Region profile
Ionian Islands
Green islands, a long summer season and strong summer rental yields.
Last verified 12 September 2026 · 1 day ago · checked by spec-import Every figure on this page was checked against its source on this date.
Snapshot
- Population
- Around 210,000 across Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada and Ithaca.
- Climate
- Green because it rains — mild wet winters and hot summers.
- Getting there
- Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Preveza airports, heavily seasonal; ferries from Igoumenitsa and Patras.
- Internet
- Adequate in the main towns, unreliable in rural areas and on smaller islands.
- English usability
- High in summer, lower out of season when the seasonal workforce leaves.
- Golden Visa zone
- Mixed — depends on the specific island or area — Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Lefkada are above the 3,100 population line and fall in Zone A. Smaller Ionian islands do not.
Living here
Who this place suits
- People who want green landscape rather than the bare Cycladic look.
- Buyers interested in summer rental income, subject to the Golden Visa short-term letting ban if that is the route.
- Anyone with UK or Italian connections — the flight links are strongest there.
Who it does not suit
- Anyone who needs a busy winter. Businesses close and islands empty from November.
- People who dislike rain. The Ionian is the wettest part of Greece.
- Golden Visa buyers assuming island means Zone B — the four main islands are Zone A.
- Remote workers who need guaranteed connectivity outside the main towns.
Areas and neighbourhoods
One trade-off sentence each. Every one of these has a downside worth knowing before you sign anything.
- Corfu Town
- A Venetian old town with real year-round life, and summer crowds to match.
- North-east Corfu
- Beautiful and expensive, and almost entirely shut from November to April.
- Kefalonia (Argostoli, Fiskardo)
- Dramatic and quieter than Corfu, with fewer flights and a longer ferry.
- Lefkada
- The only Ionian island reachable by road, which changes the winter calculation considerably.
Healthcare
General hospitals on Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos. Serious cases are transferred to Athens or Ioannina.
Read how the Greek health system works for what registration actually gets you.
What it costs
Rent bands for this area, drawn from the shared dataset. Remember that
advertised rent excludes utilities and koinochrista — the building's common
charges, at Common charges (koinochrista) Building maintenance, shared lighting and often central heating, billed separately from rent. Always ask for the monthly figure before signing.€30 to €150 a month — source and verification date
| One-bedroom, central | €250–€400 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom, outside centre | €200–€330 |
| Three-bedroom, central | €400–€700 |
| Utilities, 85 m² apartment | €120–€200 |
| Home internet | €30–€45 |
| Groceries, single person | €200–€300 |
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | €8–€12 |
Visiting
Worth the trip
- Corfu's old town and the Achilleion.
- Melissani cave on Kefalonia, mid-morning when the light drops through.
- The west coast beaches of Lefkada.
Best months
May, June, September. July and August are hot and full.
What to skip
Navagio beach by boat in August, and Kavos entirely unless that is specifically what you came for.
Before you book, check entry requirements and read about the accommodation tax, which is not included in the price you see on a booking site.