What can travellers expect on the Ionian Islands?
The Ionian Islands form the western island world of Greece: green, rainier than the Aegean, and shaped by Venetian rather than Ottoman history, since they never fell under Turkish rule. Corfu Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, and Zakynthos stands for Navagio bay and the endangered loggerhead sea turtle.
Seven main islands belong to the group: Corfu in the north, Paxos and Antipaxos, Lefkada with a direct road link to the mainland, Kefalonia as the largest island, Ithaca, Zakynthos in the south, and the outlying Kythira near the Peloponnese. This page covers Corfu and Zakynthos in detail, the two most visited islands of the group, and situates the rest.
For general entry requirements to Greece, time zone and currency, the same situation applies as in the rest of the country; details are on the Greece page. This page focuses on what sets the Ionian Islands apart from the rest of the country's island world: the ferries, the airports and the reality of island-hopping (as of September 2026).
Sources: visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation
What are the Ionian Islands like as a destination?
According to the Greek tourism board, the Ionian Islands are the country's greenest island group, with dense pine and olive forests instead of the barren, wind-swept landscape of the Cyclades. They lie on Greece's western flank facing the Ionian Sea, closer to Italy than to Turkey.
Historically, the islands were under Venetian rule for several centuries before falling to Greece in 1864 along with the rest of the British-administered Ionian Islands. That explains the many Italian-looking facades, Catholic churches alongside Orthodox ones, and the name "Kerkyra" for Corfu, which lives on alongside the internationally used name.
Rain makes the difference: station data for Corfu and Zakynthos show wet winters with over 150 mm of rainfall in December, considerably more than in the southern Aegean. That produces the lush green that lasts into early summer, while the Cyclades are often already parched by the same time.
The tone is more relaxed than on the best-known Cycladic islands: instead of whitewashed cube houses, pastel-coloured Venetian facades, olive groves and cypresses define the scene. Zakynthos also has a pronounced package-tourism sector with a British character, especially around Laganas and Kalamaki.
Sources: visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Which islands and places are worth visiting in the Ionian group?
Corfu Town, with its UNESCO old town and two Venetian fortresses, is the historical highlight, while Zakynthos Town is the starting point for Navagio and the Blue Caves. Kefalonia adds Myrtos beach and Melissani cave, and Lefkada is the only island in the group you can reach without a ferry, via a bridge.
Corfu
The old town of Corfu (Kerkyra) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 as "Old Town of Corfu", recognized as an example of a fortified Mediterranean town: for four centuries, Venetian engineers protected the trading interests of the Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire with the Old Fortress, the New Fortress and the city walls. As a result, Corfu remained the only Ionian island never to become Ottoman, despite attacks in 1537, 1571, 1573 and 1716.
The centre is Spianada Square with the Liston, a row of arcades in the style of Paris's Rue de Rivoli, built during the French occupation from 1807. Outside the city lies the Achilleion, a Pompeii-inspired palace built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria ("Sisi") and bought by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1907. In the northwest of the island lies Paleokastritsa, with turquoise coves and a monastery on a headland.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos, called "Fiore di Levante" ("Flower of the East") by the Venetians, is known for Navagio bay in the northwest, where a smuggler's ship that ran aground in 1980 lies on white sand between steep limestone cliffs, reachable only by boat or from a viewpoint above. At the northern tip lie the Blue Caves, sea caves with brilliantly blue water.
The Gulf of Laganas on the south coast is the core zone of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, established to protect the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), which lays its eggs on several beaches there; night closures and boat-distance rules apply during nesting season. Zakynthos Town itself was largely rebuilt in its historic style after the 1953 earthquake.
Kefalonia
At around 780 km², the largest island in the group is home to Mount Ainos (1,628 m), the highest point in the Ionian Islands; on its slopes grows the rare Kefalonian fir within its own national park. Myrtos beach, set between white limestone cliffs, is well known, as is Melissani, a freshwater cave with a lake into which sunlight falls through a collapsed roof.
Lefkada, Paxos, Ithaca and Kythira
Lefkada is the only island in the group reachable without a ferry: a floating bridge built in 1986 near Agia Mavra connects it to the mainland at Preveza, opening briefly every hour for boat traffic. Known for the cliff beaches of Porto Katsiki and Egremni, as well as Cape Lefkatas, where, according to ancient tradition, the poet Sappho is said to have leapt into the sea.
