Western Greek Islands in the Ionian Sea

If you want to visit the western Greek islands, those closest to Western Europe, you need to head to the Ionian Sea. These islands are situated between Albania and the Peloponnese, on the western side of Greece. You can reach them by sea from various Adriatic ports (including Bari and Brindisi in Italy). If you prefer to fly, you can land in Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, and Zakynthos (Zante).
The Greek islands in the Ionian Sea are a bit different from all the others: they are lush and well-cultivated. Depending on your needs, you can choose a quiet island, a lively one, one rich in history, one with beautiful seas, one with majestic landscapes, or a mix of all these. Besides the larger ones, this archipelago also includes small islands, very charming and worth savoring: Paxos and Antipaxos to start with, the beautiful Diapontia archipelago, or the semi-deserted and wild islets under Lefkada. The choice is yours!

ANTIPAXOS (IONIAN)

The island is truly beautiful, hilly, a bit wild, very green, and in the evening, when the day tourists who come to bathe in its beautiful blue sea leave, it becomes absolutely silent. It is usually reached from the port of Paxos with a taxi-boat service (15 minutes), from Corfu, or even from Parga on the mainland.

KEFALONIA (IONIAN)

It is the most mountainous of the archipelago and also hosts several caves. Its sea is very beautiful: blue, transparent, and with beautiful beaches. What differentiates Kefalonia from the other nearby islands is above all the variety of its landscapes and geological phenomena that it holds. It is easily reached by both air (it has an international airport) and ferry by sea.

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CORFU (IONIAN)

With its blue and transparent sea, magnificent sandy beaches, beautiful architecture, and mythology, Corfu needs no introduction. Very popular with international tourism, it can be easily reached by both air (it has an international airport) and ferry by sea.

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Diapontia Archipelago (IONIAN)

It is located northwest of Corfu, in the Ionian Sea, between Puglia and Albania. It mainly comprises the islets of EREIKOUSSA, MATHRAKI, and OTHONI. These are small, very beautiful islands, still little visited but offering a very fascinating and unspoiled wild nature. They are reached by sea, mainly from nearby Corfu.

ITHACA (IONIAN)

It can only be reached by sea, with a stopover in Kefalonia, which is only 2 nautical miles away from Ithaca at the closest point. The island is often visited in search of Homeric tradition and places reminiscent of Odysseus. However, the variety of its landscapes should not be overlooked: mountainous, rocky, with woods and cultivation, a very clean sea, and beautiful seabeds.

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LEFKADA (IONIAN)

The island of Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a movable bridge, making it easy to reach from the continent. For those wanting to arrive by sea, it is advisable to stop at Igoumenitsa and continue by land. The island does not have an airport but relies on the one in Preveza, about twenty kilometers away (charter flights in the summer). Lefkada has a beautiful sea, white sandy beaches, protected bays, a marshy canal only 30 meters wide that separates it from the mainland, cliffs, mountains, lush valleys, and picturesque villages. Southeast of the island are also the small islands of MEGANISI, KALAMOS, and KASTOS: clean, transparent, and fish-rich sea.

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PAXOS (IONIAN)

The small Paxos is easily reached from the port of Corfu by hydrofoil or ferry. It is a small island but offers many things: rich vegetation, a fish-rich and transparent sea, beautiful beaches, white cliffs, coves, sea caves, and islets to explore.

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ZAKYNTHOS (ZANTE) (IONIAN)

It is directly reachable by sea from Adriatic ports such as Bari and Brindisi (Italy). Alternatively, you can stop in Patras, continue by land along the coasts of the Peloponnese, and re-embark at the port of Killini (1.5 hours of navigation). During the summer, the island can also be reached with direct and charter flights from various European cities, as it has an international airport. Its sea is very beautiful: colorful, transparent, with beautiful sandy beaches and several caves. The many tourists who visit it in the summer also appreciate the museums and churches with beautiful icons and frescoes.

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