Attractions in Ionian Islands (Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos)
Emerald islands, Venetian castles, and turtle spotting 🐢🏰
Showing 43 attractions · Sorted by importance
Achilleion Palace
📍 Gastouri
🏰 CastleA grand neoclassical palace built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, famous for its Imperial statues and terraced gardens.
Melissani Lake Cave
📍 Sami
🌲 NatureAn enchanting subterranean lake where sunlight through a collapsed roof creates brilliant shades of blue, accessible by a guided rowing boat tour.
Museum of Asian Art of Corfu
📍 Corfu Town
🖼 Art GalleryFamilies can explore an impressive collection of samurai armor, ceramics, and colorful masks housed within a grand neoclassical palace.
Myrtos Beach
📍 Divarata
⛱ BeachBreathtaking bay with turquoise waters and white pebbles, offering a stunning natural setting for family swimming and sunset viewing.
National Marine Park of Zakynthos
📍 Zakynthos Town
🌲 NatureA vital conservation area in Laganas Bay dedicated to protecting the nesting beaches of the endangered Caretta caretta sea turtles.
Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Cove)
📍 Volimes
⛱ BeachIconic cove featuring a historic shipwreck and towering white cliffs, best experienced via boat tours or from the dramatic clifftop observation platform.
Old Fortress of Corfu
📍 Corfu Town
🏰 CastleAn iconic Venetian fortress featuring a lighthouse, a museum, and panoramic views of Corfu Town and the Ionian Sea.
Porto Katsiki
📍 Athani
⛱ BeachDramatic beach set at the base of a high limestone cliff with vibrant blue water, providing a world-class swimming spot for active families.
The Liston
📍 Corfu Town
🏛 LandmarkStroll through this elegant 19th-century arcade inspired by Parisian architecture, which serves as the social heart of Corfu Town's UNESCO-listed historic center.
Aqualand Corfu Water Park
📍 Agios Ioannis
🧗 AdventureOne of Europe's largest water parks, featuring over 50 slides, a massive wave pool, and extensive family play areas set in lush surroundings.
Argostoli to Fiskardo Coastal Drive
📍 Argostoli
🚗 Road Trip50km paved coastal road (1.5-2 hours) through northern Kefalonia, famous for the vertigo-inducing stretch above Myrtos Beach and the historic villages of Assos and Fiskardo.
Askos Stone Park
📍 Volimes
🐄 FarmA natural forest park featuring 600-year-old stone structures where families can interact with deer, raccoons, and farm animals in a scenic landscape.
Paleokastritsa Beaches
📍 Paleokastritsa
⛱ BeachSeries of picturesque coves with crystal-clear emerald water and surrounding olive groves, perfect for family boat trips and snorkeling adventures.
The Corfu Trail
📍 Kavos
🥾 Hiking & Cycling180km challenging 10-15 day long-distance trek spanning the length of the island from south to north, with approximately 5,000m total elevation gain. Includes olive groves, coastal cliffs, and mountain peaks. Bike rental: S-Bikes Corfu (s-bikes.gr)
The Governor's Olive Mill
📍 Agios Matheos
🐄 FarmAn award-winning agrotourism experience in a Natura 2000 protected area, offering guided tours of ancient olive groves and a modern mill.
Zante Water Village
📍 Sarakinado
🎢 Theme ParkThe largest water park on Zakynthos, offering a variety of high-speed slides, a lazy river, and dedicated children's jungle adventure zones.
Angelokastro
📍 Krini
🏰 CastleA dramatic Byzantine castle perched atop a steep cliff peak, offering some of the most breathtaking views in the Ionian Islands.
Assos Village
📍 Assos
🏘 Town / VillageA charming, colorful seaside village nestled on a narrow isthmus, famous for its Venetian castle ruins and tranquil atmosphere.
Castle of Santa Maura
📍 Lefkada Town
🏰 CastleA well-preserved 14th-century fortress situated at the entrance of Lefkada, surrounded by scenic turquoise lagoons.
De Bosset Bridge
📍 Argostoli
🏛 LandmarkWalk across the world's longest stone bridge over sea, a historic pedestrian landmark where visitors can often spot loggerhead sea turtles in the Koutavos Lagoon.
