Nearby are the deserted islands of Seskli and Nemo , ideal for fishing. Karpathos is a mountainous island with fertile valleys and plains. Piraeus lies 227 nautical miles away while Rhodes, with which it is connected by steamship and summer flights, is only 89 nautical miles away. The island capital, Pigadia , lies in a wide, curving bay on the east coast. Its small port of Possi is a natural harbour and there are good beaches nearby.
Transport is provided by buses and taxis while motor launches serve the coastal areas.
Attractive spots are Aperi, Volada, Mirtonas, Othos, Messochori and its beautiful bathing beach, Agia Marina , the fishing port Finiki , and Arkassa . From the small harbour of Diafani , on the northern coast, a road will take you to Olimbos , a charming village where ancient traditions and customs are very much alive. Leros, a mountainous but extensively cultivated island, lies 169 nautical miles from Piraeus. Excursions can be made to the coastal villages of Agia Marina, Koukouli, Kithoni, Panagies, Plefounti, Gourna, Lepida and Temenia . Traces of the island's past glory include the Franco-Byzantine fort overlooking the capital town, Platanos , and the ruins of the Byzantine castle on Mount Kasteli , to the northwest.