{"id":67983,"date":"2026-09-01T21:36:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T19:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/?p=67983"},"modified":"2026-09-15T11:51:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T09:51:22","slug":"ithaca-sights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/ithaca-sights\/","title":{"rendered":"Ithaca Greece: Our 9 Favourite Highlights on Odysseus&#8217; Island"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We\u2019d long wanted to visit the island of Odysseus, but for one reason or another, it just never quite worked out. Coincidence or not: The release of Christopher Nolan&#8217;s 2026 blockbuster film, <strong>&#8220;The Odyssey&#8221;<\/strong>, signalled the start of a long-awaited journey for us: a trip to Ithaca!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Ithaca is an island with a strong identity, and by the time you leave, you\u2019ll feel the urge to return. Today, that probably won\u2019t take 20 years, as it once did for Odysseus.<br \/>\n<cite>Tom &amp; Ella<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67772\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67772\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67772\" title=\"Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Insel des Odysseus Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Insel-des-Odysseus-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Insel des Odysseus Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67772\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vathy: The main town of Ithaca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Ithaca, you encounter the island\u2019s most famous son at every turn\u2014whether in the form of statues and busts, or in taverns, hotels, and souvenir shops that bear his name. For the adventurous traveler, the <strong>island of Ithaca<\/strong> has plenty to offer: from stunning bays and mystical caves to lush mountains and archaeological sites.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, we were also startled by quite a few extreme contrasts. The main town, <strong>Vathy<\/strong>, has a jet-set vibe, and prices there rival those on Santorini and Milos. In the countryside, on the other hand, you\u2019ll find simplicity and genuine hospitality. If you only stay on Ithaca for a day or two, you\u2019ll miss out on the authentic experience.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here, we\u2019ll introduce you to our favorite spots and the best <strong>sights on Ithaca<\/strong>, which we explored during our week on the island. You\u2019ll find out at the end of this post whether the island truly won us over.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-maps-promo\"><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__content\"><strong class=\"gm-maps-promo__title\">Our Ithaca tips on Google Maps<\/strong><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__text\">Skip hours of research and get our Ithaca Map with 100+ spots:<br><br>\ud83c\udfd6\ufe0f Dream beaches &amp; hidden bays<br>\ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f Restaurants, tavernas &amp; caf\u00e9s<br>\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f Must-see highlights &amp; ancient sites<br>\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Worthwhile spots &amp; insider tips<br>\ud83d\ude98 Practical info like rentals &amp; parking<br>\u267e\ufe0f Lifetime access &amp; updates<\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__button-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/produkt\/ithaca-map\/\" class=\"gm-maps-promo__button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To Ithaca Map \u2192<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ithaka-Karte-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Google-Maps-Smartphone.png\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\"><\/div><\/div>\n<h2>#1 In the Footsteps of Odysseus<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The island is inextricably linked to the Homeric hero <strong>Odysseus, the king of Ithaca<\/strong>\u2014and that was true even before the movie &#8220;The Odyssey&#8221;. Homer\u2019s ancient epic is over 2,700 years old and ranks among the most important works of world literature. It comprises 24 cantos and around 12,110 hexameter verses; it would take you a good 12 to 15 hours to read it. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Odysseus-Insel-Ithaka-Koenig-Held.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-67775\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-67775'>\n\t\t\t\tKing of Ithaca\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Insel-Ithaka-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-schoene-Orte.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-67777\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-67777'>\n\t\t\t\tFinally arrived in Ithaca\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Homer\u2019s Odyssey, summarized briefly for you:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; gap: 12px; align-items: flex-start; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<p><span style=\"flex: 0 0 42px; width: 42px; height: 42px; line-height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #00aad9; text-align: center;\">\u2694\ufe0f<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>The War of Troy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 5px 0 0;\">While Odysseus goes off to war, his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, wait for him in Ithaca. The Greeks and Trojans fight for ten years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; gap: 12px; align-items: flex-start; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<p><span style=\"flex: 0 0 42px; width: 42px; height: 42px; line-height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #00aad9; text-align: center;\">\ud83d\udc34<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>The Trojan Horse<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 5px 0 0;\">The Trojan Horse trick devised by Odysseus brings victory to the Greeks. However, the fall of Troy incurs the wrath of the gods.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; gap: 12px; align-items: flex-start; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<p><span style=\"flex: 0 0 42px; width: 42px; height: 42px; line-height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #00aad9; text-align: center;\">\ud83c\udf29\ufe0f<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Odysseus at the Mercy of the Gods<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 5px 0 0;\">Poseidon rages and sends Odysseus on a mystical journey, while Athena protects him. Odysseus wanders from island to island.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; gap: 12px; align-items: flex-start; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<p><span style=\"flex: 0 0 42px; width: 42px; height: 42px; line-height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #00aad9; text-align: center;\">\ud83c\udf0a<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Odysseus\u2019s Jouney<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 5px 0 0;\">For ten years, he faces trials involving mythical creatures such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the sorceress Circe, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and the nymph Calypso.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; gap: 12px; align-items: flex-start; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<p><span style=\"flex: 0 0 42px; width: 42px; height: 42px; line-height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #00aad9; text-align: center;\">\ud83c\udfdd\ufe0f<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Arrival in Ithaca<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 5px 0 0;\">Alone, without a ship or companions, Odysseus finally reaches his home island.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; gap: 12px; align-items: flex-start;\">\n<p><span style=\"flex: 0 0 42px; width: 42px; height: 42px; line-height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #00aad9; text-align: center;\">\ud83e\udd2b<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>The End of the Odyssey<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 5px 0 0;\">Odysseus attempts to reclaim the throne of Ithaca. We won\u2019t reveal here whether he succeeds!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67851\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67851\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67851\" title=\"Odysseus Irrfahrt Karte Ithaka Griechenland Europa\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Odysseus-Irrfahrt-Karte-Ithaka-Griechenland-Europa.jpg\" alt=\"Odysseus Irrfahrt Karte Ithaka Griechenland Europa\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67851\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Odyssey across the Mediterranean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cunning Odysseus earned fame with the idea of the Trojan Horse, but at the same time brought a curse upon himself. Who knows\u2014if the leader of the Greek army against Troy, King Agamemnon, had come up with the idea of the horse, history might be different today, and Ithaca might not be nearly as well known.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Based on<strong> Homer\u2019s ancient epic<\/strong>, historians and archaeologists are attempting to pinpoint the individual stops along Odysseus\u2019s odyssey. Much of this remains a mystery to this day; some islands have even been identified as being in Italy rather than Greece. Excavations have even taken place in North Africa, including on the Tunisian island of Djerba.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the ruins of Troy (in present-day Turkey) and the sensational finds at Mycenae (on the <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/peloponnese-holiday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peloponnese<\/a> Peninsula) as the kingdom of Agamemnon, the search for <strong>Odysseus\u2019s homeland<\/strong> really took off.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67778\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67778\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67778\" title=\"Palast des Odysseus Ithaka Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Palast-des-Odysseus-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Palast des Odysseus Ithaka Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67778\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Odysseus\u2019s Palace Today<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is generally believed to be the modern-day island of Ithaca, but to this day there is no conclusive evidence. Several locations on Ithaca are considered potential sites for <strong>Odysseus\u2019s palace<\/strong> (see #8). Some historians have even suggested that ancient Ithaca was located on the neighboring island of Kefalonia, though evidence for this is scarce. In 2025, however, ancient roof tiles bearing the inscription \u039f\u0394\u03a5CCEOC were discovered on Ithaca.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67781\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67781\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67781\" title=\"Odysseus Film Nolan Drehorte Griechenland Voidokilia Strand Nestor H\u00f6hle\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Odysseus-Film-Nolan-Drehorte-Griechenland-Voidokilia-Strand-Nestor-Hoehle.jpg\" alt=\"Odysseus Film Nolan Drehorte Griechenland Voidokilia Strand Nestor H\u00f6hle\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67781\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voidokilia Bay: Filming location for Nolan&#8217;s movie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The myth surrounding the hero lives on, and following the release of the new U.S. movie, the current mayor of Ithaca is expecting an increase in visitors. Interestingly, <strong>not a single scene from the movie The Odyssey\u00a0was filmed on Ithaca<\/strong> itself; instead, filming took place in Morocco, Iceland, Italy, Scotland, the U.S., and the Greek Peloponnese. Among other locations, scenes were filmed at the famous Voidokilia Bay and the Nestor Cave above it.