Ionian Islands

A green chain of islands off Greece's west coast, famed for Corfu Old Town, the Shipwreck Bay of Zakynthos and Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia.

This region corresponds to the Ionian Islands region. The main islands, from north to south, are Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos, plus small islands such as Meganisi. Note that Kythira, though often called the "seventh Ionian island", belongs administratively to Attica; the Epirus coast opposite belongs to Northern Greece, and the Patras area to the Peloponnese.

Venetian and British rule lasted a long time here, so the architecture and cuisine differ from the Aegean islands, and the vegetation is lusher. Corfu Old Town (a World Heritage Site) has two Venetian fortresses, the Liston arcade and Empress Sisi's Achilleion Palace; Paxos and Antipaxos are known for their clear waters. Lefkada is linked to the mainland by a causeway, and its west-coast beaches of Porto Katsiki and Egremni are outstanding. Kefalonia has Myrtos Beach, Melissani Cave Lake and the pretty village of Assos; neighbouring Ithaca is said to be the homeland of Odysseus. Zakynthos's Shipwreck Bay (Navagio Beach) is mostly viewed from the clifftop viewpoint or by boat, and Laganas Bay is a nesting reserve for loggerhead turtles.

A single-island holiday takes 4–7 days, while island-hopping can combine Lefkada – Kefalonia – Ithaca, or a chartered boat cruise. Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos have airports, with many charter flights in summer; inter-island ferries are less frequent than in the Aegean, so check the seasonal timetables before you travel. Some beaches can only be reached by car or boat.

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