Lefkada is the only Greek island you can drive to — a narrow channel with a swing bridge is all that separates it from the mainland, so many visitors arrive by car rather than fly. The island takes its name from the white limestone cliffs along its west coast, and it's these that make its beaches the most photographed in the entire Ionian Sea: Porto Katsiki, Egremni and Kathisma lie beneath sheer drops, and the water below them has a shade you won't find anywhere else in Greece. The east side, by contrast, is shallow, sheltered and dotted with bays full of anchored yachts — which is why Lefkada is the region's main sailing base. The interior is mountainous, with villages shaded by plane trees and waterfalls. The season runs from June to September.
The places worth your time in Lefkada, and what to expect at each
southwest
The most photographed beach in the Ionian Sea, beneath a 100-metre white cliff, reached by 80 steps down. White pebbles and deep turquoise water create the contrast that draws visitors from across the island.
Tip: The steps down are easy; going back up in the midday heat is harder — set off early and take plenty of water.
southwest
A 1.5 km beach beneath cliffs, once reached by more than 300 steps until the 2015 earthquake buried them. Today most visitors arrive by boat, which has made it one of the island's emptiest beaches.
Tip: Land access has kept changing since the earthquake — check the current situation before setting out, or take a boat from Nydri or Vasiliki for certainty.
west
The longest west-coast beach, with white pebbles and the best facilities — bars right on the sand, sunbeds and a lifeguard. Unlike Porto Katsiki, you can drive right up to it.
Tip: The west coast is exposed to the open sea and the waves can be strong — the island's east side is safer with small children.
east
The largest resort on the east coast, with a harbour from which boats depart for the surrounding islands. Above the village is a gorge with waterfalls and pools, reached by a pleasant, shaded 30-minute walk.
Tip: Even in August the waterfall water is around 15°C — the fastest way to cool off on the island after a hot day at the beach.
north
The main town by the swing bridge, rebuilt after the 1948 earthquake in an unusual style — stone ground floors with light sheet-metal and timber upper storeys, so they wouldn't collapse in future tremors. The Venetian fortress of Agia Mavra guards its entrance.
Tip: The bridge opens on the hour to let boats through and traffic stops each time — factor this in when heading to the airport at Preveza.
west
The island's prettiest village, a former fishing settlement in a narrow valley on the west coast. Its single street leads to a small beach, and cars are banned from the village. From here you can walk or take a boat to the neighbouring Mylos beach.
Tip: Mylos beach is a 20-minute path over the hill, or a water taxi from the beach — quieter and prettier than the village's main beach.
south
A village at the southern tip with one of the best windsurfing spots in Europe. The afternoon thermal wind known as Eric blows reliably every day from June to September, drawing surfers from across Europe.
Tip: The wind picks up around 2pm — in the mornings the bay is calm and fine for swimming, even for beginners.
boat trip
A green islet opposite Nydri with 3 villages, sea caves and coves accessible only by boat. The ferry takes half an hour and it's the easiest way to escape the crowds.
Tip: The Papanikolis cave on the west coast, where a Greek submarine hid during the war, can only be visited by boat.
Cape Lefkada
southwest
The island's southernmost tip, with a 60-metre cliff and a lighthouse, where an ancient temple of Apollo once stood. Legend says the poet Sappho threw herself into the sea from here over unrequited love.
Tip: It's the best sunset spot on the whole island and lies just past Porto Katsiki — combine the two into 1 afternoon.
Photos: Porto Katsiki — Stefan Fussan (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Egremni — Dollbaby78 at English Wikipedia (Public domain) · Kathisma Beach — Alf van Beem (CC0) · Nydri and its waterfalls — Zyonig (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Lefkada Town — ERWEH (CC BY-SA 2.0 de) · Agios Nikitas — Blackberrijack (CC0) · Vasiliki and windsurfing — spheeris (CC BY 3.0) · Meganisi — Pitichinaccio (CC BY 3.0) · Cape Lefkatas — Pitichinaccio (CC BY 3.0)
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Best for: first-time visitors and boat trips
The largest resort, with a harbour, restaurants and the best range of boat trips to nearby islands. The sea here is shallow and calm, good for children. The beaches, though, are inferior to those in the west, and it can get busy in season.
Best for: atmosphere and the best beaches
The island's prettiest village, with a pedestrian zone, close to Kathisma and an hour from Porto Katsiki. Quieter and more atmospheric than Nydri. Accommodation here is smaller and pricier, and the sea can be rough due to the exposed west coast.
Best for: windsurfing and younger visitors
The southern tip, with the best windsurfing conditions in Europe and the international community that comes with it. The shortest boat connections to Kefalonia and Ithaca leave from here. For a quiet beach holiday, though, it's too windy.
Best for: accessibility and lower prices
The main town by the bridge to the mainland, with shops, a market and the best bus connections. Accommodation here is cheaper than in the resorts, and both sides of the island are within reach. The town's own beach, though, is unremarkable.
Lefkada has no airport of its own. The closest is Aktion, near Preveza, about 20 km to the north, which receives charter flights in season. The transfer takes around half an hour. Lefkada's key advantage, though, is that it's connected to the mainland by a swing bridge — the only Greek island reachable by car without a ferry, which makes it a popular choice for road trips from mainland Europe.
