What you'll do
Day 1
If we had only one day to do some things in and around Pigadia, this is what we would do!
Let's start the day with a beautiful hike just outside the city. From the city centre, you can walk through a beautiful pine forest before arriving at Agia Kiriaki. After enjoying the stunning panoramic views you can continue to hike toward Panagia Larniotissa and the St. Zacharia church before arriving back in Pigadia. This hike is around five and a half kilometres and will take you about 3 hours including stops. A more in-depth route can be found here: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/greece/karpathos/karpathos-agia-kyriaki-panagia-larniotissa-monastery?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
We recommend starting early. Especially in high season when it's hot. 8 am is the perfect time to start your hike. Eat something small before you start your hike and take a snack and water with you during the hike.
Agia Kiriaki
Passeio turístico
Secluded hilltop church in Karpathos
Agia Kyriaki, also known as Agia Kiriaki, is a charming little church perched on rocky hills just outside Pigadia. Despite its proximity to Pigadia, this hidden gem sees only a few visitors. To reach Agia Kyriaki, one must take a narrow road through a pine forest, where the scent of pines fills the air. You can walk towards this spot from Pigadia, but you can also go by car. The church offers stunning panoramic views of the countryside and the Aegean Sea, making it a peaceful spot to soak in the beauty of Karpathos. It's definitely worth a visit for those seeking a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the town!
Panagia Larniotissa
Passeio turístico
Scenic hike with monastery view
Monastiri Panagia Larniotissa is a beautiful building just outside Pigadia. After the many steps, you'll have a beautiful view overlooking the sea and landscape behind Pigadia. It is gorgeous!
This can be visited all year round, only on the 7th of September a commemoration is held here. The story goes that due to a pirate attack, a mother's son had been kidnapped. After 30 years of praying, she found her son again at this very spot.
This spot is free to visit.
Church St. Zacharia
fotóspito
Charming church in tranquil Greek setting
Church of St. Zacharia is a charming little church located just outside Pigadia. It's known for its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful architecture. This is a perfect photo spot and the spot to enjoy this traditional Greek church and serene surroundings.
After the hike, you're probably hungry so it's time for a late breakfast or early lunch whatever you want to call it!
Of course, you could also choose to have breakfast before your walk, but since it can be very warm depending on the period you visit Karpathos we'd recommend hiking first before it's getting too hot.
Choose one of these two spots for breakfast/lunch. Both have lots of chooses and are located on the boulevard of Pigadia so you'll have a nice view of all the boats and people walking along the boulevard.
Enplo Seaside Lounge
restaurante
Beachfront lounge for cocktails and burgers
Enplo is one of our favourite places if we want to relax and have a drink and maybe some food. It's more of a lounge than a restaurant and their chairs are super comfy! The restaurant is located on the boulevard, you'll see the fishermen leaving the harbour and when the ferry arrives you can watch the chaos unfold haha!
The place is open all day so you can have breakfast (which is recommended!) but it's also a great place for cocktails, especially between 17.00 and 19.30h due to happy hour. On their menu, you'll find wrap, sandwiches, burgers and tacos. If you're in the mood for something sweet go for a pancake. Keep in mind they are very big so you probably want to share this dish. Our favourite is the Zog's panckaes which is with kinder bueno and white chocolate sauce.
A burger with fries costs around €10 and a cocktail around €8. During happy hour cocktails are 2-3 euros cheaper (prices in 2023)
Time to get your swimsuit and have a swim or soak up the sun at the beach of Pigadia. The beach part that closed to the city will be the busiest so if you want the beach to be more peaceful walk a little further from the city.
Pigadia Beach
praia
Beach next to the city centre
Pigadia Beach is nothing too special, but it's a beach so it does the job if you want to relax or go for a swim and don't want to drive around to another beach.
Pigadia Beach is a very long beach next to the city. The first part is called Pigadia beach, which is where a few hotels are also located and due to that it's a bit more busy here.
If you want a little bit more peace you can move more to the left side. That part is technically called Afoti Beach. Here it's quieter, but it's still the same beach.
