Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist Information Office
(
22450 23835;
Jul-Aug)
In a kiosk in the middle of the
seafront.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Southern Karpathos
The south of the island is more geared towards tourists and has some sandy beaches and
quiet towns to relax in. Scenic walking tracks crisscross the land; pick up a map in Piga-
dia.
Menetes Μενετές
Tiny Menetes sits high up in cliffs buffeted by mountain gales. Climb to its church before
exploring its narrow whitewashed streets and
museum
( on request)
. For a
snapshot of mountain life with locals tucking into
mousakas, stifadho
and calamari, head
to
Taverna Manolis
( 22450 81103; mains €5-7)
. Alternatively,
Dionysos Fiesta
(
22450 81269; mains €5-7)
is good for local dishes, including an artichoke omelette and
Karpathian sausages. Down the hill on the road,
Taverna Perdiga
(mains €6)
is patron-
ised by rebellious octogenarians, and chimes with chequers and politics; sample their
squid,
gyros,
sardines and lamb chops, and wash it all down with some woody retsina.
Arkasa Αρκάσα
Once a traditional Karpathian village, Arkasa is now a low-key resort. The village itself
sits up from the water, 9km from Menetes, with its beachside resort below.
Follow a turn-off from the bottom of the village for 500m to the remains of the 5th-
century
Basilica of Agia Sophia
, where two chapels stand amid mosaic fragments and
columns. Below it you can walk along the coast to an ancient
acropolis
. Just south
across the headland from here is
Agios Nikolaos Beach
. About 600m off the main road,
it's small and sandy. Kip out on the water's edge at
Glaros Studios
( 22450 61015;
glaros@greekhotel.com
;
Agios Nikolaos; studios €50-55; )
, where rooms are decorated in
traditional Karpathian style. There's a relaxed adjoining restaurant.
€50; )
has white-and-blue, well-spaced apartments looking out to the nearby
sea. There's also a welcoming
cafe
finished in French greys and candelabra. For
something a little plusher, try
Arkasa Bay Hotel
(
22450 61410;
www.arkasabay.com
;
apt
