Three islands. One of the most storied stretches of water on earth. When you point your bow south-west from Preveza, drop the throttle to a comfortable cruise and let the Ionian open up around you, something shifts. The coastline loses its roads. The noise of land disappears. What remains is exactly what this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca was written for — a 60-nautical-mile corridor of protected channels, cliff-backed bays and village quays that can only be fully understood from behind a helm.
This is motorboating country at its very best. The distances between islands are short enough to cover in a morning, the summer winds are forgiving, and almost every anchorage has a taverna close enough to reach by tender. What follows is a skipper-to-skipper briefing on each island — approaches, anchorages, marina logistics and the stops that only a boat can reach.
Weather and Passage Planning: What You’re Actually Working With
While the Meltemi dominates the Aegean, it rarely affects the Ionian Sea. The dominant summer wind here is the Maestro — a northerly that is lighter and steadier. In practice, this means comfortable mornings and building afternoons. In summer, the Maistro dominates — a northwesterly breeze that starts around midday, builds in the afternoon, and eases at sunset, with speeds usually sitting between 10–20 knots, perfect for relaxed passages without over-challenging the crew.
The tactical lesson is simple: move in the morning. Leave D-Marin Lefkas at 0800, cover the 30 nautical miles to Fiskardo with flat water and engine noise, and be swinging on the hook by early afternoon while the chop builds behind you. The Ionian is sheltered and calm — winds are typically light to moderate, blowing from the northwest in the afternoon and dying down overnight. Use that pattern. Anchor early, eat late, move at dawn.
For chart planning, the Navionics Boating app for the Adriatic and Ionian Sea is the standard tool afloat — active waypoints, Community Edits for recent depth updates, and sonar chart overlays that are genuinely useful when you are poking into a bay you have never entered before. Carry the Imray G12 South Ionian Islands chart as your paper backup. It covers Nisos Levkas to Nisos Zakinthos and includes detailed plans for the Lefkas Canal, Kolpos Aetou on Ithaca, and Argostoli Bay on Kefalonia.
Lefkada: The Canal Entry and D-Marin as Your Base
Most powerboats approaching from the north enter Lefkada through the canal — and it demands attention. The approach to Lefkada from the north is rather challenging. The sandbank and silts at the northern end of the canal continuously change shape, and as of 2015 three groynes have been installed to protect the entrance, marked by three yellow buoys. Respect them. Do not cut the line.
The canal itself leads to the famous floating bridge. The bridge opens for 10–15 minutes. Theoretically, during the night (23:00–07:00), the bridge will open upon request on VHF Channel 12 if a vessel is waiting, but don’t count on it. As of 2026, due to an underwater pipeline project, opening times for yachts and vessels are temporarily irregular. Check updates before committing to a night arrival.
Once through, D-Marin Lefkas Marina sits on the eastern side of the island, embraced by the town of the same name. The marina has been operating since 2002 with mooring places for 620 boats up to 45 metres long. Hail the marina on VHF channel 69 on approach. The marina lies inside a long, L-shaped wavebreak pontoon that shelters the berths from east and north, with entry from the south between the wavebreak pontoon and the jetty. Use the ELIN boat petrol station at the south entrance of the marina at 38°49.757′ N, 20°42.895′ E for fuel.
The fuel station is extremely busy on Friday afternoons when charter fleets return — plan your visit accordingly. Mid-week arrivals will find it effortless. Booking a berth at Lefkas Marina is straightforward with the marina’s user-friendly online booking system — use it ahead of July and August when 620 berths can feel surprisingly scarce.
Sivota and the Anchorages South of Nidri
If D-Marin’s bustle is not what you came for, push south. Sivota Marina sits in one of the most scenic bays in Lefkada, in a blue crystalline cove among lush green hills and rich forests. The marina offers 90 berths for yachts up to 40.5 m in length, with an average depth ranging from 2 to 5 m. Moor stern or bows-to the quay or on the pontoons, although care is needed of shallows in places. The entrance is narrow and unlit — arrive before dark.
