Top 5 Photo Opportunities In the Greek Ionian Islands

By Cliff Blaylock

When packing for a getaway to Greece, top of the list of travel essentials is a camera because whether it’s for bragging rights, memories, or to add to a professional portfolio, we all want that perfect holiday snap. However, sometimes getting that shot worth sharing can be a bit tricky. If you’ve never been to your destination before, how do you know where the best spot is? To help solve your photography issues, we’ve listed the five best viewpoints in all of the Ionians, so you’re guaranteed to take home a photo good enough for the bedroom wall.
Mount Pantokrator
The highest mountain on the island of Corfu, Mount Pantokrator towers over the island making it an unbeatable spot for photos. At just over 900 metres above sea level, it isn’t the most strenuous of hikes, although the trail is quite long. If a hike isn’t your cup of tea, there is a road that will lead you to parking near the peak, so nobody has to miss out. From the top, you can take amazing panoramic shots of the island, and even see off into the distance the country of Albania. It’s an amazing spot to get a feel for the rustic landscapes Greece has to offer.

Myrtos Beach
Very popular with tourists and locals alike, Myrtos beach on Kefalonia is an idyllic spot to spend the afternoon basking in the sun and splashing in the vibrant Greek Mediterranean. This is probably the easiest spot of all, on this list, to reach, any driver on their way north round the winding coastal road beyond Myrtos can pull up in the viewpoint area and capture a few shots. Great for bright daylight shots, overcast and ominous snaps or even sunset poses, it’s well worth a visit.

Shipwreck Beach Viewpoint
Perhaps the most famous view in all the Greek Ionian Islands the view of Shipwreck beach, or Navagio Bay, is one of intense colours, scale and beauty. Taken from a cliff side walkway down the road from the bay, it is easy to reach and even easier to take amazing photos. The beach itself is found on the island of Zakynthos, on its north shore, but be warned, don’t head to this viewpoint looking to take a walk on shipwreck beach. The only way of reaching this little slice of Greek heaven is by boat. However, if you are after a photo for Facebook or to blow up on a canvas, look no further.

The Porto Katsiki Walkway
On the isle of Lefkada sits the beautiful beach of Porto Katsiki. Bright sandy beaches are met with clear azure waters, backed by steep and awe-inspiring cliffs. A lone and steep staircase leads from the woodland above to this cutaway paradise. Porto Katsiki beach is one of the finest and most luxurious beaches in all of Greece, and is a definitely a place you want to write home about. Running alongside the beach is a small rocky peninsula, along which a concrete viewing walkway has been installed. From here you can get incredible shots of the beach as well as the beautiful Mediterranean that stretches out from it.

Kathara Monastery
Following the road directly south on the legendary island of Ithaca, visitors will soon spot signs to Μονή Καθαρών, or Kathara Monastery. Following the road, you’ll ascend 600 metres above sea level to an utterly unique viewpoint on the island. From the monastery, the entirety of Vathi bay is visible, making for some incredible landscape shots. This spot is an unparalleled opportunity to capture the very essence of Greece in one photo. Small, vibrant villages, stunning white beaches, rolling green hillsides and, of course, the glittering Mediterranean all collide in this one special place to create some truly beautiful photos.
The author Cliff Blaylock, of www.deepblueyachting.co.uk, invites you to join him in sailing the Ionian Islands and visit views that simply can’t be missed.