Where to Stay in the Ionian Islands: A Guide to Accommodation Across Six Islands

The Ionian Islands sit along the western edge of Greece, facing Italy rather than Turkey, and that orientation shapes everything — the light, the architecture, the food, and the general feeling of being there. Seven main islands make up the group, six of which have a solid range of places to stay. Together they offer more than 135 properties on FollowMeToGreece, from hillside villas with private pools to family-run studios steps from the sand.

This guide covers each island in turn: what it's like, who it suits, and what kind of accommodation you'll find there.

The Ionian Islands: A Quick Orientation

Unlike the Cyclades or Dodecanese, the Ionian Islands are noticeably green. Winter rains feed forests of cypress and olive, and even in high summer the hillsides hold their colour. The sea here runs a deeper blue-green than the Aegean, and the coastlines are more varied — long sandy beaches on the eastern shores of Zakynthos and Corfu, dramatic cliff-backed coves on Kefalonia, calm harbours on Ithaca and Paxoi.

Venetian rule for centuries left a clear mark: the pastel facades and arched loggias of Zakynthos Town, the old fortress of Corfu, the neoclassical buildings of Argostoli. This isn't purely a Greek landscape — it carries a Mediterranean layering that makes it distinctive among the island groups.

The islands are also well connected. Corfu, Kefalonia, and Zakynthos have international airports. Lefkada is reachable by road bridge from the mainland. Ithaca and Paxoi are quieter, smaller, and accessed by ferry — which is partly why they attract the visitors they do.

Corfu — 28 Properties

Corfu is the largest and most visited of the Ionian Islands, and its accommodation reflects that range. The island has something genuinely for everyone: restored Venetian townhouses in Corfu Town's Old Quarter (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), seafront apartment complexes in the popular resort areas of Sidari and Kavos, and quiet villas tucked into olive groves in the north and northeast.

The northeast coast in particular draws visitors looking for something more low-key. Properties like Villa Tatiana in San Stefano — a two-storey sea-view villa above the fishing harbour — represent what this part of the island does well: position, privacy, and a direct connection to the water without being in the thick of a resort. On the west coast, Lido Sofia Holidays near Agios Gordios offers a more accessible beach-focused stay, a short walk from one of the island's longest sandy shores.

Accommodation in Corfu ranges from studio apartments at around €80 per night to luxury villas well above €400. The variety is genuinely wide, and the island rewards those who look beyond the main resort strips.

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Kefalonia — 39 Properties

Kefalonia is the largest island by area in the Ionians, and it has the most diverse terrain: flat agricultural plains around Argostoli, forested mountains in the centre, karst caves, and a coastline that switches between calm sandy bays and exposed rocky headlands. Myrtos Beach, on the northwest coast, is one of the most recognised stretches of shore in Greece — a white pebble cove enclosed by white limestone cliffs.

The island's accommodation is spread across several distinct areas, each with its own character. Argostoli, the capital, has proper town hotels including the Kefalonia Grand, a 4-star boutique hotel on the waterfront with views across the natural harbour. The Lassi peninsula just outside Argostoli clusters much of the island's hotel accommodation — Mediterranee Hotel sits above a small sandy bay here, and Simatos Apartments & Studios offers well-priced family-friendly rooms set in large grounds near Makris Gialos beach.

Further afield, Petani Bay Hotel occupies an elevated position on the western Paliki peninsula, adults-only, with direct exposure to sunset light over the sea. On the eastern coast, Penelope Villas near Sami offers three independent villas on a two-acre landscaped property, named after figures from the Odyssey — appropriate, given that Ithaca is visible from Sami's harbour.

For five-star stays, White Rocks Hotel sits on a pine-covered peninsula above three beaches on the southwest coast, while Electra Kefalonia Hotel & Spa near Ammes Beach combines spa and fitness facilities with direct beach access.

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Zakynthos — 40 Properties

Zakynthos has the most listings in the Ionian group on FollowMeToGreece, and the island earns that representation through sheer variety. Its most famous image — the rusted Navagio shipwreck on a white pebble beach enclosed by vertical limestone — draws photographers and boat-trip passengers to the northwest coast. The east coast, centred on the resort town of Tsilivi and the elegant Zakynthos Town, hosts most of the accommodation.

