The resort of Lefkada in Greece is recognized as one of the most picturesque and beautiful in the country. The island received its name, which means “white” in the local language, thanks to the steep white cliffs along the western coast.
The island is part of the Ionian archipelago. It is covered with dense vegetation, especially in the southern and eastern parts. Tourists are attracted here by the endless golden beaches, gradual, gentle descent into the water. In the eastern part of the sea there are small islands, the most popular are Madouri, Sparti, and also the property of the descendant of Aristotle – the islet of Skorpios.
General information
This Greek island, with an area of 325 square kilometers, is home to just under 23 thousand people.
The main feature of the resort is the dense vegetation that covers almost the entire island and several small bays. For an ideal holiday, an excellent infrastructure has been created, covering the whole of Lefkada:
- comfortable hotels with different star ratings;
- equipped beaches;
- all water activities and beach sports are provided;
- historical architectural monuments;
- convenient walking routes that will take you around all the sights and up to the hills to admire the island and the amazing sea views.
The capital of the island is the city of Lefkada, or Lefkas, a small but very picturesque and colorful settlement. The city looks like a mosaic – the houses are painted in a variety of colors. From the city there is a network of roads in all directions, along which you can travel around the island. In addition, a ferry runs from Lefkada to Kefalonia and the small island of Ithaca in Greece .
Historical excursion
The first mentions of the island of Lefkada date back to the Homeric period. Over the centuries, the island was ruled by the Venetians, Turks, French, Russians, and English. Undoubtedly, such a diversity of cultures and religions was reflected in the lifestyle and architectural appearance of the resort.
According to one legend, the poetess Sappho died on the island. The woman fell in love with the ferryman Phaona, but the young man did not share her feelings. Out of grief and despair, Phaona threw herself off a cliff into the waves of the Ionian Sea. This happened many centuries before our era, so it is impossible to verify the authenticity of the legend.
Beaches
The island of Lefkada in Greece is famous, first of all, for its beaches. Many note that the epithets in superlative form are well deserved and not at all exaggerated. Some of the resort’s beaches are included in the ratings of the best beaches in the world.
Porto Katsiki
This is one of the most visited beaches not only on the island but in all of Greece and perhaps in all of Europe. It is located on the south-eastern coast, approximately 40 km from the capital and near the small settlement of Afani.
The view here is incredibly picturesque – rocks framing the coast in a semicircle, the cleanest, soft sand and, of course, azure water. There is an amazing atmosphere of unity with nature.
The name of the beach doesn’t sound very attractive in translation – goat beach. But there is an explanation for this, the thing is that only goats could get here before. Today, the descent to the beach is equipped with a staircase that is cut into the rock.
As for the infrastructure: here you can use the necessary attributes of a beach holiday – sun loungers, umbrellas. To have a tasty and satisfying meal, just go up the stairs and go to a cafe or tavern.
The only drawback of the beach is the noise and large number of tourists, so it is unlikely that you will be able to fully enjoy a calm and quiet holiday.
You can get to the beach by car, there is a parking lot not far from the beach. There is also a regular water taxi from Nidri and Vasiliki.
Egremni
The beaches of Lefkada are undoubtedly the island’s landmark, and one of them is Egremni. It can be found in the southwestern part of the island. The beach has become popular since the end of the last century. Compared to Porto Katsiki, Egremni is more comfortable, there are more sun loungers – they stretch along the entire coast. Another advantage of the beach is its distance from the noise and bustle, the coast is in a fairly secluded place. By the way, in the photos of Lefkada you can often see Egremni beach.
This is important! In 2015, Lefkada suffered a serious earthquake, after which many tourist companies announced that the beaches of Porto Katsiki and Egremni were destroyed. However, this information is exaggerated, it is possible to get here, as before.
Katisma
The beach is approximately seven kilometers long, and visitors can expect soft, creamy sand and clean, turquoise water. The beach is located 14 km from the village of St. Nikita. The sea water here changes color depending on the weather, time of day, and depth of the bottom. Such an amazing optical effect can only be seen on Katizma.
The beach is well equipped, you can rent a sun lounger and umbrella. To eat, just go up the stairs and visit the cafe and tavern. The beach offers a variety of water sports, and there is a car park not far from the shore.
Nidri
This is not just a beach, but a beautiful town with a special atmosphere on the east coast. The settlement is located among olive groves, cypress and pine forests spread out on the hills. The distance from the beach to the capital of the island is 20 km.
Among all the beaches of Lefkada in Greece, Nydri is rightfully considered one of the best. Everything a vacationer expects from a luxurious, fabulous vacation is here – soft, fine sand, clean water, developed infrastructure. In addition, there are many comfortable hotels, restaurants and cafes. Discos and night clubs operate throughout the holiday season. Grocery stores, ATMs, banking organizations and pharmacies are available for residents.
There is a small port in Nydri, where fishing boats and private yachts are moored. It is possible to rent a boat or a motorboat for a sea trip. A ferry regularly runs from the port to the islands of Meganisi, Kefaloni and Ithaca. A regatta is held annually at the beginning of autumn.
Agios Ioannis
If you travel around the island by car and keep to the right, you will arrive at a long, beautiful beach. The surface here is mixed – white sand with small pebbles. The water is a very unusual, turquoise color.
Among the disadvantages are the complete lack of shade and a fairly strong wind. The winds blow here constantly, which is why mills have been built on the shore.
The beach is usually a gathering place for kiteboarders, there are many places where you can rent equipment for the sport. There are comfortable hotels near the shore.
