Region · The road less travelled

The Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands lie off Greece's western coast, greener than the Aegean and shaped by centuries of Venetian rule: Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Ithaca and Paxos.

A whitewashed monastery at the waterline and a wooded islet, seen through bougainvillea

Your grand adventure in the Ionian begins the second you engage your imagination, and the Ionian gives an imagination plenty to work with. This chain off the western coast holds some of the country’s most sought-after destinations, from cosmopolitan Corfu to Ithaca, the island Odysseus spent ten years trying to reach.

A different Greece

The Ionian islands have been inhabited since deep antiquity, and centuries under Venetian rule gave them a look and feel entirely their own, with distinct Italian influences in the towns, the food and the colour of the shutters. A different sea, greener hills, softer light: the Ionian is Greece in another key.

Who the Ionian is for

If you have been to Greece many times and want the road less travelled, these islands will impress and surprise you in equal measure. They also make one of the great sailing grounds of the country, with short hops, protected water and an anchorage for every taste, from Paxos’ little harbours to the west-coast cliffs of Zakynthos.

Design

Design your experience

Tell us the occasion, the season and who is coming. One of our Epicureans will come back with a first sketch, and with which of these islands is at its best while you are travelling.

Plan your journey