Zakynthos Town itself retains a neoclassical grid layout, rebuilt after the 1953 earthquake that devastated much of the Ionians. The Capolavoro Suites in the town centre blend art deco elements with contemporary Zakynthian design across three levels, sitting within 300 metres of the seafront. A few streets away, the Diana Hotel occupies the Venetian Square of St. Marcos, a 4-star property with 45 rooms combining modern amenities with the town's architectural backdrop.

For those preferring privacy and distance from the main resorts, Noema Villa sits in the quiet village of Sarakinado, surrounded by vineyards and green fields, with a private pool and hydromassage. At the northern tip of the island in Agios Nikolaos, Aliv Stone Suites & Spa takes a more design-led approach, with earth-tone suites built in natural stone overlooking the sea. Near Tsilivi, St. John Suites – Adults Only occupies a green hillside position for guests looking for quieter surroundings outside the main beach scene.

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Lefkada — 23 Properties

Lefkada is technically a peninsula connected to the Greek mainland by a short causeway and floating bridge, but it functions entirely as an island. Its west coast has some of the most consistently clear water in the Ionians — Porto Katsiki and Egremni are frequently cited among the best beaches in Europe, reached by steep paths or by boat. The east coast faces the mainland across a sheltered lagoon, and the town of Lefkada sits on that side, animated and lived-in.

The island draws a notably active visitor: windsurfers concentrate at Vassiliki in the south, sailors use the marinas at Nidri, and walkers find marked trails into the forested interior. Accommodation reflects this — properties tend to be functional and well-positioned rather than resort-heavy.

Iris Villas Lefkada on the southeastern coast near Sivota represents the upper end: two independent luxury villas with private pools, panoramic sea views, and architectural character built for longer stays. Villa Naya, operational since 2023, accommodates up to 12 guests in a newly built 180 sqm property with a private pool and sea views — practical for larger groups who want space without staying in separate rooms.

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Ithaca — 3 Properties

Ithaca is small, quiet, and somewhat deliberately under-developed. Its reputation rests almost entirely on Homer — this is the island Odysseus spent ten years trying to reach — and that mythology attracts visitors who value the association and the pace that comes with it. There are no large resorts and no sandy beach that would make international headlines. What Ithaca has is a deeply indented coastline of small coves, clear water, and an unhurried village life centred on the harbour of Vathy.

With only 3 properties listed, the accommodation options are selective. The standout is Perantzada Hotel 1811, a carefully restored 19th-century neoclassical mansion overlooking Vathy's harbour. The building combines its historic architecture with contemporary design in a way that matches the island's general refusal to be anything other than itself — considered, unhurried, and with a strong sense of place.

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Paxoi — 2 Properties

Paxoi (also spelled Paxos) is the smallest inhabited island in the Ionians, reachable by ferry from Corfu or the mainland port of Igoumenitsa. It has no airport and no large hotels. Its appeal is almost entirely in what it lacks: mass tourism infrastructure. The olive groves are ancient, the sea at Lakka and Logos runs turquoise-clear, and the pace is set by the fishing boats rather than the tour operators.

With only 2 properties on the platform, it's a specialist destination — suited to visitors who've already explored the larger islands and want something different, or those who arrive by sailboat and use one of the small harbours as a base.

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How to Choose Between the Islands

1. For variety and infrastructure: Kefalonia and Corfu have the widest range of accommodation, the most beaches, and the most to do beyond lying by the sea. Both have direct international flights in summer.
2. For activity and watersports: Lefkada's west coast beaches and Vassiliki's wind conditions make it the natural choice for anyone combining a beach holiday with sailing or windsurfing.
3. For a slower pace: Ithaca and Paxoi demand more planning and less schedule. They work well as short extensions to a larger Ionian trip rather than standalone two-week destinations.
4. For lively evenings and beaches: Zakynthos has the most organised beach infrastructure and the busiest resort areas, alongside quieter corners for those who look for them.

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