There are no large and well-organized beaches along the east coast, there are small places for swimming, but you need to have everything you need with you.
Attractions and entertainment
There are many photos and descriptions of Lefkada’s attractions on the Internet, but you can only experience the unique atmosphere of the island by visiting it.
In the northeast there is a bridge connecting Lefkada and Aitolo Akapnania. Not far from the bridge you can walk along the ruins of the ancient fortress of Saint Maura, which was designed and built by representatives of the ancient Roman family Orsini. The fortress was restored twice – during the reign of the Venetian and Ottoman Empires.
Temples and monasteries
Walking among the ancient churches and temples, you can feel the incredible energy that hovers in the rooms of amazing beauty and architecture. Be sure to visit the churches of Agios Dimitrios, Agios Panktokratoros and Agios Minas. Fortunately, they were almost not damaged by the strong earthquake in 1953. Not far from the church of Agios Panktokratoros is the oldest cemetery, where the poet Aristotelis Valaoritis is buried. The exterior design of the temples is in the Baroque style, and the interior walls are decorated with skillful frescoes.
Not far from the city of Lefkada, there is a mountain on top of which the Faneromeni monastery is built. In addition to walking around the beautiful territory of the landmark, you can visit the museum of religious art with a collection of manuscripts, paintings, etc.
The mountain also offers amazing views of the green hilly island of Lefkada and the azure waters of the Ionian Sea.
Museums and Galleries
After visiting the temples, visit the museums:
- Ethnographic;
- Phonographs.
Art lovers will be hospitably welcomed by the art gallery, which presents the best works of post-Byzantine masters. After such a rich program, you will certainly want to relax and bask on the beach.
Another popular route among travelers is to head towards Nydri and turn off towards Karia on the way. This is a beautiful village located in the mountains. The brightness and splendor of the greenery is literally blinding, it seems that such juicy and amazing plants simply do not exist. Residents of the village still honor ancient traditions that have survived to this day. Here you can admire the unique Lefkada embroidery and even buy a piece of fabric. This will be a wonderful souvenir and gift to a loved one.
Not far from Caria there is a settlement called Enkluvi, where guests are offered amazing lentil dishes. It turns out that real culinary masterpieces can be prepared from this simple and unprepossessing product.
Excursions
Considering the number of attractions on the island, its rich historical and cultural heritage, many excursions are held here. However, you can walk around Lefkada on your own. Just go along the road to Nydri. Walk a few kilometers, and on the way you will come across a small settlement Kalligoni. According to one legend, this is where ancient Lefkada was born.
Settlements of Lefkada
Walking through the ruins of the ancient city, you will enjoy the half-ruined walls and the extraordinary ruins of the ancient theater.
The village of Ligia is the next stop. It is a small village on the seashore, there is a beautiful beach with soft sand.
Once you reach Nydri, you will be able to visit many shops and buy various souvenirs and art objects made by local artisans.
Neighboring islands and natural attractions
Luxury holiday lovers can take a cruise and visit the most picturesque islands surrounding Lefkada – Valaoritis, Sparta, Skorpios. The main attraction of the Agia Kiriaki peninsula is the Dörpfeld House. It is located on the top, from where an unforgettable view of Lefkada opens up.
It is impossible to take your eyes off the beautiful waterfall located near the village of Rahi.
Any excursion can be conducted by a professional, local guide, it is only necessary to discuss the details of the trip.
The largest of the islets surrounding Lefkada is Meganisi. There are several villages on the island – Spartochori, Vati and Katomeri. If possible, go to the sea cave Papanikolis. During the Second World War, a submarine was hidden here.
The island of Kalamos is a favorite vacation spot for people who prefer beaches, clean sea water and picturesque landscapes.
If you want to feel completely cut off from civilization during your vacation, take part in a cruise to the uninhabited islands of Arkouli, Atokos, Patalas, Draconera and Oxia.
Weather and climate of Lefkada
The island has a Mediterranean climate. It has hot summers and humid, mild winters. The hottest months are July and August. At this time, the air temperature warms up to +32 °C. The humidity level is high in summer.
In the second half of September and early October, the resort experiences the velvet season. Its main advantage is the small number of vacationers and comfortable air and water temperatures — +24…+27°C and +23…+25°C, respectively.
Travelers also come to Lefkada in April and May. In spring, the island blossoms and enchants with its abundance of vegetation and rich colors. Of course, it is too early to swim at this time, since the water warms up to only +16…+19 °C.
How to get there
When considering how to get to Lefkada in Greece, note that the island can be reached from any point on the mainland. You can get there by car or by public transport – bus or ferry.
By bus
From the capital of Greece, Athens, bus routes operate 2-5 times a day. Travel time is 5.5 hours. Ticket price is 34 euros.
The bus departure point can be found at: Athens Kifisou 100.
The schedule changes depending on the time of year and the influx of tourists. The current schedule and prices for travel from different cities in Greece can be found on the official website of the carrier Ktel lefkadas – www.ktel-lefkadas.gr (you can also buy tickets online).
On the ferry
There are ferry routes from Ithaca and Kefalonia. In 2015, an earthquake caused the island to shift about 35 cm towards Kefalonia , so the ferry time has been reduced.
By plane to the nearest airport on the mainland
25 km from the main town of the island of Lefkada is the Aktion airport, which receives domestic (from Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu and Crete) and international flights.
The resort island of Lefkada (Greece) is a dream of many tourists. Visit this unique place, imbued with the spirit and color of Greece.
