Ithaca

Ithaca, the island of Odysseus, is a beautiful destination in the Ionian Sea. The island is famous for its impressive beaches and lush green landscapes. On this Ferryhopper page, you can find useful information about your holidays in Ithaca, the best beaches, food, sights and experiences, as well as ferry schedules. Book cheap ferry tickets to Ithaca with Ferryhopper in just 4 clicks!

Beautiful green cove with clear waters in Ithaca

Vacation in Ithaca

Ithaca truly is a hidden gem of the Ionian Sea. It’s the smallest island in the archipelago after Paxi, with approximately 3,000 residents. The renowned island of legendary King Odysseus amazes travelers with its crystal-clear waters, pretty villages, interesting archeological sites and delicious local products.

How to get to Ithaca

You can get to Ithaca from the port of Patras in Western Greece. The Patras - Ithaca ferry route is normally available during peak season and there are both direct routes, as well as ferries stopping at the island of Kefalonia. Find more information about the ferry trip to Ithaca below.

What to do in Ithaca

During your vacation in Ithaca, you can kick back and enjoy peaceful moments by the sea, dive in clear waters, take romantic walks and visit amazing natural and cultural sites. Ithaca is one of the most serene destinations in the Ionian Sea and visitors fall in love with the paradisiacal green landscape of the island. For this reason, many travelers (among them more than a few celebrities) return to Ithaca every summer. 

Don’t miss the chance to swim with celebrities at Filiatro or head to Platia Ammos to get away from the crowds. As for cultural sightseeing, we recommend that you visit the islet of Lazareto and explore the ancient settlement of Alalcomenae. Try scrumptious dishes at one of the beautiful villages of the island and get ready to explore the rest of the Ionian Sea on an island-hopping adventure!

Beaches in Ithaca

The beaches of Ithaca are distinguished by their crystal-clear waters and lush vegetation. Most beaches have no visitor amenities, so make sure you bring all beach essentials, such as water, snacks, hats and umbrellas. You can reach most beaches by car or on foot, but there are also several remote coasts that are only accessible by boat. 

Here are 11 amazing beaches in Ithaca:

1. Filiatro: Filiatro is the most cosmopolitan beach on the island. It’s a pebble beach with amazing turquoise waters. There are visitor amenities, umbrellas, sun loungers and a beach bar on one side of the beach.
2. Mnimata: The wind-protected pebble beach has lush vegetation, offering plenty of shade until the early afternoon hours. There are no visitor amenities.
3. Piso Aetos (Pisaetos): The beach is located next to the port of Pisaetos. It has white pebbles and transparent waters. There are olive trees for shade, reaching the dreamy waters.
4. Gidaki: It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Ithaca. It has crystal-clear waters and pebbles, and it’s surrounded by lush greenery. You can get to the beach either by boat or by taking a 35-minute hiking trail that starts at Skinos beach.
5. Sand of Maria (Ammos tis Marias): Sand of Maria is divided into 2 beaches that are separated by rocks. There are large white pebbles, clear waters and lush vegetation. You can only access the beaches by boat.
6. Skinos: The beach of Skinos is situated in a dreamy green location with pine trees. It’s a rocky beach with clear shallow waters.
7. Sarakiniko: This is a beautiful beach with white pebbles and emerald waters. It’s surrounded by olive trees, but there’s no natural shade nor visitor amenities.
8. Marmagkas: The eucalyptus trees that surround this amazing beach offer plenty of shade. Marmagkas has white pebbles, blue waters and an amazing view to the islet of Agios Nikolaos. You can find a food truck during the summer.
9. Kaminia: It’s an amazing beach with pebbles and crystal-clear waters. The beach is accessible via a dirt road and it’s ideal if you wish to spend a peaceful day by the sea. Bear in mind there’s no natural shade nor visitor amenities.
10. Aspros Gialos: Aspros Gialos is one of the top beaches in Ithaca. White pebbles, lush vegetation and intricate rock formations make up a magical setting. There’s no natural shade, but you can find some umbrellas on one side of the beach. The coast is covered with beautiful sea daffodils.
11. Platia Ammos: It’s a heavenly beach with thin white sand and crystal-clear blue waters. The beach is considered one of the best on the island. You can only get to the beach by boat and there are no visitor amenities.

The dreamy Gidaki beach with dreamy turquoise waters

Sightseeing in Ithaca

Ithaca has a rich history dating back to ancient times. The island is home to many archeological sites and museums, which are great if you want to get acquainted with the past of this historic island. Apart from cultural sightseeing, you can also explore Ithaca on foot to discover the numerous natural sites of exquisite beauty. Discover ancient towns, head to interesting museums, visit pretty islets and follow old hiking trails. 

Ferryhopper suggests that you visit:

• the Archaeological Museum of Vathy
• the Maritime - Folklore Museum of Ithaca
• the Archaeological Collection of Stavros
• the ancient town of Alalcomenae
• the proto-hellenic settlement of Pilikara
• the cave of Loizos
• the archaeological site of Agios Athanasios and School of Homer
• the islet of Lazareto
• the monoliths of Anogi
• the old island capital of Paleochora

The pretty little islet of Lazareto off the coast of Vathy

Nightlife in Ithaca

Ithaca is great for travelers who are after romantic and relaxed nights. The heart of the action is in Vathy, Frikes and Kioni, where you can find several restaurants, traditional tavernes, cafés and lounge bars. You can enjoy delicious cocktails at one of the bars that stay open until a bit after midnight or head to one of the family-friendly local restaurants for a delicious night out! There are traditional cafés and tavernes at some of the major mountain villages too.

