On someone’s first trip to Greece, they’ll most likely go to the Cyclades. Not only are they the most popular islands, they are also pretty close to Athens, which make them perfect to go after exploring the historical wonders of Athens. Well, turns out there’s other islands! But, though people do go to the Ionian Islands, they aren’t as visited. They are on the side of Greece closer to Italy, and are just wonderful. Here’s some pictures:
Zakynthos
Telegraph TravelCorfu
Tui.co.ukKefalonia
You can see that these islands are as nice, or even nicer than the Cyclades Islands. I would recommend, like the Peloponnese to go here on a separate trip than you go to the Cyclades. The Ionian Islands are really cool, since the main port to them is Patras, in the Peloponnese, so you can see Athens, explore the Peloponnese, and come to the Ionian: all in one trip.
Voyage the World 