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background: rgba(0, 170, 217, 0.05); padding: 14px 18px; margin: 24px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;\">\ud83c\udfac <strong>The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan<\/strong>: The ambitious director (Oppenheimer, Inception, Batman Trilogy) shot the film entirely on IMAX 70 mm film across six countries from February to August 2025. &#8220;The Odyssey&#8221; makes do with very few computer-generated effects. Ships and monsters were created as actual sets, including the Cyclops, which was built as a giant puppet. The budget totaled around $250 million, and the film grossed $264 million worldwide on its opening weekend. We saw it after our trip to Ithaca and were therefore very familiar with the story. The cinematic adaptation is impressive, and the plot is based on Homer\u2019s original. Without prior knowledge of the ending in the palace, it would have been even more exciting for us personally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>#2 Vathy: Ithaca\u2019s Beautiful Capital<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Vathy lies at the end of Molos Bay<\/strong>, which resembles a fjord, and is the main town of Ithaca\u2014or, as the Greeks say, Ithaki. Most of the island\u2019s nearly 3,000 residents live in Vathy, and yet this coastal town feels more like a village\u2014albeit one with all the amenities.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67783\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67783\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67783\" title=\"Vathy Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Abendstimmung\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vathy-Ithaka-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Abendstimmung.jpg\" alt=\"Vathy Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Abendstimmung\" width=\"800\" height=\"335\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67783\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Evening atmosphere in Vathy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just before entering Vathy, you can catch your first glimpse of the <strong>picture-perfect village of Ithaca<\/strong> from a hilltop. The white and pastel-colored houses with red-tiled roofs and colorful window and door shutters look like something out of a painting and are worth the trip to the island all on their own. Care has been taken to preserve the historic character of the village; there are hardly any architectural eyesores like those found on other Ionian islands.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Insel-gut-zum-Segeln-Griechenland.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vathy-Insel-Ithaka-schoene-Orte.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The long <strong>waterfront<\/strong> <strong>promenade in Vathy<\/strong> is a lovely place to take a stroll at any time of day, and the many caf\u00e9s and restaurants right by the sea are perfect for lingering. We especially enjoyed <em>Bistro Soddis<\/em> at Thanassis, where you can watch the bustling activity of the sailboats over a drink, both during the day and in the evening. Vathy\u2019s natural harbor, with its tiny islet Lazareto, is a paradise for sailors, who make it a mandatory stop here on their way from Lefkada.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67789\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67789\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-67789 size-full\" title=\"Vathy Uferpromenade Insel Ithaka Restaurants\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vathy-Uferpromenade-Insel-Ithaka-Restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"Vathy Uferpromenade Insel Ithaka Restaurants\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67789\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vathy\u2019s inviting waterfront promenade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In early June, the atmosphere was very pleasant\u2014it wasn\u2019t too crowded, but there was plenty going on. As you <strong>stroll through the alleys of Vathy<\/strong>, just let yourself be carried along by the charm: a drink here, a snack there, a quick photo stop, and, time and again, charming shops to browse. Be sure to check out the shops <em>Nausik\u00e1<\/em> (unique souvenirs), <em>Nostalgia<\/em> (jewelry and art), and <em>Vivian\u2019s Chest<\/em> (clothing)\u2014you\u2019re sure to find a great souvenir from Ithaca.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67791\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67791\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67791\" title=\"Ithaka Vathy Shop Empfehlung Nausik\u00e1\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Vathy-Shop-Empfehlung-Nausika.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Vathy Shop Empfehlung Nausik\u00e1\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67791\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Plenty of choices at Nausik\u00e1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the day in Vathy, you\u2019ll run into some day-trippers from the island of Kefalonia, joined by independent travelers from all over the world. We had a spontaneous and extremely warm encounter with our readers Claudia and Ren\u00e9 in Vathy\u2014who have been avid island-hoppers for years\u2014and we spent some time eagerly exchanging tips for Ithaca and Kefalonia.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-tip-box\"><div class=\"gm-tip-box__icon\">\ud83d\udecf\ufe0f<\/div><p class=\"gm-tip-box__text\">Thanks to its location, <strong>Vathy is an ideal place to stay<\/strong>\u2014it offers everything from small studios to boutique hotels. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/searchresults.en.html?city=-818224&#038;aid=1733645&#038;no_rooms=1&#038;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">compare and book hotels here*<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Generally speaking, on this island\u2014which is only 96 km\u00b2 in size\u2014you\u2019ll meet the same vacationers multiple times in different places within just a few days. There\u2019s something cozy about that, and we already have fond memories of it from our time on <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/skopelos-sights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Skopelos<\/a>. Even a few Americans and Australians were wandering around the island. Apart from Mykonos, which other small Greek island can boast such a high level of appeal?<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background: rgba(0, 170, 217, 0.05); padding: 14px 18px; margin: 24px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>G\u2019Day in Ithaca<\/strong>: Ithaca has been drawing an international crowd for years. The reason goes back further than the hype surrounding Odysseus: Ithaca was one of the first Greek islands from which people emigrated to Australia. Starting in the 1850s, the gold rush in the state of Victoria drew people there. Melbourne became the hub\u2014incidentally, one of our favorite cities in the world\u2014where Ithacans founded their own association in 1916. And so we often heard an Australian &#8220;Good Day&#8221; on the island. Many return every summer, coinciding with Odysseus\u2019s return.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Freddo-cappuccino-Griechenland-Kaffee-kalt.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Odysseus-Denkmal-Hafen-Vathy-Ithaka.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a coffee break, we\u2019ll continue on to the old harbor, where you\u2019ll find Vathy\u2019s most popular photo spot: the <strong>bronze statue of Odysseus<\/strong>. The highlight is that it has two sides. On one side, the hero faces the sea\u2014before the Trojan War\u2014standing tall and full of pride. On the other side, you\u2019ll see him facing the land, 20 years later, in a crouching posture. Day trips to the neighboring islands also depart from here, as do the Odysseas Sea Taxis, which take you to the beaches in the southeast.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-tip-box\"><div class=\"gm-tip-box__icon\">\u26f5<\/div><p class=\"gm-tip-box__text\">A <strong>boat trip from Vathy<\/strong> is one of the most beautiful experiences on Ithaca. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/en-gb\/ithaca-l146566\/?partner_id=NU40SHX&#038;utm_medium=online_publisher&#038;cmp=Ithakahighlights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">book the tour here*<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Otherwise, there\u2019s also an Archaeological Museum in Vathy, though it\u2019s undergoing renovations until 2027 and unfortunately has little of interest to offer at the moment. This makes a detour to the impressive Metropolitan Church just around the corner all the more worthwhile, or you can check out the<strong> Ithaca Maritime and Local History Museum<\/strong>, located about 250 meters further west. If you get hungry after sightseeing, head to <em>Amarantos Bakery<\/em> for a savory or sweet Greek treat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67793\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67793\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67793\" title=\"Vathy Ithaka Metropolitankirche Museum\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vathy-Ithaka-Metropolitankirche-Museum.jpg\" alt=\"Vathy Ithaka Metropolitankirche Museum\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67793\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Metropolitan Church of Vathy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Cave of the Nymphs (Marmarospilia)<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just under three kilometers west of Vathy, below the sparse ruins of the island\u2019s old capital, Paleochora, lies the <strong>Cave of the Nymphs<\/strong>. It is associated with the legend of Odysseus, as the hero, after his 20-year absence, stored his belongings here with the help of the goddess Athena before setting out to reclaim his throne.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cave, located just past the outskirts of Vathy, is signposted as &#8220;Nymphes Cave&#8221;. After a short hike, you\u2019ll find yourself in front of an iron gate blocking the entrance. Since the padlock was open, we ventured a peek inside. There isn\u2019t much to see, unless you come at the right time or have a flashlight with you.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67800\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67800\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67800\" title=\"H\u00f6hle der Nymphen Ithaka Griechenland Odysseus\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Hoehle-der-Nymphen-Ithaka-Griechenland-Odysseus.jpg\" alt=\"H\u00f6hle der Nymphen Ithaka Griechenland Odysseus\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67800\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave of the Nymphs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At noon, the sun shines through a <strong>skylight in the cave ceiling<\/strong>\u2014<strong>known as the &#8220;Entrance of the Gods&#8221;<\/strong>\u2014into the mystical cave, illuminating a small altar. But please don\u2019t climb down; it\u2019s a good three meters deep, and the rope didn\u2019t look very trustworthy. From the cave\u2019s exit, you\u2019ll have a magnificent view of Molos Bay and Dexia Beach (see #9).