About Ikaria

Ikaria owes its name to Icarus, the hero from Greek mythology. The myth tells us that Icarus and his father Daedalus managed to escape from the labyrinth and minotaur of Crete by fashioning wings from wax and feathers. Despite his father’s warnings, young Icarus flew too close to the sun, causing his wings to melt. Legend has it he fell into the sea near Ikaria, where he was found and buried. In honor of the fallen hero, the island was named after him.

Ikaria was also noted as the birthplace of the god of wine, Dionysus, and was dedicated to him.

Apart from the myths, Ikaria was also known since ancient times owing to its therapeutic thermal springs and its famous dark red Pramnian wine.

Today, Ikaria remains one of the greenest islands in the Aegean, with untamed terrain, dramatic forested gorges, rocky moonscapes, hidden beaches and deep blue water.

The island remains entirely authentic and devoted to the Greek way of life, largely unaffected by the explosive increase in tourism. The whole profile of the island is orientated to those who enjoy the simple and traditional experiences of hospitality, great food, rave-like religious festivals, socializing and merriment!