World Travel GuidesIonian Islands (Ιόνια νησιά), Greece


 Find Hotels     Follow Me on Pinterest 


The Ionian Islands Periphery (Ιόνια νησιά) is a region of Greece encompassing all the Ionian Islands except the island of Kythera, which is within the Attica Periphery.

The Ionian Islands are a group of islands on the western coast of Greece. They are traditionally known as the "Seven Islands", or Heptanese, as there are seven main islands, along with numerous smaller ones. The six Ionian Islands on the west coast of Greece is administered under the periphery of the Ionian Islands while Kythira, located off the southern tip of Peloponnese, is administered by the periphery of Attica.


Navagio Bay, Zakynthos, Greece
Navagio Bay, Zakynthos, Greece
Author: Christaras A (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

The Ionian Islands have seen human settlement going back to as early as 1200 BC. Some of the earliest people to settle there were the Eretrians. They were replaced by colonists from Corinth in 734 BC. By the 4th century BC, they were made part of the Macedon empire.Gradually the Romans took over the island, and by 146 BC, the whole Greek peninsula was under Roman rule, while lasted for the next 400 years.

The Ionian Islands then passed on to the Eastern Roman Empire, and was part of the Byzantine Empire for another 900 years. When Greeks retook Constantinople in 1261, the Ionian Islands were under the increasing power of the Venetians, which began by controlling Corfu (Kerkyra) and then extended their rule to all the Ionian Islands. From then on, control over the islands passed to the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte, to the British, and finally to Greece.


Spartochori, Meganisi, Ionian Islands
Spartochori, Meganisi, Ionian Islands
Author: Panayotis Vryonis (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Today the Ionian Islands depend on tourism as their main source of income, having seen much of their population moving elsewhere and their traditional industries in decline.


Ionian Islands Periphery
Ionian Islands Periphery
Author: IMeowbot (public domain)







The Ionian Islands

  1. Ithaki
  2. Kefalonia
  3. Kerkyra
  4. Kythira
  5. Lefkada
  6. Paxi
  7. Zakynthos


Return to Discover Greece






  • Tips to become a smart traveler: Useful tips to remember, to get the best out of your travels.
  • Preparing for a Trip: Systematic approach to help you prepare for your trip.
  • How to plan your travel itinerary: Step-by-step build to creating the itinerary for your trip.
  • How to compare hotel room rates: Learn to use a booking search engine to compare rates across all major booking sites.
  • How to pack your luggage: Useful steps to take when packing your luggage.
  • Packing List (PDF): Print out this free packing list to make sure you don't forget anything for your trip.
  • Voltage, Frequency, Plugs & Sockets of the World: Learn about the mains electricity supply in the world.
  • Travelers' List of Plugs and Sockets (PDF): Easy-to-use list of electricity and plugs for all countries.
  • Making International Direct Dail Calls: Learn to make IDD calls from anywhere in the world.
  • IDD Call Prefixes & Country Codes (PDF): Listing of Call Prefixes and Country Codes on one page for you to bring on your trip.
  • Safety Tips When Traveling Alone: Useful advice for when you travel on your own.
  • Guide to Health Matters related to Travel: Comprehensive coverage of different issues related to your health when traveling.
  • Getting Travel Insurance for your trip: Benefits of travel insurance, and advise on when you should signing up for one.
  • Improve your travel photography: Tips to improve your photography skills, especially when traveling.
  • Guide to Traveling Around the World: Useful tips for encircling the globe.


  • Find a hotel







    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Point - Click - Discover!

    Thanks for visiting this webpage. To continue exploring, choose another destination!


    My World Travel Guides - celebrating a beautiful world beautifully.

    Earning a living as a Happy Jobless Guy

    I am a Happy Jobless Guy! I am one of the few people who is fortunate enough to earn an income from my websites that I don't to go out to work. My sites get thousands of visitors every day. It has been a long process, but it is something everybody can achieve, and that means YOU. The following are some articles which you might want to read if you want to do what I do:
    1. Money Making Manual
    2. How to earn from writing websites
    3. Guide for earning a living without holding a job
    4. Generate a Sitemap for your website
    5. Complete Step-by-Step e-Business Building System