Lefkada

An Ionian gem you can drive onto, with the cliff-backed white sand and turquoise water of Porto Katsiki and Egremni on the west coast, kitesurfing hotspot Vasiliki, and boat trips around Skorpios.

Lefkada lies in the northern Ionian Sea and is one of the few Greek islands you can drive onto directly from the mainland, via a floating bridge; Preveza Airport is about 20 km to the north. Roughly 35 km from north to south, the island divides into four areas: in the north, the capital Lefkada Town with Santa Maura Castle, the Gyra lagoon and the windmill beach of Agios Ioannis; the west coast, the island's highlight, lined with white-cliffed, turquoise-water beaches such as Agios Nikitas, Milos, Kathisma, Egremni and Porto Katsiki, with the lighthouse at Cape Lefkatas on the southern tip a famous sunset spot; in the south, Vasiliki, one of Europe's top windsurfing spots; and on the east coast, Nydri, facing small islands such as Skorpios and Meganisi, the base for island-hopping cruises and the Dimosari Waterfalls. Climate: Jun–Sep is beach season, busiest in Jul–Aug; May and October are pleasant and quieter, though some shops have closed. Getting there: in summer, international flights serve Preveza, and buses from Athens take about 5 hours; island buses are infrequent, so renting a car is strongly recommended. Allow 4–6 days, ideally splitting your stay between the north and south. Note: west-coast mountain roads are winding, and in high season you need to reach the popular beaches before 10 am to find parking; the steps down to Egremni Beach open and close depending on earthquake damage, so check before you go; the west coast gets windy with big waves in the afternoon.

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Itineraries