There are Greek islands that announce themselves at once, and then there is Ithaca (Greeks call it Ithaki). You arrive by sea, follow the curve into Vathy, and begin to read the place through scale: the folded coastline, the wooded slopes, the harbor settlements, the roads that cut through olive groves and return, almost without warning, to open water. The name is loaded with mythology, about which Christopher Nolan has recently completed making the much-antiipated film ‘Odysseus’, but the island itself feels direct, quiet, and deeply livable.
People come for the coves, the swimming, the boating, the scenic walking, and the sense that a day does not need much embellishment here. A morning by the water, lunch in a harbor village, and a slow drive back at dusk can be enough. That same scale defines where you stay. Ithaca has no large luxury resorts or fashionable hotels and very few properties that dominate the landscape. What it does have is a strong mix of small hotels, polished villas, and independent houses that suit the island exactly as it is.
Vathy remains the most practical base, especially for travelers who want to be near shops, tavernas, boats, and the movement of the harbor. Kioni has one of the prettiest waterfront settings in the Ionian. Stavros suits those drawn to the quieter north, while Marathias works well for travelers who want privacy and easy access to the sea. The best addresses are distinguished by location, upkeep, comfort, and a clear sense of purpose. On Ithaca, that matters more than scale.
Vathy
01
Perantzada 1811
One of the island’s best hotel choices, this long-established property stands above the harbor in Vathy. An early 19th-century neoclassical mansion with later additions, it is one of the few stays that is a boutique hotel rather than a villa rental or rooms-to-let operation. The current setup includes 17 rooms and suites, a pool, breakfast service, and direct access to town life without the need to drive back and forth each day. This is a good choice for visitors who want a hotel with reception, shared facilities, and a strong sense of place, while still being small scale. The architecture, the position, and the practicality all justify its standing.
Vathy
02
Hotel Familia
Set in a converted 19th-century olive press in Vathy, this small hotel has the kind of scale that makes immediate sense on Ithaca. With just seven rooms, it offers something more intimate than the island’s better-known town hotels, but with enough character to stand on equal footing. The building itself gives the place its identity, while the stay is shaped by a central location that puts the harbor, shops, and waterfront tavernas within easy reach. This is a good choice for couples who want a hotel rather than a villa, and who value architecture, calm, and a setting that feels rooted in the fabric of the town rather than removed from it.
Vathy
03
Rock ‘n Olive Villas
This is one of the most favorable villa options near Vathy for travelers who want privacy without feeling isolated from town. The property consists of two houses set in greenery above the harbor, each with its own pool, equipped kitchen, outdoor sitting areas, and broad views across the landscape. The atmosphere is residential rather than hotel-like, which gives it a different kind of appeal. This works well for couples who want seclusion and for small families who want a self-contained base with outdoor space and the ability to organize the day at their own pace. The design is polished without becoming generic, and the balance between independence, view, and proximity to Vathy makes it one of the more persuasive villa stays on the island.
Vathy
04
Nymphes Villas
Close to Vathy but positioned to take in open views, this stone-built villa address continues to stand out for its setting and visual coherence. The current setup has expanded beyond the earlier two-villa concept, with a third villa joining the collection in 2026, which makes it a stronger proposition for different kinds of travelers. The houses include pools, terraces, outdoor dining space, fitted kitchens, and a layout that allows guests to spend real time at home rather than treat the accommodation as a place to sleep only. This is a good fit for couples or small groups who want a contemporary villa stay with natural materials, a strong sense of privacy, and quick access to Vathy without being in the middle of the harbor zone.
Vathy
05
Adastra Ithaca Luxury Suites
Above Vathy, this family-run property promises a chic and contemporary Ithaca stay: more spacious than a standard hotel room, more structured than a private rental, and well suited to travelers who want comfort without moving into full villa territory. The suites come with sea views, parking, and the kind of layout that works well for couples or smaller parties staying several days at a time. The appeal lies in the balance. You have privacy, a little more room to settle in, and easy access to the harbor when you want it. For readers looking at Vathy but wanting something newer and more self-contained, this is one of the stronger additions.
