, Greece Hotels – Armenistis
You should stay here if you like being around a lot of other travelers, campsites and bungalows, and nice wide beaches!
Book your perfect stay in Armenistis here.
24 Hour Itinerary in Ikaria, Greece
Seychelles Beach, Ikaria
Pro tip: Bring sneakers and plenty of water/snacks!
After arriving in Agia Kyriaki, finding our rental car, and dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we immediately drove to beautiful Seychelles Beach! The drive took only about 45 minutes from Agia Kyriaki and was well worth every minute!
To get to this beautiful beach, find the parking lot right along the main road. You can’t miss it, as it’s the only parking lot for miles.
From the parking lot, walk across the road and begin the hike down to the sea. The hike is well marked with arrows and is mostly composed of loose gravel except the last 3 minutes which are basically bouldering.
It took us about 10-15 minutes in slides, while stopping to take a lot of photos.
There is a rope you can use to help propel down to the cove. Once you get to the beach, there is ample room to stay in the shade and stay cool.
The Seychelles Beach water was fresh and crystal clear. The rock formations are magnificent, and if you’re looking for a cocktail or refreshment, there’s a man who treks down his cooler and serves drinks. Otherwise, please remember to bring your own water and food!
There are no bathroom facilities at Seychelles Beach.
Lunch in Manganitis
Slightly down the road from Seychelles Beach (about 10 minutes) is the town of Manganitis.
This is a great place to stop for lunch and snacks. Lot of tavernas and other food options here, including a small market.
We ate at a wonderful place along the fisherman’s dock called Sto Gialo Kanei Fourtouna. It was recommended to us by locals, and we would give it a 10/10 for ambience, food quality, and views! Just drive slowly and carefully down the steep drive to the docks.
Exploration and Dinner in Raches
After beach and lunch, drive up to the Raches area of Ikaria.
Raches area is a collection of small mountain towns in the north of Ikaria. These mountain towns are very beautiful and quaint, and boast some delicious local restaurants! A great place to unwind, explore, and get a delicious dinner.
We had dinner at Sto Kampi and cannot recommend it highly enough!
Morning Swim in the World Famous Thermal Hot Springs
Pro tip: Bring water shoes for the rocky outdoor/free hot springs
First thing in the morning, before you leave, drive to the quaint town of Therma, in the Southeast side of the island. This is where the world famous Icarian Hot Springs are located!
As you face the sea, the thermal hot springs are to your right by the cliffs. You can pay for thermal pools that are indoors and controlled, but we just went swimming in the free pools and highly recommend it!
Use your water shoes to lower yourself into the sea, and be careful of slippery rocks. Walk/swim your way over to the cliffs edge, and you’ll feel the hot water being pushed out below the rocks!
There are lots of cafes and restaurants for breakfast after you swim.
Leave via Ferry from Evdilos
Finally, make sure you leave yourself an hour or two to explore the cute town of Evdilos and get lunch by the water before your ferry departs.
We hope this 24 hour Ikaria, Greece Itinerary has been helpful!
Next, make sure to check out our 17 Surprising Items You Need to Bring To Greece!