Aktion Preveza (PVK) · 20 km
KTEL buses run from Lefkada Town to the main resorts, but to the west-coast beaches, including Porto Katsiki, only a few times a day in season and not at all out of season. The island is mountainous, and the west-coast roads are narrow and winding, though well-maintained. Without a car or scooter you'll only see the east side, which is the less interesting one. The beaches beneath the cliffs can also be reached by excursion boat from Nydri or Vasiliki, an alternative if you'd rather not drive.
Useful apps: Moovit, Google Maps
The swimming season runs from June to September, with the sea warmest in August at 26°C. June and September are best: warm but not scorching, and the west-coast beaches aren't crowded. In July and August the island is packed, and there's nowhere to park at Porto Katsiki around midday. The Eric wind blows every afternoon from June to September, which suits surfers and takes the edge off the heat. From October to May most resorts close.
Best time
June and September
What to avoid
October to May, when the resorts close
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 14° | 14° | 16° | 19° | 24° | 28° | 31° | 31° | 27° | 23° | 19° | 16° |
| Night | 7° | 7° | 8° | 10° | 14° | 18° | 20° | 21° | 18° | 14° | 11° | 9° |
| Rainy days | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 14 |
| Sea | 16° | 15° | 15° | 17° | 20° | 23° | 25° | 26° | 25° | 22° | 20° | 18° |
Ionian cuisine with Venetian influences — meat stewed in sauces, and less grilling than in the rest of Greece. Lefkada has its own speciality, lefkaditiko salami, air-dried and seasoned with pepper. Lentils and olives are grown here, and a local wine is made from the vertzami grape. In tavernas, several dishes are ordered to share, dinner is eaten after 9pm, and mountain villages cook only with whatever is in season.
Lefkaditiko salami
An air-dried pork salami seasoned with pepper, an island speciality sold as a souvenir in every shop.
Riganada
Toasted bread with tomatoes, oregano, olive oil and feta. The simplest Ionian starter.
Sofigado
Beef stewed with quince and cinnamon, a sweet-and-sour dish typical of Lefkada.
Eglouvi lentils
Small lentils grown in a high mountain village, considered the best in Greece.
Mandolato
White nougat with almonds and honey, a traditional Ionian sweet.
Fresh fish
In the harbourside tavernas of Nydri and Vasiliki, fish is charged by weight — check the price per kilo before ordering.
Greek coffee or frappé
€3–4
Gyros in pitta
€4–5
Dinner in a taverna
€18–26 per person
Beer, 0.5 l
€4–5
Sunbed and umbrella
€10–15 for 2 sunbeds
Boat trip to the beaches
from €25
Car hire per day
from €35
Night in a 4-star hotel
€80–140
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
1 day
2 days
3 days
Meganisi and Skorpios
10 km · 30 min by boat from Nydri
A green islet with sea caves and coves, passing Skorpios, the Onassis family's private island, along the way. The most popular boat trip from Lefkada.
Kefalonia
60 km · 1 h 30 min by ferry from Vasiliki
The largest Ionian island, with the underground lake at Melissani and Myrtos beach. The ferry runs from Vasiliki in the south of Lefkada to Fiskardo. It's tight for a single day.
Ithaca
40 km · 1 h 30 min by ferry
Odysseus's home island, free of mass tourism, with the harbour of Vathy in a deep bay and the fishing village of Kioni. The ferry runs from Vasiliki or Nydri.
Yes — it's the only Greek island connected to the mainland by a floating bridge, so no ferry is needed. It's reachable by road from many parts of mainland Europe, which is why some visitors choose to drive rather than fly.
If you want to see the west-coast beaches, yes. Buses run to the resorts in the east, but to Porto Katsiki and Egremni only a few times a day in high season. Without a car you'll only see the less interesting side of the island.
The west coast — Porto Katsiki, Egremni and Kathisma, beneath white cliffs with turquoise water. They're exposed to the open sea, though, and the waves can be strong. The east side around Nydri is shallow and calm, better suited to small children.
Access by land has changed repeatedly since the 2015 earthquake that buried the original staircase. The safest way to get there is by boat from Nydri or Vasiliki. Check the current situation locally before you go.
In August the sea is 26°C, in September 25°C. Comfortable swimming runs from June to early October. In May the sea is 20°C, which most people still find chilly.
It's the afternoon thermal wind that blows reliably every day from June to September at Vasiliki on the island's south coast. It makes Vasiliki one of the best windsurfing spots in Europe. In the mornings the bay is calm.
It's a swing bridge that opens roughly on the hour to let boats through, stopping traffic each time. Factor this in when heading to the airport at Preveza — the delay can be 10–15 minutes.
3–4 days with a car if you want to see the west-coast beaches, the east-coast bays and the inland villages. The island is only 35 km long, but the mountain roads slow you down. On a week's holiday there's time for a boat trip too.
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
Check visa requirementsLanguage
Greek
Currency
EUR
Timezone
Europe/Athens
Dial Code
+30
Population
10.4M
Area
131,957 km²
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Driving Side
Right
