Karpathos.
Flight from TLV
1h 36m
Best season
יונ–ספט
Avg temp
22°
Currency
€ EUR · 1=₪3.52
Time zone
+0 מול ת״א
Language
יוונית
Plug
C / F · 230V
Visa
אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום בתקופה של 180 יום
Safety
בטוח מאוד בדרך כלל; חשוב להיזהר בכבישים ההרריים, ברוחות חזקות ובשחייה בחופים לא מוסדרים
Overview
🇬🇷Karpathos
🇬🇷Greece
Karpathos is a wild, relaxed Greek island shaped by turquoise coves, dramatic mountains and villages that proudly preserve local traditions. Israelis come in summer to stay around Pigadia or Amoopi, rent a car for Apella and Kyra Panagia beaches, and spend a day exploring the mountain village of Olympos. It is ideal for couples and families who prefer waterfront tavernas, nature and tranquility to huge parties.
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Everything for Karpathos, in one place
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Where to stay
Where to stay in Karpathos
Each area and who it suits best.
Pigadia (Karpathos Town)
The island’s most convenient base, with a harborfront promenade, tavernas, shops, relaxed bars, and easy access to Amoopi Beach and the main roads.
Amoopi
A relaxed resort area south of Pigadia, with clear coves such as Mikri Amoopi and Kastelia, small hotels, and seafront tavernas.
Arkasa
A laid-back west-coast village near Agios Nikolaos Beach, known for glorious sunsets, a pleasant square, and fewer crowds than Pigadia.
Lefkos
A small seaside village with several sandy coves and calm water, where days revolve around swimming, waterfront meals, and sunset.
Olympos and Diafani
Karpathos’s wild, remote north, with Olympos’s colorful stone houses, Diafani’s tiny port, and a genuine sense of escape.
Year-round weather
Year-round weather in Karpathos
Temperature averages
Real climate dataינו
17°
13°
Recommended
פבר
15°
12°
Cool
מרץ
18°
14°
Recommended
אפר
20°
15°
Recommended
מאי
23°
18°
Excellent
יונ
28°
22°
Excellent
יול
30°
25°
Excellent
אוג
30°
25°
Excellent
ספט
28°
24°
Excellent
אוק
25°
20°
Excellent
נוב
22°
18°
Excellent
דצמ
18°
15°
Recommended
Most pleasant weather: מאי · יונ · יול · אוג · ספט · אוק · נוב
Peak season for Israelis (when everyone goes): יונ · יול · אוג · ספט
Based on a 3-year average · measured in Karpathos · Open-Meteo
This week in Karpathos
Measured in Karpathos
25°
Sunny
Next 7 days
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Things to do
Things to do in Karpathos
On the map
Karpathos on one map
Every spot travelers love — tap a pin for photos, opening hours, navigation and booking.
Suggested plan
A perfect Karpathos itinerary
Day by day, so you can picture the whole trip.
- 1
Day 1
Pigadia and Amoopi
Land, settle in, and begin the holiday with a swim at Mikri Amoopi or Kastelia Bay. In the evening, return to Pigadia for a harbor walk, a little shopping, and dinner at one of the promenade tavernas.
- 2
Day 2
Apella and Kyra Panagia
Set out early for Apella, the island’s iconic turquoise bay beneath pine-covered slopes, arriving before the crowds. Continue to Kyra Panagia, photograph the red-domed church above the cove, and stay for another swim.
- 3
Day 3
Olympos and Diafani
Drive north or join a boat-and-bus excursion to Diafani and Olympos. Wander Olympos’s lanes among colorful stone houses, windmills, and weaving workshops, then descend to Diafani for a swim and a waterfront meal before returning.
- 4
Day 4
Arkasa and Lefkos
Start in Arkasa, climb to the Paleokastro remains and Agia Sofia church, and continue with a swim at Agios Nikolaos Beach. In the afternoon, drive to Lefkos, choose one of its calm coves, and finish with a west-coast sunset.
- 5
Day 5
Saria or the southern beaches
For an adventurous day, book a boat trip to Saria, with secluded coves, transparent water, and swimming stops. For an easier final day, visit Damatria and Diakoftis in the south, enjoy a relaxed lunch, and return to the nearby airport.
Quick game
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Budget
How much does Karpathos cost?
Real ILS price ranges, so you know what to expect.
Round-trip flight from TLV
₪900-1,800 (summer)
Mid-range hotel nightly
₪350-700 (double room)
Restaurant meal
₪55-110 (per person)
Local beer
₪14-24
Coffee
₪9-16
Short taxi ride
₪45-90
Rental car daily
₪160-300 (summer)
Daily budget per person
₪320-600 (excluding flight)
Good to know
Good to know before Karpathos
Getting around
From the airport
Karpathos Airport is in the island’s south. A taxi to Pigadia takes about 20 minutes and usually costs ₪80-120; Amoopi is around 15 minutes and ₪60-90. Buses are limited, especially in the evening, so pre-book a transfer or collect a car at the airport.
Need a car?
Yes, a rental car is worthwhile for most Israeli travelers. You can manage without one in Pigadia if you stay locally and join organized tours, but a car gives valuable freedom for beaches such as Apella and Kyra Panagia, villages including Mesochori and Olympos, and the west coast. For the far north, choose a capable car and a driver comfortable on mountain roads.
Tips
Reserve your car early for July and August, and check that the insurance has a low excess. Do not rely on finding a taxi after dinner at a remote taverna, and drive the narrow roads toward Olympos in daylight, yielding patiently.