Food in Ithaca

The island is famous for its superb-quality local products, such as honey, herbs, olive oil, wine and cheese. The local cuisine is a mix of Greek and Venetian influences, which is typical of the Ionian Sea. During your stay in Ithaca, don’t miss out on the delicious dishes of the island, which you can try at one of the many restaurants and tavernes.

We recommend that you try:

• Bourgeto: fish cooked in a vegetable broth
• Savoro: fried fish with rosemary, vinegar and raisins
• Sofigado: beef or goat stew
• Tserepa chicken: chicken cooked with tomatoes
• Rovani: syrup-soaked tray bake with rice and spices

Villages in Ithaca

The villages of Ithaca are distinguished by their unique architecture, which bears witness to the plethora of cultures that have influenced the island throughout the centuries. The island capital is Vathy, where one of the main ports is also located. The seaside villages are a popular yachting stop and radiate a cosmopolitan feeling, whereas the inland villages are more wild and untamed. 

Here are some of the top villages to visit in Ithaca:

• Vathy
• Aetos
• Anogi
• Lefki
• Perachori
• Agios Ioannis
• Platrithias
• Frikes
• Kioni
• Stavros
• Exogi

Fabulous day at the harbor of the quaint Kioni village

Useful information for Ithaca

Despite its small size, Ithaca has several traveler amenities. In Vathy, the largest village on the island, there is a medical center, as well as a supermarket, a pharmacy, banks, ATM machines and a gas station. There’s also a pharmacy and a medical center in Stavros. As for accommodation, there are quite a few options all around the island, mainly around Vathy on the southern part of the island, as well as on the northern coast.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Ithaca

Here are some useful contacts for your trip to Ithaca:

• Patras Port Authority: +302613615400
• Ithaca Port Authority: +302674032909
• Kefalonia (Sami) Port Authority: +302674022031
• Vathy Medical Center: +302674360100
• Stavros Medical Center: +302674023959
• Municipality of Ithaca: +302674033481
• Police station: +302674033359
• European Emergency Number: 112

Transportation in Ithaca

Ithaca has a good road network that allows visitors to explore the whole island. You can get around by car, motorcycle, taxis, water taxis (boats), as well as buses. Buses run between Vathy and the northern part of the island daily, while boats can take you around the island coast, as well as to some of the most remote beaches. If you want to be flexible when getting around, we recommend that you bring a car on the ferry or rent one in Ithaca.

Ports in Ithaca

There are 3 ports in Ithaca: Vathy, Aetos (or Pisaetos) and Frikes. The port of Vathy is in the capital of Ithaca on the southern part of the island. The port of Pisaetos is the main port of Ithaca and it’s on the southwestern part of the island, opposite Kefalonia. Frikes is located on the northwestern coast of Ithaca. The 3 ports serve routes to mainland Greece, as well as more islands and islets in the Ionian Sea. The Ithaca Port Authority is at the port of Vathy, where most traveler services are also located. Bear in mind there are no visitor amenities at the port of Pisaetos.

Island hopping from Ithaca

Ithaca is really close to Kefalonia, making it the best option for island hopping! You can easily get from Ithaca to Kefalonia during the summer months, as there are regular routes from the port of Pisaetos. Occasionally, there are more direct routes from Ithaca to islands of the Ionian Sea.

If you want to continue your adventure, you can also catch a ferry from Kefalonia to the following ports:

• Zante
• Corfu
• Bari
• Brindisi

If you want to see all available ferry routes in the Ionian Sea to plan the perfect island-hopping trip, have a look at Ferryhopper’s Map of ferries for up-to-date schedules and fares. Find the best routes and book ferry tickets with no extra fees.

The beautiful port of Vathy in Ithaca

Ithaca ferry: schedules and tickets

Normally, during peak season, there are ferry routes from the port of Patras to Ithaca. Ferries from Patras to Ithaca travel directly to the port of Pisaetos in Ithaca or stop at Kefalonia before continuing the journey. Find more information about the routes from Patras and Kefalonia to Ithaca below:

• Ferry from Patras to Ithaca: The route from Patras to Ithaca is usually in operation during the summer. There are daily routes in peak season and the journey duration is around 3.5 hours.
• Ferry from Kefalonia to Ithaca: You can travel from Kefalonia to Ithaca up to 3 times per day during the summer months. Ferries depart from the port of Sami in Kefalonia and arrive at the port of Pisaetos in 25 minutes on average.

Where to book ferry tickets online to Ithaca

You can find all ferry schedules and book cheap ferry tickets to Ithaca online on Ferryhopper. Check available routes and compare prices from all ferry companies through our fare search engine. If you want to find out more about traveling to Ithaca and exploring the Ionian Sea, you can always contact our Customer Support Team!