Travel and transport agencies Ionian Islands

In Zakynthos, the head office is located in the center of Argassi, the other office is in Tsilivi. An agency managed by the Flocas family who have years of experience in tourism. Accommodation (hotels, villas, homestay apartments, camping), car rental, private excursions, scuba diving, horseback riding, speedboat cruises, jeep safaris. The staff is French speaking and will provide you with useful information about the island. Car rental services are available throughout Zakynthos, including the international airport.

A car is a good idea to discover the island and here is a good car rental agency on the spot for who wants to rent a vehicle for a short day or a few days. With more than 120 vehicles in its rental fleet, this one is also one of the most important: from the small Fiat 500 hard to the Grand Vitara 7 seats, through the classic Panda or a Jeep, it normally has what should suit you. You can pick up your car at the port or make an appointment. Obviously, in high season, it is imperative to book.

The ferries provide at least one connection per hour with Igoumenitsa (1 or 1.5 hours depending on the boat) and one per week with Preveza (4.20 hours). From Lefkimi, countfive connections per day with Igoumenitsa (30 minutes). But from Kerkyra you can also reach Paxi (55 minutes by hydrofoil, 1 hour 30 minutes by ferry). The port of Aghios Stefanosis connected to the islets north of Corfu (Mathraki, Othoni and Erikoussa). In summer, the port has connections with Brindisi (7 hours) and Bari (6 hours). You can come from Ancona or Venice via Igoumenitsa.

A tourist agency that has been in existence since 1983 and that warmly welcomes you to Chora and Potamos. Here you can buy your boat or plane tickets and get information about the island and possible excursions. It's simple, it does everything! Originally, it was just Olympic Air and has since grown well. Plus, she works all year round. Don't hesitate to visit their website, very well done. Special mention to the page presenting the island with lots of contacts for boat tours.

Here's a tourist agency specializing in studio, apartment and villa rentals to suit all budgets. It boasts 120 accommodations in all styles. It covers the whole island of Corfu. At this agency, you can also obtain information on boat timetables, flight schedules, car rentals and property purchases. Ask for Babis Doukakis, the agency's owner.

Here is a good address to know and which will not be useful only here. Established for more than 40 years, this agency offers cars, motorcycles but also bikes. Moreover, this car rental agency has the good idea to have offices in several points of the island, in particular at the airport, at the port of Diakofti, but also in tourist villages like Kapsali and Agia Pelagia. The delivery of vehicles is possible elsewhere on the island by reservation and appointment. Fair prices and a friendly welcome

This is where you will land after taking a flight, most likely from Athens. The national airline Olympic Air offers at least one flight a day in summer (50 minutes). The company is well established and has offices at the airport and in Potamos. Information is available on the Internet (www.olympicair.com) or by telephone (+30 27360 33362). As for direct connections with the other islands, they are random. There are direct connections between Kythera and Rhodes with Sky Express. Please contact www.skyexpress.gr for more information.

This small port offers several transfers per day to Kilini on the mainland (1h30). Although Argostoli is also a port, the capital is not the best served port on the island. For connections to the mainland, it is best to head to Sami or Poros. You can reach Astakós (from Sami, twice a day, 2h30) or Killini (from Poros, 5 to 7 times a day). For the neighbouring island of Ithaca, go to Sami (2 to 3 times a day, 40 min) or, with smaller boats, from Fiskardo. The rotations from Argostoli are more episodic.

Situated 12 km from the southern tip of the Peloponnese and on the Athens-Kastelli (Crete) line, Kythera remains poorly served. To reach the mainland, apart from two ferry connections per week with Piraeus (6 hours 40), the island is mainly connected to the Peloponnese by the ports of Neapoli (1/day, 1 hour 15) and Gythio (1/week, 2 hours 20). As far as connections to other islands are concerned, the port offers several connections per week to the all-porch island of Antikythera (1 hour 40 minutes). But you can also reach Kissamos, in Crete.

Located in the marina of Gouvia, "Corfu Yachting" offers you the opportunity to discover the fascinating world of yachting, and has been doing so for over 20 years. The friendly staff guarantees you a unique experience: in the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea, but also with day or half-day sailing cruises around Corfu, Sivota, Paxos or with motor boats. The company also takes care of the management of the boats and their maintenance, as well as the sale (new and second hand). Offers different packages for sailing courses.

This tour operator offers a varied approach to the wonders of Corfu through a selection of well-designed tours: boat tours, walking tours in cultural sites (Achilleion Palace, Paleosktratisa, old town of Corfu, Sidari...), "active" tours (kitesurfing, diving, water sports). Professional and attentive, they will know how to occupy your days and avoid the tourism of parasol that the resorts of the island propose. You will be able to take advantage of their services to explore the island, but also to travel around, especially to Paxos.

