At a glanceFour nights on Corfu, with Venetian Corfu Town, cove hopping by small boat and a day trip to Paxos, then five slower nights on Kefalonia for Myrtos Beach, Melissani Cave, Assos and a sail to Ithaca. It suits couples who want green islands, clear water and fewer crowds than the Cyclades. Go from late May to June or in September.
The Ionian Islands look nothing like the Greece on most postcards. Instead of white cubes on bare rock, you get olive groves that reach the shoreline, tall dark cypresses and Venetian towns. The sea is the draw: pebble coves where the water turns an almost unreal blue. For couples who have already seen Santorini or who prefer green hills to dry ones, this is the better Greek honeymoon.
The route pairs the two best islands for couples. Corfu comes first, with four nights split between its elegant old town and the northeast coast, where small motorboats let you hop between coves for lunch. Kefalonia follows, the largest of the Ionian Islands, with five slower nights for its famous Myrtos Beach, a boat ride across an underground lake and dinners on the harbor at Fiskardo.
The one catch is the transfer. There is no simple direct ferry between the two islands, so day 5 is a travel day. Everything else on this route is slow.
The route
- CorfuGreece · 4 nights
- KefaloniaGreece · 5 nights
- Best months
- Late May to June and September
- Trip length
- 10 days
- Budget
- About $300–800 a night for two in boutique hotels, villas and resorts (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–4: Corfu
There are no nonstop flights from the US to Corfu, so connect through Athens on a short domestic flight or through a European hub with seasonal service to Corfu Airport (CFU). The airport is about 10 minutes from Corfu Town. Pick up a small rental car, check in and spend the first evening walking the old town.
On day 2, begin with coffee under the Liston arcades, then walk the Old Fortress and the lanes behind it. In the late afternoon, drive to Mon Repos, the wooded villa estate where Prince Philip was born. On day 3, book a boat day to Paxos and Antipaxos, small islands south of Corfu with sea caves and very clear water. Private boat charters are widely available.
Day 4 is for the northeast coast. Rent a small motorboat (most need no license) and hop between pebble coves between Nissaki and Kassiopi. Lunch at a taverna on the water at Agni. Drive west for sunset at Pelekas, the romantic moment of Corfu.
Day 5: Corfu to Kefalonia
Day 5 is the travel day. The simplest option in summer is a small inter-island flight when one is running; some summers have brought island-hopping flights that link Corfu and Kefalonia. Check whether it is operating for your dates.
If not, fly from Corfu to Athens and on to Kefalonia (EFL), two short flights with a connection. The third option is the scenic one: a ferry from Corfu to Igoumenitsa on the mainland, then a drive south over the Rio–Antirrio bridge to Kyllini for the ferry to Kefalonia. It takes most of a day and suits couples who like road trips.
Whichever you choose, arrive by evening, check in and keep dinner simple. Kefalonia's airport is about 15 minutes from Argostoli and around an hour and a half from Fiskardo in the north.
Days 6–7: Myrtos, Melissani and Assos
On day 6, drive the coast road north from Argostoli and stop at the viewpoint above Myrtos Beach. It is the island's famous view. Then go down to swim, but watch the waves. The beach shelves steeply and can have a strong shore break, so stay close to shore if the sea is up.
On day 7, visit Melissani Cave near Sami around midday, when sunlight through the collapsed roof turns the underground lake bright blue as a boatman rows you across. Nearby Drogarati Cave has large stalactite chambers. In the afternoon, taste Robola wine in the Omala valley below Mount Ainos.
End the day in Assos, a tiny village on an isthmus below a Venetian castle. Walk around the harbor at sunset and climb to the castle walls for the views. That evening is the romantic moment of Kefalonia.
Days 8–10: Fiskardo, Ithaca and home
Days 8 and 9 are the slow stretch. Spend one day sailing across to Ithaca on a small boat, with swim stops in empty coves. Spend the other at your hotel. If you have chosen a wellness retreat such as F Zeen Kefalonia on the south coast, this is the moment for the spa, the pool and the calm water of Lourdas Bay.
One evening, drive north to Fiskardo, the prettiest harbor village on the island. Its Venetian-era houses survived the 1953 earthquake and its waterfront restaurants face the yachts. Dinner here is the splurge.
On day 10, fly from Kefalonia to Athens in under an hour, then connect home. Allow at least three hours between flights, or add a night in Athens if your long-haul flight leaves early.
Getting Between Stops
Fly to Athens and connect on a short domestic flight to Corfu, or connect through a European hub with direct seasonal flights. From Kefalonia, fly home through Athens; the flight takes under an hour.
The Corfu to Kefalonia leg is the hard part. Check first for a small inter-island flight in summer. If none is running, fly via Athens or take the ferry to Igoumenitsa and drive south to Kyllini for the Kefalonia ferry. Ferry and flight schedules are seasonal, so plan this day once they are published.
