Lefkada is a Greek island that belongs to the Ionian Islands, it is located between the island of Corfu and the island of Kefalonia. In the past Lefkada was a peninsula, today it is connected to the mainland by a road and a floating bridge. The island is known for its natural beauty, its pristine beaches, its taverns and its atmosphere of freedom. Lefkada is a very popular tourist destination, especially in the summer months. The island offers a wide variety of options for tourists, starting from pampering sandy beaches to mountain trips and hiking trails.
If you are looking for a photogenic destination that has everything + getting to the destination is simple and convenient, Lefkada is the island for you. We are sure that you will have an unforgettable experience, one that you will tell your friends about.
Lefkada, Greece - how to get to the island?
There are several ways to get to Lefkada.
The most convenient and fastest is a direct flight to Praveza, in the summer months there are many flights to Praveza. From Praveza to Lefkada it is only a 25-minute drive.
Another option is a direct flight to Ioannina and from there a two-hour drive to Lefkada. If you land in Ioannina, you can combine a trip to northern Greece.
A third option (this is the way we got to Lefkada) is to take a direct flight to Athens and from there drive 4 hours to Lefkada (don’t be alarmed by the length of the drive, the road is so beautiful that the relatively long drive becomes an integral part of the vacation. We really enjoyed it).
What to do in Lefkada?
In Lefkada, one of the greatest pleasures is visiting the beautiful beaches on the island and lounging on them from morning to evening. But you will be surprised to know that beyond the beaches, Lefkada has a lot more to offer.
Lefkada is a very green island. The island is covered in forests, mountains and beaches. Which makes it a perfect destination for hiking, cycling and the great outdoors. The island also has a beautiful waterfall that you should definitely include in your vacation schedule.
Of course, if you are looking for nightlife, bars and good cuisine, you can find all of these in Lefkada in the main city and in the various towns.
The beautiful towns of Lefkada
Lefkada has some very beautiful towns that you should get to know when you come here. Here is a list that will sort out the most magical towns on the island. From coastal towns, fishing ports to authentic and traditional villages in the mountains.
Lefkada town
This will be your first meeting point on the island, as soon as you cross with the vehicle from the mainland. The city of Lefkada is home to over 8,600 residents. Spend at least one evening on your trip to visit Lefkada Town.
Recommended hotels in the city of Lefkada –
Bohemian Boutique Hotel Lefkada – a charming boutique hotel in the city center
Solvio Boutique Hotel & Spa – a new hotel opened in an excellent location in the city with private parking
Townhouse Lefkada – Great accommodation apartments in the city, with a fully equipped kitchen.
ERIEL Boutique Apartments – wonderful and well-equipped apartments in the center of Lefkada.
Recommended restaurants and cafes in the city of Lefkada –
Mazi – a good tavern with authentic Greek food and a great atmosphere
Ristretto Espresso Bar – a cafe with good breakfasts and great coffee and desserts
Arodo – a good restaurant with fresh and delicious food, seafood and fish
Nydri
Nidri is a touristic beach town with a beach that is like a pool. Always calm water. Along the beach there are many restaurants and cafes and the atmosphere is always lively until the wee hours of the night.
Nidri is the most popular tourist resort town in Lefkada and is located 16 km south of the city, around a beautiful natural bay surrounded by greenery. Staying here is a great choice for tourists coming on vacation to the island of Lefkada, especially families. There are water sports here, a main street full of cafes, bars , tourist shops and restaurants.
Recommended cafes and restaurants in Nidri –
Maraboo Beach – a beach bar with a great atmosphere and great food on the beach in Nidri
The Barrel – a tavern with good food on Nidri’s promenade
sol y mar – a cafe with good breakfasts and decadent desserts
Recommended hotels in Nidri –
Islands View – a stunning 18-room boutique hotel located in an ideal location at the entrance to Nidri, a 5-minute walk to the sea and a 20-minute drive from the city to Pekda. The hotel rooms are renovated, spacious and pleasant, the view from the balcony is breathtaking, and the breakfast is indulgent and rich. The hotel pool is great with pleasant water at the right temperature and the whole stay gives a feeling of home thanks to Kobi and Jonathan, the lovely owners of the hotel who will do everything to make you happy.
