Before you go

Your trip to Igoumenitsa.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Igoumenitsa – Epiro Destination Corfu

How to get there

Aeroporto de Ioannina (Kratiko Aerodromio Ioanninon) (IOA) Ioannina · 95 km
Aeroporto de Corfu (Ioannis Kapodistrias) (CFU) Corfu, com travessia de balsa · 35 km
Porto de Igoumenitsa, terminal de passageiros (Neo Limani Igoumenitsas) 1 km
Rodoviária KTEL de Igoumenitsa (KTEL Thesprotias) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before buying. Most arrive by ferry from the Italian cities of Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Venice, or from Corfu. By car, via the Egnatia motorway (A2), which takes you to Ioannina in about 1 hour, and via the Ionian road (A5), towards Patras. KTEL buses connect the town with Athens, Ioannina and Thessaloniki. The nearest airports are Corfu, Ioannina and Preveza.

How many days

For those who only stop by ferry, a few hours are enough for the waterfront and the archaeological museum. With a full day you can visit one of the beaches, Drepano or Syvota. With two days, visit the springs of the Aqueronte and the Necromanteion inland on the second day.

When to go

From June to September is the beach season and ferries run more frequently; July and August are hot and crowded in Syvota. May and October are good for the Aqueronte trails and for walking, with fewer people. In winter the town lives off the port and the beaches are empty.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

For the town itself, no: the port, the waterfront and the museum are close to one another. For Syvota, Drepano, the springs of the Aqueronte and the Necromanteion, a car makes a difference because local buses have few departures. Many people arrive by ferry already with their car, coming from Italy.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Igoumenitsa

Morning
Archaeological museum and waterfront
Start at the archaeological museum in the north of town, with finds from the ancient cities of Tesprócia. Then walk along the waterfront to the port, with the ferries and Corfu on the other side of the channel.
Afternoon
Syvota beach
Drive south to Syvota, about 25 km. Choose one of the clear-water coves, like Bella Vraka, or take a boat trip around the islets.
Late afternoon
Port of Syvota
Stay until the end of the day at the port of Syvota, with the sailboats, the tavernas and the islands ahead.
Evening
Igoumenitsa waterfront
Return to Igoumenitsa and dine at one of the waterfront tavernas, with grilled fish and the bustle of the port.

2 days in Igoumenitsa

Day 1

Morning
Archaeological museum and waterfront
Archaeological museum and a walk along the waterfront to the port, with Corfu in view.
Afternoon
Drepano beach
Afternoon at Drepano beach, the stretch of sand north of town, a few minutes by car.
Late afternoon
Sunset at Drepano
The sun sets over the sea toward Corfu: stay at the tip of the beach.
Evening
Igoumenitsa waterfront
Dinner and a stroll along the waterfront.

Day 2

Morning
Springs of the Aqueronte
Drive about 1 hour to Glyki and hike the trail to the springs of the Aqueronte, with sections through the cold river water between rock cliffs.
Afternoon
Necromanteion
Follow the river downstream to the Necromanteion, near Mesopotamos, the ancient sanctuary where the dead were consulted, on a hill overlooking the Aqueronte plain.
Late afternoon
Return along the coast
Return via the coastal road, passing Ammoudia beach at the mouth of the Aqueronte, and by Syvota.
Evening
Dinner in Syvota or Igoumenitsa
Tavernas at the port of Syvota or on the Igoumenitsa waterfront.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Italy to Igoumenitsa?

By ferry from Brindisi, Bari, Ancona or Venice. Brindisi and Bari have the shortest crossings. Check schedules and operators before you go.

How to get from Igoumenitsa to Corfu?

By ferry, which departs several times a day from the port of Igoumenitsa and crosses the channel to the town of Corfu in about 1h30. There are also ferries to Lefkimmi in the south of the island.

Is it worth staying in Igoumenitsa?

It works as a base for the beaches of Syvota and Drepano and for the springs of the Aquerente. The town itself is small and can be seen in a few hours.

Do you need a car in Igoumenitsa?

For the beaches and the Aqueronte, yes, because local buses have limited schedules. In town, everything is close to the port.

What is the distance from Igoumenitsa to Ioannina?

About 95 km via the Egnatia motorway, a little over 1 hour by car. There are KTEL buses.

Back to Igoumenitsa