Igoumenitsa

Igoumenitsa is the largest town and capital of Thesprotia, on the Ionian coast of Epirus, and above all it is a port. Its sheltered bay makes it Greece's principal western gateway, the main mainland terminal for ferries to and from Italy and the quickest crossing to the island of Corfu, just 22 nautical miles away. For most travellers it is a place of arrivals and departures, but it is also a comfortable, unhurried base for the coast and mountains behind it.

The modern port and passenger terminal sit right on the waterfront, within walking distance of the town centre, its cafes and squares. Ferries run daily to Corfu in little over an hour, and long international sailings connect Igoumenitsa with the Italian ports of Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice. Overland, the Egnatia Odos motorway links the port directly to Ioannina and on across northern Greece, which is why lorries and cars stream through it in summer.

The town itself is workaday rather than picturesque, rebuilt after the Second World War, but it has a pleasant seafront promenade, good tavernas and a genuine local life away from the resorts. Just south, the coast turns green and indented: the beaches of Drepano, one of the longest sandy strands in Epirus, and the coves around Plataria and Syvota lie within a short drive.

Igoumenitsa also opens the door to the interior. The Souli mountains, the Acheron River with its springs and rafting, and the resort of Parga are all easy day trips, while Corfu is close enough to visit and return in a day. The town works best as a practical hub: a night before or after a ferry, or a base from which to reach beaches and inland sights without the summer crush.

It is busiest in July and August, when ferry traffic peaks and the seafront fills in the evenings. Spring and autumn are quieter and pleasant, and even in winter the port keeps working, though many seaside businesses along the coast close.