Ionian Islands

Antipaxos or Antipaxi island is the smallest of the Ionian Islands and belongs to the municipality of Paxos. According to Greek legends, Paxos and all the tiny islands around it were created when Neptune, the sea god, nipped with his trident, a tiny piece from Corfu in order to create a snug cozy place for himself and his consort Amfitryti. Located 3 kilometers to the south of Paxos, the islet of Antipaxos covers an area of 5 square kilometers. It consists of Tiny villages,tiny hills and tiny beaches with fantastic waters. Voutoumi and Vrika, the two main beaches of Antipaxos are located at the north end of the islet and both beaches are safe for all people. To the south of these two beaches, there are a few small and beautiful secluded coves. To go to Antipaxos, there are water taxis that run from Gaios usually every hour. The trip takes about 15 minutes.

Home to a quarter of a million olive trees, Antipaxos is also reputed to give the best olive oil in the world though there are plenty of other islands that claim the same. The endless ranks of olive trees can make walks on Paxos inland hillsides thoroughly monotonous. The islet has a small harbor called Agrapidia and a network of narrow tracks starting from the harbor leading up to the interior of the island, passing the occasional cottage with orchards of fruit trees, vegetables and wild herbs. The islet is covered with vineyards owned by the residents of Paxi. The local grape produces a rich red wine with delicious taste.

Corfu Island is a one of Greece's top destinations and attracts thousands of visitors every year.  It is a very green island and a mixture of the civilizations that have passed through at various times. Located at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, it is the second largest island in the group known as the Seven Islands, or Eptanisa. Together with the small island of Paxi and others that are still smaller (Antipaxi, Othoni, Erikoussa, Mathraki), Corfu constitutes a separate prefecture. It consists of impressive landscapes, dense vegetation, many golden sandy beaches, an elegant capital, traditional villages, many Byzantine churches, museums, Venetians ruins and attractive resorts all over the island.

It has an area of 592 sq. km, a coastline of 217 km and a population of over 100,000 making it the largest Ionian island in terms of population. Approximately 65% of the surface of the island is under cultivation and 59% of this area is covered with olives, cypress trees, citrus fruit trees, fruit trees and vineyards.

The town of Corfu (Kerkyra) impresses and charms the visitor with its two forts, narrow streets, tall houses, arcades, Venetian-built Town Hall, church to Saint Spyridon, the corfu island's patron saint, flower-filled gardens, and balconies with their superb wrought-iron fences. From Paleokastritsa  to Kanoni, from the Achillion to Pontikonissi  and  the Corfu's northern  coast,  one will  find crystal water scenic coves greenery and vegetation that 'sinks' into the deep blue sea.  On this cosmopolitan island, you’ll be able to combine relaxation with good times and a full nightlife, for Corfu is an international tourist centre which can satisfy the demands of the most difficult visitors.

The island can be reached by air from Athens (daily service from Athens airport and more than six flights a day during peak periods) or Europe. Ships go from Patras (132 nautical miles), Igoumenitsa (18 nautical miles) or Sagiada as well as from Italy (Bari, Brindizi, Ancona, Otranto) and the former Yugoslavia (Bar, Dubrovnik, Split). By road you can go from Athens or Thessaloniki by way of Igoumenitsa.

Ithaca island is located in the Ionian Sea, with an area of 45 square miles and a little more than three thousand inhabitants, separated from the island of Kefalonia by a narrow canal, only 3 kilometers wide.It's the least developed and arguably the most beautiful island in the group with pretty pebble beaches and a mountainous interior speckled with pine forests, cypresses, olive groves and vineyards. Ithaca is famous for being the homeland of Odysseus (Ulysses), Homer's hero in the Odyssey, the land where the faithful Penelope waited patiently during twenty years for her husband to return from the Trojan War.

The east coast of the island is harsh and precipitous, contrasting with the west coast which is verdant and soft, gently sloping down to the Ionian Sea. The interior of the island is quite mountainous, covered with pine forests, cypresses, olive trees and vineyards. Enchanting coves are finishing this idyllic landscape, making it a real paradise on earth. The island offers many things to do such as endless nice walks, visits to the sleepy picturesque villages and stopping at the many archaeological sites associated with Homer's stories.The whole island is full of magic and beauties, making us understand the great love and pride of Odysseus for his homeland, a wonderful island fit for the gods themselves.

