OK IONIANS. Your top 10 ports to visit

[Bertramdriver]

We are Refugees from the Aegean, shortly to be in transit to the Adriatic and want to spend a couple of months cruising the Ionian. This is new ground for us so would the experienced sybarites like to offer a top 10 places to visit. No marinas thank you, not our thing. :disgust:

 

[Steve C Cronin]

In no particular order, except for the first, here goes:-

Fiskardo, Keffalinia - the "Pearl in the Oyster" for most but get there by 11.30am or you won't find a spot on the quay.

Agia Eufemia Keffalinia

Sami Keffalinia

Levkas Town

Corfu Town

Messolonghi

Vathi Meganissi

Gaios Paxos

Mongonissi Paxos

Frikes Ithaki

Vathi Ithaki

Geni Lefkada (NOT Vlikho!)

Spartahori (Port Speglia) Meganissi

etc

etc

 

[Tranona]

There are effectively only two marinas in Levkas and Corfu. Otherwise spend £15 on Heikells Ionian pilot and just go. You really can't go wrong. If you don't like one place there is another no more than 2/3 hours away.

 

[Carmel2]

If you wanted to sit on the hook in that neck of the woods for a month in August, with maybe a small shop or 2 for basics, is that poss? 20 meters not a problem.

 

[Tony Cross]

I'd add Kioni (Ithaca) and Port Kalamos, but again get there early. I like Port Kastos too if only for it's ruggedness (get there early too). Assos on the west side of Kephalonia is cute too, very shallow on the quay though.

 

[vyv_cox]

If you wanted to sit on the hook in that neck of the woods for a month in August, with maybe a small shop or 2 for basics, is that poss? 20 meters not a problem.

You could do that just on Meganisi Loads of anchoring options all over the Ionian.

 

[NornaBiron]

You could do that just on Meganisi Loads of anchoring options all over the Ionian.

And on Ithaca at Agios Nikolaos. It gets busy during the day but quieter in the evening. Nice walk to Frikes for basic provisioning. Just watch out for the reef on the north side of the off lying island.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Assos is superb (North West Coast of Cephalonia). Also recommend One House Bay (Atokos), Kastos, Frikes and Kioni are great - lots of others already mentioned...

Pete

 

[jordanbasset]

I would agree with all those mentioned so far, but one of my personal favourites not mentioned so far was Lakka, also Abelike bay, but as others have said there are so many excellent places in such a relatively small area it is difficult to go wrong.

 

[andrewAB]

+1 for Lakka (Paxos) and Abelike.
Also add Porto Leone (Kalamos)

 

[jimbaerselman]

There's a comprehensive list of places at http://www.jimbsail.info/mediterranean/greece/inland-ionian which I originally wrote for our charter customers many decades ago, but still keep up to date. Favourites (but I warn you, my taste leans to the older style of Greek living, not always popular with tourists!):

Paxos, anywhere. Gawp at the Italian fashion invasion in Gaios, high season. Escape to Dodo's restaurant if you can find it and admire his (visual) vegetable art. Clear blue sand anchorage and neat village in Lakka. Sail past the great cliffs along the SW coast. Anti Paxos day anchorages.

Old Corfu town, early season (before the tourist tat hides the architecture) and the evening passagiata, .

Preveza Town, un-reconstructed Greece.

Levkas town, regularly re-constructed Greece (earthquakes) and a very lively Greek social scene

Meganisi Hill villages, an amazing contrast with the over-crowded harbours below, still reflecting an older way of life

Fiscardo, popular, even chic. For a change, try the Greek/Thai restaurant out back . . . Lord Falcon

Ayios Euphemia Paradise restaurant - if Stavros is still alive and running it. Six years ago a rare example of Greek Haut Cuisine

Mitikas, mainland, off the flotilla track. Only Greek tourists, and a few live-aboards take root here. More Haut Cuisine at Koxili restaurant.

Astakos, a Greek holiday resort and fishing village, with a fine passagiata in the evenings. Free from flotillas

JimB

 

[vyv_cox]

Mitikas, mainland, off the flotilla track. Only Greek tourists, and a few live-aboards take root here. More Haut Cuisine at Koxili restaurant.

