Discover the Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands (Greek: Eptanisa, the "Seven Islands") are Greece's green counterbalance to the barren Cycladic aesthetic. Seven main islands — Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Ithaca, Paxi, and Kythira — line up along the Greek west coast, protected from the dry Meltemi winds of the Aegean and blessed with significantly more rainfall. The result: dense cypress forests, olive groves down to the sea, lush greenery even in midsummer, and vegetation that is more reminiscent of southern Italy than the typical Greek islands.

What sets the Ionian Islands apart from all other Greek island groups is their history. While the rest of Greece was under Ottoman rule for centuries, the Ionian Islands belonged to the Republic of Venice (1386–1797). Then came the French briefly, then the British, and only in 1864 were they united with Greece. This Venetian past shapes everything: the architecture with its arcades and bell towers, the cuisine with pasta and Sofrito, the music with Italian-influenced cantatas, and even the dialect.

Each island has its own character:

• Corfu — The cosmopolitan queen with UNESCO old town and Venetian flair
• Zakynthos — Dramatic cliffs, the most famous beach in Greece, and sea turtles
• Kefalonia — The largest Ionian island with Myrtos Beach and magical caves
• Lefkada — Caribbean beaches and accessible by bridge
• Ithaca — Homer's homeland, small, quiet, and timeless
• Paxi — Tiny, car-free in many places, with spectacular sea cliffs
• Kythira — Geographically isolated, between Peloponnese and Crete, wild and original

The best travel time is May to October, with spring (May/June) being particularly beautiful — everything is in bloom, temperatures are pleasant (22–28°C), and the beaches are not yet crowded. July/August are hot (up to 35°C) and full, September/October offer warm sea (24–26°C) and fewer tourists.