 


You can reach the island by ferry from the mainland port of Patras or fly into neighbouring Kefalonia's international airport and catch a ferry to Ithaca

Lefkada is the fourth largest island of the Ionian Sea with 23,000 inhabitants and an area of 302,5 square kilometers It is located at the Ionian Sea, above the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia and on the western side of the coastline of the prefecture of Etoloakarnania The climate of the island is Mediterranean with extensive hours of sunlight daily and hot summer with cool breezes. It took it's name from the cape Lefkata, which lies in the most southern part of the island.  Here, according to tradition, the lyric poetess Sapfo jumped from the cliffs to end her life and her misfortune love for the handsome Faona.

Lefkada is a popular destination in the Ionians and attracts thousands of visitors every summer. It is large and fertile and has much to offer to the visitor: impressive landscapes, long golden sandy beaches with colour as if the blue of the sea was mixed with bleaching water, traditional villages, a charming capital, several animated beach resorts with many activities, Orthodox churches, archaeological sites and museums, perfect wind conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing and much more. The capital of the island is the town of Lefkada which is a cultural center with opulent sightseeing and interesting history, where  several traditional houses from the past are maintained, while several women still wear traditional clothes creating a beautiful icon.

Apart from the capital of the island of Lefkada, as you will be touring around, you will come across numerous settlements that definitely worth a visit. The cosmopolitan coastal resort of Agios Nikitas, the mountainous and traditional Athani, the scenic and verdant Vassiliki, the popular and modern Nydri, the small and picturesque Sivota, as well as Poros, Nikiana, Lygia, Karya, Vlyho and the surrounding islets are the main sightseeing of the island of Lefkada.

Lefkada is the only island in Greece, which is linked with the mainland by a floating bridge. That way Lefkada island is accessible by car through Akarnania. Lefkada town is 385km from Athens the capital of Greece. There are daily bus routes from Athens to Lefkada. Lefkada is also linked by bus with Thessaloniki (420km) the second most important city in Greece. You can reach the island from the airport of Aktio, which lies in the mainland in a distance of 25km from the town of Lefkada. Lefkada is also linked by boat with other islands of the Ionian sea like Ithaca and kephalonia, with frequent routes.

Meganissi in greek means "large island". It covers 19.85 square kilometres and sits 4 nautical miles from the nearest port of Nidri, Lefkada. It is a spectacular tiny island, very green, with crystal clear waters, simple, ideal for romance, honeymooners or for those who wish to get away from it all. When visitors are asked to describe Meganissi, the satellite island to Lefkada, they all say it is like taking a step back in time, unspoilt, charming and beautiful .It is the perfect island if you want to combine relaxation and picturesque landscape.

The two main harbours of Vathi and Spilia offer safe moorings to local fishermen and sailors. Each has waterside tavernas to while away an hour or two whilst taking refreshment. Above these two harbours are the quaint villages of Katomeri and Spartohori. A labyrinth of tiny lanes and alleyways form a maze of whitewashed houses and courtyards full of tin-potted plants. A handful of churches occupy sites with the best sea views and a few tavernas offer tasty Greek meals to visitors. The island's capital is the village of Katomeri, which is located high above Vathy and is also the seat of the Municipality of Meganis

Compared to its size, Meganisi has many beaches, both pebbled and sandy. They are all clean and almost isolate, as few of them have tourist amenities close by. On these beaches, you can relax and swim among a picturesque landscape, as the whole of the island is green. The beaches on Meganisi are accessed by boat from Vathi, by motorbike or on foot. 

There is a frequent service between Lefkada and Meganissi. The schedule from Nydri in Lefkada will take 25 minutes, while the ferry from Lefkada Town will take one and a half hour.

Paxos can be found 14 kilometres south of Corfu,  20 kilometres to the east is Parga on the mainland of Greece.  Paxos covers an area of some 19 square kilometres and is one of a cluster of picturesque small islands set in the Ionian Sea. Paxos has no airport, can only be reached by ferry boat  and therefore, has been able to protect itself from the strain of modern tourism. Paxos is an island of endless olive groves  The eastern coastline of the islands are gentle compared to the west coast which are bold and abrupt, with caves, arches and shear cliffs. The capital of Paxos is Gaios a picturesque village built around a port which is protected by two small islands Agios Nikolas and Panagia. On the Northern side is the village of Lakka and on the east side is the  very charming village of Loggos. You will find the pace is still unhurried, very relaxing with genuine friendly Greek hospitality at its best. Paxos has a permanent population of approximately 2,300  inhabitants.

