Ionian Islands: Lefkada to Corfu in 7 Days

Route Overview: 120NM, 7 Days, All Levels Welcome

The Ionian Sea is the gentlest cruising ground in Greece. The Aegean's Cyclades batter crews with the Meltemi, the strong summer northerly that regularly hits Force 6-7. The Ionian stays sheltered behind the Greek mainland. Prevailing winds blow Force 2-4 from the northwest, typically building after midday and dying by sunset. That pattern gives you reliable sailing without the white-knuckle moments.

This route starts in Lefkada Town, runs south to Meganisi and Ithaca, crosses to Kefalonia, then heads north through Paxos and Antipaxos before finishing in Corfu. Total distance: roughly 120NM. Daily legs range from 5NM to 25NM, meaning your longest sailing day is about 4-5 hours. If you are chartering for the first time, this is the route to start with.

Day	From	To	Distance	Highlight
1	Lefkada Town	Meganisi (Vathy)	8NM	Cave taverna Spilia
2	Meganisi	Ithaca (Vathy)	15NM	Homer's island, deep harbour
3	Ithaca	Kefalonia (Fiskardo)	12NM	Venetian waterfront village
4	Fiskardo	Paxos (Lakka)	25NM	Three villages, olive groves, no cars
5	Paxos	Antipaxos (return)	5NM	Turquoise water, 20 residents
6	Paxos	Corfu (Gouvia)	22NM	Venetian fortress, ginger beer
7	Corfu	Corfu	0NM	UNESCO Old Town on foot

Charter season runs from May to October. Peak months are July and August, when a 40ft monohull from Lefkada costs roughly EUR 2,800-3,500 per week. Book in May or late September and you can find the same boat for EUR 1,600-2,200. A full cost breakdown will help you budget realistically.

Day 1: Lefkada to Meganisi (8NM)

Getting to Lefkada

Lefkada is the only Greek island connected to the mainland by road. A short floating bridge links it to the coast near Preveza, whose Aktion Airport (PVK) receives seasonal flights from the UK, Germany, and Scandinavia. Preveza is a 25-minute taxi ride from Lefkada Town marina, about EUR 35. Alternatively, fly into Athens and take the 4.5-hour bus for EUR 25 one way, or hire a car.

The Sail

After your charter briefing, usually done by 10:00, motor south through the narrow Lefkada Canal. The canal is shallow in spots, dredged to 4m, so stay in the marked channel. Once clear, bear southeast toward Meganisi. At just 8NM, this is a warm-up leg. The thermal breeze should fill in around 13:00, giving you a pleasant close reach.

Meganisi

Tuck into Vathy, a horseshoe-shaped harbour with about 15 mooring spots on the town quay. Stern-to mooring is free, though you should buy dinner ashore. The real draw is Taverna Spilia, built inside a sea cave on the island's west side. You can dinghy or sail to it. Expect to pay EUR 15-20 per person for fresh fish. Meganisi has around 1,100 permanent residents and no significant tourist infrastructure beyond tavernas and a mini-market. That is exactly the point.

Day 2: Meganisi to Ithaca Vathy (15NM)

Head southwest across the strait separating the inner Ionian islands. The crossing is open water but rarely rough. Swells above 1m are uncommon from June to September. You will spot Ithaca's mountainous spine well before arrival.

Vathy, the island's capital, sits at the end of one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, with depths reaching 15m well inside the bay. That means flat-calm conditions even when a westerly kicks up outside. The town quay offers stern-to mooring for about 30 boats, and there is a small fuel station at the harbour entrance.

Ithaca is, of course, Homer's Ithaca. Whether or not Odysseus actually lived here is debated by archaeologists, but the local mythology runs through everything. Walk 3km uphill to the Fountain of Arethusa, a spring mentioned in the Odyssey. Pack water, as there is no shade. The island has around 3,200 residents, limited nightlife, and a general store that closes for siesta from 14:00 to 17:30. Stock up on provisions in the morning.

