The four main Ionian Islands run some of the busiest short-term rental markets in Greece. Together they hold more than 19,000 active listings. Each one earns its money differently.
Zakynthos earns the most per available night. Kefalonia fills the most nights. Lefkada charges high rates but books less. Corfu is the largest market by far, and the cheapest per night of the four.
Which Ionian island earns the most from Airbnb?
Zakynthos earns the most. The average active short-term rental on Zakynthos earned $39,300 in the twelve months to September 2026, at $272 a night and 67% occupancy, according to AirDNA. Its revenue per available night, or RevPAR, reached $182 — the highest of the four islands.
Kefalonia and Lefkada follow, each at $33,400 a year. Corfu’s average listing earned $30,100.
Ionian Islands short-term rental markets, twelve months to September 2026
| Metric | Zakynthos | Kefalonia | Lefkada | Corfu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active listings | 3,629 | 3,819 | 2,777 | 8,904 |
| Average annual revenue | $39,300 | $33,400 | $33,400 | $30,100 |
| Occupancy | 67% | 69% | 61% | 66% |
| Average daily rate | $272 | $228 | $287 | $195 |
| RevPAR | $182 | $158 | $176 | $129 |
| AirDNA Market Score | 75 | 71 | 55 | 65 |
Zakynthos: the strongest all-round market
Zakynthos combines high rates with high occupancy. It is also the only one of the four islands where RevPAR grew over the year, up 4.8%, as occupancy rose 9.1% and the nightly rate rose 2.1%.
AirDNA gives Zakynthos a Market Score of 75 out of 100, the highest of the four. It scores 88 on revenue growth and 71 on rental demand.
Kefalonia: the most nights booked
Kefalonia fills 69% of available nights, the highest occupancy in the group. It charges less than Zakynthos or Lefkada, at $228 a night. Occupancy rose 8.3% over the year, while the nightly rate fell 5.3%, leaving RevPAR roughly flat at −1.8%.
Kefalonia scores 71 on AirDNA’s Market Score, with rental demand at 71 and revenue growth at 81.
Lefkada: high rates, fewer nights
Lefkada charges the highest average nightly rate of the four, $287, but books only 61% of available nights. Its RevPAR of $176 still ranks second.
Lefkada’s figures barely moved over the year. Occupancy rose 2.5%, the nightly rate rose 0.5% and RevPAR slipped 0.9%. It has the lowest Market Score of the four, at 55, mainly because of weaker rental demand.
Corfu: the biggest market, the lowest rates
Corfu has 8,904 active listings — more than the other three islands combined minus one. It also has the lowest nightly rate, $195, and the lowest RevPAR, $129. Occupancy rose 5.2% over the year, but the nightly rate fell 12.8% and RevPAR fell 8.8%.
Corfu town sits in a controlled-development area under Greece’s new tourism spatial framework, which caps new tourist accommodation there at 100 beds. Large parts of Zakynthos, including the town and Laganas, fall in the same category.
Are all four islands seasonal?
Yes. All four score between 44 and 48 out of 100 on AirDNA’s seasonality measure, where a lower score means a bigger gap between the best and worst months. The Ionian season depends heavily on summer, and island owners earn most of their income in a few months.
Why do British buyers matter here?
British buyers favour the Ionian Islands more than any other part of Greece, with 24% of their interest there. From 1 July 2027, Greece plans to raise the property transfer tax for non-EU individuals, including UK citizens, from 3% to 15%. Buyers who plan to rent out an Ionian property should factor that into the numbers above.
What does this mean for owners?
The islands reward different strategies. On Zakynthos and Lefkada, pricing matters most. On Kefalonia and Corfu, keeping the calendar full matters most. On all four, the summer peak decides the year.
Owners who want to reach more guests can add channels beyond Airbnb and Booking.com. Holidu, for example, publishes a lower commission than the largest platforms — you can list your property on Holidu here.
Brothers Consulting manages bookings, pricing and guests remotely for owners anywhere in Greece, including the islands, while owners keep their property, listing, cleaning and keys. See the management page for what an active property earns in your area.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ionian island is best for Airbnb?
On AirDNA’s figures, Zakynthos leads, with average revenue of $39,300, RevPAR of $182 and the highest Market Score of the four islands at 75.
How much does an Airbnb make in Kefalonia?
The average active listing on Kefalonia earned $33,400 in the twelve months to September 2026, at $228 a night and 69% occupancy.
How much does an Airbnb make in Lefkada?
The average active listing on Lefkada earned $33,400, at $287 a night and 61% occupancy.
How much does an Airbnb make in Zakynthos?
The average active listing on Zakynthos earned $39,300, at $272 a night and 67% occupancy.
How many Airbnbs are there in Corfu?
AirDNA counts 8,904 active short-term rental listings on Corfu as of September 2026.
About this data
All figures are from AirDNA, covering