Ikaria
Ikaria is a mountainous Aegean island in Greece, visited for village festivals, hot springs and quiet beaches.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Ikaria is a mountainous island in the eastern Aegean Sea, part of Greece. Its villages sit on steep hillsides above the coast, and the island is known for the long lives of many of its older residents. Travelers come for village festivals, which often run late into the night with music and food, and for the island's hot springs.
Ferries connect Ikaria with other Aegean islands and the mainland. Most beaches and villages are reached by road, so a rental car is the practical way to see the island. The north and south coasts feel different, so choose a base before you arrive. Summer is the warmest and busiest season, while late spring and early autumn bring milder weather. Plan at least four or five days to see both coasts and a festival, and longer if you want to slow down.
Ikaria in five
- Plan around the ferry or the short flightFerries from Piraeus are long sailings and can be rough in the summer meltemi wind. Flights from Athens are short but small planes sell out, so keep a spare day before a connecting flight.Getting around Greece
- Rent a car for the north coastNas, Seychelles beach and the villages of Raches and Christos lie far apart on winding roads. Fill the tank in Evdilos or Agios Kirykos, the two main towns.
- Go to a panigiri, a village festivalSaints' days bring overnight feasts with live music and dancing, especially around mid-August. Ask your host or the village cafe which one is on, and arrive hungry.
- Soak at Therma and ask about conditionsTherma, near Agios Kirykos, has the island's best-known springs, with bathhouses and rocky pools by the sea. Some open only in season, and water temperature varies by spot.
- Pick a coast before you bookEvdilos and Armenistis on the north have beaches and festivals. Agios Kirykos and Therma on the south have the springs and more services. Linking the two takes about an hour by car.Northeastern Aegean Islands
Need to know
- Airport
- Ikaria (JIK) on the north coast; flights from Athens
- Getting there
- Flights from Athens, or long ferries from Piraeus
- Getting around
- Rental car; few buses between the main towns
- Best base
- Armenistis or Evdilos for beaches; Therma for springs
- Time needed
- 4–6 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Wet, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Wet, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- MarchClear10 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Spring walksMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Easter, coolAprilClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, cool
- MayClear5 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Warm, quietMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Hot, sea warmJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, sea warm
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Hot, meltemiJulyClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, meltemi
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low24°Panigiri, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Panigiri, busy
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Rain, closingNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, closing
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, rainDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 196 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
Average daily high and low in Agios Kirykos, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ikaria
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 19 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Ikaria
02:03 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today17°15°98%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 17°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed16°13°43%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Thu14°10°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri11°9°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat12°8°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun13°10°3%Sunday: Clear. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Mon14°12°27%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 27%.
Updated 12:46 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Nas and Armenistisabout 1 hour by car from Agios KirykosA rocky cove with a stream to the sea, and a long beach nearby.
- Fourni islandsboat from Agios Kirykos; seasonal, check operatorsA small archipelago with quiet harbors and few visitors.
- Samosseasonal ferries; check operatorsPythagoreio and the Heraion, UNESCO-listed, on the island next door.Read the guide
Before you go to Ikaria
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Ikaria, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly or sail.Source
- Non-EU visitors are registered under the EU Entry/Exit System at the border. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
- Ferry timetables to and around Ikaria change by season. Check the operator's current schedule before you book, and confirm the sailing the day before.
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire in Greece, including on Ikaria. Save the number before you leave the port or town.
Plan around Ikaria
Entry rules, ferries and island planning
Read the guideNortheastern Aegean IslandsLesvos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria compared
Read the guideSamosPythagoreio and the ancient tunnel, close by
Read the guideLesvosLarge island with ouzo and a petrified forest
Read the guideGetting around GreeceCars, buses and ferries compared
Read the guideSchengen 90 in 180How your days add up across Greece
Read the guideIkaria FAQ
Is Ikaria worth visiting?
Yes if you want village life, thermal springs and quiet beaches rather than nightlife or big resorts. It needs a car and slow days, and the ferry from Piraeus is long, so many visitors fly.
Why is Ikaria famous for long life?
Researchers who study longevity have featured the island for its diet, walking and social habits. It is a reputation drawn from surveys, not a promise, but it explains the focus on slow food and festivals.
How do you get to Ikaria?
By flight from Athens, or by ferry from Piraeus, which takes many hours and runs less often outside summer. Inter-island ferries link Ikaria with Samos and nearby islands at set times, so check the operator.
Do you need a car in Ikaria?
Yes for most trips. Beaches, villages and springs are spread along mountain roads, buses are few, and taxis cost more over long distances. A small car is easier on the bends.
When is the best time to visit Ikaria?
May, June, September and October for warm sea and calm roads. July and August bring strong wind and festival crowds, and many places close from November.