Kosher & Jewish
Chabad / community
Karpathos has no permanent Chabad house, active Jewish community, or known synagogue, and travelers should not rely on seasonal services. For Shabbat, prayers, or kosher food, plan ahead and bring essential supplies from Israel.
Kosher food
There are no certified kosher restaurants on the island. Many kosher-observant travelers book an apartment with a kitchenette and shop in Pigadia for sealed products bearing familiar certification, fruit, vegetables, eggs, and packaged fish according to their personal standards. At restaurants, you can request Greek salad kept separate from meat, vegetables, rice, or whole fish, but kitchens and utensils are not kosher, so clarify stocks, sauces, and shared grills.
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Travel insurance
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Currency & rates
Live rateCurrency & rates
Quick conversion at today's rate
Convert
You get
351.8
1 EUR
₪3.52
100 EUR
₪351.8
1,000 EUR
₪3,518
Source: exchangerate-api · updated Sep 14 · refreshes daily
Visa & documents
Visa & documents for Karpathos 🇬🇷
What you need before you fly
- אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום בתקופה של 180 יום
- Passport valid 6 months
- Travel insurance, leave details for a quote
Local tips
Good to know about Karpathos
- 🚗For July and August, reserve an automatic car well ahead, as supply is limited and a realistic peak-season rate is about ₪220 to ₪350 per day.
- 🏨Choose Pigadia for restaurants and an evening promenade, Amoopi for an easy family beach holiday, or Lefkos for quiet sunsets with virtually no nightlife.
- 💨When the meltemi strengthens, check the wind direction in the morning and switch to relatively sheltered eastern beaches such as Achata and Kyra Panagia instead of battling the western surf.
- 🛣️Do not blindly follow navigation-app shortcuts, as roads to Agios Minas and isolated coves can turn into dirt tracks that may not be covered by your rental insurance.
- 🥙Karpathos has no permanent kosher infrastructure, so kosher-observant travelers should book a kitchenette, stock up in Pigadia, and bring sealed specialty products from Israel.
- 🏛️Visit Olympos before 10:00 or after 16:00, when the boat groups from Diafani are gone and the lanes become quiet again, and always ask permission before photographing residents.
מאיה רוזן
Senior agent · Greece for 12 years
"Karpathos feels like the Greece of another era, with almost impossibly blue coves, villages that still move at a local pace, and far less commotion than the famous islands. Israelis tend to fall for it the moment they walk down to Apella Beach and see that crystal-clear water framed by the cliffs."
Loves
My local secret is an early visit to Agios Minas on the northeast coast, a wild, clear-water cove whose rough access road keeps most visitors away. I bring water, shade, and sea shoes, then stay until the first boats arrive.
Skip
Do not book a hotel in Pigadia simply because it is the capital and expect the perfect beach holiday, as the island’s standout beaches require a car or boat.
Boutique pick
I start the day at Apella before the excursion boats arrive, then continue north to Olympos to meet the women making handmade makarounes and wander among the colorful houses. Toward evening, I descend to Diafani for a quiet pause by the sea, then head south before the mountain roads become dark.
Client stories
What returning travelers say about Karpathos
"We rented a car, reached Apella Beach early and ended the day watching the sunset from a taverna above Kyra Panagia, exactly the peaceful Greek island escape we wanted."
Noa and Ido, Tel Aviv
Couples getaway in June
"The children could not stop talking about the boat trip from Pigadia and the clear water at Achata Beach, while we loved how relaxed and uncrowded Karpathos felt."
The Levi Family, Modi'in
Family holiday in August
"We windsurfed in Afiartis in the morning, drove to Olympos in the afternoon and returned for drinks by Pigadia harbor, a perfect Karpathos day with friends."
Roi, Daniel and Maya, Haifa
Friends trip in September
FAQ
Common questions about Karpathos
Do Israelis need a visa for Karpathos?
Israelis do not need a visa for a tourist visit to Karpathos and Greece of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, but must carry a passport valid under Schengen rules.
When is the best time to fly to Karpathos?
The best time for Karpathos is June through September, with late June and September offering warm seas, lighter crowds and gentler winds than peak August.
How many days should you spend in Karpathos?
Five to seven days in Karpathos is ideal for combining Pigadia, Olympos, Apella, Kyra Panagia and a boat trip without spending the whole holiday on mountain roads.
Are there direct flights from Tel Aviv to Karpathos, and how long is the flight?
Seasonal nonstop flights from Tel Aviv to Karpathos usually operate in summer and take about 1 hour and 40 minutes, while off-season journeys generally connect through Athens.
How do you get around Karpathos, and is a rental car necessary?
A rental car is almost essential in Karpathos for reaching remote beaches and villages, and booking an automatic in advance is wise because many roads are narrow and winding.
How much does a holiday in Karpathos cost?
An Israeli couple will typically spend ₪6,000 to ₪10,000 for five nights in Karpathos including summer flights, a good hotel, a rental car and meals, depending on the month and accommodation level.
Is Karpathos safe, and which beaches and attractions should not be missed?
Karpathos is considered very safe, with Apella Beach, Kyra Panagia Bay, traditional Olympos and windsurfing in Afiartis as highlights, though strong winds and dark roads require care.
Is Karpathos better for families or couples, and what about nightlife and kosher food?
Karpathos suits couples and families who enjoy beaches and a relaxed pace, nightlife centers on Pigadia’s bars, and as there is no permanent kosher restaurant, kosher travelers should book a kitchen-equipped apartment and bring supplies.