Karpathos 2-day Itinerary – Best things to see and do

This Karpathos 2-day itinerary is a part of our broader Dodecanese Islands travel guide. We recommend you check it out for the best travel tips and the most accurate information about the archipelago, regarding transportation, hotels and restaurants for the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Chios and Karpathos.

Karpathos 2-Day Itinerary – What to see and do in 48 hours

By far the most isolate of all the islands in the Dodecanese, Karpathos still stands as one of Greece’s best kept secrets, as the overwhelming majority of visitors seems happy to hit the likes of Rhodes or Kos (when discussing the Dodecanese). But make no mistake – there is plenty to see and do in the Karpathos! Filled with pristine beaches and sleepy towns seemingly lost in the middle of the mountains, along with a very specific culture and dialect which clearly set it apart from the rest of the country, Karpathos is the possibly the best Greek destination you never knew existed!

That being said, if you’re on your way to Greece and looking for what to see and do in Karpathos in 2 days, we leave you with a detailed Karpathos 2-day itinerary, complete with all the tourist landmarks and points of interest you don’t want to miss.

Karpathos 2-Day Itinerary – Day 1: Pigadia and the Village of Menetes

As expected, the capital of Karpathos – the city of Pigadia – is also the island’s main point of entry, which is why this is precisely the first place you should visit in your itinerary. Pigadia may not be particularly charming or interesting, but this is still a pretty solid starting point for anyone visiting the Karpathos. After a brief walk through the city center and a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Karpathos, hit the road on a rental car and head to the idyllic Amoopi Bay, a wide area with seven different beaches around the signature turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea.

After sunbathing and swimming for a bit, it’s time to explore inland. For a proper introduction to a rural and more relaxed way of living in the Karpathos, nothing better than a visit to the small town of Menetes, a tiny village of whitewashed houses, dramatically built on the hillslopes. Besides the Theotokos Cathedral, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Menetes, but doesn’t even matter. All it takes is a gentle stroll through the village, while admiring the views and the architecture, to get you falling head over heels for this underrated island. Before getting back to Pigadia, we recommend checking out the Acropolis of Arkasa, on the opposite coast. Not that the ruins themselves are worth the detour, but watching the sun setting over the sea and over the remains of a civilization almost as old as time itself is absolutely priceless!

First day wrap-up:

• Pigadia
• Archaeological Museum of Karpathos
• Amoopi Bay
• Menetes
• Theotokos Cathedral
• Acropolis of Arkasa

Cheap restaurant suggestions in Pigadia:

• Erasmia’s (grilled meats)
• Apse Svise (grilled meats)
• Manolis Grill House (gyros, souvlaki and grilled meats)
• Café Karpathos Angolo Italiano (café/breakfast)
• Antama (varied)

Karpathos 2-Day Itinerary – Day 2: Rising to the Olympus

As for the second and final day of your short adventure in Karpathos, it will be spent on some of the island’s best beaches, as well as its most impressive mountainous settlements. That being said, and so that you can start your day in the best possible mood, your early morning will be dedicated to the Achata Beach, known for its countless aquatic caves. If you’re a confident enough swimmer, you may even explore those caves independently, since there are pretty much no waves at the bay. You’ll follow that up with a quick stop at Kira Panagia, one of the most picturesque churches in Karpathos, before moving on to the next beach. Finally, after making it to the Apella Beach, the most famous and popular in the island, you’ll take the opportunity to complete a few short trails along the hillsides surrounding the beach, before rewarding yourself with a well-deserved dip.

From this point, you will start your ascension to the village of Olympos. Besides its extremely remote and scenic location, with the town’s colorful façades decorating the mountain slopes, Olympos is known for its singular cultural habits and dialect, which cannot be found anywhere else in Greece. This actually comes as no surprise, as the road leading to the village wasn’t built that long ago, and up until then, the only way to access Olympos was through a mountain trail… which could only be started after a boat trip! As a result, the people of Olympos bears its own ethnicity (Doric), language/dialect, cultural habits, food and code of conduct. A micro-reality, the likes of which is already very hard to find in any other country in the EU.

Second day wrap-up:

• Achata Beach
• Kira Panagia
• Apella Beach
• Olympos

Cheap restaurant suggestions at the Achata/Apella Beaches and in Olympos

• Taverna Parthenon (Greek traditional)
• Blue Garden (Greek traditional)
• Sofia’s Taverna (varied)
• Pholia (Greek traditional)
• Taverna Olympos (Greek traditional)