Day 3: Ithaca to Kefalonia Fiskardo (12NM)

The short hop north across the Ithaca Channel takes about 2 hours in a Force 3. Fiskardo is the only village on Kefalonia that survived the devastating 1953 earthquake, which destroyed 90% of the island's buildings. As a result, its Venetian-era waterfront is intact: pastel-coloured houses, cypress trees, and a 16th-century lighthouse ruin on the northern headland.

Berths on the town quay cost approximately EUR 15-25 per night depending on boat length. In August, arrive before 14:00 or you will be rafting three-deep. An alternative is to anchor in the bay south of the harbour, where the holding in sand is good at 5-8m depth.

Fiskardo has upscale restaurants by Ionian standards. Budget EUR 25-35 per person for a waterfront dinner. Try Tassia, a family-run restaurant operating since 1972. For provisioning, there is a well-stocked supermarket 200m from the quay. Kefalonia is also known for its Robola white wine, grown in a high-altitude valley near the village of Fragata. A bottle costs EUR 8-12 locally.

Day 4: Fiskardo to Paxos Lakka (25NM)

This is the longest leg of the week. Plan for a departure by 08:00. The route heads northwest, passing the small island of Atokos, a good emergency stop if weather turns. The open-water crossing to Paxos is about 15NM, and the prevailing northwesterly will be on your beam for a comfortable reach. In Force 3-4, expect to arrive by early afternoon.

Paxos is just 10km long and 4km wide, with three villages: Gaios (the port), Loggos, and Lakka. None of them has more than 500 inhabitants. There are no airports, no large hotels, and very few cars. The island is covered by an estimated 300,000 olive trees, some dating back to the Venetian period.

Lakka sits in a perfectly round bay at the island's northern tip. Anchor in 4-6m over sand and take a stern line ashore, or pick up one of the mooring buoys at EUR 10-15 per night, paid at the harbour kiosk. Walk the coastal path to the lighthouse at Cape Lakka, about 20 minutes. For dinner, try Romantica in the village square. Grilled octopus costs about EUR 12.

Day 5: Paxos to Antipaxos and Back (5NM)

Antipaxos lies just 2.5NM south of Gaios. With around 20 permanent residents and no ferry port, it feels like a place the modern world forgot. The island is known for two things: its wine, a heavy red made from local grapes, and its water, which is an absurd shade of turquoise more commonly associated with the Caribbean.

Anchor off Voutoumi Beach in 3-5m over white sand. The holding is generally good, but in July and August, 30-40 boats crowd into this small bay. Arrive by 10:00 for space. Two basic tavernas sit on the hill above the beach, each serving simple meals for EUR 10-15.

After lunch, sail back to Paxos. Use the afternoon to explore Gaios, the main port, where a small Venetian fortress guards the harbour entrance. Alternatively, take the dinghy to the sea caves on Paxos's west coast, accessible in calm conditions only. The caves at Erimitis, where a cliff collapsed in 2007 creating a new geological formation, are worth the fuel.

If you are considering other Greek routes, the Saronic Gulf near Athens offers a similarly gentle introduction to Greek waters, though with less dramatic scenery.

Day 6: Paxos to Corfu Gouvia (22NM)

Depart Lakka heading north-northwest. The channel between Paxos and Corfu is open but well-trafficked. Keep an eye out for high-speed ferries running between Corfu and Igoumenitsa on the mainland. These create significant wash, so point your bow into it if caught broadside.

Gouvia Marina, on Corfu's east coast about 6NM north of Corfu Town, is the largest marina in the Ionian with approximately 1,235 berths. It has fuel, water, electricity, showers, a chandlery, and several restaurants. Nightly rates range from EUR 25 for a 10m boat to EUR 70 for 15m and above in peak season. Book ahead in August through the marina's website.