<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-maps-promo gm-maps-promo--compact gm-ebook-promo gm-book-promo\"><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/Rough-Guides-Mini-Kefalonia-Travel\/dp\/1835294316?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&#038;crid=X4RPKGM7EF8V&#038;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p7NXy4t0xSeVYCsmQS6wBgN6B86ZzWpE0d6O5tAQtdBXQW1iy2LxFoDo1US5UKWcDFpUWeDz4bcHJMTMamKv6RTKP5Sq737ahLPl3XqaAIiZJqUcsxuCEyDKYaqYHJlkQwW7o9HKGCU_FTChA-hoU9jvGqA-63GYZTihGGCCzNPCTpmXJZuNdEj3g8P5ET1GI1ZmcEJKFZsNpD2ZjyN5yxalPC2FeTr9ArF5jpqe3ug.KMjtZ7FHpKMQGyXUmuPmyb6fdaYET79BTFeob1O__l4&#038;dib_tag=se&#038;keywords=kefalonia+travel+guide&#038;qid=1785482526&#038;sprefix=kefalonia+travel+guid%2Caps%2C219&#038;sr=8-3&#038;linkCode=ll2&#038;tag=tomellamoment-21&#038;linkId=222b9c75d664dbd36f8beb84c70dabdc&#038;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Kefalonia-Travel-Guide-Rough-Guides-Mini.jpg\" alt=\"Kefalonia travel guide\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__content\"><span class=\"gm-book-promo__eyebrow\">Kefalonia book from Rough Guides Mini<\/span><strong class=\"gm-maps-promo__title\">Kefalonia travel guide<\/strong><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__text\">This travel guide to Kefalonia features short but informative chapters on Ithaca. If you're visiting both islands, it's well worth having it.<\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__button-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/Rough-Guides-Mini-Kefalonia-Travel\/dp\/1835294316?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&#038;crid=X4RPKGM7EF8V&#038;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p7NXy4t0xSeVYCsmQS6wBgN6B86ZzWpE0d6O5tAQtdBXQW1iy2LxFoDo1US5UKWcDFpUWeDz4bcHJMTMamKv6RTKP5Sq737ahLPl3XqaAIiZJqUcsxuCEyDKYaqYHJlkQwW7o9HKGCU_FTChA-hoU9jvGqA-63GYZTihGGCCzNPCTpmXJZuNdEj3g8P5ET1GI1ZmcEJKFZsNpD2ZjyN5yxalPC2FeTr9ArF5jpqe3ug.KMjtZ7FHpKMQGyXUmuPmyb6fdaYET79BTFeob1O__l4&#038;dib_tag=se&#038;keywords=kefalonia+travel+guide&#038;qid=1785482526&#038;sprefix=kefalonia+travel+guid%2Caps%2C219&#038;sr=8-3&#038;linkCode=ll2&#038;tag=tomellamoment-21&#038;linkId=222b9c75d664dbd36f8beb84c70dabdc&#038;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" class=\"gm-maps-promo__button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon*<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2>#3 Hiking on Ithaca<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lush green hills above and sparkling turquoise-blue bays below. Hiking on Ithaca is fun and a feast for the senses. An extensive network of hiking trails crisscrosses the island, most of which are so-called &#8220;Geo-Treks&#8221; that were established as part of the creation of the <strong>Kefalonia-Ithaca Geopark<\/strong>. We set out on old donkey trails several times and enjoyed Ithaca\u2019s impressive natural beauty.<\/p>\n<h3>Hike to the Rizes Cave<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are several unspoiled hiking destinations, especially below Vathy, since most of the southern half of Ithaca is uninhabited. A personal highlight was the <strong>hike to Rizes Cave<\/strong>, which is also linked to the legend of Odysseus.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From Vathy, you drive up to the quiet village of Perachori, which, unfortunately, offers no stops worth making other than a great view. About two kilometers past the village limits, Geotrail No. 45 begins at a signpost. From here, the trail zigzags uphill for about 400 meters, gaining a good 90 meters in elevation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67934\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67934\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67934\" title=\"Perachori Vathy Ithaka Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Perachori-Vathy-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Perachori Vathy Ithaka Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67934\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View from Perachori toward Vathy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Actually, it\u2019s almost impossible to miss the trail. Shortly after we set out, a Greek couple came toward us from above; they hadn\u2019t been able to find the entrance to the cave. After a brief conversation with Damianos and Eleni, they followed us back up the trail and were overjoyed when, after about 15 minutes, we found the <strong>Swineherd\u2019s Cave<\/strong> together.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Itahaka-Wandern-Rizes-Hoehle-Eumaios.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-67807\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-67807'>\n\t\t\t\tRizes Cave\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Odysseus-Ithaka-Rizes-Hoehle-Wandern-Greichenland.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-67805\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-67805'>\n\t\t\t\tRizes Cave\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to legend, <strong>Eumaeus, Odysseus\u2019s faithful swineherd<\/strong>, kept his animals here. He was the first person to visit Odysseus after twenty years\u2014even before his wife Penelope. The cave entrance is inconspicuous and overgrown with a fig tree. Behind it, you enter a huge sinkhole.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cave\u2019s ceiling collapsed a very long time ago, allowing natural light to stream in from above, while water drips everywhere and moss hangs from the walls. A truly mystical place on Ithaca! Fans of mythology can also visit the <strong>Arethusa Spring<\/strong>; the tour starts just 300 meters past the starting point of the Rizes hike. You can park your rental car at a pavilion.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background: rgba(0, 170, 217, 0.05); padding: 18px 20px; margin: 26px 0; border-radius: 12px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 14px; flex-wrap: wrap;\">\n<div style=\"width: 42px; height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #00aad9; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; margin-top: .2rem;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude98<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex: 1; min-width: 220px;\">\n<div style=\"font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.35; margin: 0;\"><strong>Compare &amp; save on rental cars in Ithaca<\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 14px; opacity: .9; margin: 6px 0 0;\">\u2713 Get around Ithaca starting at just \u20ac210 per week<br \/>\n\u2713 Comprehensive coverage &amp; unlimited mileage, at no extra cost<br \/>\n\u2713 Stay flexible with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance<br \/>\n\u2713 Secure booking &amp; price comparison via Discover Cars<\/div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0 0;\"><a style=\"text-decoration: underline; text-underline-offset: 2px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.discovercars.com\/greece\/ithaca?a_aid=GreeceMoments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">\u2192 Compare prices now*<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 10px; font-size: 12px; opacity: .75;\">*Partner: Discover Cars<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\u2019s about 1.5 km downhill from the road to the fountain, near which Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, met the shepherd Eumaeus. Even today, spring water flows from the ancient-looking basin. A side path leads down to <strong>Pera Pigadi, a dreamy cove popular with sailors<\/strong>. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes, a sun hat, and some water.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67802\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67802\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67802\" title=\"Pera Pigadi Bucht Ithaka Segeln Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Pera-Pigadi-Bucht-Ithaka-Segeln-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Pera Pigadi Bucht Ithaka Segeln Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67802\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pera Pigadi Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Agia Panagia Spiliotissa<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The paved road, which continues south toward the farming village of Marathia, eventually turns into a gravel road. Just before that, there\u2019s a beautiful viewpoint near a small chapel. On an ATV quad-bike, you could ride all the way to <strong>Cape Mounda<\/strong>, the southeasternmost point of Ithaca, where the snow-white church of Agios Ioannis stands.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaca-Trails-Wandern-Ionische-Inseln-Tipps.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-schoene-Orte-Natur.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re not tired of hiking, the hike to the <strong>Panagia Spiliotissa<\/strong> Church is well worth it. From the gravel road, a farm trail leads about 1.8 km to this beautiful cave church. The last few meters follow a donkey trail and involve a bit of scrambling. Even our five-year-old daughter managed it with no trouble.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67819\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67819\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67819\" title=\"Ithaka Wanderung Panagia Spiliotissa\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Wanderung-Panagia-Spiliotissa.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Wanderung Panagia Spiliotissa\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67819\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hike to Panagia Spiliotissa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After about 45 minutes, you\u2019ll reach a special place: the church was built directly into a cave niche, as reflected in its name, &#8220;Mother of God of the Cave&#8221;. The gray rock walls and the whitewashed church create a striking contrast. Two chairs invite you to take a break, and the view stretches across the sea to Kefalonia. Along the trail, there were a few spiders at head height on the bushes, so it\u2019s best to hike with a walking stick to swat them away.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Panagia-Spiliotissa-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Geheimtipps-Panagia-Spiliotissa-Kirche-Hoehle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h2>#4 Katharon Monastery<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From Vathy, you can easily explore the rest of the island in one or two days. The distance to Stavros in the north\u2014the second-largest town on Ithaca\u2014is only 15 km. A small rental car or even a scooter (recommendation:<em> ZAMBELIS Rent a Scooter<\/em>) is ideal for this.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67830\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67830\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67830\" title=\"Kloster Katharon Ithaka Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kloster-Katharon-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Kloster Katharon Ithaka Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67830\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katharon Monastery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After you\u2019ve crossed the <strong>narrowest part of the island, the Isthmus of Aetos<\/strong>, two mountain roads lead north. The western route is the faster one and offers picturesque views of Kefalonia, while the eastern route takes you up into the mountains through the village of Anogi to Stavros. If you take the latter route, be sure to stop at the Katharon Monastery.