Rent a car on both islands. Roads on Corfu are narrow and winding, so choose a small car. On Kefalonia, mountain roads have steep drops and take longer than maps suggest. Coves on Corfu's northeast coast often have small parking areas that fill by late morning, so go early or arrive by boat.
Where to Stay
On Corfu, the northeast coast between Nissaki and Kassiopi is the honeymoon favorite, with villas and small hotels above pebble coves. Corfu Town has boutique hotels in restored mansions near the Spianada square. Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, is a 1960s resort in an olive grove at Moraitika on the east coast, reborn as a kid-free seaside retreat.
On Kefalonia, choose a base that matches your plans. Fiskardo has the prettiest harbor and the closest port for Ithaca. Assos is tiny and very quiet. Agia Efimia and Sami are central for Myrtos and the caves. Argostoli and Lassi have the most restaurants.
F Zeen Kefalonia, a kid-free wellness retreat between Mount Ainos and Lourdas Bay on the south coast, is our splurge pick for the slow end of the trip.
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When to Go
Late May, June and September are best. The sea is warm, the islands are green and the beaches are calmer than in midsummer. September often has the warmest water.
July and August are hot and busy, with European family holidays filling beaches and roads. Book cars, boats and restaurants ahead. Ferry and flight schedules are fullest in these months, though, which helps with the transfer day.
April and October can be lovely for walking, though some hotels and boat services have not yet started or have already wound down. The Ionian Islands are greener than the Cyclades because they get more rain, mostly in winter. Many seasonal hotels close from November to March.
Budget and Booking
The Ionian Islands usually cost less than Santorini or Mykonos. Plan on roughly $300–800 a night for two in good boutique hotels, villas and resorts. Private villas on Corfu's northeast coast and the top resorts on both islands can run higher in peak season. These figures are approximate.
Book the transfer day first, once schedules appear, then hotels around it. Reserve boat charters to Paxos and Ithaca a few days ahead outside August, or earlier in peak season.
Other costs: domestic flights, two rental cars, ferry tickets if you take the road route, small-boat rentals, cave tickets and a nightly accommodation tax at each hotel.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For a week, choose one island. Seven nights on Corfu, split between Corfu Town and the northeast coast, or seven on Kefalonia, split between Fiskardo and the south coast, gives you a slow trip without the transfer day.
With two weeks, add three or four nights in Zagori on the mainland after Corfu. It is a region of stone villages and deep gorges under two hours by car from Igoumenitsa, which makes it an easy stop on the road route to Kefalonia.
Couples who want a city finale can add two nights in Athens before flying home. The flight from Kefalonia takes under an hour. A rooftop dinner facing the Acropolis is a good last night.
Honeymoon Tips
Watch the sea at Myrtos and other west-facing beaches. They shelve steeply and can have a strong shore break, so swim close to shore when the waves are up and stay out when lifeguards warn you.
On small boats, keep an eye on the wind and stay close to the coast. Rental companies will tell you which areas to avoid. Bring high-factor sunscreen, hats and water.
Water shoes help on pebble beaches. Pack a light layer for evenings and for boat rides. Cover shoulders and knees for both of you when visiting churches and monasteries. Mosquitoes can be active on summer evenings on these green islands, so pack repellent. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices before you go.
FAQPlanning this trip
Are the Ionian Islands good for a honeymoon?
Yes, especially for couples who want green landscapes, clear water and a slower pace. Corfu has an elegant Venetian old town and coves you can hop between by small boat. Kefalonia has dramatic beaches, caves and harbor villages. They are usually less crowded and less expensive than Santorini or Mykonos.
How do we get from Corfu to Kefalonia?
There is no simple direct ferry. In some summers, small inter-island flights link the two, so check first. Otherwise fly via Athens with two short flights, or take a ferry to Igoumenitsa and drive south to Kyllini for the Kefalonia ferry, which takes most of a day. Plan a quiet evening after the transfer.
Corfu or Kefalonia: which is better for couples?
Corfu has more culture and nightlife, with Corfu Town's cafés, a fortress and Venetian lanes. Kefalonia has the more dramatic coastline and feels less polished. For a single-island honeymoon, choose Corfu for variety and Kefalonia for scenery. Doing both gives you the best of the Ionian.
Can we rent a boat without a license?
Usually, yes. On Corfu's northeast coast and on Kefalonia, small boats with low-powered engines can often be rented without a license. The rental company will show you the area and explain safety rules. For longer trips, such as to Paxos or Ithaca, book a skippered boat instead.
Is Myrtos Beach safe for swimming?
It can be, but take care. Myrtos shelves steeply and can have a strong shore break, especially when the wind is up. Swim close to shore on calm days and stay out of the water when waves are breaking hard. The view from the coast road above is the highlight even if you do not swim.
