Greece - Korina Miller [478]
Information
ATM-equipped banks line the plateia. The post office is left of it. Useful online resources include www.island-ikaria.com and www.ikaria.gr.
Dolihi Tours Travel Agency ( 22750 23230) Helpful agency can arrange accommodation; located below the police station.
Icariada Travel ( 22750 23322; depy@ikariada.gr) Waterfront agency sells ferry and plane tickets, and arranges accommodation.
Police ( 22750 22222) Above Dolihi Tours.
Port police ( 22750 22207)
Tourist police ( 22750 22222)
Sights & Activities
Opposite the police station, Ikaria’s radioactive springs (admission €5; 7am-2.30pm & 5-9pm Jun-Oct) are famed for their salutary effects, which include curing arthritis and infertility.
Agios Kirykos’ small archaeological museum ( 22750 31300; admission free; 10am-3pm Tue-Wed & Fri-Sun Jul-Aug) boasts local finds, highlighting the large, well-preserved stele (500 BC) depicting a seated mother and family. Although the (signposted) museum is near the hospital, at the time of writing a new museum was planned for a different location – the old gymnasio (high school).
The Icarus Festival for Dialogue between Cultures ( 22940 76745; www.icarus-festival.ikaria.gr; per event €10; performances from 9.30pm Jul & Aug) is a summer-long, island-wide series of concerts, dramatic works and other cultural events held since 2005. The festival highlights individuals and groups who espouse multicultural values and cooperation; among them are some quite prominent Greek and international artists. Buses are organised for festival-goers.
A quirky, appropriately Ikarian event held for over 30 years is the Ikaria International Chess Tournament, organised by local chess aficionado Savas Kyriakou ( 6932478386; www.chess.gr/ikaros), If you’re game, this battle of wits is held each July – the winner walks off with €1000, and special cash prices are allotted for ‘ladies and veterans’ as well.
Sleeping
Pension Maria-Elena ( 22750 22835; www.island-ikaria.com/hotels/mariaelena.asp; s/d €35/45; ) Some 500m from the port near the hospital, this small pension enjoys a garden setting and offers 16 simple but clean rooms with balconies overlooking the sea, plus a few suites. It’s open year-round.
Hotel Akti ( 22750 23905; s/d €35/50; ) A budget choice on the rocks overlooking sea and port, Akti has small but attractive rooms with fridge, TV and mosquito netting, plus friendly, English-speaking owners. Follow the steps just right of Alpha Bank.
Hotel Kastro ( 22750 23480; www.island-ikaria.com/hotels/kastro.asp; d €50; ) This well-appointed hotel has handsome rooms with balconies and all mod cons. There’s a bar, and even a rooftop pool. From atop the stairs leading from Dolihi Tours, it’s 20m to the left.
Eating & Drinking
Filoti ( 22750 23088; mains €4-7) This tasty eatery 30m from the square offers Agios Kirykos’ best-value meals (including decent pizzas).
Taverna Klimataria ( 22750 22686; mains €6-9) A back-street taverna, strong on grilled meats, with a lovely summer courtyard.
Restaurant Dedalos ( 22750 22473; mains €7-12) Beside the square, this busy eatery serves tasty, if pricey, fresh fish.
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AROUND AGIOS KIRYKOS
The hot springs of Lefkada ( 6977147014; admission €5; 7am-2.30pm & 5-9pm Jun-Oct), 2km north of Agios Kirykos, are therapeutic and relaxing, and reportedly cure many ailments. Ikaria’s eastern tip boasts the 2km-long Faro Beach, 10km north along the coast road, and the 3rd-century BC fortress of Drakanos, which sponsored religious rites dedicated to Eilythia, a fertility deity. Although still not fully excavated, it’s worth seeing. A path from a small chapel here leads to the sandy Agios Georgios Beach.
While a few tavernas hug this beach, it’s more tranquil than the major northwest-coast beaches. Just up from it on the main road, the friendly Greek-Australian Evon Plakidas at Rooms Evon ( 22750 32580, 6977139208; evon.plakidas@gmail.com; www.evonsrooms.com; ste €50-110; ) rents clean, high-quality suites,