With Corfu now attracting some two million tourists every year via flights, cruises and ferries, it is no surprise that many holidaymakers are on the hunt for a quieter island. In fact, international flight arrivals to the iconic Ionian island have increased by 32% since 2019, and ferry arrivals by 31%.
However, few visitors realise that there is a perfect alternative to Corfu, with beaches just as beautiful and villages just as postcard-perfect, only 12 miles away. Found at the junction of the Ionian and Adriatic seas lies a beautiful island covering just 3.9 square miles that is actually the westernmost point of Greece. Othonoi is a small inhabited island that is the largest island of the Diapontian Islands, only 40 nautical miles from Italy.
In fact, Othonoi is so close to Italy that when the weather is good, the Italian cape of Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, is visible.
Filled with lush vegetation, the island can only be reached via small ferries departing from Corfu. But, by making that extra journey, British tourists will be rewarded with quiet beaches and towns, far from the noise and chaos that now saturates the second-largest Ionian island. Today, Othonians living in Corfu sometimes call the island “Pera”, meaning beyond, due to the island’s location beyond the island.
According to Greek mythology, the ancient poet Homer referred to Othonoi in The Odyssey as Ogygia, island of the nymph Calypso, who lived in a large cave there. In the poem, Odysseus fell in love with her and remained there for seven years as her prisoner. He also described a strong scent of cypress on Ogygia – many cypress trees grow on the island today.
During the summer months, just under 400 people live on the island. However, come winter, this number decreases dramatically. The island is divided into two regions – Ano Panta and Kato Panta – and there are more than 20 settlements.
The island’s port, Ammos, is the focal point, home to just a handful of hotels and apartments, restaurants, car rental facilities, and various monuments. Other important settlements, including Dafni, Damaskatika and the island’s capital, Chorio, also have accommodation facilities.
Most beaches on the island are accessible by boat, including Molos, Kamini, Kanoula, Kontoskes and Aspri Ammos. Many have white sands and turquoise waters just waiting to be enjoyed by holidaymakers. The Cave of Calypso is located near Aspri Ammos.
Mount Imerovigli is the highest peak of the island, at 1,296 feet. From here, visitors can enjoy views of the other Diapontia islands as well as the Ionian and Adriatic seas.
Ferries from Corfu run a few times a week and take three hours. There are also services from Agios Stefanos, which take one hour and go to the other Diapontian islands.