Paxos and the smaller Antipaxos south of Corfu are largely car-free, with the port town of Gaios and sea caves along the west coast. Ithaca is considered the home of Odysseus from Homer's epic; the island is mountainous, sparsely populated, and reachable only by ferry from Kefalonia or the mainland. Kythira lies apart from the rest of the group near the southern tip of the Peloponnese and is usually visited from there rather than from Corfu.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Wikipedia · visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation · Lefkada Slow Guide
When is the best time to visit the Ionian Islands?
May/June and September are best: warm enough for swimming, but without the heat and crowded beaches of high summer. Station data show wet winters for Corfu and Zakynthos with over 150 mm of rainfall in December and dry summers with under 20 mm in July, noticeably wetter than the southern Aegean.
Corfu and Zakynthos throughout the year
| Korfu-Stadt | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 14 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 29 | 24 | 20 | 16 |
| Low °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 7 |
| Rainfall mm | 125 | 110 | 96 | 55 | 42 | 27 | 16 | 25 | 81 | 115 | 151 | 155 |
| Zakynthos-Stadt | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 15 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 29 | 24 | 20 | 17 |
| Low °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 9 |
| Rainfall mm | 116 | 88 | 70 | 40 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 71 | 100 | 125 | 145 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS INTL (3 km, 2 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ZAKINTHOS (2 km, 4 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
In July and August, highs on both islands climb above 33 °C with almost no rainfall; this is also peak season with the most ferry connections, but also the highest prices and more crowded beaches, especially at Laganas on Zakynthos. From November to March, many hotels, restaurants and ferry routes cut back operations significantly, and some close entirely.
Because the Ionian Islands are more exposed to the Atlantic and low-pressure systems from the west than the Aegean, they receive more rain; this produces the characteristic green but also occasional autumn and winter storms that can temporarily cancel ferries.
According to the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA, wildfire risk exists from spring to autumn across all of Greece, including the Ionian Islands (as of September 2026); details on the Greece page.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
What do you need to enter the Ionian Islands?
The same rules apply to the Ionian Islands as to all of Greece: Swiss, German and Austrian nationals enter with a valid passport or ID card, without a visa and without the 90-day rule that applies to other nationalities. The FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA are the authoritative sources (as of September 2026).
Since the Ionian Islands are politically and administratively part of Greece, there are no separate entry rules; full details on passport, visa and length of stay are on the Greece page. Travellers arriving via Italy, for example by ferry from Bari or Ancona to Igoumenitsa and on to Corfu, stay within the Schengen area throughout.
For other nationalities, the general Schengen rule of the European Commission applies; the Greek embassy or representation in the traveller's country of residence is the authoritative source.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What vaccinations and health precautions are needed for the Ionian Islands?
The same recommendations apply as for all of Greece: no mandatory vaccination, but hepatitis A is recommended for most travellers, along with mosquito protection against West Nile virus from May to October. Medical care is best in Corfu Town and Zakynthos Town, more limited on the smaller islands of Lefkada, Ithaca and Paxos.
healthytravel.ch and the CDC recommend current hepatitis A protection and the basic vaccinations for most travellers to Greece; details are on the Greece page. On Kefalonia and Zakynthos, West Nile fever occurs in the summer months as in the rest of the country according to healthytravel.ch, so consistent mosquito protection is advisable.
Corfu Town and Zakynthos Town each have a general hospital, while care is more limited on Lefkada, Ithaca and Paxos; more serious cases are often transferred to Athens or Patras. The BMEIA recommends supplementary travel insurance with repatriation cover for all Greek islands.
Sources: healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How safe are the Ionian Islands?
The Ionian Islands are considered a safe destination, like the whole of Greece; there are no major security risks. More practically relevant are ferry cancellations during autumn and winter storms, winding mountain roads on Kefalonia and Lefkada, and the seismically active setting of the whole region.
Kefalonia and Zakynthos lie in one of the most seismically active zones in Greece; the 1953 earthquake destroyed large parts of both islands, and strict earthquake-resistant building codes have applied ever since. The Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA name essentially the same risks for the region as for the rest of Greece: pickpocketing in tourist centres and seasonal wildfire risk. Check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA before departure.
On Zakynthos, boat traffic around Navagio is dense during peak season; the Greek coast guard therefore temporarily limits the number of boats anchoring at once. Mountain roads on Kefalonia and inland Lefkada are narrow and winding; rental car drivers should drive defensively.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How do you get to the Ionian Islands and between them?
