Flight to Karpathos (AOK) starting at €129.99*

Karpathos is a tiny, beautiful island between Rhodes and Crete that rises from the blue Mediterranean as a massive rock. Crete's fans know the island as a place with little tourism and friendly inhabitants. According to Greek mythology, Iapetus was king of the Titans and son of Uranus and Gaia. Athena is said to have sprung here from the head of Zeus. Karpathos was once a centre of Doric culture, which built four cities here and thus was known even to Homer as Tetrapolis, or the island of four cities. The cities are still there. Karpathos was once known as "Poseidion", in honour of Poseidon, the god of the sea.

As the cities came under attack ever more frequently by Saracen pirates, the inhabitants retreated farther and farther into the mountains, establishing well-fortified villages. Olymbos is the best-preserved of these villages and is considered to be the most beautiful island village in Greece. Many women there still wear traditional dress, and the houses are built into the rocky cliffs. The music of Karpathos is also famous because the lyre is still played here. The island is generally considered to be a hiking paradise – roughly 25 official routes cut across it. Centuries-old paved paths lead to ancient sites and striking scenic lookouts. But there is more than mountains to visit: the southern part of the island is extremely popular with wind surfers, who are gently propelled by a constant breeze from the mountains. They can be found above all in Afiartis. Another popular pastime is diving or snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters. 

Naturally, Karpathos also has many beaches. Lefkos, Apella, and Pigidia are particularly popular beaches, but there are also many isolated coves that can only be reached by boat. Once you have relaxed to your heart's content, indulge yourself with the delicious specialities of the island such as makarounes, a noodle dish with onions, or bizanti, a lamb fillet baked in a wood-fired oven. Karpathos produces a good wine that goes perfectly with the local specialities. The island's honey is also well-known, as is the delicious olive oil. Treat yourself to a Greek island paradise with a Eurowings flight to Karpathos. Enjoy!