What to do in Astypalea? Our top 10

What to do in Astypalea? Astypalea (also known as Astypalea or Astipalaia), the link between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, is a very pleasant and relatively unknown island.

This butterfly-shaped island has a desert-like appearance, with two-thirds of Astypalea still untouched. There are mountainous landscapes, pretty white villages, a majestic Venetian fortress and crystal-clear seas everywhere.

It’s an island recommended to curious travellers in search of authenticity and who want to escape mass tourism. Because here, even in the middle of August, it’s easy to find uncrowded beaches and deserted coves. A true luxury on the Greek islands!

Here are our top 10 things to see and do in Astypalea.

1- Getting lost in the Chora

If there was only one thing to do in Astypalea, it would of course be to stroll around the Chora, the island’s main village. Getting lost in the maze of narrow streets is a real treat: little white houses with blue shutters, winding staircases, flowering bougainvillea and breathtaking views.
The windmills lining the main square add charm to the area.
Taverns, cafés and restaurants fill up in summer. The city is bustling until late at night.

Here are two taverns where we ate well during our stay: Barbarossa (authentic home cooking) and Agoni Grammi.

2- Climb up to the Venetian fortress

Of course, the kastro is also a must among the things to do in Astypalea. This Venetian fortress dominates the town and is reputed to be the most beautiful in the Dodecanese. Access is free at all times. You can climb up from Chora (it’s well signposted).
It was once a real, inhabited town. The old stone dwellings can still be seen today.

The panorama from the top of the kastro is superb. Be sure to take a photo of the two beautiful white churches with their blue domes inside the fortress.

3- Visit the archaeological museum

Don’t expect the Athens Archaeological Museum! The Astypalea Museum is very modest in size. It has just one room. Nevertheless, there are some interesting items on display, including the contents of Mycenaean tombs.

4- Stroll along the port of Pera Gialos

Down in Chora, the port of Pera Gialos is quiet. Most ferries no longer arrive here.
A small beach for swimming. There are also several hotels and restaurants.

During our stay, we enjoyed the following taverns :
– ARGO: traditional mezzes. It’s good and cheap
– AKTI: a pretty setting with small terraces overlooking the sea and the Chora. Traditional cuisine and fresh fish.

5- Relax in Livadi

Livadi is a small seaside resort very close to Chora (about 1km). If it’s windy, the beach is nice and sheltered. It also offers a lovely view of the Kastro.

On this pebble beach, you can relax either in the shade of the tamarisk trees or on a deckchair. A family atmosphere.

For lunch or dinner, Livadi has a number of good seaside tavernas. We really enjoyed the Astropelos tavern and its fresh fish.

6- Enjoy the beaches of Astypalea

Among the best beaches to do in Astypalea, we recommend :

• Kaminakia : an isolated pebble beach at the end of a bay. It is reached after 15 minutes on a track through a lunar landscape. On site, there’s a tavern with a local farm feel, a café, goats and a few trees. Free camping tolerated.
• Vatses: a beach reached after a 2-3km track. Mostly untamed, but with a beach bar and a few umbrellas. Those who arrive early can take shelter in the shade of the trees.
• Agios Konstantinos: a pretty, shaded beach with a beautiful view of the Chora and the fortress. Seaside café. When it’s not windy, this is one of our favorite beaches on the island.
• Red Rocks: a beach accessible by boat. Possibility of diving under the cliff. For children, it’s a little daunting, but doable (you need to be able to do 5 or 6 fathoms underwater at a maximum depth of 2 meters, preferably with an adult behind you).
• Steno (Steno means “narrow” in Greek): a pleasant tree-lined beach with sun loungers/parasols. The translucent water is perfect for swimming. Quiet, family atmosphere. The water swing is a delight for children… and also for Instagrammers. Very popular in summer.
• Blue Harbor or Blue Limanaki (Mple Limanaki) – after Steno and before Maltezana: I’ve fallen in love with this little cove with its absolutely magnificent waters. It’s essential to arrive early, as the beach can accommodate no more than 15 people. There’s no shadow. Don’t forget to bring sun protection and water.

7- Spend a day at Agio Ioannis Makris

We recommend spending a day at Agio Ioannis Makris. There you’ll see a church and the ruins of a castle overlooking a beach. Access is via a track through sumptuous scenery. The view is magnificent.
From here, walk down to the beach along the red-marked path. At the start, the path goes off to the left (not at all in the direction of the beach) but you have to follow it. It’s a 45-minute descent that’s fairly rugged but doable with good shoes, even with children. A magnificent river and beach await you on arrival. The beach is usually deserted and the water superb.

Be careful, though, as there’s no shade before 3pm (unless you set up camp under the cliffs, which is not recommended in case of falling rocks). On the way back, the ascent takes 45 minutes and is quite physical. But it’s worth it!

Young Greeks come down in the evening and sleep there.

8- Take a boat trip

If you’re spending a few days at Astypalea, we highly recommend a day cruise to Koutsomitis and Kounoupes, two nearby islands. This is a very pleasant day on a boat, with its lazy atmosphere, deserted beaches and clear sea. Most service providers offer lunch on board. The water is incredibly blue!

For example, we recommend this day trip by boat to Koutsomitis, Kounoupa and Red Rock. Offered from Astypalée, it seems to offer very good value for money.

9- Taste the island’s gastronomy

Take advantage of your stay at Astypalée to discover the island’s gastronomy. Here are a few local specialities:

• fresh seafood
• goat’s cheese stewed or stuffed
• poungia: cheese puff pastries
• chlori: a local cheese
• xirotigana: sweet little cakes, fried and drizzled with honey
• kitrinokouloura: dried saffron cookies

10- Discover the villages of Astypalea

Maltezana , also known as Analipsi: a small port some ten kilometers from Chora. Here you can see a statue commemorating an 1827 naval battle in which two French sailors excelled. There’s also a shaded sandy beach. The best time to go is early in the morning to watch the fishermen return to their caiques.

In the northeast of the island lies the village of Vathi, which is actually made up of two villages: exo Vathi and messa Vathi. There’s an end-of-the-world atmosphere here. For those who want to feel away from it all and off the beaten track. From here, you can visit the Dragon’s Cave (Drakospiloa).
On a personal note, we weren’t won over by the charm of the place and found it a long way to drive for nothing extraordinary on arrival. It’s also possible to get there by boat from Maltezana, but we didn’t try it out.

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Here are our top picks for things to see and do at Astypalée. And if you’d like to visit the island, read our practical advice in Astypalea, how to get there and where to sleep…

_{Laure M.}