Lefkada is located on the west coast of the Greek Peninsula. The island is connected with a bridge to the mainland. If you have some Greek acquaintances and you ask about hidden paradise, they will probably mention Lefkada. The place, where turquoise water meets white cliffs and leave you breathless with its beauty.
How to get there:
First of all, let me tell you a secret: the more hassle you have to make to reach a place, the more beautiful it is gonna be. Lefkada is not the easiest place to get to, but the views are worth it.
The island doesn’t have an airport. The closest airport you can find is Preveza. Flying to Preveza is the most comfortable and expensive way to reach Lefkada. From the airport, you can reach this island by car, public transport or taxi in 20 minutes.
Now, let’s get into the harder ways. You can fly to the neighbor islands (Corfu, Kefalonia) or Athens.
My personal choice would be to fly to Athens. There are cheap flights from every big city in Europe. The best idea is to catch an early morning flight and take a bus on the same day to Lefkada. If you have an afternoon flight, you still have the option to get a room for the night, explore the beauty of the capital city and take a bus on the next day. This is the less stressful way because once you hop on the bus, you only need to enjoy the view. You can check for bus schedules –> here <–.
From other islands:
If you are planning to visit more Islands, your choice is to fly to Kefalonia or Corfu. Both can be pretty complicated, and it will make you some stressful moments. We flew to Corfu, spend a couple of days there. When we returned our rented car, they gave us a ride to the harbor. From there we took a 1,5-hour ferry ride to Igoumenitsa and then things got complicated. Instead of taking a bus directly to Preveza, we had one stop at Ioannina (which is not on the way by the way). We spent all day traveling from Corfu to Lefkada, but we saw some beautiful mountains on the way.
DO NOT FLY to Kefalonia under any circumstance and try to get to Lefkada. You would arrive at the airport of Kefalonia, which is in the south and Fiscardo port is in the north. This island’s infrastructure is under the basic level. Public transport does not exist, if you want to rent a car, there is no option to drop it off at the harbor. The only existing way is by taxi, so this would be the most expensive option of all at the end.
When to visit:
The peak season is from 15th of June until the end of August. To skip the crowds but have great weather, the shoulder months (May, June, September) should be your choice. April and October are slightly colder than the summer month, but you can still enjoy a great holiday and it is an ideal time for hiking. From November until March the weather is not suitable to visit this island, and you are likely to find everything closed.
Getting around:
There is public transport, but if you want to discover the island, it won’t serve you. You will have to get your vehicle to have the flexibility and reach more places. Motorbike, Quad or car rentals are available in every bigger town (best to get from Lefkada town). I highly recommend Ionian car rental. All the 3 options are ideal to explore the island, you just have to choose your preference: the car gives you the most comfort, the motorbike is the cheapest and the quad is for the adventurous ones. The traffic is not so crazy as you would imagine. After coming from Corfu, the driving here was so refreshing.
Where to stay:
There are no big distances on the island, so if you have a vehicle, it doesn’t matter where you stay. If you are not planning to hire a car, the best option to book a hotel in Lefkada or Nydri. These are the 2 main towns, where you can find restaurants, shops, and some night life.
How many days you need:
3 full days should be enough to explore the island. If you like to relax more, a week should be plenty to have some fun, chill and see everything.
What to do:
There are several beaches around the island, the best ones are Milos beach, Kathisma Beach and Porto Katsiki. To reach Milos beach, you have to hike 20minutes, and to Porto Katsiki there are around 100 stairs go get down. These places are a must-visit.
Lefkada town has a beautiful harbor, plenty of places to have lunch or dinner, shops and cafes to have some Greek pastries with a coffee.
The spectacular Nydri waterfall is a great activity for adventurers. It is a short hike to reach the top level. The water is sweet and crystal clear. People say it is very cold but we went at the beginning of June, and I had the best time swimming in it.
Things to know:
This island has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but I fell necessary to mention that those beaches don’t have sand. From above it looks like beautiful sand, but once you arrive, you only find stones. Not the most comfortable place to walk on the beach. Keep this in mind when you pack your shoes for the holiday.
Lefkada is less-known and cheaper than Kefalonia or Zakynthos. It is a good choice for anyone who is searching for hidden gems in Greece.
Everyone can speak English on different levels, so you don’t get into language barriers all the time. It is enough to learn the most important words such as Gyros (Pita) or Tzatziki (white sauce with cucumber and garlic).
Thanks for reading my blog, if you are interested in visiting the Ionian Islands, You can check my Guide to Kefalonia and the Corfu Travel Guide.
And don´t forget to Check also my Videos on Youtube with this amazing landscapes
Be ready to Explore!
Anita.-
