Offering up some of the best beaches in Greece, as well as traditional mountain towns, charming fishing villages, hidden pebbly coves and turquoise waters, you’ll be spoilt for choice on the stunning natural beauty and no matter your travel style, you’ll be sure to find something to suit your taste.
Considered to be less touristy than many of the other Greek islands, such as Santorini, Mykonos and Crete, there are plenty of things to do on this under-the-radar island, and with fewer visitors and some of the best beaches in the country, you can enjoy the unspoilt natural beauty of Lefkada without all the pesky crowds!
Lefkada, also known as Lefkas, is a gorgeous Greek island in the Ionian Sea connected to the West coast mainland of Greece by way of a causeway - making it a fantastic island to visit by car.
Measuring 35km from north to south, and 15km from east to west, Lefkada is the fourth-largest island in the Ionian Sea. Close to Corfu, Ithaca and Kefalonia and with a connection to the mainland, Lefkada is a great island to visit and has fantastic connections via ferry to the other Ionian Islands.
Although not as well-known as its Ionian relatives of Corfu and Kefalonia, Lefkada has oodles of outstanding natural beauty, jaw-dropping beaches and traditional villages full of that world-renowned Greek charm - plenty enough to sink your teeth into.
Unfortunately, there is no airport on the island of Lefkada itself, however, the closest airport is Preveza (Aktion - PVK) airport which is located on the mainland around 20km from the centre of Lefkada.
There are daily direct departures from London during the summer months, and from Preveza airport, you can arrange a taxi or bus transfer to your hotel or resort. You can also fly from other UK airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh.
The flight time is just over 3 hours, depending on which UK airport you are flying from. In no time at all you can be poolside with a drink in hand soaking up the incredible Mediterranean sun.
You can also arrive via ferry from neighbouring islands Kefalonia and nearby Corfu which both have airports. This is a fantastic way to combine multiple islands and enjoy an island-hopping holiday in some of Greece’s most beautiful spots.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to places to stay in Lefkada. From busy coastal resorts with everything at your fingertips, to sleepy mountain villages and off-the-beaten-path spots, no matter what you are looking for there will be something to suit your holiday style.
Here are some of the best places to stay in Lefkada:
Lefkada is truly an island for everyone. Its unspoilt natural beauty is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, and the mostly mountainous landscape is a real draw for hikers and mountain bikers looking to tackle some challenging trails. The lush greenery also holds some hidden secrets such as cascading waterfalls ending in cool rock pools making for a fantastic outdoor adventure.
The sun-soaked island is home to more than 20 beautiful beaches, from the gorgeous long stretches of sand on the west coast of the island to the coves, and sheltered bays of the east. The most popular beach on the island is Porto Katsiki on the west, with a seemingly endless stretch of golden sand and dazzling turquoise waters. Surrounded by the majestic cliffs which dominate Lefkada - it truly is the star of the show.
You’ll find more than just beaches on Lefkada though. The north of the island attracts fantastic winds making it a prime spot for water sports activities such as wind and kite surfing. You can take a boat over to the small nearby islands of Meganisi and Skorpios, explore fascinating monasteries, wander around traditional Greek mountain towns and sample the delicious fresh local seafood in the many tavernas.
Whilst the island is laidback and refreshingly sleepy, you can still find plenty of places to let your hair down. Nydri and Lefkada Town are the best spots to party, with a plethora of different establishments such as wine bars, cocktail bars and clubs.
Lefkada is a diverse and wonderful island with plenty to offer to all types of travellers. From families, couples, groups of friends and even solo travellers, you name it, you’ll find it here.
Although not predominantly known for its nightlife, Lefkada still has plenty of upbeat spots that are open to the early hours of the morning. There are a variety of different options depending on the type of night you want to enjoy, from sophisticated wine bars to vibrant cocktail bars, nightclubs and beach-side tavernas.
Lefkada Town is the biggest town on the island where you can find several drinking establishments, restaurants and bars. Popular resorts Nydri and Vassiliki also offer lots of places to enjoy a sunset drink or two.
Most of the more traditional towns will have authentic local restaurants and one or two drinking spots, but much of the lifestyle here is about relaxing, getting back to nature and sinking into that laidback Greek feel - so if you are looking to party hard, then Lefkada might not be the island for you.
The majority of the beaches in Lefkada are rocky or pebbles, with soft sandy beaches being a rareity. The mountainous scenery also means some of the most picturesque beaches can be tricky to get to but if you rent a quad bike or take a boat tour round the island you'll find some beautiful places to relax, soak up the sun and read a good book whilst listening to the sounds of the water gently brushing over the stones.
You can find out all about the beaches below.
For sun-seekers and beach lovers, the best time to visit Lefkada is during the summer season - June, July and August. Maximum daily temperatures are around 32C with lows of 22C. With little rain, plenty of sunshine and perfect sea temperatures - it’s the best time for taking a dip. Although temperatures are high, this time of year is the busiest season with holiday-makers from the UK heading to warmer climes during the school holidays, making things more expensive and more likely to be booked up.
Lefkada’s location in the Mediterranean means that it has a moderate climate from April to October, and although the mid-season months of May and September might not have those scorching temperatures, you are likely to be guaranteed blue skies and enjoyably warm days.
These ‘mid-season’ months also mean fewer tourists, lower prices on accommodation and more manageable weather - especially for those who don’t cope well in the heat!
May and September are the best months to enjoy everything that the island has to offer - perfect temperatures allowing you to enjoy a multitude of activities, fewer crowds to contend with and restaurants and excursions open for the season.