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background: rgba(0, 170, 217, 0.05); padding: 14px 18px; margin: 24px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Mount Aetos<\/strong>: This pointed hill lies at the narrowest point of the island, where northern and southern Ithaca converge. From there, you have an unobstructed view of the strait leading to Kefalonia and the port of Piso Aetos\u2014and it is precisely this location that made it a candidate for the site of Odysseus\u2019s palace. Archaeologists found bronze coins here bearing the head of Odysseus. Today, only remnants of the former rampart remain, a section of which is visible from the road. The ascent is steep, winds through dense underbrush, and is only worthwhile if you\u2019re in good physical condition and wearing sturdy shoes. We didn\u2019t make it all the way up during our visit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The <strong>Iera Moni Katharon monastery<\/strong> is impressively situated at an elevation of 566 meters above sea level. For non-spiritual travelers, it\u2019s worth visiting just for the view alone. From the bell tower, located just outside the monastery, you can look out over Molos Bay, Vathy, and the southern part of Ithaca. On days with good visibility, the view extends to the scattered, uninhabited Echinades archipelago\u2014which Homer himself mentioned\u2014and beyond that lies the mainland with the region around Messolonghi.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67828\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67828\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67828\" title=\"Ithaka sch\u00f6nster Ausblick Kloster Katharon\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-schoenster-Ausblick-Kloster-Katharon.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka sch\u00f6nster Ausblick Kloster Katharon\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67828\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Most Beautiful View of Ithaca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anyone interested in culture and the Orthodox faith should visit <strong>Ithaca\u2019s most important monastery<\/strong>. It was first mentioned in writing in 1696, though it is likely older. Although it is uninhabited today, it is lovingly cared for by a family from Anogi. The courtyard is lush with greenery and a place of tranquility; inside the monastery church, you can light a candle and make a wish.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Kloster-Katharon.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Kloster-Katharon-Iera-Moni.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The monastery\u2019s name derives from the Greek verb &#8220;katharizo&#8221; (Greek for &#8220;to purify&#8221;). Shepherds from Ioannina, who had once fled to Ithaca to escape the Ottomans, wanted to burn down the wild undergrowth to clear pastureland for their livestock. After the fire, they found an icon of the Virgin Mary in the ashes. They then built a chapel on this spot, and later a monastery was established there.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Katharon is open daily from May through October until about an hour before sunset and is occasionally visited at lunchtime in the summer by tour buses from Kefalonia. The best time to visit is in the late afternoon, when the sun bathes the grounds in a golden light. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated, and a large church festival takes place here on September 8.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 12px 16px; margin: 20px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0; color: #333;\">\u2192 We\u2019ll reveal all <strong>the highlights of the neighboring island of Kefalonia<\/strong> in this post: <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/kefalonia-sights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kefalonia Sights <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>#5 Anogi and the Monoliths of Ithaca<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anogi lies on the slopes of<strong> Mount Neritos, Ithaca\u2019s highest peak at 809 meters<\/strong>. Incidentally, the mountain is one of the few places on the island that Homer mentions by name when describing Odysseus\u2019s homeland. Anogi is the oldest village on the island, and here you\u2019re completely removed from the hustle and bustle of Vathy. Although a few stone houses have been renovated in recent years for those seeking a unique living experience, the village still lacks a real sense of community.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67849\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67849\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67849\" title=\"Anogi Ithaka Kirche der Entschlafung der Gottesmutter\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Anogi-Ithaka-Kirche-der-Entschlafung-der-Gottesmutter.jpg\" alt=\"Anogi Ithaka Kirche der Entschlafung der Gottesmutter\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67849\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the <strong>center of Anogi<\/strong> stands the 12th-century Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, which was severely damaged in the 1953 earthquake. Fortunately, the murals are still preserved. During our visit, construction was in full swing next to the village church. The workers, who were happy to provide information, told us that a traditional guesthouse (Archontiko) complete with a caf\u00e9-bar will open in 2027.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most visitors come to Anogi for its wild and romantic landscape, as the village is surrounded by several natural limestone formations in bizarre shapes that are a good 100 million years old. The most impressive of these formations is the <strong>Araklis Monolith<\/strong>, located about 200 meters outside the village. A well-maintained path leads from the parking lot through vineyards to the giant rock.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-8' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Anogi-Monolith-von-Araklis-Ithaka.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-8-67848\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-8-67848'>\n\t\t\t\tVineyard\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Monolith-von-Araklis-Anogi-Ithaka.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-8-67844\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-8-67844'>\n\t\t\t\tMonolith\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The name of the nearly nine-meter-tall, upright stone derives from Heracles, the hero with the lion\u2019s skin and the strongest man in Greek mythology. For a long time, the monolith was mistakenly believed to be a Stone Age monument. However, it was formed naturally through the weathering and karstification of limestone. It is likely that legend and geology have become intertwined over the centuries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the area around Anogi, you\u2019ll find other stone giants, some of which are larger but don\u2019t tower quite as spectacularly. The monolith called Kavelaris (\u039a\u0391\u0392\u0395\u039b\u0391\u03a1\u0397\u03a3) is easy to find; a sign on the road to Stavros points the way to the perfectly round giant. The <strong>Ithaca Geopark Information Center,<\/strong> located in the former elementary school in Anogi, offers further information about the region. Alternatively, it\u2019s also worth checking out kefaloniageopark.gr.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67845\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67845\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67845\" title=\"Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Monolith Kavelaris Anogi\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Monolith-Kavelaris-Anogi.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Monolith Kavelaris Anogi\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67845\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kavelaris Monolith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>#6 Siesta in Stavros<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ten minutes by car and a few switchbacks later, you\u2019ll arrive in Stavros. Even as you approach, you\u2019ll be greeted by a magnificent panorama of the vast <strong>green plateau and Afales Bay beyond<\/strong>. Stavros, with its 350 residents, has the typical charm of a rustic mountain village and stands in stark contrast to the glamorous and almost cosmopolitan Vathy in the south of Ithaca.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67859\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67859\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67859\" title=\"Ithaka Highlights Stavros Kirche Dorfplatz\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Highlights-Stavros-Kirche-Dorfplatz.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Highlights Stavros Kirche Dorfplatz\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67859\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stavros Village Square<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For many vacationers, <strong>Stavros is merely a stopover<\/strong> on the way to the Palace of Odysseus or the School of Homer. However, it\u2019s well worth taking a stroll through Stavros from the Platia, home to the magnificent village church. Right next to the parking lot, in Hector Sykiotis Park, there is a bust of the hero Odysseus as well as an information kiosk where, in addition to plenty of information about the Odyssey, you can also see a model of the royal palace.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-9' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Insel-Ithaka-Stavros-Griechenland-Urlaub.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-9-67856\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-9-67856'>\n\t\t\t\tPhoto opportunity\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Stavros-Ithaka-Cafes-To-Kentro-The-Centre.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-9-67858\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-9-67858'>\n\t\t\t\tTo Kentro\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a coffee break, be sure to visit the modern Kafenion <em>To Kentro<\/em>, where a friendly family serves all kinds of drinks and delicious pastries. While sipping a cool Freddo on the veranda, we watched the hustle and bustle on <strong>Stavros\u2019s Platia<\/strong>, while at the next table, the older locals played a lively game of Tavli. If you\u2019re feeling hungrier, check out tavern <em>Delicious<\/em> (home-style cooking at fair prices) or <em>Rizes Restaurant<\/em> (dishes with a unique twist).<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-tip-box\"><div class=\"gm-tip-box__icon\">\ud83d\udecf\ufe0f<\/div><p class=\"gm-tip-box__text\">If you appreciate peace and authenticity, an <strong>apartment in Stavros<\/strong> is just the thing for you. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/searchresults.en.html?city=-828858&#038;aid=1733645&#038;no_rooms=1&#038;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">compare and book hotels here*<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As you walk along the main street, you\u2019ll find even more taverns. Here and there are lovely photo opportunities, such as the bougainvillea climbing up the sometimes magnificent houses. At the end of the street is a <strong>private exhibition called &#8220;Throwing Light on Homeric Ithaca&#8221;<\/strong>, dedicated to the themes of Odysseus, about truth and myth, with plenty of information available in English.