Cycladia | Island Practical Info

CLIMATE

Ithaca is located in the Ionian Sea south from Lefkada and north east from Kefalonia. Generally the land of Ithaca is barren and arid and, hence, agriculture could not be developed. Nevertheless there is lash vegetation with a lot of trees covering most of its mountainous surface which even reach the sea shores creating a marvellous landscape. The island’s economy is supported mainly by tourism and fishing. The climate is temperate Mediterranean with rains during the winter and cool summers.

TELEPHONE

The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad. All numbers in the capital Athens start with the prefix 210 and are followed by 7 digits (e.g. 210-3227400).

The Area Code for Ithaca is: +30 26740.

If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialling the other country’s national prefix (i.e. 0049 for Germany, 0044 for England etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY

Euro €

Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver colour), 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold colour) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper colour)

1 euro = 100 cents / centimes.

Euro Bank Notes: Are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive change for 200 and 500 Euro Notes.

BY BOAT

Ithaca has two ports, Vathy and Piso Aetos, and is connected daily with Kefalonia, Lefkada, Patra and Astakos. Both ports are connected with Patra through Sami (Kefalonia) and the trip lasts approximately 3,5 hours.

Piso Aetos is also connected with Fiscardo (Kefalonia), Vassiliki (Lefkada) and Astakos. There are also boats operating itineraries from Frikes village (Ithaca) to Fiscardo (Kefalonia), Vassiliki (Lefkada) and Nydri (Lefkada).

Strintzis Ferries

For accurate timetables and ticket costs please visit: http://www.strintzisferries.gr

Tel.: +30 210 4225000

E-mail: [email protected]

Information Astakos - Piso Aetos (Ithaca) Tel.: +30 26740 33115

Information Vassiliki (Lefkada) - Frikes (Ithaca)

Tel.: +30 26450 31520 (Samba Tours), +30 26740 33115 (Delas Tours)

Patra Port Authority Tel.: +30 2610 341002

Ithaca Port Authority Tel: +30 26740 32909

Sami Port Authority (Cephallonia) Tel: +30 26740 22031

Vassiliki Port Authority (Lefkada) Tel: +30 26450 31520

Astakos Port Authority Tel.: +30 26460 41052

BY AIR

There is also the option to catch a flight to Kefalonia and from there take the boat from Sami to Piso Aetos (Ithaca) or from Fiscardo to Frikes (Ithaca).

Especially during summer there are charter flights to Argostoli airport (Kefalonia).

For more information on flights, please visit:

Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos: www.aia.gr

Olympic Air: For accurate timetables and ticket costs visit Olympic Air website www.olympicair.com

Athens Office: +30 210 355 0500, 8018010101

There is a road network connecting almost every village on the island but there are beaches that can only be reached through small dirt roads or by boat. During summer there is a bus operating three times a day the itinerary from Vathy to Lefki, Stavros, Platrithias, Frikes and Kioni. On summer, taxi boats are operating routes from Vathy and they take travellers to secluded beaches accessed only by sea.

Taxi Service tel.: +30 26740 33030

RENT A CAR/MOTORBIKE

The distances on the island are not long, so you can easily discover and enjoy the magical scenery of Ithaca by renting a car or a motorbike. The main road network is in good condition but it can be tricky due to its mountainous morphology, so attention is always required.

BANKS & ATMs

There are several Greek bank branches with ATM’s on Ithaca located in the settlement of Vathy.

MONEY EXCHANGE

Banks exchange all major currencies, traveler’s cheques or Eurocheques. Post offices exchange cash, but not traveler’s cheques, and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels exchange cash and traveler’s cheques but usually charge a higher commission. Credit cards are accepted in shops and restaurants, however, in local cafes, especially in villages you will probably have to pay in cash.

POST OFFICE

The Greek post office is called ELTA. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.

Ithaca Post Office Tel.: +30 26740 32386

POLICE STATION

Ithaca Police Station Tel.: +30 26740 32205

Tourist Police: 171
Hellenic National Meteorological service: +30 210 9699101-3
Elpa (Car breakdown tourist information service): 174
Patras Port Authority Tel.: +030 2610 34102
Ithaca Port Authority Tel: +30 26740 32909
Sami Port Authority (Kefalonia) Tel: +30 26740 22031
Vassiliki Port Authority (Lefkada) Tel: +30 26450 31520
Astakos Port Authority Tel.: +30 26460 41052
Municipality of Ithaca Tel.: +30 26740 33481, 26740 32795

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

International Press can be found in Vathy.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Police: 100
Fire Department: 199
Ambulance: 166

HEALTH

Ithaca Health Centre Tel.: +30 26740 32222

Stavros Medical Centre Tel.: +30 26740 31207

Diagnostic Centre Tel.: +30 26740 32203

PHARMACY

Pharmacies are found in Vathy and in Stavros village. Pharmacists are well-qualified to deal with the majority of minor medical complaints or to prepare prescriptions. The opening hours are listed at the front doors or in the windows of each Pharmacy.

For your convenience find below an indicative list of pharmacies:

Karavias Konstantinos Tel.:+30 26740 32251 (Vathy)

Marouli Maria Tel.: +30 26740 33105 (Vathy)

Andrianatos Andronikos Tel.: +30 26740 31333 (Stavros)