Greece’s Ionian Islands: Athens, Kefalonia & Corfu

Board your overnight flight to Athens today.

Welcome to Greece! Land in Athens, Europe’s oldest capital city and “the cradle of Western civilization.” Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers, transfer to your hotel, and relax for a while. Reconvene at a welcome dinner, served with your choice of beer or wine, and continue getting to know one another.

Today, let a local guide introduce you to the ancient highlights and traditional flavors of this bustling city, home to the world’s first democracy.

• See the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and Erechtheion on a walking tour of the Acropolis, Athens’ ancient hilltop citadel and a UNESCO-recognized symbol of Greece
• Set off on a guided walking tour of the artsy Psyrri neighborhood, home to artisan shops and live rebetiko (Greece’s answer to the blues)
• Continue on through Monastiraki, a historic neighborhood centered on a famous flea market. Navigate its packed streets, and see if you can spot any of its Greco-Roman ruins
• Stop to taste authentic Greek bites as you amble on, and get a feel for the pace of Athenian life

Enjoy free time in Athens or add an excursion.

Travel across the Peloponnesian peninsula, stopping along the way to admire the Corinth Canal—a lockless, four-mile-long cut that links the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Then, continue on to Patras, Greece’s third-largest city, to board a ferry headed for the largest of the Ionian Islands: Kefalonia.

After settling into your hotel, sit down with your group for an included dinner, served with your choice of beer or wine.

Spend a full day exploring Kefalonia, a mountainous isle dotted with fishing villages. See its natural beauty firsthand; sample delectable cuisine and locally made (and globally beloved) wines; and catch some of the vibes that have inspired writers and artists across millennia.

• Drive across the island and admire dramatic coastal landscapes from a viewpoint above the white sands of Myrtos, a beach frequently touted as one of Greece’s best
• Head to the outskirts of Sami village and stop at Melissani Lake—an underground cave filled with water so clear, boats look like they’re hovering in the air. Board one with your group for a cruise, watching the sunlight that shoots down through an open ceiling dance and dazzle on the lake’s surface
• Stop by an olive oil mill and walk through the production process. See and smell each sensational step, then move on to a tasting of select oils paired with local products
• Sit down with a local guide for an expert-led tasting of typical island wines: varietals like citrusy, acidic robola; sweet, full-bodied mavrodaphne; and sugary, sun-dried muscat

Enjoy free time to explore Kefalonia on your own or add an excursion for a beach day unlike any you’ve taken before.

Board a ferry this morning and travel north to Lefkada, an Ionian island famous for its sheer cliffs, mountain villages and monasteries, and white-sand beaches. Disembark and enjoy a leisurely transfer to your hotel before sitting down for an included dinner in the evening, served with your choice of beer or wine.

Head back onto the mainland to Epirus, a historically isolated region squeezed between the Pindus Mountains and the sea. Once there, take a scenic drive along its pristine coast to the ancient city of Nicopolis. Founded in 29 B.C. by the first Roman emperor, Octavian, the “city of victory” served as capital of the province of Epirus Vetus. Ruins dot the area to this day: Take a guided tour of the archaeological site to learn about the wars, destruction, and earthquakes the city has endured over the ages, and understand why it’s been nominated for UNESCO recognition.

After finishing up in Nicopolis, board an afternoon ferry bound for the island of Corfu.

After spending the night in your hotel, begin your time in Corfu—a popular holiday spot renowned for its scenery and cuisine—with a guided sightseeing tour of its capital, Corfu Town.

• See the city’s Italian influence, courtesy of the old Venetian Empire, on display at Spianada Square, arguably the most impressive plaza in all of Greece
• Enter the Holy Church of Saint Spyridon. Built in the 1580s and adorned with dozens of icons and gold-and-silver censers, this Greek Orthodox church houses the sacred relics of the island’s patron saint. (Fun fact: It also lays claim to the tallest bell tower in the Ionian Islands!)
• Take a short drive to visit the Achilleion Palace, once the palatial summer residence of German Kaiser Wilhelm II and site of his diplomatic activity
• Stop for a tasting of marmalade, liqueur, and other kumquat products. Originally from China, this bright orange fruit is synonymous with the island of Corfu, and goods made from it have Protected Designation of Origin status in Greece

Enjoy a free evening in Corfu (or add an excursion if you want something a little more lively).

Enjoy a free day to explore Corfu at your leisure, or add a beachy excursion to check another pair of Ionian islands off your list.

Ease into the day with a free morning in Corfu: Relax in your hotel, head to a local cafe for a spot of Greek coffee, or get in some last-minute exploring before flying to Athens this afternoon.

Then, celebrate your trip with your fellow group members over a farewell dinner, served with your choice of beer or wine.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or add a little romance to a lovely trip by extending your stay with visits to oceanside Nafplio and the Athens Riviera.