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background: rgba(0, 170, 217, 0.05); padding: 14px 18px; margin: 24px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;\">\ud83c\udf89 <strong>Folk festivals on Ithaca<\/strong>: From July through September, nearly every village on Ithaca celebrates its panigyri, a festival in honor of the village\u2019s patron saint, featuring music, dancing, and traditional food. The most important dates are: Frikes (June 30), Exogi (July 17), Kioni (July 20), the Perachori Wine Festival (last Saturday in July), Stavros (August 5\u20136), and Anogi (August 14). It\u2019s well worth a visit if you want to experience authentic island life on Ithaca.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Stavros Archaeological Museum<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">History buffs can also visit the <strong>Stavros Archaeological Museum<\/strong>, located about 800 m north of the town center. However, it is a very small museum, so don\u2019t expect too much, and there is no parking in front of it at all. This is where the island\u2019s most important artifact is located, though it is not easy to find in the exhibition hall.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-10' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Museum-Stavros-Dem-Odysseus-geweiht-\u0395\u03a5\u03a7\u0397\u039d-\u039f\u0394\u03a5\u03a3\u03a3\u0395\u0399.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-10-67864\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-10-67864'>\n\t\t\t\tClay mask fragment\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Museum-in-Stavros-Odysseus-Dreifusskessel.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-10-67862\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-10-67862'>\n\t\t\t\tOdysseus tripod cauldron\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We had to ask the friendly museum staff member, who showed us the fragment of a clay mask, which is just under 3 cm in size. The <strong>inscription &#8220;Dedicated to Odysseus&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0(\u0395\u03a5\u03a7\u0397\u039d \u039f\u0394\u03a5\u03a3\u03a3\u0395\u0399) is visible on it, though only with a magnifying glass. More impressive are the remains of bronze tripod cauldrons found in the Loizos Cave on Polis Bay below Stavros. Interestingly, Homer even mentioned them in his work.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Stavros Archaeological Museum Hours<\/strong>: Wed\u2013Mon, 8:30 a.m.\u20133:30 p.m. | Admission: \u20ac5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019d like to take another dip in the sea, you can reach <strong>Polis Bay<\/strong> (Greek for &#8220;city&#8221;) in five minutes via a steep descent from Stavros. It bears this name because for a long time, the ancient capital of Ithaca was believed to be located there. In the hamlet\u2019s harbor, fishing boats bob gently about, and a rustic canteen serves beachgoers on the white pebble beach typical of Ithaca.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67865\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67865\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67865\" title=\"Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Polis Hafen Fischerboote\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Polis-Hafen-Fischerboote.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Sehensw\u00fcrdigkeiten Polis Hafen Fischerboote\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67865\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Idyllic scene at the harbor of Polis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the northern end of Polis Beach once stood the <strong>Loizos Cave<\/strong>, which historians believe was a place of worship honoring the hero Odysseus. Unfortunately, the cave has since collapsed completely. However, archaeologists discovered several artifacts here that are now housed in the Stavros Museum, including a small fragment of a clay mask. By the way, we enjoyed a picturesque sunset above Polis Bay along the road to Vathy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67869\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67869\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67869\" title=\"Ithaka Sonnenuntergang Polis Bucht\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Sonnenuntergang-Polis-Bucht.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Sonnenuntergang Polis Bucht\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67869\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sunset at Polis Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>#7 Frikes and Kioni<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From Stavros, our exploration tour continues to the <strong>northeast of Ithaca<\/strong>. There, we find the two coastal villages of Kioni and Frikes, each of which has a harbor and is regularly served by excursion boats from <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/lefkada-sights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lefkada<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/kefalonia-travel-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kefalonia<\/a>. Consequently, both villages are very popular. Kioni, in particular, is considered one of the most beautiful places on Ithaca and has even graced the cover of the well-known sailing guide &#8220;Greek Waters Pilot&#8221;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-tip-box\"><div class=\"gm-tip-box__icon\">\u26f4\ufe0f<\/div><p class=\"gm-tip-box__text\">A <strong>day trip to Ithaca from Kefalonia<\/strong>\u00a0is well worth it, even for last-minute travelers. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/en-gb\/kioni-l146586\/?partner_id=NU40SHX&#038;utm_medium=online_publisher&#038;cmp=Ithakahighlights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">book the tour here*<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67877\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67877\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67877\" title=\"Kioni Ithaka sch\u00f6ne Orte Girechenland Segeln\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kioni-Ithaka-schoene-Orte-Girechenland-Segeln.jpg\" alt=\"Kioni Ithaka sch\u00f6ne Orte Girechenland Segeln\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67877\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kioni: A postcard view of Ithaca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bays around <strong>Kioni and Frikes<\/strong> are very popular with sailors, and numerous restaurants and caf\u00e9s invite you to linger. Frikes is the quieter of the two towns and also much smaller. Essentially, Frikes consists only of the waterfront promenade and a few dozen houses behind it, located along the two access roads. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and had a wonderful lunch at <em>Revithaki<\/em> right by the sea\u2014and, mind you, we were the only ones there in mid-June!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67875\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67875\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67875\" title=\"Ithaka beste Restaurants Revithaki Frikes\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-beste-Restaurants-Revithaki-Frikes.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka beste Restaurants Revithaki Frikes\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67875\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Revithaki Restaurant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kioni, on the other hand, is larger but has only 130 permanent residents; however, its population easily increases tenfold every summer. Quite a few Greeks from the mainland have their summer villas here, and the local apartment hotels are fully booked down to the last room during that time. The rows of pastel-colored houses nestle harmoniously around the turquoise-blue bay, while fishing boats bob about in the harbor\u2014a true <strong>postcard scene from Ithaca<\/strong>!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Somehow, <strong>Kioni<\/strong> reminded us of Fiskardo on Kefalonia, because it\u2019s similarly chic, similarly glamorous, and similarly expensive here. Yes, the restaurants in Kioni are definitely among the most expensive on the island, and not all of them offer quality to match the price. We can\u2019t single out any one restaurant, but the rooftop terrace of the <em>Spavento Bar<\/em> is definitely worth a stop for a coffee break at reasonable prices.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-11' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kioni-Ithaka-Griechenland-Urlaub.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Spavento-Bar-Kioni-Ithaka-Urlaub.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And there\u2019s one more thing that bothered us about Kioni: the parking situation. The municipal parking lot is a good 400 meters outside the town center. You\u2019ll need to factor in the walk, and please don\u2019t make the same mistake we did\u2014don\u2019t drive your car into or through Kioni. The main street is so narrow that maneuvering through it feels like running the gauntlet. The paved road ends anyway at the Theotokos sto Lotza Church above <strong>Plakoutses Beach<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-tip-box\"><div class=\"gm-tip-box__icon\">\ud83d\udecf\ufe0f<\/div><p class=\"gm-tip-box__text\">While there are no hotels, there are several beautiful apartments and <strong>villas in Kioni with ocean views<\/strong>. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/searchresults.en.html?city=-820568&#038;aid=1733645&#038;no_rooms=1&#038;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">compare and book hotels here*<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Swim Stop at Marmagkas Beach<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After visiting Frikes and Kioni, you can head to Marmagkas Beach, one of our <strong>favorite beaches on Ithaca<\/strong>. Even in the summer, it\u2019s a laid-back spot here, thanks in no small part to the difficult journey to get there. On the other hand, you\u2019ll see all the more sailors here, thanks to the large bay\u2019s sheltered location.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are two ways to get to the beach, both of which are only for adventurers. The first route takes you from Frikes along the harbor and over a rutted gravel road (4WD only) for 3 km to the beach. The other route passes east of the village of Platrithias and then leads down a steep, unsecured concrete road (renovated in 2026) to Marmagkas Beach.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-12' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-schoenste-Straende-Marmagkas-Beach.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Marmagkas-Beach-Ithaka-Griechenland-Segeln.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">No matter which route you take, just before you arrive, you\u2019ll be greeted by a dreamlike setting: in the turquoise-blue Marmagkas Bay lies the islet of Agios Nikolaos, with the church of the same name perched on it. <strong>Marmagkas Beach<\/strong> consists of colorful pebbles, some coarse, some fine. That doesn\u2019t matter, though, because the water is crystal clear, and the shallow areas are perfect for snorkeling. Beach shoes are generally a good idea for Ithaca.