Vasiliki
Vasiliki is also a great place to stay in Lefkada. It is a little less touristy than Nidri and around it you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in Lefkada. The big drawback in Vasiliki is that there are strong winds that disturb the peace for some people, and for others – windsurfing enthusiasts, this is the ultimate destination on the island.
Recommended hotels in Vasiliki –
Vasiliki Houses – a well-equipped and cozy holiday home
COCO SUITES – charming suites in an excellent location
Soul Beach Suites – amazing and well-equipped suites with a private beach and a pool in the complex
If you fancy a cafe with excellent desserts, go sit down at Rozalia cafe & brunch
Sivota
Sivota is a sweet fishing village with lots of cafes and restaurants by the water. It is recommended to visit here towards the afternoon and evening and enjoy a meal by the port. Sivota is a fifteen minutes drive from Vasiliki. Crowded boats along the harbor dock, fishing chains, small shops and red bougainvillea that add to the pleasant Greek atmosphere. All of these await you during your visit to Sivota.
Recommended villa in Sivota – Blooms of Sivota Bay
Sivota Bakery Cafe – an excellent cafe with amazing desserts and a great selection from the bakery.
Karya
We recommend Pueblo restaurant – a small place with a great atmosphere, good hamburgers and coffee!
A perfect place for sunset - Amente Bar
A perfect place for sunset – Amente Bar
Amente Bar is a stunningly beautiful restaurant bar, located in a mountainous spot in the center of the island of Lefkada.
It is considered one of the most sought-after places without the need to reserve a place in advance. Click here for the Amente Bar website.
What awaits you there? Spectacular sunsets, excellent music, good food (not cheap compared to the rest of the restaurants on the island), fun seating areas and above all full of romance for one unforgettable evening on the island.
The best beaches in Lefkada
Lefkada has dozens of spectacular beaches in every corner of the island. In the article I will list the top beaches that when you visit the island of Lefkada, it would be a sin not to visit them 🙂
Porto Katsiki
Porto Katsiki is the most famous beach in Lefkada. Amazing cliffs, maddening turquoise waters, the combination of these two makes the beach one of the most special in all of Greece.
The name Porto Katsiki means “port of goats” in Greek. Until 30 years ago, before the road to the destination was paved, the goats were the only animals that frequented the beach!
It is recommended to arrive early in the morning or in the afternoon to avoid tourist crowds in the hot seasons. The beach is partially organized.
You will find several sunbeds and umbrellas, and a beach bar at the entrance. You can get to the beach by car (there is a fee for parking at the entrance to the beach) and if you don’t want to do the whole trip by car, you can take a private boat or water taxi from the town of Vasiliki which is a great way to get here.
If you are interested in sleeping in the Porto Katsiki area, this is a great option with a private pool and a beautiful view – Eunoia Porto Katsiki
אם אתם מעוניינים לישון באיזור פורטו קציקי זו אפשרות נהדרת עם בריכה פרטית ונוף יפהפה – Eunoia Porto Katsiki
Egremni Beach
The beach in Egremni is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Mediterranean. The contrast of the white beach, the cliffs and the blue color of the sea is breathtaking.
The disadvantage of this beach is that it is usually very wavy and not as quiet as on the other side of the island + getting to it requires walking about half an hour down and then back – a long climb on foot to the parking lot. Great fitness!
Our recommendation is to get an impression of the beach from above, because there are so many beautiful beaches on the island, that there is no need to make such an effort (we are not always that lazy 🙂) Another option, here too, is to take a water taxi from the town of Vasiliki.
Kathisma Beach
Kathisma Bay is one of the beaches we liked the most in Lefkada. The water here is so clear that you can see anything on the sandy bottom, plus it’s insanely pleasant and not as cold as I’d expect it to be.
It is a long and sandy beach strip, with arranged seating, really fun beach bars near the beach and an excellent atmosphere. We recommend that you don’t forget snorkel goggles, so that you can go swimming in this wonderful sea.
Kathisma Beach has a stunning beach bar called Copla Lefkada. You can enjoy the complex’s pool and seating areas free of charge, and order food/drinks from the restaurant. Super recommended!! I really want to be there now 😉
Agiofili Beach
Agiofili Bay is a beautiful beach with wonderful turquoise waters.