Astakos, a Greek holiday resort and fishing village, with a fine passagiata in the evenings. Free from flotillas

We particularly like these two. Both utterly down-to-earth with few concessions to tourism. Great hardware shops aimed at fishermen and farmers at Astakos. Two Italians in a small speedboat occupying a deep water berth on the quay there were told to move elsewhere - full marks to the harbourmaster.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Inland sea Preveza , nearly always free of yacht .
Sivota anchorage of the islands off the town .
Lakka on Paxoi early spring or late sept once the madden crowd have gone .
Porto leone on Kalamos a must just don't pick a day when one of the charter lots are there but there always room .
Atokos one house bay packed day time but most people go come the night time and your left in a very nice peacefully anchorage ..
Kioni on Ithaki always busy but worth a night or two best to anchor off the rocks and not in the harbour , less stress .
Agios Nikolaos on Zakinthos .the odd ferry but other then that quiet town .
And if you really want to get away from it all , the gulf or Corinth .

 

[tri39]

There are a lot of nice places but it's also a small area and very crowded in season.
I eventually headed up the Adriatic to base AB in Monfalcone.
Mind you I've left the Adriatic too now and headed back west.

 

[nickf]

Ayios Euphemia Paradise restaurant - if Stavros is still alive and running it. Six years ago a rare example of Greek Haut Cuisine

UOTE]

Stavros is still alive and not in the best of health. Paradise has been run by his son Nikitas, and wife for last few years. Still a gem.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Stavros is still alive and not in the best of health. Paradise has been run by his son Nikitas, and wife for last few years. Still a gem.

Thanks Nick, site updated!

 

[Carmel2]

This is all excellent stuff thanks.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Fiskardo, Keffalinia - the "Pearl in the Oyster" for most but get there by 11.30am or you won't find a spot on the quay.

Impossible. It would mean I would have to arrive in Fiskardo before I got the anchor up wherever. For goodness sake the wind does not blow until Noon. OTOH there could be other places to anchor.

I am single-handed so I need a place that is secure because I do not have a wife or (etc ) to watch the boat while I am off exploring.

I am in the process of installing a brand new shiny engine so maybe I can find a woman who appreciates such concern. Time will tell.

 

[Cariadco]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for.
After years and years of sailing in the Ionian, we've settled on one special place.
Fort Gaios in Paxos.
Lashed up to the quayside, with no worries at all, watching the arrivals, watching the Tourist ferries departing, watching all the locals going to work for the evening, tourists walking up and down the quayside (quietly mouthing the name of every boat they pass)....all this whilst a glass or three of Mythos slips pleasantly down my throat.....Jump in the shower and off 'round the town to try and find another Taverna that we didn't notice last time...
Ok, so it's not the cheapest place to eat and drink, but easily our favorite.
As I type this.....oh I so want to be back there...

 

[Ravi]

We are Refugees from the Aegean, shortly to be in transit to the Adriatic and want to spend a couple of months cruising the Ionian. This is new ground for us so would the experienced sybarites like to offer a top 10 places to visit. No marinas thank you, not our thing. :disgust:

As you can see, you are spoiled for choice!
Someone mention the Rod Heikel Ionian pilot. There cannot be many better pilot books in the world. It gives a real feel for the places, as well as excellent navigational advice. Between Rod and JimB, you have all the knowledge you could ever want.

I think that some might say that their top 10 places in the Ionian are those where there is no charter flotilla on that particular day! You will be amazed by the sheer number of flotillas traversing the Ionian. Maybe, even aghast. The flotilla skippers from Sunsail, Neilson, SailingHols, etc. all keep in touch with each other about where their various flotillas are (to avoid all 600 flotilla yachts turning up in Fiskhardo on the same night) so one tip, in the Ionian, is to collar a local flotilla skipper over a coffee and find out the flotilla movements for the day. (Actually, beer works better than coffee with the flotilla guys!)

I have been on some wonderful flotillas but there is nothing worse than being on the receiving end of them when, sitting in a deserted paradise anchorage watching the sunset, you realise there is an armada of boats making there way to have their 'end of flotilla' beach barbecue. But, then again, you could see it as a chance to join a great beach party!

Have a good trip and if you see Eris, give me a wave.