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-maps-promo gm-maps-promo--compact gm-checklist-promo\"><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sommer-Packliste-Urlaub-Griechenland-Koffer.png\" alt=\"Greece Packing List\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__content\"><strong class=\"gm-maps-promo__title\">Greece Packing List \u2013 What Goes in the Suitcase<\/strong><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__text\">Our free packing list for your Greece holiday \u2013 print it out or save it to your phone.<\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__button-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/holiday-checklist-greece\/\" class=\"gm-maps-promo__button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To the Packing List for Greece \u2192<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From late June through mid-September, the <em>Kantina Marmagkas<\/em> caters to the needs of beachgoers. The name &#8220;Kantina&#8221; is a bit misleading, as it\u2019s actually a very good, family-run beach restaurant. The prices are fair, and the quality of the food is truly top-notch. By the way, in the northern part of Marmagkas lies the small brackish lake <strong>Alykes, the only wetland on Ithaca<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67883\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67883\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67883\" title=\"Marmagkas Beach Ithaka Alykes See\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Marmagkas-Beach-Ithaka-Alykes-See.jpg\" alt=\"Marmagkas Beach Ithaka Alykes See\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67883\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marmagkas Beach and Lake Alykes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>#8 Exogi and the School of Homer<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The island\u2019s most significant archaeological site, the Palace of Odysseus, is located in the northwest of Ithaca. This is the main draw for visitors, as the beaches here are virtually inaccessible\u2014the coastline drops almost vertically into the sea as a limestone cliff from the green slopes. However, the <strong>traditional village of Exogi<\/strong>, located just 3 km from Stavros, attracts independent travelers as a day-trip destination.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The road winds its way up through a series of switchbacks to an elevation of about 350 meters; it\u2019s very narrow with blind curves. You can park for free at the village church of Agia Marina, and from there you can explore the quiet little village, which has fewer than 40 residents in the winter. In the summer, however, some expatriates return to their hometown. We ran into some older gentlemen here wearing Australian caps and Sydney T-shirts, as well as Jajades who were Skyping with their grandchildren in Melbourne. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67887\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67887\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67887\" title=\"Exogi Ithaka Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Exougi-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Exogi Ithaka Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Exogi is located at an elevation of 350 meters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In recent years, the village has blossomed into a <strong>popular destination on Ithaca<\/strong>. This is mainly because the owner, Ioannis, has breathed new life into the place with his restaurant, Mezedopoleio <em>Extraterrestrial<\/em>. Greek classics and international dishes are served in an idyllic setting under a vine-covered pergola and on a lovingly decorated panoramic terrace. Kanelaki, the tavern\u2019s adorable cat, is the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67889\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67889\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67889\" title=\"Extraterrestrial Exugi Ithaka Restaurants Tipps\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Extraterrestrial-Exougi-Ithaka-Restaurants-Tipps.jpg\" alt=\"Extraterrestrial Exogi Ithaka Restaurants Tipps\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67889\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Extraterrestrial in Exogi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Above the village, there are two more interesting viewpoints. The first is located 50 meters east of the cemetery, where Ioannis Papadopoulos\u2014a native of Ithaca and millionaire, also known as John Papas\u2014had two unusual tombs erected in the 1930s, one of which was in honor of his parents. Since Papadopoulos had no descendants, a large portion of his fortune was later donated to charitable causes, including the Red Cross.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The so-called <strong>Pyramids of Exogi<\/strong> are therefore not mystical domed tombs, but modern concrete structures. Nevertheless, from here you have a fantastic view of Afales Bay all the way to the neighboring island of Lefkada to the north. If you follow the road uphill from the cemetery, you\u2019ll reach the former Pernarakia Monastery, which stands at an elevation of 500 meters.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-13' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Pyramiden-von-Exougi-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-13-67894\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-13-67894'>\n\t\t\t\tPyramids of Exogi\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kloster-Pernarakia-Ithaka-Exougi.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Kloster Pernarakia Ithaka Exogi\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-13-67902\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-13-67902'>\n\t\t\t\tMoni Pernarakia\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From up here, you\u2019ll enjoy an equally beautiful view of the entire northern part of Ithaca and far into the strait between Ithaca and Kefalonia. The freestanding bell tower of <strong>the Pernarakia Monastery<\/strong> is accessible, though it is completely unsecured. Especially at sunset, this is arguably the most romantic spot on Ithaca.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gm-maps-promo gm-maps-promo--compact\"><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/karte-griechenland-google-maps-sehenswuerdigkeiten.png\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__content\"><strong class=\"gm-maps-promo__title\">All Ithaca tips at a glance<\/strong><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__text\">Over 100 curated spots like beaches, restaurants, photo spots and insider tips directly on your smartphone.<\/div><div class=\"gm-maps-promo__button-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/produkt\/ithaca-map\/\" class=\"gm-maps-promo__button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To Ithaca Map \u2192<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h3>Palace of Odysseus<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The archaeological site, also known as the <strong>School of Homer<\/strong> due to its connection to the ancient epic, lies directly below Exogi. Archaeological excavations are still being conducted here today. After years of debate over whether the ruins were indeed the royal palace of the wanderer, new discoveries were made in 2025. Ancient roof tiles bearing the inscription of Odysseus were uncovered.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67903\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67903\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67903\" title=\"Palast des Odysseus Ithaka Schule des Homers\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Palast-des-Odysseus-Ithaka-Schule-des-Homers.jpg\" alt=\"Palast des Odysseus Ithaka Schule des Homers\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67903\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The palace is situated in the middle of an olive grove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can reach <strong>King Odysseus\u2019s palace<\/strong> by taking the turnoff from the <em>Myrtia Restaurant<\/em> and following the signs for &#8220;School of Homer&#8221; to the excavation site. The complex is picturesquely situated on a hillside, nestled among lush nature and countless olive trees. Please don\u2019t expect a major tourist attraction like <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/olympia-peloponnese\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Olympia<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/delphi-oracle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Delphi<\/a> here, or you\u2019ll be disappointed. There are a few arrows indicating the direction to follow, but the paths are quite steep and informational signs are few and far between.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-14' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Odysseus-Schule-des-Homers-Graeber.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-14-67908\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-14-67908'>\n\t\t\t\tAncient graves\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Insel-Ithaka-Odysseus-Palast-Ausgrabungsstaette.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-14-67906\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-14-67906'>\n\t\t\t\tPyrgos\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Today, you can see several graves that look like small pits, ruins of ancient houses, remnants of the Cyclopean wall, and a kind of tower (pyrgos) that is said to represent the palace\u2019s core. To make sense of all this, you\u2019ll need a bit of imagination and, above all, an interest in Greek mythology. We recommend that you first take a look at the <strong>palace model in the village square in Stavros<\/strong> and learn more at the &#8220;Throwing Light on Homeric Ithaca&#8221; exhibition hall.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67911\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67911\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67911\" title=\"Ithaka Odysseus Palast Anaktoro Odyssea\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Odysseus-Palast-Anaktoro-Odyssea.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Odysseus Palast Anaktoro Odyssea\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67911\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Replica of Odysseus\u2019s Palace on Ithaca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We were particularly impressed by the massive natural stone staircase leading up to the palace tower. If current scholarship is to be believed, this is the staircase that <strong>Odysseus\u2019s wife<\/strong>, <strong>Penelope<\/strong>, climbed up and down countless times to present herself to the many suitors who vied for the throne during his absence. Some of the olive trees are also ancient\u2014perhaps the tree trunk on which Odysseus and Penelope\u2019s bed once stood used to stand here?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Odysseus\u2019 Palace hours<\/strong>: open daily | Free admission<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019d like to learn more about the history of the site, you can take a <strong>guided<\/strong> <strong>tour of the Palace of Odysseus<\/strong> (Greek: Anaktoro Odyssea). The friendly Adriana Eyzaguirre offers these tours and, through &#8220;Island Walks&#8221;, also shows history-loving travelers other sites on Ithaca. We happened to run into her before one of her tours and spontaneously exchanged some important information about the site. For more information, visit www.islandwalks.com.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67909\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67909\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67909\" title=\"Ithaka Odysseus Penelope Treppe Palast K\u00f6nig\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Odysseus-Penelope-Treppe-Palast-Koenig.