To get to the beach you will have to pay 10 euros and then go down 5 minutes on foot. Please note that there is no cafe, bar or restaurant on the beach, so stock up in advance with drinks, sunscreen and something to snack on, so that you can spend a few hours having fun there.
You can take the most perfect picture of the beach from above, before you start going down the stairs, you will get an amazing view of the beach.
Desimi Beach
Desimi Bay is an amazing beach with clear and blue water, located at the entrance to the Geni Peninsula in the east of the island of Lefkada. The water is shallow at the entrance, which makes the beach ideal for families with small children.
Desimi Beach is not organized, and you will need to bring towels to sit comfortably on the sand. The beach has some trees that will provide you with shade for free 🙂 and you will also find some taverns and bars next to the beach. If you are camping lovers, there are two wonderful sites on Desimi Beach.
On the way to the beach or back from it, we recommend you stop for coffee and cake at a lovely location with an amazing view of the bay – Thea Cafe Bar. There is an excellent atmosphere, pleasant music, great coffee, and a winning view…
If you want to make your vacation easier and more relaxed, and reach all the recommended locations on the island by clicking on Google Maps, you are welcome to purchase our map of recommendations from Lefkada at a nominal price. Check it out 🙂
Agios Nikitas
Agios Nikitas is a sweet beach town with a gorgeous beach! Turquoise water that will hypnotize you. The sea here is quiet, calm and particularly inviting. The beach is excellent for families, the entrance to the water is smooth and comfortable. Along the beach you will find umbrellas and deck chairs for rent, but there is plenty of free space where you can lie on towels, or in one of the cafes sitting on the beach and take a dip in the water whenever you feel like it. Parking in this area is a bit complex, you will have to park in the area of the main road and walk down to the beach, as there is no vehicle access here.
Recommended hotels in Agios Nikitas –
Tellion Suites – an amazing apartment in an excellent location 70 m from the magical beach
Milos Paradise Luxury Villas – charming villas with an infinity pool and an amazing view of the sea
Ninfas del Mar – Sweet apartments with a stunning pool that serves all the guests in the complex
Nature trip in Lefkada - Dimossari Waterfalls
The waterfall in Lefkada is a must-see destination and It is highly recommended not to miss it!
A piece of peace in the heart of the island. A place where you can disconnect from everything, listen to the birds, the murmur of the water, the leaves moving in the wind and connect with nature for half an hour. Let yourself be lost in another world.
Lefkada is known for the large amounts of water it has underground, this is one of the reasons it is green and abundant with healthy plants.
The walk to the waterfall from the parking lot takes about 20 minutes, a leisurely and pleasant walk in the shade, When on your right you will see the water flowing. Don’t forget to bring a bathing suit, if you come here in the summer you will probably want to refresh yourself in the (very) cold and refreshing water of the waterfall. Entrance to the waterfall is free, and at the entrance there is a (very) cute cafe where you can have a snack at the beginning or at the end of the route or both 🙂
From Lefkada to Preveza
It is an excellent and even obvious idea to combine your vacation in Lefkada with a visit to the charming town of Preveza, which is only half an hour’s drive from the island, and if you want to go a little further, you can reach the magical coastal towns of Parga & Sivota. You can read about them in the article we prepared about – backpacking holiday in Epirus
Preveza is a beautiful town with an impressive and large harbor, along which there are dozens of cafes and restaurants. The old city, located in the inner streets, is charming and captivating. You will find beautiful narrow alleys with historic buildings, local boutique shops, taverns offering tempting local food, and trendy cafes where the locals like to hang out and probably you too 🙂
Recommended hotels in Preveza –
Dioni Boutique Hotel – a great 4-star boutique hotel
Preveza City Comfort Hotel – a simple and clean hotel, 200 meters from the port of Preveza
Sezian Boutique Homes and Villas – charming villas with jacuzzi / private pool
Alonaki Resort – a charming hotel a few minutes drive from the city, with free private parking
The Well View – a lovely apartment in the port of Preveza with a jacuzzi on the balcony and a lovely view of the port
Confused about how to plan your vacation in Lefkada in the best way? Which hotel is best for you? Do you need help planning your trip? Send us an email and we will help you choose the perfect hotel and route for your vacation! Customized, according to your personal needs 🙂
