Yacht Charters in the Ionian
Cypress-green hills tumbling into turquoise bays, gentle afternoon breezes instead of the meltemi, and a taverna quay every evening. The Ionian is the softest, greenest side of sailing Greece — and its most family-loved.
The Ionian is the other Greece — lush where the Aegean is bare, sheltered where the Cyclades are windy, and green from the Venetian centuries of rain on its western hills. Strung down the country's west coast from Corfu to Zakynthos, the islands sit close together in protected water, which makes this the friendliest cruising ground in the country: gentle sailing, short hops, and an anchorage or harbour taverna at the end of every afternoon.
Lefkada is the beating heart of it, connected to the mainland by a causeway and ringed by the charter fleets, with the little islands of Meganisi, Kalamos and Kastos on its doorstep. North lie stately Corfu and the turquoise coves of Paxos; south, Kefalonia's Myrtos beach and Odysseus's Ithaca. The afternoon breeze fills in like clockwork and drops for dinner — the reason families and first-timers are sent here.
Ce qu'il faut chercher dans le bon bateau
Filtres pré-appliqués à la sélection the ionian islands ci-dessous.
Sheltered, gentle sailing
No meltemi — the Ionian's reliable afternoon breeze and short, protected hops make it Greece's easiest and most family-friendly ground.
Turquoise coves
Paxos's sea caves, Antipaxos's Caribbean water, Kefalonia's Myrtos — the Ionian's bays are the most swimmable in Greece.
Taverna quays
Tie up bow-to at a village quay and eat ten metres from the boat — Fiskardo, Kioni, Sivota. The Ionian invented the sailing-taverna evening.
Odysseus country
Ithaca, Homer's home, and the Venetian old towns of Corfu and Lefkada layer real history over the green.
Bateaux présélectionnés
Voir l'annuaire complet →Questions fréquentes
Pour the ionian islands.
Where do Ionian charters start?
Lefkada (Lefkas marina) is the main hub, reached via Preveza/Aktion airport (PVK) 30 minutes away; Corfu (CFU) serves the northern islands. Both have big charter bases and easy connections from across Europe.
Is the Ionian good for families and beginners?
It's the best ground in Greece for both — sheltered water, no big winds, short distances, and a safe harbour every night. Bareboat first-timers and families with kids are routinely sent here rather than the Aegean.
How is it different from the Cyclades?
Greener, gentler and calmer. The Cyclades are bare, windy and dramatic; the Ionian is lush, sheltered and relaxed. If you want raw Aegean sailing pick the Cyclades; if you want easy swimming-and-tavernas, pick the Ionian.
When is the season?
May to October. The Ionian is pleasant all summer — its afternoon breeze is friendly even in July–August when the Aegean is blowing hard, which is another reason it fills with families in the school holidays.
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