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Karpathos Guide

Karpathos Ferry Port

The island of Karpathos is a bastion of Greek tradition. This roughhewn sliver of land, found in the far-flung reaches of Greece’s vast collection of Aegean Sea islands, has preserved many of its ancient customs and a unique island dialect. Some locals still wear the native dress too; a peculiar style of brightly-coloured patterns stitched onto fabric of contrasting black. Literary buffs will also recognise Karpathos from the pages of Homer’s epic poem the Iliad as a participant in the Trojan War. With such a deep-rooted culture and an average temperature that surpasses that of any other region in Greece, there is little wonder Karpathos has blossomed into such a popular tourist destination. During the summer, visitors flock to the island to make the most of the sultry Mediterranean warmth from one of the beaches that run in a broken chain along the rutted coastline. From here one can watch the sun set over the glistening blue surf of the Carpathian Sea. The port in Karpathos is found in the town of Karpathos that sits on the edge of a bay to the south-east. It is a small facility formed around an artificial inlet created by a single pier and a breakwater. Ferries leave from a wide spot on the surrounding promenade, just before the road tapers into the pier. Though there is no terminal building, passengers can make use of the facilities that line the curve of the promenade, including an ATM machine and a host of cafes and restaurants selling hot food and drink. Though the island is largely remote and dominated by a vista of steep, barren hills, most populated areas are well supported by a number of transport links. Though most locals travel across Karpathos’ twisting network of paved roads by car, visitors will find it far easier to make use of the year-round bus service that shuttles passengers between the major towns of Olympos, Diafani and Karpathos. Fixed-rate taxis called agoraias can also be found lurking by the harbour offering reasonably-priced trips to a range of destinations. A vast number of ferry routes currently operate from the port in Karpathos throughout the week. Services hosted by Anek Lines stretch in all directions, largely to the neighbouring islands across the Aegean Sea: Kasos, Chalki, Rhodes, Thira, Anafi, Milos, and the towns of Sitia and Heraklion on the large island of Crete. Another service makes the longer voyage north to the Greek mainland and the city of Piraeus near the centre of Athens.