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A small, tree-covered islet featuring a prominent white church and a stone causeway, set against a backdrop of blue sea and distant mountains.
CC BY-SA 2.0 • Photo by Dimitris Pachakis via Wikimedia Commons

Ionian Islands

Ethereal isles with turquoise waters

  • 4 destinations
  • 28 attractions

About Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands form a verdant archipelago off Greece's western coast, known for their lush landscapes and Venetian heritage. This region offers a unique blend of cultural heritage and natural beauty, distinct from the more arid Cycladic islands.

The Ionian Islands, or Heptanese, lie in the Ionian Sea west of mainland Greece. This chain includes Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca, and Zakynthos. Each island has a distinct character, from Corfu's Venetian architecture to Lefkada's sandy beaches. The region is famous for its emerald waters, lush vegetation, and mild climate. Key attractions include the Old Fortress in Corfu, the blue caves of Zakynthos, and the waterfalls of Kefalonia. Cultural highlights feature Byzantine churches, Venetian castles, and local festivals. The best time to visit is from May to October for warm weather and open attractions. Travelers can reach the islands via flights to Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Lefkada, or by ferry from Igoumenitsa. Once there, rental cars and ferries between islands are the primary modes of transport. The area offers a relaxed pace, excellent seafood, and historical depth.

Where to go in Ionian Islands

The rooftops of Corfu Old Town with the Old Fortress on its headland and the sea beyond.

Ionian Islands

Corfu

Lush Ionian island with Venetian architecture and diverse beaches
An aerial view of a secluded cove with steep limestone cliffs, turquoise water, and a large white yacht anchored offshore.

Ionian Islands

Zakynthos

Ionian island with lush vegetation and sea turtle nesting sites
A coastal harbor scene featuring a stone pier, several docked boats, waterfront buildings with red-tiled roofs, and green hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

Ionian Islands

Kefalonia

Largest Ionian island with dramatic cliffs and underground caves
A scenic view of a sandy beach with turquoise water, white waves, and steep limestone cliffs on the right side, under a clear blue sky.

Ionian Islands

Lefkada

Ionian island connected to mainland by floating bridge

What to see

All 28 sights
A small, rectangular stone building with a tiled roof and whitewashed accents, situated on a rocky, elevated terrain with a view of the sea and distant hills in the background.

Lefkada · Historic Sites & Ruins

Angelokastro

Angelokastro, the Castle of the Angel, is a Byzantine fortress on the north-west coast of Corfu, not on Lefkada, and it...
A view from the water looking into a sea cave with a natural archway in a white limestone cliff, with distant mountains visible across the blue sea.

Zakynthos · Natural Landscapes

Blue Caves of Zakynthos

Limestone sea caves with electric blue light
The image shows the interior of a limestone cave featuring numerous stalactites and flowstone formations illuminated by warm, artificial lighting.

Kefalonia · Caves

Drogarati Cave

A few kilometres from the harbour town of Sami on Kefalonia, a flight of steps leads down into Drogarati Cave, one of th...
The neoclassical Mon Repos villa in its park near Corfu Town

Corfu · Historic Mansions

Mon Repos Palace

Mon Repos Palace stands in a wooded park on the Kanoni peninsula, south of Corfu Town, on the site of the ancient city o...
A low-angle shot of a yellow church bell tower with three bells, set against a blue sky and surrounded by green vegetation with white and pink flowers.

Corfu · Natural Landscapes

Paleokastritsa Monastery

On a green headland above the bays of Paleokastritsa, on the northwest coast of Corfu, a whitewashed monastery looks out...
A harbor scene showing a row of colorful neoclassical buildings with terracotta roofs along a waterfront promenade, backed by a green, forested hill, with numerous sailboats and yachts moored in the blue water.

Kefalonia · Village Centers

Fiskardo

On the northern tip of Kefalonia, where the island's mountains tumble to a sheltered bay facing Ithaca and Lefkada, Fisk...
AI-generated illustration of Agios Ioannis Peristis

Lefkada · Beaches

Agios Ioannis Peristis

Agios Ioannis Peristis is a long beach on the north-western side of Lefkada, a few kilometres from the island's capital,...
The broad green Spianada square in Corfu Town

Corfu · Historic Districts

Achilleos Square (Spianada)

In front of the Old Fortress and the old town of Corfu stretches a vast open lawn, the Spianada, also called Achilleos S...
A high-angle panoramic view of a long, sandy beach with turquoise water, lined with rows of blue and white sun umbrellas, adjacent to buildings with terracotta roofs and green vegetation.

Lefkada · Beaches

Kathisma Beach

Kathisma Beach is the long beach on the western coast of Lefkada, about ten to fifteen kilometres from Lefkada Town and...

Stories and tips

All stories

· 11 min read

The Bright Side of Zakynthos

A saint who forgave his brother's killer, the poet of the Greek national anthem, a bishop and a mayor who would not hand over the island's Jews, and the turtles of Laganas Bay: what Zakynthos is proud of, and where to find it

· 4 min read

The Best Beaches in Greece: Crete, the Ionian, the Cyclades and the Mainland

A region-by-region guide to Greece's best-known beaches, what each one is actually like, and how to reach them.

· 4 min read

Greek Public Transport Explained: Metro, Buses, Trains and Ferries

How the Athens metro, KTEL intercity buses, Hellenic Train and the ferry network fit together, and which to use for common journeys.

Quick Facts

Part of Greece
Destinations 4
Attractions 28

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Elsewhere in Greece

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A tall, cylindrical stone lighthouse situated on a fortified breakwater, with large waves crashing against its base and a coastal town visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

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A view from a white terrace with a white lattice railing and red bougainvillea flowers, looking out over the deep blue caldera waters towards the volcanic island cliffs of Santorini.

Aegean

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