The 8 things to do in Ithaque

Want to visit one of the most beautiful Greek islands, Ithaque? So don’t miss these 8 essential things to do on the island!

Known for having been, according to the myth, the native island of Ulysses, Ithaque is a popular place for tourists for its immaculate beaches, its plains to lose sight as well as its typical cities and villages of Greece. It is an island of just over 96 km2 of land in the Ionian Sea and part of the Ionian Islands.

There are many things to do on this island, but if you ask that to do in Ithaque, Wanderlix has prepared a list of the 8 things to do on the island during your stay!

1. Vathy

If you ask that to do in Ithaque, its capital, Vathy, is then one of the first things to consider! This harbour city is the largest natural port in the world, but above all, it houses many must-sees of the island as well as curiosities that you may never have imagined of existence, making the first point of interest of the island.

But Vathy is also one of the most popular places to find accommodation, because the hotels and apartments for rent are very numerous, but moreover you’ll be rocked in a typical Greek atmosphere and can taste local dishes in the best restaurants of the island, or even enjoy a view of the sea from the terrace of a café.

2. The beach of Gidaki

Known as a real pearl in Ithaque, the beach of Gidaki is a very popular tourist destination! Thanks to its totally isolated location of nearby towns and villages, it is a rare pearl that will really give you the impression of being alone in the world when you are visiting Ithaque. However, this sandbank that seems to be abandoned is hardly accessible without taking a boat from the city of Vathy.

What you'll find there? A quiet beach, without sunbeds or parasols from a hotel complex, an azure water that awaits you and a memorable moment, that’s certain. This beach is also known to be a romantic favorite place and many wedding requests would be made every year.

3. The Naval and Folk Museum of Vathy

Located in the main city of Ithaca, Vathy, the Naval and Folk Museum is a place of many objects dating from all ages and is an ideal destination if you ask yourself to do in Ithaque.

The primary purpose of the museum is to consolidate and coordinate activities related to the conservation, development and dissemination of the cultural heritage of Ithaque. As far as possible, this museum tries to prevent remnants from leaving the island, to be destroyed and also to take care of the storage as well as of the preservation of objects testifying to human history, both on land and at sea.

So you can find many traditional costumes of the island, everyday objects dating from centuries, statues, furniture, tools, vases, photographs and much more.

4. A boat ride

If you want to see the whole island in very little time, because you’ve gone to visit The time of a stopover, then the solution in this case is to choose a guided tour of the island by boat. This will allow you to quickly connect the most important coastal cities, but also to see the most beautiful beaches of the island, such as the beach of Gidaki, Afales, Filiatro, Paralia or Skinos Bay!

This type of guided tour is often organized at the start of Vathy and you can find boats offering this type of tour in group, but also book private tours, with family or friends, with stops to the best spots to swim in the Azure water of the Mediterranean. Otherwise, rent your own boat is a great solution to sail in all autonomy and stop where you like.

5. The monastery of Kathara and its hike

If you ask that to do in Ithaque, and especially outside Vathy, the monastery of Kathara is then made for you! It is located outside Vathy, on the heights surrounding the city and is an impressive monument that will delight lovers of architecture, but also lovers of places and religious objects.

There is a hiking path to go up to monastery, its level of difficulty is not too high, but know that it is a hike on the hillside, which still requires some preparation, and especially good hiking shoes.

In any case, the detour is really worth it, not only for the monument that is the monastery, but also for the incredible view that you will have from the top on all the city of Vathy and the sea off.

6. The cave of Loïzos

Located on the outskirts of Stavros, the cave of Loïzos is one of the main tourist activities to visit Ithaque, outside the many beaches. It was discovered a little by chance by a man, named Loïzos, who found many pieces of ancient currency that he rushed to sell to antique dealers on the island.

These pieces were in fact part of a former place of worship and worship of the goddess Artemis, goddess of wild nature, hunting and childbirth, Athena, goddess of wisdom and military strategy, Hera, goddess of marriage and fertility, and much more. There are still statues of these deities, as well as some objects of time related to worship, but also many coins.

7. Outdoor activities

If you don't know what to do in Ithaque and want to spend a sporting holiday in Ithaque, then go to the Odyssey Outdoor Activities, a sports centre specializing in outdoor activities in the region! This very well-known centre of the island is located in Vathy and offers many activities, both for beginners and for confirmed athletes, such as:

• The snorkeling
• The scuba diving (ideal in this place known to contain many wonders)
• Sea Kayak
• Hiking
• The Paddle

In addition, the center has expanded its activities and it is also possible to visit Ithaque in 4×4 and by boat, to carry out guided tours focused on the history of the city of Vathy and the entire island, but also to participate in group photography projects.

See also in Ithaque

You were wondering what to do in Ithaque after seeing and making the seven must-sees mentioned above? Know that there are still a few points of interest that you can see while you are visiting Ithaque, like:

• Anoyi, a medieval town, and his menhir
• The beach of Filiatro
• The beach of Hulla
• Arkoudi
• The beach of Afales
• Skinos Bay
• The cave of Rizes
• Pólis

How to get to Ithaque?

Coming to Greece from France requires a plane trip. We advise you to consult Ulysses which will allow you to find a flight to the city of Athens .

To visit Ithaque, you must absolutely take a ferry because the island is not served by any airport. You will have to go to:

• Sami, Agia Efimia or Fiskardo on the island of Cephalonia to take a ferry. The connection between the two islands takes about an hour, depending on the port of departure.
• Patras : 5 h 30 route
• Astakos : 1 h 45 de ferry
• Island Corfu approximately 5 hours

On site you can find various tourist buses that allow you to move from one end to the other of the island, or you can take a ferry from one city to another.

Where to stay in Ithaque?

Ithaque is an island where you can easily find accommodation, especially in the many Island hotels . He'll be very easy. find a private apartment via AirBnB . Prices are reasonable in all cities on Ithaca Island.

If you want to stay at home, don’t be afraid, the inhabitants of Ithaca Island are very warm and welcome the tourists, especially in the big cities.