The Ionian group is composed of several islands, the most notable of which are Corfu, Paxi, Lefkada, Kefallonia, Ithaki, Zakynthos and Kythira.

The six northern islands are off the west coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea, while the seventh island, Kythra, is situated off the southernmost tip of the Peloponnesus, the southern part of the Greek mainland.

Each island has an abundance of idiosyncratic charm, with various hints of British, Venetian, Roman, Macedonian and Byzantine influences.

Many flight offers are still available, so potential visitors to this stunning group of islands should find flights online and book a last minute holiday as soon as possible as there are only a few months left of the summer break!

Traditions and culture on the Ionian Islands

The islands have a long and extremely rich cultural history dating back thousands of years and have produced numerous prolific writers and poets.

Zakynthos strongly contributed to Greek literature and art by founding the first Greek Academy which produced playwrights that were considered forerunners of modern Greek theatre.

The islands also produced masterpieces in terms of art and sculpture. Among notable painters who hailed from the islands is Koundounis, who was responsible for many significant nationalistic and religious paintings.

The majority of islanders practice Greek Orthodox Christianity, a religious tradition that informs many parts of the islands' cultural life.

On Holy Friday for example, from the afternoon onwards, the bands of the philharmonic societies accompany the epitaphs of the town's churches as part of a traditional parade.

Recommended on the Ionian Islands

The pre-Lent Carnival takes place between February and March and is a massive event on Kefallonia and Zakynthos. Everyone usually comes together for feasting, dancing and all-round merriment.

Keffallonia also hosts an art and cultural festival during July and August which is a huge crowd-puller. Also popular is Lefkada's International Festival of Literature & Art and the Paxi Festival of Music..

Weather on the Ionian Islands

The warmest temperatures the islands experience occur from June until October, when the mercury rises up to 40 degrees C (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the middle of summer.

To experience more subdued climes, the Easter period leading up to June and the months of September and October are the best times to visit.

December and January see the lowest temperatures overall and have the highest levels of rainfall.

(Destination checklist for the Ionian Islands

The islands have a combined population of around 220,097.

The official currency is the euro.

Greek is the official language spoken throughout the Ionian Islands.

The islands are just two hours ahead of GMT and use the international dialling code +30.