With crystal-clear waters, colourful harbour towns and some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, Greece’s Ionian Islands remain one of Europe’s top summer escapes for 2026. Scattered along the country’s western coastline, the islands each have something to offer.
Low-cost carriers such as Jet2, Wizz Air, and Austrian Airlines are expanding summer schedules to western Greece and the Ionian Islands in 2026.
Lefkada
Lefkada is a unique Ionian island connected to mainland Greece by a floating bridge, making it one of the few Greek islands accessible by car after landing. The main aviation gateway is Preveza-Aktion National Airport (PVK), which receives a growing number of summer flights from across Europe. Located around 20 minutes from Lefkada’s floating bridge, the airport has become increasingly important for tourism in the western Ionian region.
Lefkada offers a mix of lively coastal towns such as Nidri and traditional mountain villages like Karya, alongside quieter destinations such as Poros, which provides a peaceful escape away from the busier tourist centres. Compared with neighbouring islands, Lefkada remains less commercialised, allowing visitors to experience family-run tavernas, local cuisine and dramatic white-sand beaches without the intensity of mass tourism.
For island-hopping travellers, Lefkada also serves as a useful transport hub. Visitors can combine short regional flights with inter-island ferries, sailing charters or private yacht transfers to reach nearby islands such as Meganissi, Kastos and Ithaki. Ferries regularly depart from Nydri Harbour, while private aviation and yacht tourism continue to rise across the Ionian Sea.
Meganissi
Meganissi remains one of Greece’s most enchanting hidden gems. Located just four nautical miles from Lefkada, the island is most commonly reached via ferry connections after arriving at Preveza-Aktion Airport (PVK), with many visitors combining regional flights with private boat transfers or sailing holidays.
Vathy serves as Meganissi’s main harbour and maritime centre. The picturesque fishing village blends traditional Greek architecture with modern marina facilities, including Odyseas Marina, which welcomes yachts and leisure vessels travelling throughout the Ionian Islands. The island has also become increasingly popular with luxury sailing charters and small-group boating tours seeking quieter alternatives to Santorini or Mykonos.
Kastos
Just a few kilometres southeast of Meganissi, Kastos is one of the Ionian region’s most remote island escapes. Situated opposite the coastal town of Mytikas in western Greece, the tiny island has no airport of its own and is reached primarily through ferry links, sailing routes and private marine transfers from Lefkada and the mainland.
Part of the Televoid Islands complex, Kastos measures just 5.9 square kilometres and has around 35 permanent residents. Despite its small size, the island has become a recognised destination within Mediterranean sailing tourism, particularly among yacht travellers, according to The Thinking Traveller.
Ithaki
Ithaki, made famous through Homer’s Odyssey, combines mythology, rugged landscapes and peaceful coastal villages with easy regional travel links. The island is commonly accessed through nearby Kefalonia Airport (EFL) or mainland Greek airports before continuing by ferry into Ithaki’s ports, making it a popular addition to multi-island itineraries.
Vathy, the island’s capital, sits within a natural harbour surrounded by green hills and traditional Venetian-style architecture. Frikes, located around 19 kilometres from Vathy, has also grown in popularity thanks to boutique hotels, villa stays and increasing yacht tourism throughout the Ionian region.
Each of these Ionian islands offers a blend of maritime charm, accessible regional air travel and scenic sailing routes, making them ideal for island-hopping adventures in summer 2026.
What do you think about these Ionian Islands? Let us know in the comments below.