From Gouvia, take the local bus into Corfu Town: Line 7, EUR 1.50, every 30 minutes. The town is also known as Kerkyra. The Venetian Old Fortress, built in the 15th century and expanded by the British in the 19th, dominates the harbour entrance. Entry costs EUR 6. Walk along the Liston, a French-built arcade modelled on Paris's Rue de Rivoli, and order a tsitsibira. That is the local ginger beer, introduced by the British during their 1815-1864 protectorate. Corfu is also the only place in Greece where cricket is played seriously, with matches on the Esplanade most weekends from April to October.

Day 7: Corfu Old Town

Your final day is best spent ashore. Corfu's Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, recognised for its layered Venetian, French, and British architecture. Start at the New Fortress (Neó Froúrio), which despite its name dates to 1577. Entry is EUR 4, and the rooftop view covers the town, the Albanian coast 2NM to the east, and the mountains of Epirus on the mainland.

Walk through the Campiello district, the oldest part of town, where narrow alleys called kantounia open onto small squares with washing lines overhead. Visit the Church of Saint Spyridon, which houses the mummified remains of the island's patron saint, carried through the streets four times per year. The Corfu Archaeological Museum, reopened after renovation in 2023, charges EUR 6 and contains the Gorgon Pediment from 580 BC, one of the earliest examples of Greek temple sculpture.

For your final dinner, head to the neighbourhood behind the Old Port. Restaurants here are less touristy than those on the Liston. Budget EUR 18-25 per person for a full meal with local wine. Order pastitsada, Corfu's signature dish of braised beef with pasta, a recipe with clear Venetian roots.

If Gouvia is your drop-off base, return the yacht the evening before or by 09:00 on the final morning, depending on your charter company. Corfu Airport (CFU) is just 3km from Corfu Town and well connected to European cities. A taxi from Gouvia costs about EUR 15.

Why the Ionian Beats the Aegean for First-Timers

The question comes up constantly: where should I sail first in Greece? Here is a direct comparison.

Factor	Ionian	Aegean (Cyclades)
Prevailing wind	NW thermal, Force 2-4	Meltemi, Force 4-7
Sea state	Sheltered, 0.5-1m swell	Open, 1-3m swell
Average daily leg	10-20NM	20-35NM
Night sailing needed?	No	Occasionally
Anchorage availability	Plentiful, protected	Fewer, often exposed
Skipper experience needed	Basic (ICC or Day Skipper)	Intermediate (Coastal Skipper recommended)
Scenery	Green, mountainous, forested	Arid, dramatic, rocky
Charter cost (40ft, July)	EUR 2,800-3,500/week	EUR 3,200-4,500/week

The Ionian is not better. It is different. If you want a relaxed, confidence-building week on the water with short legs and reliable shelter, start here. If you have experience and want more challenge, the Aegean offers that in abundance. Many sailors do the Ionian first, then return the following year to tackle the Cyclades with the skills they have built.

Practical Notes Before You Book

• Certification: For bareboat charter, most companies require an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or RYA Day Skipper. No licence? Hire a professional skipper for approximately EUR 150-200 per day.
• Provisioning: Stock up in Lefkada Town, which has the best supermarket selection on the route, including a Lidl 1km from the marina. Paxos and Ithaca have limited stores with higher prices.
• Mooring costs: Budget EUR 0-25 per night. Several stops are free on town quays or at anchor, while marinas like Gouvia charge more. Total mooring for the week comes to roughly EUR 80-150.
• Fuel: A 40ft monohull uses about 60-80 litres of diesel over 7 days if you sail rather than motor. Diesel costs approximately EUR 1.70/litre in 2025.
• Packing: Soft bags only, as always on boats. See our complete packing list for specifics.
• Families: This route works well with children. Short legs mean no long stretches at sea, and the swimming stops are shallow and safe. More details in our family sailing guide.

For step-by-step booking advice, including deposits, insurance, and extras, read how to book your first charter.