Ionian Islands
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©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Ionian Islands Why Go? Corfu ............................. 479 The Ionian Islands (Τα Ιόνια Νησιά) stand apart from main- Paxi ...............................492 stream Greek life. With their cooler climate, abundant olive Antipaxi ........................495 groves, cypress trees and beautifully forested mountains, the Meganisi .......................500 Ionians are a lighter, greener version of Greece. The Vene- tians, French and British have shaped the architecture, cul- Kefallonia ...................... 501 ture and (excellent) cuisine, and the unique feel of Ionian Ithaki .............................509 life has been evoked from Homer to Durrell. Zakynthos......................512 Though the islands appear linked in a chain down the Kythira .......................... 518 west coast of mainlaind Greece (with the exception of Antikythira ....................523 Kythira, which sits at the southern tip of the Peloponnese), each has a distinct landscape and cultural history. Corfu Town combines Parisian-style arcades, Venetian alleyways and Italian-inspired delicacies. Kefallonia, Paxi and Ithaki Best Places to Eat preserve wild terrain and a relaxed feel. Lefkada has some » Vasilis (p 494 ) of the best beaches in Greece, if not the world. The Ionians » Casa Grec (p 505 ) off er something for adventure seekers, food lovers, culture vultures and beach bums alike. » Klimataria (p 490 ) » Tassia (p 509 ) » Paradise Beach (p 508 ) When to Go Corfu Town Best Places to °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm Stay 40/104 0.79/20 30/86 » Emelisse Hotel (p 509 ) 0.39/15 » Niforos (p 506 ) 20/68 » Siorra Vittoria (p 484 ) 0.2/5 10/50 » Boschetto Hotel (p 497 ) 0/32 0 J FDNOSAJJMAM May Life is still Jul Escape the Sep Leaves quiet and the heat in the rest of change and the wildflowers are Greece and head harvest of robola abloom every- to its coolest grapes is happen- where. islands. ing in Kefallonia. Erikousa Othoni To Italy (80km) Ionian Diapondia Islands Islands Mathraki Sidhari Highlights Saranda 1 Explore world- Agios Stefanos Corfu ALBANIA class museums, Paleokastritsa fortresses, Corfu restaurants and Town Venetian, French and Pelekas Sagiada British architecture in To Ioannina 0 40 km (75km) Corfu Town (p 482 ) 0 20 miles 2 Hop from E92 gorgeous harbour to Igoumenitsa gorgeous harbour in Lefkimmi pastoral Paxi (p 492 ) 3 Treat yourself to South GREECE top restaurants in Kerkyra Straits IONIAN ISLANDS ISLANDS IONIAN Kefallonia’s charming Lakka Parga Fiskardo (p 508 ) and Kythira To Gythio (55km); Paxi striking Assos (p 508 ) Kalamata (100km) Cape Spathi Gaïos EPIROS 4 Learn to windsurf Platia Ammos Kythira Antipaxi (p 498 ) at Vasiliki Strait To or (p 503 ) kayak and Agia Pelagia Antikythira E55 cave in Kefallonia (50km) Potamos 5 Rank your favourite beaches, Kythira from the busiest on Diakofti Corfu or Zakynthos Avlemonas to the quieter joys Alexandrades Preveza Livadi of Paxi or Lefkada’s Kominianika Lefkada west coast (p 499 ) Kalamos Town Kapsali 6 Walk the paths STEREA 0 4 km Lefkada ELLADA of Homer in Ithaki 0 2 miles Nydri (p 512 ) 7 Discover the tiny Vasiliki Meganisi Mytikas villages, waterfalls One Way Only and remote coves of Vasiliki to Fiskardo Seasonal Kalamos Kythira (p 518 ) Fiskardo to Frikes IONIAN Fiskardo Kastos Frikes Assos To SEA Ithaki Astakos (5km) Piso Aetos Vathy Agia Lixouri Evfymia Argostoli Sami Kefallonia Pesada Antikythira To Diakofti Poros (50km) To Patra Potamos (70km) Harhaliana Galaniana Antikythira 0 4 km Shipwreck Agios Nikolaos 0 2 miles Beach Zakynthos To Patra Strait (70km) Zakynthos Kyllini Zakynthos Town PELOPONNESE To Kythira (see inset) (260km); Bay of E55 Antikythira (see inset) (290km) Laganas.