Things to see & do on Ithaca

Hiking

Guided walking vacations to Ithaca explore skinny trails that take a roundabout route (this is Greece, after all) through olive groves and ancient ruins, past church-topped villages and ports, and over sheer cliffs and mountains. That’s a whole variation of terrain for an island that’s only 29km long.

Your guide will take you along the unmarked tracks and show you a Roman ruin from a Byzantine ruin. They’ll also know where to get the view of the Homeric Arethusa Fountain, where Odysseus’ swineherd, Eumaeus, brought his pigs to drink, and show you the way from Afales beach to Frikes. It’s part tour, part natural history and sociology lesson. You’ll come away with a vast awareness of the problems Ithaca faces – and how you can help as a visitor. These are often small group tours, so you’ll join up to six people.

“Cultural immersion”

Or, as we like to call it, eating as many island foods as you can. Like many Greek Islands, Ithaca is small but mighty in the food stakes. Cheese packed pastries, homemade soda bread dipped in olive oil, locally cured ham (louza), honey, capers and sundried fruit are all picnic ingredients that support Ithacan farmers and fishermen. A great vacation operator will point you towards the best seafood restaurants in Frikes and tell you where and when to go to grab a waterfront seat in Vathi.

The accommodation included on a responsible organised vacation tends to invest in the local community. Walking vacations aim for guesthouses, including some with solar panels that make good use of all that Greek sunshine. You could also stay in a hillside estate that grows its own organic produce in the most idyllic of settings.

“A downpour during a short hike in the Ithaca hills could have been a downer as we were completely soaked. But the combination of our guide, planning and unfailing good cheer, along with our mountain village taverna's hostess' hospitality, warming welcome (including glasses of psipouro and dry clothes!!) and wonderful and continuously replenished, traditional Greek dishes, turned this into one of our most memorable evenings ever. Give yourself an extra day on the islands at the end to ensure that you are able to stay the full time planned on Ithaca.” - Jim Frame travelled on a Kefalonia, Lefkada and Ithaca walking vacation.

“If you enjoy having whole beaches to yourself, swimming in crystal clear waters with perfect air temperatures, then May is the month for you to visit the beautiful island of Ithaca. We really enjoyed escaping the hubbub and the average temperature of around 24°C was perfect for our four-year-old.” - Alison Brookes Day, who stayed in luxury Greek vacation accommodation on Ithaca.

“Simply a great place to be in September. On the roads, no traffic… three cars about every km covered. The people very friendly and relaxed. Restaurants close by on the seafront offering fresh fish every day with a friendly service.” - Bryan Parker stayed in luxury Greek vacation accommodation on Ithaca.