Easter in Corfu
📍 Corfu Town
🎭 EventApril or May (dates vary annually), 10-day celebration, over 50,000 international visitors. Widely considered the most spectacular Orthodox Easter in Greece, famous for the 'Botides' tradition of throwing giant clay pots from balconies on Holy Saturday morning and grand philharmonic parades. Families can enjoy the music, festive atmosphere, and massive fireworks displays in Spianada Square.
Fiskardo Village
📍 Fiskardo
🏘 Town / VillageThe only village in Kefalonia that survived the 1953 earthquake, preserving its original 19th-century Venetian architecture and vibrant harbor front.
Korission Lagoon
📍 Agios Mattheos
🌲 NatureA protected coastal wetland and Natura 2000 site featuring a unique cedar forest, massive sand dunes, and seasonal migratory birds like flamingos.
Anogi to Kioni Homeric Walk
📍 Anogi
🥾 Hiking & Cycling5km moderate descent along an ancient stone-paved path (kalderimi), taking about 2 hours with 450m elevation loss. Offers panoramic views of the Ionian Sea and the windmills of Kioni village.
Castle of Saint George
📍 Peratata
🏰 CastleA sprawling medieval Venetian fortress that served as the former capital of Kefalonia, offering great views and historical insight.
Cephalonia Botanica
📍 Argostoli, Kefalonia
🌿 GardenA specialized botanical garden dedicated to the conservation of native Ionian flora, featuring themed paths, medicinal herbs, and educational exhibits.
Corfu Aquarium
📍 Paleokastritsa
🐠 AquariumAn engaging educational center featuring local Mediterranean marine life and a variety of rescued reptiles.
Corfu Donkey Rescue
📍 Doukades
🐄 FarmA peaceful animal refuge where visitors can brush and pet rescued donkeys while enjoying the quiet rural surroundings of the Corfu hills.
Exhibition Center of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos
📍 Gerakas
🔬 ScienceA discovery center dedicated to the protection of the Loggerhead sea turtle with interactive exhibits on marine conservation.
Mavroudis Family Olive Oil Museum
📍 Vraganiotika
🐄 FarmA family-run cultural site showcasing the evolution of olive oil production through traditional machinery, historic presses, and mill tours.
Mount Ainos Megas Soros Trail
📍 Digaleto
🥾 Hiking & Cycling7km moderate hike to the highest peak of the Ionian Islands, taking approximately 3-4 hours with 550m elevation gain. The route passes through a unique endemic fir forest. Bike rental: Kefalonia Elements (kefalonia-elements.com)
Odysseus Theme Park
📍 Razata
🐄 FarmA mythology-focused attraction in Kefalonia featuring animals from the Odyssey epic, including black pigs, wild horses, and deer.
Sea Turtle Nesting and Hatching Season
📍 Zakynthos
🎭 EventMay to October, six-month natural spectacle, attracts thousands of international eco-tourists. Zakynthos is the most important nesting ground in the Mediterranean for the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle. Families can visit protected beaches like Gerakas or Laganas to see nesting sites marked by wooden frames and participate in educational tours organized by the National Marine Park.
Tsilivi Waterpark
📍 Planos
🧗 AdventureA family-oriented activity center featuring a pirate-themed aqua jungle, multiple swimming pools, and various slides suitable for all ages.
Western Lefkada Coastal Route
📍 Lefkada Town
🚗 Road Trip40km paved coastal highway (1.5 hours) connecting the capital to the southern tip, traversing high cliffs with access to world-famous beaches like Kathisma and Porto Katsiki.
Zakynthos Sea Turtle Rescue & Information Center
📍 Vasilikos
🐠 AquariumA dedicated conservation center providing families with interactive exhibits about the endangered Loggerhead sea turtles.
Zakynthos West Coast Scenic Drive
📍 Keri
🚗 Road Trip45km paved mountain and cliffside route (2 hours) from Keri to the Shipwreck Overlook, passing traditional villages like Volimes and the dramatic sunset cliffs of Kampi.