Corfu (CFU) and Zakynthos (ZTH) have their own international airports with seasonal European connections, joined by Kefalonia (EFL) and Preveza-Aktion (PVK) for Lefkada. Between the islands, there are hardly any through ferries: Corfu is connected to the southern part of the group year-round only via Igoumenitsa on the mainland, not directly with Zakynthos or Kefalonia.
| Route | Mode | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Igoumenitsa – Corfu | ferry (Kerkyra Lines, Kerkyra Seaways) | around 1 h 10 to 1 h 30 |
| Kyllini – Zakynthos | ferry (Levante Ferries) | around 1 h 15 |
| Kyllini – Kefalonia (Poros/Sami) | ferry | around 1.5 to 3 h |
| Nydri (Lefkada) – Fiskardo (Kefalonia) | ferry | around 1 to 1.5 h |
| Sami (Kefalonia) – Piso Aetos (Ithaca) | ferry | around 40 min |
| Preveza/Aktion – Lefkada | road via Agia Mavra floating bridge | no ferry needed |
| Athens – Corfu | domestic flight | around 1 h |
| Athens – Zakynthos | domestic flight | around 1 h 10 |
Corfu "Ioannis Kapodistrias" Airport (CFU) is served by 45 airlines to around 100 destinations, according to flightsfrom.com (as of September 2026); Ryanair and easyJet fly the most routes, and Athens is the busiest route with around 33 weekly flights. The only intercontinental connection is a seasonal flight to the Middle East with FlyDubai to Dubai; otherwise there are no long-haul connections.
Zakynthos (ZTH) serves around 60 destinations with 28 airlines according to flightsfrom.com, mainly European charter and scheduled flights; London and Budapest are the most-flown international destinations, and the longest nonstop route goes to Belfast (around 4 h 25 min). Athens is reachable from Zakynthos with Sky Express or Olympic Air in around 1 h 10 min.
Travellers wanting to combine several Ionian Islands should first check the ferry situation: no through ferry runs year-round between Corfu and Zakynthos or Kefalonia; only during the summer half-year does a single operator offer a multi-day round route Corfu–Paxos–Lefkada–Ithaca–Kefalonia–Zakynthos. Outside this seasonal line, travellers combine a domestic flight or a route via the mainland through Igoumenitsa and Kyllini.
Sources: Ferryhopper · Ferryhopper · Corfu Airport / flightsfrom.com · Direct Ferries · Lefkada Slow Guide
What currency do you need on the Ionian Islands?
The national currency is the euro, as across the country. Card payment is widespread in Corfu Town, Zakynthos Town and the tourist centres; but on Lefkada, Ithaca, Paxos and in rural parts of Kefalonia, not all tavernas, boat rental operators and ferry ticket counters accept cards.
Cash is worth carrying for boat trips to Navagio, the Blue Caves or Melissani, as well as for short ferry crossings, since many local operators take cash only. ATMs are available in all larger towns on the main islands, though the network is thinner on Paxos, Antipaxos and Kythira.
Tipping is not mandatory, as in the rest of Greece: 5 to 10% is customary in restaurants, and small change is usually enough in bars and cafés. Travellers booking a boat tour or a private guide add something extra at their own discretion.
Sources: ZDFheute
Where is the best place to stay on the Ionian Islands?
On Corfu, most visitors stay in the old town or on the northeast coast around Kassiopi and Kalami; on Zakynthos, in Zakynthos Town or at the beaches around Laganas and Tsilivi. Travellers seeking quiet head to Lefkada, Ithaca or Paxos, where the selection is smaller but more personal.
Around Navagio on Zakynthos there are no hotels directly at the bay, since it is accessible only by boat; accommodation is concentrated in the nearby coastal towns. On Kefalonia, Fiskardo in the north and Argostoli, the capital, are the tourist centres, while the interior stays quieter.
During the main season from June to August, sought-after spots on the well-known beaches are booked out months in advance; on the smaller islands of Paxos, Ithaca and Kythira, early booking is also worthwhile because the overall bed supply remains small.
Sources: visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation
What do you eat on the Ionian Islands?
The cuisine of the Ionian Islands differs from the rest of Greek cooking through Italian influence from the Venetian era: pastitsada, a braised dish with pasta, and sofrito, thinly sliced veal in a white wine and garlic sauce, are Corfu specialities.
On Zakynthos, ladotyri, a firm sheep's cheese matured in olive oil, is a protected speciality; there is also mandolato, an almond nougat locally regarded as a wedding sweet. Kefalonia is known for its meat pie (kreatopita) and its local Robola white wine, made from grapes grown on the limestone slopes of Mount Ainos.
