Ithaca – Hiking Trails, Culture and History

Hiking trails, museums, historic sites and local cuisine give you practical starting points for planning your trip to Ithaca. If you’re looking for hotels, you can first consider which experiences you want to shape your stay: a moderate hike, maritime history or archaeological sites. The island’s trails and sights offer a range of themes and time commitments.

Compare Hiking Trails and Coastal Routes

Ithaca’s hiking trails connect mountain and coastal settlements. Two moderate routes can be easily distinguished by their length and course: the Vathy–Perachori–Pera Pigadi trail is 13.68 kilometers long, passes through olive groves and reaches viewpoints with panoramic views. The Anogi–Kioni route is 4.5 kilometers long and connects the mountain village of Anogi with the coastal town of Kioni. The Anemodouri–Arethousa Spring trail runs across slopes covered in low scrub and offers views of Ithaca’s southeast coast.

The Vathy–Gidaki–Filiatro–Sarakiniko Bay sea kayaking route offers a different perspective. It is 12.5 kilometers long, suitable for beginners and passes more than 20 small and large beaches. Sea conditions vary with the seasons and can be changeable. There are two described ways to reach Gidaki Beach: by kaiki boat from Vathy or on foot along the trail from Skinos. Both take approximately 25 minutes; boat frequency and trail conditions may vary seasonally.

Vathy: Architecture and Museums

In Vathy, you’ll find houses with tiled roofs, stately mansions and narrow, stone-paved lanes. Vathy has been recognized as a traditional settlement since 1982 because of its distinctive Ionian architecture. The architecture and historical collections offer different insights into the island: one is conveyed by the townscape, the other by the museums.

The Ithaca Archaeological Museum includes votive offerings from the Sanctuary of the Cave of the Nymphs, as well as bronze coins depicting Odysseus and bearing the inscription ΙΘΑΚΩΝ. The Stavros Archaeological Collection displays finds from four sites on Ithaca, dating from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman period. The sites mentioned include the Cave of Loizos and the settlement of Stavros.

The Ithaca Maritime and Folklore Museum opened to visitors in 1997 and displays evidence of the island’s long maritime history. Its portrayal of everyday life spans the 18th century to the mid-20th century. It thus complements the archaeological collections with a much later period.

Historic Sites and Traditions

Palaiochora was Ithaca’s former capital before the capital was moved to Vathy, which is located by the sea. Three churches in Palaiochora are historic, protected monuments of Byzantine art. The Perachori–Palaiochora–Cave of the Nymphs trail leads to the Church of Saint John the Theologian, which has a stone bell tower and frescoes. Another hiking trail passes through the ruins of Palaiochora.

Alalkomenes is designated as an archaeological site where Ithaca’s ancient city has been identified. History also lies literally beneath the water’s surface at Polis Beach: the remains of a submerged ancient city lie on the seabed offshore. The Cave of the Nymphs is associated with the tradition that Odysseus hid the gifts of the Phaeacians there. Researchers, in turn, associate Rizes Cave with the Homeric cave of Eumaeus, where Odysseus’s swineherd kept his animals.

Panigyria are held in honor of the patron saints in village squares and organized by local cultural associations, especially in summer. If you want to plan your trip around one of these celebrations, check the individual dates before you travel.

Local Cuisine and Travel Planning

Ithaca’s local cuisine includes Agourelaio olive oil, wine, animal products, meat and fish, wild herbs, local vegetables and vegetable pies. One distinctive ingredient is Sapsycho, a type of marjoram found only on Ithaca. Alongside hiking trails and historic sites, these culinary traditions provide another starting point for planning your trip.

Vathy has offices where you can rent cars and two-wheelers; businesses and availability may change. KTEL buses run from Vathy to almost all the villages in northern Ithaca; check current routes and timetables before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Ithaca, Frikes, Vathy, Aetos, Corfu, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Zakynthos

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