Serious, reliable rental company. If you've seen the Maestro series, a scooter is clearly one of the best ways to explore this small island. The manager here is very friendly and professional. You can also rent electric bikes for a day or a week. Perfect, quality cycles for touring the whole island. You'll also get a warm welcome and advice on which beaches to go to. It's not possible to book online, but that's okay: by phone or WhatsApp, communication is very easy.

Arriving from the mainland, in summer, you can usually choose between two connections per day with Igoumenitsa (1 hour 30 minutes). Connections to the other islands are limited to Corfu (55 minutes by hydrofoil), but numerous. You can choose between departures from Corfu town or from Lefkimi, at the southern tip of Corfu. Finally, Antipaxi, only 2 km away, is also accessible by caïque and by excursion boat several times a day (20 minutes). A nice way to go and back, as you can't sleep there.

When you arrive from the mainland or wish to reach it, head for the port of Pisoaetos, on the west coast, 7 km from Vathy. In season, you will find good connections to Astakos, Patras or Killini.

If you want to reach other islands of the Ionian Islands from Ithaca, you should know that the same connections go through Sami, in Kefalonia, the nearest island. The northern part of Kefalonia, Fiskardo, is also served by Frikes, north of Ithaca. The same line continues to Nydri, on the island of Lefkada, a little further north in the archipelago.

If you cannot find a tourist office in the port, the traveller will easily find solace in the agency Paxos Magic Holidays, which organises excursions and will help you, if necessary, to find accommodation. For more than 35 years, the agency has been offering quality accommodation and personalized service for unforgettable holidays. The website of this agency is very well done and allows you to view multiple studios and apartments for rent on the island. Possibility to rent villas on the site and interactive map to prepare your stay.

Located near the port and the city centre, this agency also has subsidiaries across the island. It is specialized in all types of accommodation accommodation: studios, apartments, villas, hotels, all over Leucade Island. The agency is franchisee Europcar - you can rent vehicles not only in all the island offices (airport included) but also on the mainland, in Preveza airport or in Igoumenitsa, port of transit to the Ionnienne Sea and Italy. This allows you to travel to Leucade by car.

Despite the construction of a new terminal in 2008, the airport is often congested by the many charter flights, especially at weekends. This is all the more so as night flights are forbidden, so as not to disturb the Caretta Caretta turtles, a protected species. From and to Athens, you will find one to two daily flights with Olympic Air (www.olympicair.com, 55 minutes). Rotations (sometimes direct) between Ionian islands also exist with Corfu, Kefalonia and Kythera with Sky Express (www.skyexpress.gr).

Although it is the capital of Kefalonia, it is not the best served port. For links to the mainland, it's best to head for Sami and Poros. You can reach Astakós (from Sami, 2 times a day, 2h30) or Killini (from Poros, 5 to 7 times a day, 1h15) or the nearby island of Ithaca (from Sami, 2 to 3 times a day, 40 min). Rotations from Argostoli are more episodic, but do exist. There are still a few rotations with the mainland to Killini (3h15) and with Patras. Argostoli is not connected to the other islands.

Let's admit for once that the website of this KTEL network is well done... and generally up to date. To arrive or leave Kefalonia, KTEL buses connect Argostoli to Athens via Poros and Patras in season. In Athens, the bus station is located at 100 Kifissou Street. As for the local network, it will often seem insufficient given the size of the island. But there are interesting daily connections in season: Argostoli - Sami - Melissani - Ag.Efimia - Divarata - Fiskardo - Argostoli, Fiskardo - Divarata - Ag.Efimia - Sami - Argostoli...

From Athens, KTEL buses run to the port of Kyllini (4h30 drive, then boat connection) and disembark in Zakynthos. There are also connections to Patras and Thessaloniki. Within this large island, the KTEL network is of average quality. From Chora, there are usually 2 daily connections to Vassilikos, 2 daily connections to Aghios Nikolaos, 1 weekly connection to Limni and 13 daily connections to Laganas. At weekends, some services are not available.

It is a good option to reach Lefkada from Athens as there is no airport in Lefkada itself. The airport of Aktion, near Preveza on the mainland, is a 20 minute drive from the town of Lefkada. The airport is therefore very popular with tourists during the summer months. Please note that it is difficult to find a taxi or a free parking space on Sundays in the vicinity of the airport because of the large number of charter flights from England.