Vathy
Stavros
06
Olivea Premium Holiday Homes
Olivea offers one of the more polished self-catering concepts in Ithaca right now. The collection includes several accommodation types and sizes, with private gardens, composed interiors, and a clear design language built around natural materials. Stavros is a good base for travelers who want a quieter part of the island, easier access to northern beaches, and some distance from the concentration of summer movement around Vathy. This makes Olivea a strong fit for guests who want good-looking accommodation that also functions well in practical terms. The planning feels coherent, the atmosphere is calm, and the houses suit couples, families, and small groups who want privacy and a proper sense of living on the island rather than merely passing through it.
Stavros
07
Pilikas Luxury Villas
In the quieter north of Ithaca, Pilikas offers one of the island’s more substantial villa propositions. The collection of stone-built houses, each with its own pool and outdoor space, is well suited to families and groups who want to establish a proper base rather than revolve around hotel routines. This part of the island attracts travelers who are looking for privacy, open views, and access to beaches and villages without the movement of Vathy, and the villas fit that rhythm well. There is enough room here for longer stays to feel easy, and enough independence for days to unfold at your own pace. For a 2026 edit of Ithaca’s strongest stays, this deserves inclusion.
Stavros
08
ONIRO Villas
In Stavros, ONIRO Villas brings a more contemporary sensibility to the north of Ithaca, with a setup that suits travelers looking for privacy, clean-lined interiors, and a stay that feels more composed than many standard island rentals. The accommodation is geared toward couples, with self-contained villas that include kitchens, outdoor sitting space, and sea views, making it easy to spend long stretches of the day at the property rather than using it simply as a base. This part of the island appeals to visitors who want a quieter rhythm, access to nearby beaches, and a location removed from the concentration of Vathy, and the format works well for that. For a northern Ithaca stay with a more polished and current profile, this is a strong addition.
Stavros
Marathias
09
Villa Nadoria
For travelers who want a larger private villa with a pool and enough room for a family or a small group, this remains one of the clearer choices near Vathy. The house is set in the Marathias area, close to Kaminia Beach, and accommodates up to six guests. The current presentation includes three bedrooms, a private pool with jacuzzi, balconies, a garden, parking, and a fully equipped kitchen. Those features matter more than stylistic claims because they make the villa workable for real summer use. You can spend full days at the property when needed, cook, eat outdoors, and move easily between sea and town. It is a complete villa stay rather than a decorative one, and that makes it one of the more useful upper-end options on this part of Ithaca.
Marathias
Kioni
10
Homer’s View Villas
On the Kioni side of Ithaca, Homer’s View Villas offers a quieter alternative to staying directly in the village, while keeping this particularly attractive stretch of the island within easy reach. The property consists of self-catering villas with a private, residential feel, suited to travelers who like having outdoor space, kitchen facilities, and enough room to settle in properly for several days. This is the kind of stay that works well for couples, families, or a small group who want independence and a slower daily rhythm shaped around swimming, driving, and meals at home. The position gives it much of its appeal: you are close to one of Ithaca’s prettiest harbor settlements, but removed from its summer movement and better placed for privacy and uninterrupted views.
Kioni
How to Get There
From Athens, there is no direct ferry to Ithaca, so the most practical routes are by car or KTEL bus to a mainland port, then ferry, or by flight to Kefalonia plus a short ferry hop.
The fastest all-round land-and-sea option is usually Athens to Patras, about 211 km by road and roughly 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes by car (closer to 3 hours 30 minutes by bus), followed by the Levante Ferries sailing to Pisaetos, Ithaca, which on current 2025–2026 schedules takes about 3 hours 50 minutes.
Another common option is Athens to Astakos, about 291 km and around 3 hours 10 minutes by car, then the Ionion Pelagos ferry to Pisaetos, currently around 3 hours 5 to 3 hours 20 minutes.
A third route is to fly from Athens to Kefalonia, a direct flight of about 1 hour 5 minutes, then continue by ferry from Sami to Pisaetos, a short crossing on the current 2026 timetable. Pisaetos, Ithaca’s ferry port, is about 7 km from Vathy, so whichever route you choose, you will still need a short taxi or drive to reach the island’s main town.
