Walking trails

Walking trails in Ithaca

In Ithaca, hiking is not just an activity; it is a way to truly understand the island. The extensive network of walking trails reveals a destination that is authentic, layered, and largely undiscovered by the average visitor. From gentle routes through ancient olive groves to more demanding paths crossing rugged mountains and leading to secluded coves, hiking here becomes a strategic gateway to immersive travel.

The island’s geomorphology naturally supports the development of a distinctive hiking product. Narrow footpaths—many of which date back centuries—connect traditional villages, agricultural landscapes, and coastal terrain in ways no road network can replicate. What emerges is not simply a system of movement, but a narrative. With every step, the visitor moves deeper into a place where myth, history, and daily life coexist seamlessly.

From Stavros and Anogi in Northern Ithaca to Perachori, the Monastery of Kathara, and the coastal routes of Piso Aetos in the south, the diversity of trails is striking. Easy, family-friendly walks exist alongside more demanding ascents, creating a well-balanced portfolio that caters to both casual travelers and experienced hikers. This versatility is no coincidence—it is one of Ithaca’s strongest competitive advantages as a destination for soft, alternative tourism.

South Ithaca Walking Trails

Perahori-Nymfes Cave

  • Short Description: A short yet highly symbolic hike leading to one of Ithaca’s most mythical sites, closely associated with Odysseus. Through a gentle natural landscape, visitors reach the cave that, according to tradition, served as both a refuge and a landmark within the Homeric narrative.

  • Distance: 4 km

  • Duration: 1h 20min

  • Difficulty Level: 2/5

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Type: Linear (with return option)

  • 🔗see more on ithacatrails.com
Vathy-Filiatro beach

  • Short Description: An easy and enjoyable route starting from Vathy and leading to the organized Filiatro Beach, passing through a gentle Mediterranean landscape. Ideal for combining hiking with swimming, offering the immediate reward of crystal-clear turquoise waters.

  • Distance: 3.4 km

  • Duration: 50 min

  • Difficulty Level: 1/5

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Type: Linear (with return option)
  • 🔗see more on googlemaps
Vathy-Saint Andrew chapel

  • Short Description: The coastal road of Vathy offers one of the most pleasant and accessible walks on the island, following the curve of its natural harbor. Along the way, visitors encounter historical landmarks, including the small French fort with Venetian cannons overlooking the bay’s entrance. The route concludes at the tranquil Loutsa Beach and its picturesque chapel, where natural beauty and history coexist in perfect harmony.

  • Distance: 3.7 km

  • Duration: 1h 45 min

  • Difficulty Level: 1/5

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Type: Linear (with return option)

  • 🔗see more on ithacatrails.com
Perahori-Marathias (from Spiliotissa chapel)

  • Short Description: An authentic hiking route starting from Perachori, following old rural paths through forested landscapes and striking geological passages. The trail gradually reveals panoramic views over Vathy and the Ionian Sea, culminating at the Marathia plateau with stops at Panagia Spilaiotissa and the Cave of Eumaeus, both deeply connected to the story of Odysseus. A route where nature and mythology converge in a landscape rich with meaning.

  • Distance: 5.3 km

  • Duration: 1h 50 min

  • Difficulty Level: 3/5

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Type: Linear (with return option)

  • 🔗see more on ithacatrails.gr

 

Marathias-Perahori (from Rizes Cave)
  • Short Description: A hike through a striking landscape above the southeastern coast of Ithaca, following one of the island’s earliest carriage roads from the 19th century that once connected the Marathia plateau’s cultivated lands. The route offers sweeping panoramic views exceeding 180°, stretching from Lefkada to Kefalonia, with a highlight at the shrine viewpoint where the Ionian Sea extends dramatically toward the Gulf of Patras. As the trail descends through wild Mediterranean vegetation, a layered landscape unfolds, revealing Vathy, the Bay of Molos, and a dynamic interplay between mountain ranges and sea. 
  • Distance: 4.6 km
  • Duration: 1h 35 min
  • Difficulty Level: 2/5
  • Family-Friendly: Yes
  • Type: Linear (with return option)
  • 🔗see more on ithacatrails.gr
Arethousa Spring

  • Short Description: The route to the Arethousa Spring follows the southeastern slopes of Ithaca, leading to a site deeply connected to Homeric tradition and the island’s historical mapping. Through an untouched landscape with minimal human presence, the trail reveals panoramic views over the Ionian Sea and the islet of Pera Pigadi. The experience culminates dramatically at Korakos Rock, where the historic spring of Arethousa emerges within an imposing geological formation. 

  • Distance: 1.5 km

  • Duration: 30 min

  • Difficulty Level: 3/5

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Type: Linear (with return option)

  • 🔗see more on ithacatrails.gr

Equally compelling are the viewpoints embedded throughout the trail network. Expansive vistas over the Ionian Sea, shifting light across mountain slopes, and elevated positions that reveal the island’s full geographical identity act as natural highlights. In certain locations, particularly in Northern Ithaca, the experience culminates in rare sunsets where the sun appears to sink directly into the sea—an unforgettable visual signature.