All over the beach, you will find several beach bars and sunbeds to rent. At the can of Pigadia Beach you can also rent canoes, jet skis or pedal boats
Later in the afternoon, you can go for a stroll through the streets of Pigadia. It is a little less hot and also a lot quieter because of the siesta. So a perfect time especially if you want to take nice pictures. Along the way you can visit the Pigadia boat, the cat steps and the colorful bar Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Pigadia boat
fotóspito
Picture perfect boat in the streets of Pigadia
This smaal street towards the boulevard of Pigadia is a very famous photoshop during summer time. The walls on both side are painted as well as the stones on the floor. In the middle of the street is a beautiful small fishing boat.
At night it's more busy of course, although not too bad, but if you want to street empty try going during the day when the shops are closed (14.00h), since less tourits will be there.
The Cat Steps
fotóspito
The place for cat lovers!
"The Cat Steps" is the perfect place for those who love cats! In the city centre of Pigadia, you'll find stairs with lot's of cats. They are always strolling around here since the steps have a cratch with food for them!
On Karpathos, we have an organization called Animal Welfare. A lot of volunteers are part of this non-profit organisation to help the cats on Karpathos by feeding them and taking care. A few times a year there is also a spray and nurture programme to get as many cats castrated or sterilized
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
bar
Colourful bar with cocktails
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams is a cozy bar in Pigadia. The perfect spot for a cocktail or beer with a laid-back atmosphere. The most striking thing about this spot are all the colors!
Time for some diner! Depending on what you're looking for here a 3 different restaurants that we'd recommend!
Ellinikon
restaurante
Our favourite spot for traditional Greek cuisine
Ellinikon is a popular spot in Karpathos known for its traditional Greek food. Not only during summertime but also in the winter. This is one of the few restaurants that´s open in the winter and weekends are always busy here with lots of locals that are eating here with family or ordering take-aways.
They serve various typical Greek dishes and have a fresh daily menu. You're able to have a look in the kitchen if you like to see what is on that daily menu.
If you're looking for a typical Greek taverna, loved by locals: this is the place to be!
If the shops weren't opend during your stroll in the afternoon, now is a good time to visit some souveniers shops in Pigadia. If you don't mind or have already been to some shops you can end the night with a drink in on of bars in Pigadia.
Anoi Bar
bar
Quality cocktails with cool vibe
A lot of places on Karpathos serve cocktails, but if there is one cocktail bar we could recommend it would be Anoi Bar. This cocktail bar is located on the boulevard of Pigadia and offers in our opinion the most tasty and quality cocktails. The bar has a cool vibe and the stairs that lead towards this bar are meant as seats for guests (unless you want to sit inside). If you're early or lucky you might also be able to sit on the balcony upstairs. There is place for 2 parties of 3.
Anoi is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner cocktail or late-night hangout. Lots of locals will be here as well later in the evening.
Enplo Seaside Lounge
restaurante
Beachfront lounge for cocktails and burgers
Enplo is one of our favourite places if we want to relax and have a drink and maybe some food. It's more of a lounge than a restaurant and their chairs are super comfy! The restaurant is located on the boulevard, you'll see the fishermen leaving the harbour and when the ferry arrives you can watch the chaos unfold haha!
The place is open all day so you can have breakfast (which is recommended!) but it's also a great place for cocktails, especially between 17.00 and 19.30h due to happy hour. On their menu, you'll find wrap, sandwiches, burgers and tacos. If you're in the mood for something sweet go for a pancake. Keep in mind they are very big so you probably want to share this dish. Our favourite is the Zog's panckaes which is with kinder bueno and white chocolate sauce.
A burger with fries costs around €10 and a cocktail around €8. During happy hour cocktails are 2-3 euros cheaper (prices in 2023)
Gallery Cafe Karpathos
restaurante
The place to be to watch sports!
Gallery Cafe Karpathos is a bar located on the boulevard of Pigadia. We wouldn't say it's a typical sports bar. If you're not interested in sports and just want to enjoy a coffee during the day or a cocktail at night you'll still enjoy it here.
Gallery Cafe however has 2 television screens in their bar and you're able to watch European or World Championship of soccer here or for example Formula 1. But also the Dutch Eredivisie or English Premier League can be watched here!