{"id":51525,"date":"2025-09-11T14:57:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/?p=51525"},"modified":"2026-05-21T16:35:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:35:35","slug":"astypalea-sights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/astypalea-sights\/","title":{"rendered":"Astypalea Island: The 11 most beautiful highlights and sights"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the middle of the deep blue Aegean Sea lies an island that hardly anyone knows, yet it enchants visitors right away with its rugged beauty and friendly locals! Astypalea Island<\/strong> is almost completely off the radar of international tourism. It even took us four attempts to finally make it to the island.<\/p>\n

“Anyone who takes on the arduous journey is welcomed by an island that is more authentic than almost any other. On top of that, Chora, one of the most beautiful villages in Greece, awaits visitors.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Astypalea
Welcome to Astypalea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are no larger islands nearby \u2013 Kos to the east and Amorgos to the northwest are both three hours away, and ferry connections are rare. By Greek standards, this is unusual and a key reason why Astypalea receives so few visitors. You can either fly from Athens in an hour or take the eight-hour ferry from Piraeus.<\/p>\n

We tried both options: Tom came by ferry from Piraeus to Astypalea<\/strong>. He describes the crossing with a smile as an odyssey of anticipation. Ella arrived relaxed with our daughter on a domestic flight. The view from the airplane window of this small island \u2014 just 114.1 km\u00b2 \u2014 with its bright white main town of Chora is indescribably beautiful!<\/p>\n

In mid-June, we spent eight days exploring the butterfly island of the Aegean, visiting remote monasteries, picturesque beaches and unspoilt villages. So, what are the best things to do on Astypalea?<\/strong> There is a lot to discover, and below we’ll tell you whether a holiday on Astypalea is worth it for you.<\/p>\n

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\"Astypalea<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Astypalea Map<\/strong>: This map includes all Astypalea Highlights<\/span>, 48 Places to Visit & Insider Tips<\/span>, 13 Beaches & Bays<\/span>, as well as personal recommendations for 25 restaurants & cafes<\/span>. Ideal for holiday planning and getting around on the island. Compatible with smartphones, tablets and PC\/Mac. Click here to get started right away: To the Astypalea map<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

#1 Chora: Astypalea’s capital<\/h2>\n

When you see the main town of Astypalea for the first time, your heart will be warmed, because Chora is one of the most beautiful villages in Greece<\/strong>. Like something out of a picture book, the white cube houses are lined up along a steep hill. At the top, a medieval castle crowns the scenery, its partly dilapidated walls framing a blue and white church.<\/p>\n

\"Chora
Chora is the picture-book village par excellence<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The architecture of Astypalea Chora<\/strong> is undoubtedly reminiscent of the nearby Cycladic islands such as Naxos, Amorgos or Santorini, but Astypalea is administratively one of the Dodecanese Islands<\/a>. Today, most of the island’s 1,300 inhabitants live in Chora and the port settlement of Pera Gialos (#3) directly below.<\/p>\n