Beyond natural beauty, the cultural imprint of these routes is profound. Small chapels, old windmills, abandoned rural homes, and sites linked to Homeric tradition are woven organically into the landscape, creating a powerful sense of continuity. For the modern traveler seeking meaning and authenticity, this dimension transforms a simple walk into a deeply engaging experience.

ithacatourist.com leverages this potential by curating and organizing the island’s most important walking routes into a structured, reliable platform. Through carefully selected content, visitors gain direct access to essential information—distances, difficulty levels, and route recommendations—without the inefficiency of scattered or outdated sources.

As global travel continues to shift toward experience-driven journeys, Ithaca positions itself with clarity and purpose. Its trail network is not an alternative offering; it is central to a new tourism identity built on authenticity, sustainability, and meaningful connection with place.

If Ithaca has always symbolized the idea of return, its trails offer the most honest way to approach it: slowly, consciously, and in harmony with the land, the light, and the stories that continue to define it.

North Ithaca Walking Trails

Anogi-Kathara Monastery

  • Short Description: An authentic mountain experience on the slopes of Mount Neritos, guiding hikers through a rugged, almost raw landscape with sparse vegetation and a strong historical imprint. As you ascend along an old path that once connected the entire island, traces of past cultivation and the absence of shade reveal both the hardship and self-sufficiency of local life. Along the way, panoramic views over southern Ithaca and the Ionian Sea reward every step, offering a deeply immersive connection to the island’s natural and cultural identity.

  • Distance: 3 km

  • Duration: 1h

  • Difficulty Level: 1/5

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Type: Linear (with return option)

  • 🔗more on ithacatrails.gr
Kioni-Anogi (from Vigla)

  • Short Description: A demanding mountain ascent that begins from a picturesque harbor and gradually climbs through rich Mediterranean vegetation and traditional rural landscapes. The trail leads to the ridge of Vigla, where the scenery opens up to reveal a small plateau and panoramic views over the Ionian Sea. At the summit, old windmills stand prominently, offering one of the most authentic and unexplored experiences on Ithaca.

  • Distance: 6.4 km

  • Duration: 2h 10 min

  • Difficulty Level: 3/5

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Type: Linear (with return option)

  • 🔗more on ithacatrails.gr
Exogi-Rousano

Short Description: A striking mountain trail that visually embraces the entire basin of northern Ithaca, leading to the plateau of Roussano. Starting from Exogi, the initial gentle and wide section known as “Diastra” reveals small glimpses of local life before transitioning into a traditional stone-paved path. Descending through the lush ravine of Kleisouri, the route concludes smoothly at the main road.

  • Distance: 2.4 km
  • Duration: 50 min
  • Difficulty Level: 2/5
  • Family-Friendly: Yes
  • Type: Linear (with return option)
  • 🔗more on ithacatrails.gr
    Anogi-Kioni (from Saint Gerasimos chapel)

    • Short Description: One of the most popular hiking routes in Ithaca, starting from Anogi and unfolding through a landscape of wild beauty and historical depth. The trail passes iconic landmarks such as the monolith “Araklis,” the ruined church of Evangelistria, and a plateau with old windmills, offering striking views of the island’s authentic character. As you follow the old mule path, the scenery toward Anogi and the dramatic geological formations create an experience that seamlessly connects past and present. 

    • Distance: 5.1 km

    • Duration: 1h 45 min

    • Difficulty Level: 1/5

    • Family-Friendly: Yes

    • Type: Linear (with return option)

    • 🔗more on ithacatrails.gr
    Stavros-Exogi (from Homer's School)

    • Short Description: A living passage through some of the most significant archaeological sites of northern Ithaca, where landscape, mythology, and history converge. Starting from Stavros, near the Cave of Loizos associated with the worship of Odysseus, the route leads to the hill of Pilikata with traces of a prehistoric settlement. The experience culminates in remarkable findings, including bronze tripods and the inscription “ΕΥΧΗΝ ΟΔΥΣΣΕΙ,” bridging myth with archaeology.

    • Distance: 2.9 km

    • Duration: 1h

    • Difficulty Level: 2/5

    • Family-Friendly: Yes

    • Type: Linear (with return option)

    • 🔗more on ithacatrails.gr
    Exogi-Stavros (from Pernarakia)

    • Short Description: A demanding mountain hike that rewards with panoramic views and a strong sense of exploration. Starting from the square of Exogi, the route ascends through the village, passing historic chapels and traditional pathways. Along the way, hikers encounter impressive stone terraces, vivid traces of human presence and cultivation embedded in the landscape.

    • Distance: 5.8 km

    • Duration: 2h

    • Difficulty Level: 3/5

    • Family-Friendly: Yes

    • Type: Linear (with return option)

    • 🔗more on ithacatrails.gr
    Frikes-Panagia tis Skalas

    • Short Description: This route crosses an authentic and untouched landscape in northern Ithaca, linking historic paths, old passages, and locations rich in Homeric symbolism. Among cypress groves, steep slopes, and panoramic openings toward the Bay of Afales, the experience builds toward breathtaking views across the island. At its highest point, one of the few locations in Ithaca where the sunset meets the sea directly is revealed.

    • Distance: 3.8 km

    • Duration: 1h 20 min

    • Difficulty Level: 2/5

    • Family-Friendly: Yes

    • Type: Linear (with return option)

    • 🔗more on ithacatrails.gr

    For more information and trail maps:

    Municipality of Ithaca Official website

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