We are all very much familiar with Greek mythology, partly because Hollywood has made a fortune out of them in various movies and books and because some schools actually included them when talking about history and how the Greeks had a God-like system to explain natural phenomena and mythological creatures to explain the evilness of the world. A large imagination is what we Greeks have.

There is this one island that is vastly known for its grand myth of Odysseus, its king that after helping a fellow king took a very long and eventful trip back to his kingdom with plenty of myths following him. Ithaca is the island where mythology used to play big part, nowadays not so much. There are no big museums if you’re interested in living the Greek myth and the king’s palace is nothing but large rocks. There nothing monumental to see, only specs and small old pots that allegedly from that time.

I chose Ithaca for my summer vacations, mainly because I was looking for a big island to roam and enjoy the beaches. A break from this tiring daily life that is filled with work and obligations. Like all of us, I needed some time for myself, to log off and read a good crime book at the beach with the sun above my head burning my skin (not my best decision, I must say).

Ithaca is a very big island with hidden (and plenty of private) beaches and large portions of green everywhere you look. There is green as far as the eye meets and there are no big, hasty towns – just small villages with small cafes and tavernas for good food. A slow, quiet life for most. Exactly the break you need when coming from a big city.

We stayed in Dioskouri II at Vathi (the village closest to the port), a nice apartment filled building on the verge of a hill, perfectly preserved and built to overlook the sea. Each morning you wake up overlooking the grand sea, ships coming and going, the green of the trees surrounding it and making it the perfect spot for your morning coffee.

Vathi, where we stayed, is located ten minutes away from the port and is a fairly big for a village. It has a few taverns, like Batis and Kohili, to eat but you have to make sure to make a reservation, because it’s books from early in the afternoons and if you do not book a table then you’ll probably end up looking for food for a while. A must thing is to walk through the main street of Vathi, where small boats are located and fishermen take out their nets. There are multiple cafes and hotels around to rest and grab a coffee or drink a cocktail if you feel like it.

Rozes, is the kind of small cafe-bar that you simply make a stop. It’s located at paved road, very easy to find if you ask around, and the girls there are eager to help you with your drinks. The barwoman is one of the best, we went there twice to try out different kinds of cocktail and each one was made deliciously.

Another go-to location is Kioni, another small village that you have to drive to get there. Leave your car at the local parking space and walk around the village because Kioni has small roads, no space for a car to be driven around the village, that’s why most people have bikes to go from one place to another. We visited Piccolo there, a small and cute cafe to grab our morning coffee by the sea. It was filled with tourists and although the service wasn’t exactly the best, the view was amazing.

From Frikes to Kioni and back, the road is filled with small beaches. You leave your car on the side and go down the artificial steps that are made for travelers to take a swim before continuing their trip. I liked that small detail, because it really made you feel like you are truly on an island. The fact that you could at any moment wear your bathing suit and be at the beach in a matter of seconds. So liberating, I’m telling you.

Their traditional foods are also very tasteful. We visited The Hani at the mountain overlooking the sea and had the pleasure of trying their delicious treats before visiting another beach.

It total we visited plenty of beaches like Aspros Gialos, Filiatro, Frikes and of course Gidaki.

Now, let me tell you a bit about Gidaki, because it’s a wonderful beach but getting there can be tricky. There are some boats that arrange trips there and there is also one beach bar with a few tables to sit. However, there is another way to get there and that’s a 30-minute walk from Sxoinos, a private beach that getting there is only achievable by walking. Generally, getting to Gidaki beach was an adventure because we had to leave the car near a cliff and get out there later by going backwards while cars were trying to cross the road, but that was not possible. The road was so slim that only one car could pass, therefore plenty of tourists simply drove to the beach only to meet a dead end and have a hell of a time going back to the town.

Walking for 30 minutes through a forest, because yes of course you have to climb a mountain and a forest to get there, made me wish I never quit gym. I did it though and it was rather interesting as an experience, never minding the fact by the time we reached the beach I was way redder than I should be and I practically hugged the sea. I shouldn’t scare you more though, take the trip it actually is worth it, because then you’ll have a summer story to share.

The views are amazing, the beaches are filled with pebbles and rocks, but are so clean and blue that they will definitely bewitch you. Despite it all, Ithaca has amazing beaches to relax when on holidays, so don’t give it a second thought and visit the island to get the perfect Greek island experience. Don’t forget your sunscreen though, because summer in Greece is no joke.

There is no night life in Ithaca, so if you’re looking for an island with clubs and loud music this is not the island you should opt for. It’s an island fit for couples who want to spend some time alone and families with children. However, if you’re coming from a big city then this is possibly the place to be when on vacations.

Thanks for reading!

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