Many visitors return year after year to Paxos to experience the intimacy of this peaceful haven, the genuine friendliness of the local Paxiots, and the captivating scenery. Paxos is covered in many olive groves intersected by dry-stone walls and paths, that often lead to a derelict villa or abandoned stone olive press

Zakynthos is 8 nautical miles south of Kephalonia and 10 nautical miles from Kyllini in the Peloponnese. It has an area of 402 square kilometers, a coastline of 123 kilometers and a population of 30.000. It is almost triangular in shape, with two green mountainous promontories extending into the sea to form the huge bay of Laganas.

The superb beaches of Zakynthos are famous in Greece for their unspoiled beauty and their mirror-like emerald waters. The most famous beach of the island is the wonderful Navagio Beach (Shipwreck)  located in the eastern part of the island close to the Anafotiria village. It has fine white volcanic sand, turquoise waters and the remains of a ship which are emerging from its perfect sand.  It is the trademark of the island and has been photographed millions of times. Huge vertical cliffs of white rocks are surrounding the place creating a unique and wonderful image. To reach this paradise, one has to take a little boat from the small port of Porto Vromi. Those taxi-boats are leaving every hour and the trip is about 30 minutes.

There is also the Laganas beach also famous as it is a birthplace of the endangered specie of sea turtle Caretta-Caretta and therefore consists a part of the National Marine Park. Watersports, endless sandy beaches, natural beaches within rocky formations, everything is available in a landscape as rich with many variations. Laganas gets extremely busy during the high season and its full of bars and clubs , you can even found here English pubs . Argassi is a bit quieter, but has quite a few bars and clubs. In Zakynthos town there are also a few bars, but it is generally quiet here.

You can reach the island by plane from Athens, Corfu and Argostoli of Cephalonia. You can also go by bus or train to Kyllini and then take the ferryboat to the island. Local boats connect Zakynthos to Cephalonia during summer.

 

Evia, is situated on the eastern coast of Central Greece, and it is second  largest Island in Greece, covering an area of 3.660 square kilometers with a coastline of 678 km. The island is very popular and unique of all the Greek Islands  specially for the Greeks. Evia is a wonderful holiday destination, that is ideal for visiting all year-round.

Evia island is best described as being an island with three main parts - the north, central and south. Each has it's own inspiring landscape, rich vegetation and colourful scenery, interesting history, ancient sites and place of interest, as well as so much more. it has easy access from various points of its coastline since it is located at a close distance from the main ports of the country. It is excellent for driving around on, since there are many villages and interesting places worth visiting, along with the nice beaches, and depending on where you stay, you can enjoy some real peace and quiet, or a hectic nightlife.

Evia can be visited both in the winter and the summer, its ski center being one of the very popular amongst the Greeks. The capital of Evia, Chalkida, is a modern town, with many shops, banks, bars, and restaurants. Here, you can visit an interesting archaeological museum and see the ruins of ancient temples, as well as a 15th century fortress.

Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, located on the West coast of Greece, and has a mild climate along with excellent beaches. The island of Kefalonia has escaped mass tourism and recently was used to film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, with Nikolas Cage, which after its huge success put Kefalonia on the 'must visit' list of destinations.

The island's beaches offer truly breathtaking views and the rugged rocky shores and caves that are a worthwhile sight. One of the most famous beaches is Myrtos, which has been ranked fifth in the world for its outstanding views. Vertical rock cliffs surround an enchanting bay which appears a rich turquoise in the sun, the soft white sand baking in the heat. The island has many picturesque villages, and it is the more mountainous of the Ionian islands. Located on the highest mountain (Mount Ainos) is the National Park on which a rare specie of fir forest grows and terrific landscapes can be found.

The island has an airport situated a few km outtside Argostoli. There are daily flights to Kephalonia except the charter flights. There are also ferry boat connections with the neighbouring islands as well as the mainland (Patras, Igoumenitsa and Kyllini) from Argostoli, Sami and Poros. During high season there are also Ferry connections to Italy.