Ithaki's climate is mild, mediterranean climate, with a rainy, mild winter and a dry summer. The overage temperature year-round is between 13^o C and 18^o C, while the winter is sometimes very cold and the summer very hot. The temperature never rises above 40^o C.

On the few plains on the island, the cultivation of olive trees and grapevines produce excellent oil and wine. Few inhabitants occupy themselves with stock-breeding; they produce cheese as well as other products.

Ithaki is the subprefecture of the prefecture of Kefalonia. Ithaki's capital is the port of Vathi. The island is situated south of Lefkada and only 2 nautical miles northwest of Kefalonia. The island has a surface area of 96 square km and a population of 3,700. The island has several bays, through its 101 km-long coasts.

The flora of Ithaki includes all the typical species seen throughout the Ionian Islands. On the mountain slopes there are oak trees, cypress trees and beautiful wildflowers such as wild daisies, poppies, anemones and cyclamens. On the lower plains there are olive trees and grapevines.

Geologically, the island of Ithaki is part of the Adriatic-Ionian Zone. Its rock formations are made of limestone and mother of pearl. Molos bay and its surrounding area are quake sinking from the last geological period. Ithaki, as well as the rest of the Ionian Islands, suffers from frequent earthquakes. The strongest earthquake took place in 1953, destroying the majority of the buildings in the capital and the villages. Despite this fact, the inhabitants, determined and patient, succeeded in rebuilding their island area restoring their livelihood.

Ithaki is a mountainous island. In the north is the mountain of Niritos (806m high); in the south are the mountains of Merovigli and Nerovoulo (669m and 582m respectively). It is said that, in antiquity, the mountains were covered with oak trees. Today, there are only a few oak trees, because of fires and human interference.

The people of Ithaki are similar to the rest of the Ionian inhabitants. They are polite and hospitable, and they love literature, music and dance. They are mild and quite, and they love to work. Most of their main occupations revolve around the sea. Only a few are occupied with farming or stock-breeding. Only in recent years have the majority of Ithaki's inhabitants occupied themselves with tourism.