The anchorage at Vlicho Bay, 2 nautical miles south of Nidri, is another strong choice. Sand over mud, 4–8 metres, a taverna-lined shore reachable by dinghy in two minutes. It is the kind of place you intend to stay one night and find yourself staying three.
Kefalonia: Fiskardo, Assos and the Bays Only You Can Reach
The passage from Lefkada to Fiskardo runs roughly 28 nautical miles south-south-west — a comfortable two-hour run in a mid-range express cruiser. Approach Fiskardo at 38°27’31N / 020°34’58 WGS84. The port is free of dangers; the lighthouse on the north side of the entrance is easily identified and will guide you into the bay.
Unlike most of Kefalonia, Fiskardo was spared by the 1953 earthquake and has retained its traditional Italianate architecture — deservedly a particularly popular port. Along the north shore of the harbour there is a good anchorage for 10–12 yachts in depths of 10–12 metres, with lines ashore to stainless steel rings set into the rocks. Holding is only moderate in sand and some weed, so make sure your anchor is well dug in. Prevailing winds in the summer months are NW–N; we found that an extra anchoring attempt can make a lot of improvement.
On the quay itself, go stern or bows-to where space is available, except the south-west corner, which is reserved for local fishing boats. The quay seats you practically at the restaurant tables — the whole town quay is converted into terraces for the tavernas, even the small piers have tables set, so your gangway will be within touching distance of diners. Order the grilled octopus. Stay longer than planned.
Assos: The Briefing Before You Go
Ten miles south of Fiskardo, the Venetian fortress above Assos announces the bay before the village does. There are no dangers in the approach. Most yachts approach from the north, when the ruins of the castle and a Venetian lighthouse on the north end of the promontory will be visible. Visiting yachts anchor off in the harbour in depths of 5.0–8.0 metres. The holding is not always good, as the bottom has mud, weed, and shingle, so make sure your anchor is well dug in if going ashore.
Assos is only suitable in lighter air. The anchorage quickly becomes untenable in rougher conditions, certainly in northerlies. Check the forecast carefully before committing to an overnight. With strong NW winds it’s uncomfortable and there is no nearby shelter. But in settled weather, the tavernas and shops ashore make it absolutely worth the visit. This is a daytime stop first, an overnight second.
Antisamos and the East Coast Swimming Bays
The island’s geological structure forms numerous protected coves and inlets that remain calm even when open waters experience rougher conditions. Mount Ainos, rising to over 1,600 metres, acts as a natural windbreak, creating lee shores along much of the coastline. The east coast, from Agia Efimia south to Sami, rewards a slow exploration under power. Fiskardo Bay offers anchoring in 8–15 metres over sand and weed with good holding, but the east coast’s Antisamos Bay — a sweeping crescent of impossible cobalt blue set against green hillside — can only be reached by boat. Drop the hook in 6 metres over sand, deploy the swim platform, and understand immediately why you came.
Ithaca: Vathy, Kioni and the Homeric Anchorage
The channel between northern Kefalonia and southern Ithaca is one of the great short passages in Mediterranean motorboating. The relatively sheltered channel between Kefalonia and Ithaca provides a safe and interesting cruising area, ideal for both beginner and experienced captains. At full chat in an Axopar 37 or a Pardo 38, it is a 20-minute run. At displacement speeds in something larger, it is a perfect hour.
Vathy (meaning “deep”), the main harbour and administrative centre of Ithaca, lies at the head of one of the most naturally sheltered bays in the Ionian Sea. There are no hazards in the approach to Vathy, which is entered from the north-west from the larger Gulf of Molo. With fresh afternoon seabreezes, however, there can often be strong gusts off the mountains at the head of the gulf, and it may be wise to use the motor on entry, especially as there may be a ferry leaving as you arrive.
