Ithaki Travel Guide

 
by elsadran
 
  •   Things to Do
    by elsadran
  •   Things to Do
    by elsadran
  •   Ithaki
    by elsadran
  •   Ithaki
    by elsadran
  •   Ithaki
    by elsadran
 

Explore Ithaki

Things to Do  

Archeology

Archeology, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  Ithaki has been disputed as the real home and kingdom of Odysseas for years, as there are many clues in the famous epic of Homer referring to this island. Greek archaeologists have recently found the ruins of a palace in the area of Exogi which is evidently of the same era... 

Sarakiniko

Sarakiniko, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  I liked this beach very much as I could put up my tent under the trees and enjoy a few days swimming in the beautiful water of the bay. It is a rocky bay with two nice beaches separated by a small rocky passage. So only the devoted natural lovers pass on to the second beach.... 

Lefki

Lefki, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  Lefki is a small quiet and beautiful village on the road to Stavros exactly 11 km from Vathy and 11 km from Kioni on the other side of the island. The most important asset of the village is the beach of Aspros Gialos which is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island.... 

"Ithaca" by Constantinos Kavafis

"Ithaca" by Constantinos Kavafis, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  Inspired by the familiar story of Odysseus (Ulysses) in the famous epic poem of Homer “Odyssey”, Kavafis has used Ithaki as a symbol of the high goals you set in life. The journey is more important than your arrival to your destination. The longer your journey is, and the... 

Afales beach

Afales beach, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  Afales is a beutiful deep bay with a set of stunning beaches on the northwest side of the island. The setting is wonderful with lush green vegetation and the best blue seawater of the island! You can go from Frikes towards Platrithias and then go on to Agioi Saranta. There... 

Stavros

Stavros, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  Stavros is the main town of the north so a lot of action goes on here. It is found on the 16th kilometer from Vathy and it is one of the most important commercial centers of Ithaki.The area is considered as the most probable site of the mythological home place of Ulysses.... 

Aspros gialos or Ai-Giannis beach

Aspros gialos or Ai-Giannis beach, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  On the way to Stavros, on the 11th klm from Vathy you will meet Lefki. Take the road going down to the beach and in about 1 klm you will find the spectacular beach of Aspros Gialos. The quality of the water is unbelievable. This was the most enjoyable swim I had in Ithaki.... 

Hotels  

Peratzada Hotel

 23 Opinions

Mentor Hotel

 6 Opinions

Restaurants  

Ulysses(Odysseas) Restaurant

Ulysses(Odysseas) Restaurant, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  Odysseas(Ulysses) Restaurant is one of the restaurants in the port . Very fresh fish and well cooked food! Greek traditional dishes are served and are delicious indeed!!! The fresh breeze and the nice view of the sea will give you a lot of appetite and I am sure you will... 

Dimitris' Restaurant

Dimitris' Restaurant, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  This nice restaurant is in the capital town of Vathy. You can have a very nice meal, breakfast, lunch or dinner, enjoying beautiful views of the town. It is on the seaside facing the town so the views are nice all day long. You can sit on the tables by the water or in the... 

Transportation  

a sailing boat is the best!!

a sailing boat is the best!!, Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  If you have the privilege of coming in a private boat the island is a perfect destination but even without it you can get to lots of remote beaches with crystal clear water and trees shading you while you are enjoying superb swimming in the green-blue sea.If you don't come... 

The 7 am ferry

The 7 am ferry, Ithaki

 SirRichard Says:  This early morning ferry to Patras is my favourite (there is another one at 16:00), as you can have from it a wonderful view of the island's coasts at sunrise. You have to get up early, OK, but the show is really (for me) worth the effort. The ferry stops at Sami... 

Warnings and Dangers  

Wear sandals in the water
SirRichard profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

SirRichard 3639 reviews

Most of the beaches are pebbles beaches, so it's hard to swimm barefeet. It's much better to enter the water with plastic sandals.

Written Sep 9, 2002

Was this review helpful?

Tourist Traps  

Arriving at Pissaetos Pier
SirRichard profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

SirRichard 3639 reviews
Pissaetos pier

There are 2 arrival points to the island, depending on what ferry from Patras you take. This time I arrived in Pissaetos, on the west coast. This port is about 18 kms away from Vathy, the capital.
There is nothing in the pier except a little bar. When I arrived there were 2 taxis, but they were already booked for some tourists arriving in the ferry. So I found myself alone in the middle of nowhere, with no bus service to Vathy and no taxi around. I asked the woman in the bar and she said the taxis would return sooner or later to pick up us. So I seated and waited, waited, waited... after 30 minutes 1 of the 2 taxis returned and the 3 persons who were still there could do the trip to Vathy. BUT in a case like that you can't bargain the price and at the end the taxi driver asked us for 8 euros each for a 10 minutes ride!!!
So unless you have a friend that picks you up in Ithaka, choose the ferry that arrives directly to Vathy, never to Pissaetos.

Written Sep 17, 2004

Related to:
 Sailing and Boating
 Cruise
 Budget Travel

Was this review helpful?

What to Pack  

swimming gear...

swimming gear..., Ithaki

 elsadran Says:  The weather is usually good during the summer, the sun is shining all day long and the nights are pleasant but a little humid. So bring light clothes, all your swimming gear, and a light jacket for the night. And if you think you are sensitive to humidity bring a warm one!!... 

Hot summers

Hot summers, Ithaki

 SirRichard Says:   If you come in summer, don't expect much rain or cold days here. Bring a few T-Shirts, some short, beach sandals and a lot of sun lotion! 

Off The Beaten Path  

Yachts

Yachts, Ithaki

 SirRichard Says:  At the left side of the main harbour, towards Dexa Bay, there is a small pier (where the big ferries leave) where many yachts park when they are in Vathy. I used to wander around in lazy nights after dinner to see the big boats... 

Bay of Dexa

Bay of Dexa, Ithaki

 SirRichard Says:  This little beach just below the Cave of the Nymphs is a wonderful quiet place for a swimm. It's got a Blue Flag of the EC, a food stall, and clear waters.Here is where the Phaeacians disembarked and laid the sleeping Odysseus on the sand. 

Sports & Outdoors  

Gidaki Beach
SirRichard profile photo
SirRichard 3639 reviews
The beach from the boat

Gidaki Beach is a nice daytrip once you are in Vathy. There is a boat that takes you there in the morning and picks you up in the afternoon.
It is a pebbles beach with a little hut bar, where you can have lunch. And there is nothing else, none else but the people that come with you in the boat, and some ocassional stops of the boats that do the "round-the-island" trip, apart from the few private yachts that stop there for a swim.

Written Sep 17, 2004

Related to:
 Cruise
 Family Travel
 Sailing and Boating

Was this review helpful?

Favorites  

Olives landscapes

Olives landscapes, Ithaki

 SirRichard Says:  If you take a walk around Vathy you will soon be surrounded by quiet peaceful olive landscapes. Millenary beautiful olive trees all around, with that charming soundtrack of the cicadas in summer... 

Upstairs / Downstairs

Upstairs / Downstairs, Ithaki

 SirRichard Says:  Vathy spreads from the harbour to the hills around. The main streets and nearly all the tourist activity runs around the main square that is by the harbour.But if you happen to rent a room in a house that is up the hill, you'll have to climb up and down the stairs a few... 

Comments

Map of Ithaki