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Odysseus Penelope Treppe Palast K\u00f6nig\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67909\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Natural stone staircase of the palace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>#9 Beautiful Beaches on Ithaca<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Ithaca is definitely not worth visiting for a pure beach vacation<\/strong>, as the island\u2019s beaches have some unique characteristics. For one thing, all of Ithaca\u2019s beaches are pebble beaches\u2014mostly consisting of white pebbles about 1\u20133 cm in size\u2014and there are no sandy beaches on the island. Second, almost all of the island\u2019s beaches are unmanaged. This is a measure taken by the municipality to prevent the coastline from being overdeveloped. In return, Ithaca\u2019s coves impress with their beautiful blue sea.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 12px 16px; margin: 20px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0; color: #333;\"><span style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\">\u2192 Discover the <\/span><strong><span style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\">most beautiful beaches on Ithaca<\/span><\/strong> <span style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\">in this upcoming post: Ithaca Beaches<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Below, we\u2019ve compiled a <strong>selection of the most beautiful beaches on Ithaca<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Dexia<\/strong>: The beach is located just under a kilometer outside of Vathy and is truly a gem. We went swimming here twice; even though parking is a challenge (only along the road), the water is very clear, and the olive trees right by the sea provide shade. Incidentally, Dexia is considered to be the Homeric port of Phorkys\u2014the place where Odysseus came ashore again after 20 years.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67913\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67913\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67913\" title=\"Dexia Beach Ithaka Odysseus Ankunft 20 Jahre\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dexia-Beach-Ithaka-Odysseus-Ankunft-20-Jahre.jpg\" alt=\"Dexia Beach Ithaka Odysseus Ankunft 20 Jahre\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67913\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dexia: This is where Odysseus came ashore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Gidaki<\/strong>: This beach is Ithaca\u2019s answer to Fteri Beach on Kefalonia. Here, milky-blue waters meet gleaming white pebbles, with meter-high limestone cliffs rising behind them. You can only reach Gidaki Beach by boat or on foot. The hike to Gidaki takes about 25 minutes (1.5 km) from Skinos Beach. Unfortunately, the beach is privately owned, and parking spaces are scarce. Alternatively, you can set out from Minimata Beach, which is about 500 m away.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67917\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67917\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67917\" title=\"Gidaki Beach Ithaka Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Gidaki-Beach-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Gidaki Beach Ithaka Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67917\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gidaki Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our daughter, who was five at the time, handled the hike just fine, even though you have to climb a good 100 meters in elevation and then descend back down to the sea. In mid-June, around 11 a.m., there were only a few tour boats there, but according to locals, it\u2019s a different story in high summer. Taxi boats run regularly to the beach from Vathy. If you\u2019d like, you can even book <strong>trips to Gidaki<\/strong> online through our partner <em>GetYourGuide<\/em>*.<\/p>\n    <div id=\"gm-gyg-1\" style=\"background:#f4f4f4 !important; border:1px solid #e5e5e5 !important; border-radius:18px !important; padding:28px 26px 20px !important; width:100% !important; box-sizing:border-box !important; font-family:Arial, sans-serif !important; color:#1f2d33 !important; box-shadow:0 8px 24px rgba(0,170,217,0.08) !important;\">        <style>\n    #gm-gyg-1 .gm-btn:hover{ transform:translateY(-1px) !important; box-shadow:0 6px 18px rgba(0,170,217,0.45) !important; }\n    #gm-gyg-1 input, #gm-gyg-1 select{ text-align:left !important; box-sizing:border-box !important; width:100% !important; max-width:100% !important; margin:0 !important; display:block !important; height:46px !important; padding:0 12px !important; line-height:44px !important; }\n    #gm-gyg-1 input[type=\"date\"], #gm-gyg-1 .gm-date-input{ box-sizing:border-box !important; width:100% !important; max-width:100% !important; min-width:0 !important; display:block !important; -webkit-appearance:none !important; appearance:none !important; height:46px !important; padding:0 12px !important; line-height:44px !important; }\n    #gm-gyg-1 .gm-field{ min-width:0 !important; box-sizing:border-box !important; }\n    #gm-gyg-1 .gm-field-clip{ width:100% !important; max-width:100% !important; overflow:hidden !important; box-sizing:border-box !important; border-radius:10px !important; }\n    #gm-gyg-1 .gm-field-clip input{ border-radius:10px !important; }\n    #gm-gyg-1 .gm-field-row{ box-sizing:border-box !important; width:100% !important; margin-left:0 !important; margin-right:0 !important; }\n    @media (max-width:600px){\n        #gm-gyg-1 .gm-field-row{ flex-direction:column !important; }\n        #gm-gyg-1 .gm-field{ flex-basis:100% !important; width:100% !important; max-width:100% !important; }\n        #gm-gyg-1 .gm-btn{ width:100% !important; justify-content:center !important; box-sizing:border-box !important; }\n    }\n    <\/style>        <h3 style=\"margin:0 0 18px; font-size:21px; font-weight:800; letter-spacing:-0.3px;\">\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Find tours in Ithaca<\/h3>\n        <div class=\"gm-field-row\" style=\"display:flex; gap:14px; flex-wrap:wrap; margin-bottom:18px;\">\n            <div class=\"gm-field\" style=\"flex:2 1 200px;\"><label for=\"gm-gyg-1-q\" style=\"display:block; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:0.5px; color:#5c6b72; margin-bottom:6px;\">Location<\/label><div class=\"gm-field-clip\"><input id=\"gm-gyg-1-q\" class=\"gm-gyg-q\" type=\"text\" value=\"Ithaca\" style=\"width:100% !important; box-sizing:border-box !important; height:46px !important; padding:0 12px !important; border:1.5px solid #dbe4e7 !important; border-radius:10px !important; font-size:15px !important; background:#fff !important; text-align:left !important; margin:0 !important; max-width:100% !important; line-height:44px !important;\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <div class=\"gm-field\" style=\"flex:1 1 160px;\"><label for=\"gm-gyg-1-date\" style=\"display:block; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:0.5px; color:#5c6b72; margin-bottom:6px;\">Date<\/label><div class=\"gm-field-clip\"><input id=\"gm-gyg-1-date\" class=\"gm-gyg-date gm-date-input\" type=\"date\" style=\"width:100% !important; box-sizing:border-box !important; height:46px !important; padding:0 12px !important; border:1.5px solid #dbe4e7 !important; border-radius:10px !important; font-size:15px !important; background:#fff !important; text-align:left !important; margin:0 !important; max-width:100% !important; line-height:44px !important;\"><\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <button class=\"gm-btn gm-gyg-search-btn\" style=\"display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:8px; background:#00aad9; color:#fff; border:none; border-radius:10px; padding:11px 20px; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; cursor:pointer; box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,170,217,0.35); transition:transform .12s, box-shadow .12s;\">Search tours* <span>\u2192<\/span><\/button>\n            <div style=\"display:flex; justify-content:flex-end; align-items:center; gap:6px; margin-top:18px; padding-top:14px; border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\">\n        <span style=\"font-size:11px; color:#5c6b72;\">*Affiliate partner:<\/span>\n        <span style=\"font-size:13px; font-weight:800; color:#ff5a00; letter-spacing:-0.2px;\">GetYourGuide<\/span>    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <script>\n    (function () {\n        const root = document.getElementById(\"gm-gyg-1\");\n        const GYG_PARTNER_ID = \"NU40SHX\";\n        const GYG_LOCALE_PATH = \"en-gb\";\n        const DATE_OFFSET_DAYS = 1;\n        function fmtInput(d){ return d.toISOString().split(\"T\")[0]; }\n        const today = new Date();\n        const dateDefault = new Date(today); dateDefault.setDate(today.getDate() + DATE_OFFSET_DAYS);\n        const dateInput = root.querySelector(\".gm-gyg-date\");\n        dateInput.value = fmtInput(dateDefault); dateInput.min = fmtInput(today);\n        root.querySelector(\".gm-gyg-search-btn\").addEventListener(\"click\", function () {\n            const q = root.querySelector(\".gm-gyg-q\").value.trim();\n            const date = dateInput.value || fmtInput(dateDefault);\n            const url = \"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/\" + GYG_LOCALE_PATH + \"\/s\/?q=\" + encodeURIComponent(q) + \"&date_from=\" + date + \"&date_to=\" + date + \"&partner_id=\" + encodeURIComponent(GYG_PARTNER_ID);\n            window.open(url, \"_blank\", \"noopener\");\n        });\n    })();\n    <\/script>\n    \n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Sarakiniko<\/strong>: A picturesque, idyllic cove just a six-minute drive from Vathy. On the way there, you\u2019ll pass the Church of Ag. Konstantinos Sta Kanellata. Two pebble beaches offer a refreshing escape in the summer. The western one is separated by a rocky outcrop and can only be reached on foot. The <em>Leas Beach Bar<\/em> serves drinks and snacks in an idyllic setting. Parking is available only along the access road.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67919\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67919\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67919\" title=\"Sarakiniko Ithaka sch\u00f6ne Str\u00e4nde\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sarakiniko-Ithaka-schoene-Straende.jpg\" alt=\"Sarakiniko Ithaka sch\u00f6ne Str\u00e4nde\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67919\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sarakiniko Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Kaminia<\/strong>: This beach was our absolute favorite spot for swimming on Ithaca. Kaminia Beach may be narrow, but the <em>Votsalo Beach Bar<\/em> creates a great atmosphere. They serve really delicious and creative dishes there, along with a cold Mamos beer\u2014what more could you want? Sun loungers are available starting at 15 \u20ac per pair. On weekends, the beach is popular with locals; half of Vathy seems to be there. There\u2019s plenty of parking available behind the bar.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-15' class='gallery galleryid-67983 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kaminia-Beach-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-15-67922\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-15-67922'>\n\t\t\t\tKaminia Beach\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Votsalo-Beach-Bar-Kaminia-Beach-Ithaka.