Ionian Islands
Go for Venetian old towns, clear swimming water and mountain interiors on Greece's west coast.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
The Ionian Islands lie in the Ionian Sea off western mainland Greece. The group is traditionally called the Heptanese, or Seven Islands, and it also includes many smaller islets. Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos sit off the west coast, while Kythera lies off the southern tip of the Peloponnese.
Venetian rule from the early 1200s to 1797 shaped the old towns, architecture and cuisine, and British influence is still visible on Corfu. Zakynthos was Venice's favorite island, and Ithaca is the home island of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey. The islands sit in an earthquake-prone zone. The 1953 quake leveled Kefalonia and Zakynthos, and buildings put up under the code that followed have generally held up well since. Olive groves cover Paxos, while Kefalonia is dominated by mountains. Summer is the busiest season.
Ionian Islands in five
- Check ferry timetables before you book hotelsIthaca and Kythera need a ferry, and most island hops depend on boat times. Check the operator's timetable before you fix your hotel nights.Getting around
- Rent a car on KefaloniaKefalonia is mountainous, and its interior and coasts are less developed than Corfu's or Zakynthos's. Most of its beaches and villages are easiest to reach by car.
- Check earthquake cover in your policyThe islands sit in an earthquake-prone zone, and the 1953 quake leveled Kefalonia and Zakynthos. Read your policy for earthquake and ferry-delay cover before you fly.Travel insurance
- Visit Corfu Town early on cruise daysCorfu is a regular stop for cruise liners, so the old town and harbor fill up on ship days. Check the cruise schedule and go early or wait until the ships leave.
- Search Ionian places under both spellingsZakynthos is also Zante, Kefalonia is Cephalonia, Lefkada is Lefkas or Santa Maura, and Kythera is Cythera or Cerigo. Search under each name when you book.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Ionian Islands, the full guide
Corfu Town
- Price band: $$
Zakynthos
- Price band: $$
Argostoli
- Price band: $$
Lefkada
- Price band: $$
Things to do in Ionian Islands
See all attractions in Ionian Islands
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules; check your passport's entry status Read more
- Emergency
- 112 general, 100 police, 199 fire, 166 ambulance
- Tipping
- Not required; rounding up in restaurants is common
- Time
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryQuiet, wet
- FebruaryQuiet, wet
- MarchGreen, mild
- AprilMild, quiet
- MayWarm, few crowds
- JuneWarm, busy
- JulyHot, busy
- AugustHot, crowded
- SeptemberWarm, calm
- OctoberMild, calm
- NovemberWet, quiet
- DecemberQuiet, wet
Right now in Ionian Islands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 28 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Lefkada
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°15°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue18°15°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed18°14°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Thu19°13°3%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri18°11°13%Friday: Clear. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sat18°10°15%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sun15°13°15%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 15%.
Updated 08:15 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- PaxosShort ferry from Corfu; check the timetableOlive groves, sea caves on the west coast and the harbor at Gaios.
- IthacaFerry from Kefalonia; check the timetableOdysseus's home island, small and rocky, with poor soils and little water.
- KytheraFerry from the Peloponnese; check the timetableChora, Kapsali and Avlemonas, with old churches and monasteries.Read the guide
Before you go to Ionian Islands
Rules for Ionian Islands, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check your passport's entry status on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors can be fingerprinted and have their photo taken at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the current EES guidance before you travel.
- Cover shoulders and knees when you enter Orthodox churches and monasteries, including the old ones on Kythera.
All Ionian Islands guides
Head to headKefallonia, Zakynthos or Corfu: which Ionian island to choose
How toNavagio Beach and the Blue Caves: boat trips and viewpointHead to headZakynthos or Kefallonia: which Ionian island to choose?Where to stayWhere to stay in Zakynthos: five bases from the Town to Alykes
ItineraryCorfu in 5 days: old town, north, west and south by carWhere to stayWhere to stay in Kefallonia: Argostoli, Fiskardo, Assos, Skala or SamiWhere to stayWhere to stay in Corfu: five bases from the old town to PaleokastritsaWhen to goBest time to visit Corfu: month by month, from Easter to OctoberItineraryKefallonia in 5 days: Myrtos, caves, the north and Ithaca by carPlan around Ionian Islands
Harbor, Venetian old center and the island of Gerald Durrell's childhood memoir.
Read the guideZakynthosSome of the Ionian's best beaches and the harbor town below Bochali rock.
Read the guideKefaloniaMountain interior, quieter coasts and the setting of Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
Read the guideLefkadaClear blue water, award-winning beaches and the Venetian name Santa Maura.
Read the guideMoney and costsPaying in euros and what a day costs on the islands.
Read the guideVisas and entrySchengen rules and what to check before you fly.
Read the guideIonian Islands FAQ
Which Ionian island should I visit first?
Corfu for the old town and harbor, Zakynthos for beaches, and Kefalonia for mountains and quieter coasts. Corfu suits a trip focused on history.
Are all the Ionian Islands in one region?
Not quite. The Ionian Islands Region covers Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos. Kythera belongs to the Attica Region, though it lies off the southern tip of the Peloponnese.
How many days do you need in the Ionian Islands?
The answer depends on ferry times between islands. Check the timetables before you set the nights on each island.
Is Ithaca really Odysseus's island?
Ithaca is the home island of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey. Scholars debate where the island in the poem is, and archaeological finds have been made on both Ithaca and Kefalonia.
Which island is Captain Corelli's Mandolin set on?
Kefalonia. The novel and the 2001 film are both set on the island.
Are the Ionian Islands earthquake zones?
Yes. The islands sit in an earthquake-prone zone. Buildings put up under the strict code adopted after the 1953 quake have generally held up well in later earthquakes.