The town of Vathy cannot be identified until you sail right into the bay. The chapel and the lighthouse on Ak. Ay. Andrea are easily identified and will guide you straight in. Go stern-to the west quay if space is available — this is the best spot in Vathy as the winds during the summer season are westerlies. Good holding, good shelter.
Ithaca’s Marina in Vathy sits just off the main harbour, with pontoon berths, laid lines and full services including water, electricity, fuel and shore facilities. There is a filling station for boats at Mylos in Vathy for fuel, lubricants, and water. For provisioning, Vathy has the most reliable services — water, fuel, small supermarket, and chandlery. Load up here before heading north.
Kioni: Arrive Early or Battle for It
Four miles north of Vathy by water, Kioni is the jewel of the Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca itinerary — and the stop that requires the most tactical thinking. Kioni is a popular harbour with finite space. Town quay slots are limited, anchoring room exists for around 6–8 boats, and the bay is exposed enough that a poor forecast turns an idyllic stop into a wet night.
Yachts moor at the quay bow-to or stern-to at a water depth of 2.5 to 10 metres. The steeply sloped seabed means it makes sense to use a long chain. Kioni is safe in the prevailing NW conditions but the afternoon does bring some strong NW gusts, making mooring either stern-to on the quay or long-lined to the cliffs challenging with a crosswind. It’s advisable to go early, get moored up without battling with the wind, and then relax while you watch other boats coming in later.
Three well-lit windmills grace the southern end of the bay, creating a magical night-time setting. The typical north-westerly wind in the afternoon can be strong in the bay, but swell is minimal. Do not consider Kioni in easterly or southerly winds — the swell can get really big. In settled NW conditions with a 0900 arrival, it is the finest overnight stop in the southern Ionian.
Practical Affiliate Toolkit: Charts, Bookings and Charter Planning
Before you leave your berth, three tools deserve your attention. First, the Navionics Boating app (Adriatic and Ionian Sea subscription) — run it on a tablet mounted at the helm and use the SonarChart Live overlay when entering unfamiliar bays. The Community Edits layer specifically is gold in waters like these where small-craft skippers share recent depth soundings and newly placed mooring buoys that official charts have not caught up with yet.
Second, for marina reservations, book D-Marin Lefkas directly through the D-Marin website or app. Booking a berth at Lefkas Marina is straightforward with the marina’s user-friendly online booking system, and the dedicated marina staff are always available to assist with any enquiries. In July and August, booking four to six weeks ahead is not excessive.
Third, if you are considering a charter rather than bringing your own boat, Lefkada is the operational hub of the entire Ionian charter scene. Boaters based at D-Marin Lefkas can enjoy easy access to the surrounding islands of Cephalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi, and Kalamos — making it a great starting point for a sailing adventure in the Ionian Islands. Most reputable charter operators — including those operating Jeanneau Merry Fisher and Beneteau Express Cruiser fleets out of Lefkada — offer skippered options if you want local knowledge at the helm for your first passage through the canal.
The Honest Skipper’s Summary
This triangle — Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca — is a complete cruising ground that asks little and gives enormously. The shape of the southern Ionian, sheltered by its largest islands, means that you are almost always sailing in flat water. Passages between anchorages rarely exceed 35 nautical miles. Most bays have a restaurant close enough to reach by tender and a swim platform depth that makes the afternoon decision easy.
What this guide cannot replicate is the light at 0730 on Kioni’s windmills, or the feeling of dropping the hook in Antisamos Bay with nobody else in sight. But it gives you everything you need to find those moments yourself — the VHF channels, the approach bearings, the holding quality warnings, the ferry traffic cautions. The rest is yours.
Use this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca as your briefing document, load your Navionics charts, book your D-Marin berth, and go. The Ionian will do the rest.
Ready for the next passage? Subscribe to the Nautiful newsletter at nautiful.com for weekly anchorage guides, gear reviews tested in Med conditions, and destination briefings written exclusively from the water.