Ionian Island Ferries

The Ionian Islands line the western coast of Greece in a chain that runs from Corfu in the north down to Zakynthos in the south, with Kefalonia, Ithaca, Lefkada, and Paxos in between. Unlike the Cyclades or Dodecanese, the Ionians face the Adriatic rather than the Aegean, and the difference in character is noticeable: the vegetation is lusher thanks to higher rainfall, the architecture carries strong Venetian influence, and the water on the western beaches is a different shade of turquoise entirely. The ferry connections in the Ionian group are less about long-haul sailings and more about short, frequent crossings between islands and the mainland.

Corfu, the northernmost island, is served by ferries from Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland, a crossing that takes around 90 minutes by conventional ferry and about 45 minutes by fast ferry. Igoumenitsa also runs direct ferries to Italy (Brindisi, Bari, Ancona, Venice) making it an important transit point for European overland travellers. Corfu itself has two ferry ports: the main port at Corfu Town handles most of the traffic, while Lefkimmi in the south of the island provides a shorter crossing to Igoumenitsa useful for travellers at that end of the island.

Paxos is reached by boat from Corfu rather than directly from the mainland, with several operators running the route in summer. It is a small island and very peaceful outside August. Kefalonia and Zakynthos are connected to the Peloponnese by short ferry crossings: Kyllini to Zakynthos takes about an hour, and Kyllini or Patra to Kefalonia a little longer.

Ferry services in the Ionians run year-round, which sets them apart from much of the Aegean network. The schedules are consistent and the crossings are short enough that planning is simpler than in other island groups. Peak season in July and August sees Corfu in particular become very busy, so booking ferries in advance is worth doing if you are travelling then.