Start with the essentials
Plan Ionian Islands at a glance
- Best for
- Green islands, Venetian towns, limestone coasts and western sea routes
- Suggested time
- 5 to 12 days
- Main connection
- Corfu and Zakynthos airports plus mainland ferry ports
About Ionian Islands
Why explore Ionian Islands
Corfu and Zakynthos both sit in the Ionian Sea, but they are not a simple two-island ferry pair. Each works better as a focused stay with its own gateway.
Corfu combines a substantial historic town with northern and western coast routes. Zakynthos centres on beaches, marine habitats and boat access that can change with conditions.
Plan the region
Corfu and Zakynthos both sit in the Ionian Sea, but they are not a simple two-island ferry pair. Each works better as a focused stay with its own gateway.
Choose where to spend your time
Places to explore
3 guides
Corfu Island
Corfu combines a UNESCO-listed old town with a long green island of coves, hill villages and narrow roads that reward more than one base.
Open guide
Zakynthos
Zakynthos combines high limestone cliffs, Blue Caves, busy beach districts and protected turtle habitat, with access shaped by sea and conservation rules.
Open guideCorfu Town
Corfu Town packs fortresses, arcades, museums and tall old-town lanes into a walkable UNESCO-listed centre beside the island’s main gateways.
Open guideBuild a coherent route
Plan by area
Corfu Island
Corfu combines a UNESCO-listed old town with a long green island of coves, hill villages and narrow roads that reward more than one base.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos combines high limestone cliffs, Blue Caves, busy beach districts and protected turtle habitat, with access shaped by sea and conservation rules.
See the main travel bases
See the main places in Ionian Islands
Loading the map…
Use the map to compare the main bases before planning local transport.
Match the route to your time
What fits into your trip
A practical first visit
Corfu and Zakynthos both sit in the Ionian Sea, but they are not a simple two-island ferry pair. Each works better as a focused stay with its own gateway.
Link the stops sensibly
Routes and day trips
Corfu belongs to the north of the chain, while Zakynthos sits much farther south.
Suggested regional routes
Corfu Island
Corfu Town is the cultural and transport centre. Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi and the north-west coast sit in different directions, so one-day island circuits spend too much time on bends and traffic.
Open destination guideZakynthos
The famous north and west coasts are not reached in the same way as the busier south and east beaches. Boat trips, cliff viewpoints and road approaches each have separate safety concerns.
Open destination guideChoose transport by destination
Getting around Ionian Islands
Protected habitats and sea conditions affect boat and beach access.
Suggested time
5 to 12 days
Main connection
Corfu and Zakynthos airports plus mainland ferry ports
Choose dates that suit the route
When to visit
Island roads can be narrow and slower than the map suggests.
Read the seasonal guide for GreeceAvoid common route problems
Planning checks
Can I travel directly between Corfu and Zakynthos?
Do not assume a simple direct ferry. Check current operators and consider separate mainland or flight connections.
Which Ionian island suits a first visit?
Corfu suits travellers who want a historic town and varied coast. Zakynthos is better for a focused beach and boat-based trip.
What should I check before travelling through Ionian Islands?
Confirm the dated transport, opening information and conditions for the exact places in the route.
Quick answers
Questions about Ionian Islands
Can I travel directly between Corfu and Zakynthos?
Do not assume a simple direct ferry. Check current operators and consider separate mainland or flight connections.
Which Ionian island suits a first visit?
Corfu suits travellers who want a historic town and varied coast. Zakynthos is better for a focused beach and boat-based trip.
What should I check before travelling through Ionian Islands?
Confirm the dated transport, opening information and conditions for the exact places in the route.
How this guide is checked
Sources and review
Reviewed 3 September 2026, next review due 3 March 2027. Services, access rules and opening arrangements can change, so check the official source before travel.
- Official Greece travel planning, Greek National Tourism Organisation
- Official Greek islands visitor information, Greek National Tourism Organisation
- Official Greek rail journey planner and service updates, Hellenic Train
- Official Ionian Islands visitor information, Greek National Tourism Organisation
- Old Town of Corfu World Heritage record, UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Continue through Greece
Regions that connect naturally
Corfu Island
Corfu combines a UNESCO-listed old town with a long green island of coves, hill villages and narrow roads that reward more than one base.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos combines high limestone cliffs, Blue Caves, busy beach districts and protected turtle habitat, with access shaped by sea and conservation rules.
Epirus
Epirus brings together Ioannina, Zagori’s stone villages, the Pindus mountains and an Ionian coast that needs a deliberately paced route.
Continue planning
See more of Greece
Use the country guide to compare Ionian Islands with other regions and destinations in Greece.