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-15-67924\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-15-67924'>\n\t\t\t\tVotsalo Beach Bar\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Aspros Gialos<\/strong>: Just past the isthmus, on the shore of the village of Agios Ioannis, there are several scattered pebble beaches that are among the few swimming spots on the west coast of Ithaca. The best known is Aspros Gialos Beach, which can be reached by a short hike down a picturesque natural stone staircase. There are rocks in the sea just off the beach; the water is crystal-clear, and snorkeling here is a real blast. Sun loungers are available starting at 10 \u20ac per pair, but there are neither showers nor a bar.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67925\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67925\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67925\" title=\"Aspros Gialos Beach Ithaka Griechenland\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aspros-Gialos-Beach-Ithaka-Griechenland.jpg\" alt=\"Aspros Gialos Beach Ithaka Griechenland\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67925\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aspros Gialos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>More Travel Tips for Ithaca<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Longtime fans of Greece will <strong>quickly feel at home<\/strong> <strong>on Ithaca<\/strong>. Lush nature, scattered villages, numerous (pebble) beaches, and friendly people await you. Ithaca is also a paradise for explorers and hikers, as there are trails everywhere leading to hidden coves or ancient ruins. Those looking for parties and entertainment will find Ithaca boring. In the evening, you can sit in a cocktail bar in Vathy and look out over the bay\u2014that\u2019s about it.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 12px 16px; margin: 20px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0; color: #333;\">\u2192 More <strong>tips for the Island of Odysseus<\/strong>, as well as hotels and taverns are available here: <a href=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/ithaca-travel-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ithaca Travel Tips<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Helpful Links for Your Trip to Ithaca<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Are you planning your <strong>trip to the island of Odysseus<\/strong>? Then check out the following links from our partners*, because Ithaca doesn\u2019t have its own airport and you\u2019ll always have to travel via Kefalonia or Patras\u2014which is why it\u2019s best to book your ferry, flight, and accommodations all at once:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83d\udecf\ufe0f Accommodations on Ithaca: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/searchresults.en.html?region=2882&amp;aid=1733645&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find accommodations*<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\ude97 Your rental car for Ithaca: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discovercars.com\/greece\/ithaca?a_aid=GreeceMoments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find a rental car*<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u26f4\ufe0f Ferries to Ithaca: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ferryhopper.com\/en\/?aff_uid=grekmom&amp;utm_source=affiliate-link&amp;utm_medium=in-house&amp;utm_campaign=grekmom&amp;utm_content=greece-moments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Book a ferry*<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u2708\ufe0f Flights to Kefalonia or Patras: <a href=\"https:\/\/skyscanner.pxf.io\/n4b5Yo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find a flight*<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u2139\ufe0f Official website of Ithaca Greece: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ithaca.gr\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Official website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Our hotel recommendations for Ithaca<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ithaca offers a good, though limited, selection of accommodations, including small hotels, apartments, and villas. However, some of them seemed a bit dated. Even so, almost everything is fully booked in the summer, and even in the off-season, you should expect to pay around 100 euros per night. Most accommodations are located in Vathy and around Stavros. Click on the hotels to get more information from our partner <em>Booking.com*.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gr\/oralia-apartments.en.html?aid=1733645&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oralia Apartments*<\/a> in Vathy \u2192 This is where we stayed<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gr\/perantzada-art.en.html?aid=1733645&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Perantzada Hotel 1811*<\/a> in Vathy<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gr\/theta-project.en.html?aid=1733645&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Theta Project*<\/a> in Stavros<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gr\/phileo-villas.en.html?aid=1733645&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Phileo Villas*<\/a> in Exogi<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67899\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67899\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-67899 size-full\" title=\"Ithaka Oralia Apartments in Vathy\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Hotels-Empfehlung-Ouralia-Apartments.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Hotels Empfehlung Oralia Apartments\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oralia Apartments<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #00aad9; background: rgba(0, 170, 217, 0.05); padding: 14px 18px; margin: 24px 0; font-family: sans-serif; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;\">\ud83d\udd0d <strong>Our final thoughts on Ithaca:<\/strong> We spent a week on the island of Odysseus\u2014significantly longer than most vacationers, who often stay only two to three days. For us, that was just right, because it allowed us to discover spots that hardly anyone else visits. Ithaca is a true island gem, and we can well understand why Odysseus longed so much for his homeland\u2014we\u2019d feel the same way here, too. Thanks to its compact size, the island remains easy to navigate and is wonderful to explore on your own; the bright pebble beaches are a feast for the eyes\u2014just don\u2019t forget your water shoes! Vathy was a great starting point for us and really lovely in the evening, though we did have to get used to the jet-set vibe there at first. We were very impressed by how clean and well-maintained the entire island is, even on the unmanaged beaches. One downside is the cost of living, as accommodations and taverns are noticeably more expensive than elsewhere. The &#8220;Odyssey&#8221; movie is likely to drive prices up even further. If you visit by mid-June or starting in mid-September, you\u2019ll hardly notice the hype. And honestly: We liked Ithaca better than Kefalonia, perhaps because of its manageable size and its moving history.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67895\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67895\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67895\" title=\"Ithaka Griechenland Exogi Afales Bucht\" src=\"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ithaka-Griechenland-Exougi-Afales-Bucht.jpg\" alt=\"Ithaka Griechenland Exogi Afales Bucht\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67895\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">See you soon on Ithaca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section class=\"faq-section\">\n<h2>FAQ about Ithaca<\/h2>\n<h3>Where is Ithaca?<\/h3>\n<p>Ithaca is located in the Ionian Sea right next to Kefalonia, separated only by a narrow strait. The island covers just under 96 km\u00b2, and its main town is Vathy on the fjord-like Bay of Molos; there is no airport on the island.<\/p>\n<h3>Is Ithaca really the home of Odysseus?<\/h3>\n<p>This has not been proven to this day. Several sites on Ithaca\u2014most notably the School of Homer near Exogi and Aetos Hill\u2014are considered possible locations for his palace. However, ancient roof tiles found in 2025 bearing the inscription \u039f\u0394\u03a5CCEOC make the connection more likely.<\/p>\n<h3>Was Christopher Nolan\u2019s film &#8220;The Odyssey&#8221; filmed on Ithaca?<\/h3>\n<p>No, not a single scene from Christopher Nolan\u2019s film &#8220;The Odyssey&#8221; was shot on the island of Ithaca; it was filmed in Morocco, Iceland, Italy, Scotland, the U.S., and the Peloponnese in Greece.<\/p>\n<h3>How many days should you plan for Ithaca?<\/h3>\n<p>If you only stay for one or two days, you\u2019ll miss out on the authentic experience of Ithaca. We took a whole week ourselves, and in hindsight, we found that to be ideal. If you\u2019re planning to go island-hopping, you should set aside at least three to four days for Ithaca, followed by a week in Kefalonia and, if desired, another four to five days in Lefkada.<\/p>\n<h3>Is Ithaca a good choice for a beach vacation?<\/h3>\n<p>In our opinion, the island of Ithaca isn\u2019t worth visiting for a beach vacation alone. All the beaches are pebbly rather than sandy and mostly unmanaged. However, coves like Dexia, Gidaki, and Kaminia delight visitors with their turquoise-blue, crystal-clear water.<\/p>\n<h3>How do you get to Ithaca?<\/h3>\n<p>The easiest way to reach Ithaca is from the neighboring island of Kefalonia. From Sami, take the ferry to Pisaetos. The crossing takes only about 20\u201330 minutes. This is the most common route, as Ithaca itself has no airport.<\/p>\n<h3>Should you stay in Vathy or in the north of Ithaca?<\/h3>\n<p>Vathy offers the widest selection of accommodations on Ithaca, but also has the highest prices. Frikes in the north is quieter, while Kioni has become just as commercialized as Fiskardo on Kefalonia. If you\u2019re looking for an authentic place to stay, the village of Stavros on Ithaca is the right choice.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f9f9f9; border-radius: 16px; padding: 24px; margin: 20px 0; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif;\">\n<p><strong style=\"margin-top: 0; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.5em; text-align: center;\">*Support our blog Greece-Moments<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.6; color: #333333; text-align: justify;\">This post contains affiliate links marked with an asterisk (*). If you book or make a purchase through one of these links, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you. This helps us continue to provide high-quality content for free. Did you enjoy this post and want to say thank you? Then just buy us our next Greek coffee \u2615\ufe0f <a style=\"color: #00aad9; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=A998MHTTBCFFL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Go to the coffee fund<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you enjoy this post? Then save it on Pinterest!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019d long wanted to visit the island of Odysseus, but for one reason or another, it just never quite worked out. Coincidence or not: The release of Christopher Nolan&#8217;s 2026 blockbuster film, &#8220;The Odyssey&#8221;, signalled the start of a long-awaited journey for us: a trip to Ithaca! Ithaca is an island with a strong identity, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":67773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[699,605],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ithaca-island","category-top-sights"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67983\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}