Fish and seafood feature in the cuisine everywhere, especially in the port towns. Olive oil from the islands' dense groves shapes practically every dish; the Ionian Islands are among the most oil-rich regions of Greece.
Sources: visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation
What culture and festivals shape the Ionian Islands?
The Venetian past is still visible today in architecture, music and religion: Corfu has a long brass band tradition through its Philharmonic Society, and the Catholic minority is larger than elsewhere in Greece. Easter is celebrated on Corfu with a distinctive custom in which clay pots are thrown from balconies on Holy Saturday.
The custom, called "Botides", is said by local tradition to drive away evil spirits and usher in spring; brass bands parade through the old town during the event. On Zakynthos, veneration of the island's patron saint, Dionysios, is widespread, with two annual festivals featuring processions through Zakynthos Town.
Musically, the so-called "Kantades" tradition shapes the Ionian Islands, multi-part singing of Italian origin that differs markedly from the rest of Greek folk music. The Catholic churches in Corfu Town and Zakynthos Town are visible legacies of centuries of Venetian administration.
Sources: visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation
What experiences are worthwhile on the Ionian Islands?
Highlights include the old town and fortresses of Corfu, Navagio bay and the Blue Caves on Zakynthos, and Melissani cave on Kefalonia. Travellers wanting to be active can hike Mount Ainos, sail between the coves of Paxos, or watch loggerhead sea turtles in the marine park of Zakynthos.
Cultural highlights
- Old town of Corfu: UNESCO World Heritage since 2007, Old and New Fortress, the Liston.
- Achilleion: palace of Empress Elisabeth of Austria near Gastouri.
- Zakynthos Town: rebuilt in historic style after the 1953 earthquake.
- Melissani cave, Kefalonia: freshwater lake in a collapsed karst cave.
Active and outdoors
Mount Ainos on Kefalonia (1,628 m) offers hiking trails through the national park with the endemic Kefalonian fir. Sailing is popular around Paxos and Antipaxos, thanks to calmer water than in the open Aegean; diving schools are available on all the larger islands.
Experiencing nature
In the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, loggerhead sea turtles lay eggs from May to October on several beaches in the Gulf of Laganas; boat and beach rules during nesting season are meant to protect the animals. Off the coast of Kefalonia and Ithaca, dolphins are not uncommon.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation
How do you travel considerately on the Ionian Islands?
In the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, night closures on certain beaches and distance rules for boats apply during the loggerhead sea turtle's nesting season; they should be strictly observed. Avoiding heavily visited spots such as Navagio during peak season eases the dense boat traffic in the narrow bay.
- At Laganas and Gerakas beaches on Zakynthos between May and October, respect designated areas and night closures for turtle nests.
- Book boats to Navagio and the Blue Caves only through approved operators who follow the coast guard's boat-distance rules.
- Use water carefully on the smaller islands of Paxos, Antipaxos and Ithaca, since freshwater supply is limited there.
Sources: visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation
What can the Ionian Islands be combined with?
The most obvious combination is with the Greek mainland: from Igoumenitsa you reach Epirus with Ioannina and the Vikos Gorge, and from Kyllini the western Peloponnese with Olympia. By sea, southern Italian ports such as Bari, Brindisi and Ancona are also directly connected to Igoumenitsa and, in some cases, to Corfu.
Travellers with time to spare combine several Ionian Islands via the mainland rather than a direct ferry: Igoumenitsa and Kyllini both lie on the A5 motorway, which connects the north and south of western Greece. Within the group, Lefkada is most easily combined with Kefalonia and Ithaca via short ferry crossings from Nydri and Sami respectively.
Because Corfu lies closer to Italy than to the rest of the Ionian Islands, many travellers instead combine the island with a tour of Puglia or with southern Albania, reachable from Corfu by boat in under an hour.
Sources: visitgreece.gr, Greek National Tourism Organisation
Who are the Ionian Islands suited for, and who might prefer to skip them?
The Ionian Islands suit travellers who want to combine culture, green landscape and beach without relying on a dense ferry network between the islands. They are less suited to anyone wanting to flexibly combine several islands in a short time.
- Good fit: history enthusiasts (Corfu's old town, the Achilleion), nature lovers (Zakynthos marine park, Mount Ainos), families using one island as a base.
- Less suited: spontaneous island-hopping between several Ionian Islands, since year-round direct ferries are lacking; the Cyclades or Dodecanese suit that better.
Sources: Direct Ferries