Ithaca is a picturesque Greek island in the Ionian Sea, with a tranquil atmosphere that contrasts with the busier islands. On my first visit, during the summer of 2024, I found myself utterly charmed by its rugged natural beauty and laid back feel. The island is best known as the legendary homeland of Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey, and its appeal owes much to its secluded coves, clear waters, and charming villages. 

The island suffered a major earthquake in 1953, during which many of the original stone buildings collapsed. These were largely left where they fell and are steadily being reclaimed by nature, resulting in a great deal of character and some wonderful photo opportunities. 

In keeping with the low key atmosphere, the island has little in the way of high end luxury resorts and hotels.  It does however have some delightful villas and apartments from the likes of Simpson Travel and several standout restaurants with breathtaking views, including the exceptional Myrtia and the less formal but fabulously located Extraterrestrial. (Be prepared for a long, winding drive up to the top of the hill!)

We stayed in a delightful Simpson Travel apartment in the bijou village of Kioni.  We started each day with a pre-dawn hike to the nearby headland to watch the sun rise over distant islands – an experience that bordered on spiritual. 

Kioni is exceptionally pretty and forms a natural harbour, sheltering fishing boats, leisure craft and the occasional super yacht. There are many excellent waterside tavernas to choose from and if you want to take to the water, rentals couldn’t be easier. We did a leisurely circuit of the island in about 3 hours.  This not only allowed us to visit to a few of the less accessible coves but also left plenty of time for a stop off at Fiskardo in Kefalonia, just across the channel. 

An unexpected bonus was being accompanied by a small pod of playful dolphins during our own brief but hugely enjoyable odyssey! 

The most direct routing to Ithaca is via a 3.5 hour flight from Heathrow to Kefalonia, followed by a 45 minute taxi ride to the ports of either Poros or Sami. It’s then just a short ferry ride to the Ithaca. A visit to the island could easily be combined with a stay at nearby Meganissi, which we also visited recently and found to be equally charming and unspoiled.

We would be pleased to work out a suggested itinerary that combines the best of these relatively undiscovered gems so do get in touch.

April 2025