Sailing the Ionian Islands

Season : May to OctoberLevel : Beginner to intermediateWind : Maestro NW thermal, 12–18 knots

The Ionian is our answer to “Greece intimidates me”. There is no meltemi here: the maestro, a northwest thermal breeze, fills in around midday, peaks at 12–18 knots mid-afternoon and dies at dusk. Nights are calm, and no passage ever leaves the nearest shelter more than two hours away.

Legs are short — Lefkada to Ithaca 25 miles, Lefkada to Kefalonia 20 — and the stops exceptional: Fiskardo spared by the 1953 earthquake, Kioni with its three windmills, the water off Antipaxos that exists nowhere else. Nidri, on Lefkada, is the largest charter base in Greece.

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Route

The itineraries — Ionian Islands

Weekend

Option 1 — Nidri › Paxos › Antipaxos

The revelation route: roughly 55 miles around the bluest water in Greece. Gaios and its harbour tucked between two fortified islets, then a full day at anchor off Antipaxos.

Day	Leg	Distance	Highlights
Day 1	Nidri › Gaios (Paxos)	28 nm	Enter from the north of the buoyed channel — narrow, under engine the first time. Dinner on the quay.
Day 2	Gaios › Antipaxos › Gaios	10 nm	A day at anchor in the turquoise; in July–August, arrive before 11 am.
Day 3	Gaios › Nidri	28 nm	Home with the maestro, possible stop at Sivota.

7 days

Option 2 — The classic circuit: Ithaca and Kefalonia

The Ionian reference loop, roughly 170 miles from Nidri: the deep bay of Vathi, miniature Kioni, Fiskardo spared by the 1953 earthquake and Myrtos beach, reachable only by sea.

Day	Leg	Distance	Highlights
Days 1–3	Nidri › Vathi › Kioni › Fiskardo	43 nm	Odysseus' harbour, then two of the archipelago's finest villages — grilled octopus on the quay at Kioni.
Days 4–5	Fiskardo › Assos › Myrtos › Argostoli	40 nm	Assos' Venetian fortress, a dinghy swim off Myrtos, night in Kefalonia's capital.
Days 6–7	Argostoli › Vathi › Nidri	55 nm	The week's longest crossing (30 miles): leave before 9 am, ahead of the strong afternoon maestro.

When to go

When to go — Ionian Islands

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Advice from sailors

Guides & articles — Ionian Islands

GuideIonian Islands

Sailing the Ionian Islands: The Complete First-Charter Guide

Gentle winds, closely spaced islands and shelter everywhere: the Ionian is the ideal spot for a first charter in Greece.

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ItineraryIonian Islands

14-Day Ionian Itinerary: Corfu to Zakynthos

Two weeks down the whole Ionian chain, from Antipaxos to the Blue Caves of Zakynthos, on the gentle Maestro.

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ItineraryIonian Islands

7-Day Northern Ionian Itinerary: Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Parga

A 110-mile loop from Corfu: the turquoise water of Paxos and Antipaxos and the postcard village of Parga.

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ItineraryIonian Islands

7-Day Southern Ionian Itinerary: Lefkada, Meganisi, Kefalonia, Ithaca

The ideal week for a first cruise in Greece: Lefkada, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia in short, sheltered hops.

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ItineraryIonian Islands

A Weekend Sailing to Paxos and Antipaxos

Three days from Corfu to the turquoise anchorages of Paxos and Antipaxos, the bluest water in Greece.

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Frequently asked questions

Are the Ionians really suitable for beginners?

Yes. The maestro is a reliable thermal breeze that rarely exceeds 18 knots and dies in the evening; no passage leaves the nearest shelter more than two hours away. A skipper with 2–3 weeks of coastal sailing and confident harbour manoeuvres is fully equipped.

Monohull or catamaran in the Ionian?

Both work — this is one of the few Greek basins where a catamaran costs you nothing in stress. With a family: a 40–42 ft catamaran for stability at anchor and space. For helming pleasure in the afternoon maestro: a 36–43 ft monohull. In July–August, catamarans book out 4–6 months ahead.

What is the classic trap of the Ionian summer?

Timing. The maestro peaks between 3 and 5 pm and the star anchorages — Antipaxos, Fiskardo, Kioni — fill by 11 am in July–August. Our routine: leave at 8–9 am, arrive before noon, and keep the afternoon for swimming while everyone else hunts for a spot.