Posted by The great village of Olymbos Karpathos
Olymbos on Karpathos is a traditional mountain village that offers an authentic insight into Greek culture with its narrow streets and whitewashed houses. The view of the surrounding mountains and the sea is particularly impressive, making the village a popular destination for hikers and those interested in culture.
Olymbos is the most popular tourist destination on the island of Karpathos. It is one of the most interesting places in the Dodecanese. The white houses cling to the steep slope like swallows’ nests. The whole village looks like a museum. It is one of the most traditional villages in Greece. The narrow streets, whitewashed houses and windmills tell stories of times gone by.
In Olymbos, many residents, especially older women, still wear traditional costumes, although nowadays they probably do it more or less for tourists. The village dates back to the early Middle Ages. At that time, the villages were built high up in the mountains for fear of pirate attacks. Until a few decades ago, Olymbos was so isolated that the older people in the village even have their own dialect. It is related to the Doric language. The village has about 500 inhabitants in 2025.
Highlights Olymbos Karpathos:
Culture: Visit the church of Panagia and experience traditional music and dances.
Crafts: Handmade textiles and souvenirs directly from the locals.
Culinary: Enjoy local dishes such as “makarounes” (handmade pasta) and fresh goat cheese
Rooms: There are several places to stay in Olymbos. Mikes has cheap rooms (under 50 euros). Even better and bookable online via Booking.com is the very good and friendly Aphrodite Hotel in the middle of Olymbos.
Traditional food from Olymbos can be found in the “O Mylos” tavern. Mike also has a good and cheap restaurant. Despite the hustle and bustle, Olymbos has not become too expensive.
Road to Olymbos: Since 2014, the road from south to north on Karpathos has been paved. You can drive on the paved road with a normal rental car, moped, etc. You should be careful, though. There are often large stones on the road, and goats or sheep can be standing on the country road behind every bend. It is also quite far. The distance on the road from South Karpathos to North Karpathos is over 40 kilometers. It remains to be seen how the road will be paved on Olymbos. The number of tourists, which is already very high, will certainly continue to increase. Car rental companies on Karpathos are likely to continue to increase their sales in the future
Day trips by boat to Olymbos: More information can be found here
Diafani Karpathos
Diafani is the port of the north of Karpathos. It is a small, quiet place with a few accommodations and a nice pebble beach. From here, a tarred road leads up to the village. Almost all ferries dock twice on Karpathos – in Pigadia and in Diafani. It is unclear whether this will remain the case after the road from South Karpathos to North Karpathos is built (see above). The excursion boats to Olymbos also travel from Pigadia to Diafani. If these are also replaced by buses, Diafani’s tourist future is unlikely to be all that rosy. Many people in Diafani live from the day trippers who come here to continue on to Olymbos. There are not many larger hotels, but there are a few guesthouses and rooms to rent. A great place to stay in the middle of town is the small Nikos Hotel.
Several taverns in Diafani offer good and cheap food. Only about 300 people live in Diafani (as of 2025).
Olymbos and Diafani offer you an authentic travel experience that lets you immerse yourself in Greece’s past. Perfect for travelers who want to get an unadulterated view of Karpathos, far away from mass tourism.
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