Ionian Islands · Greece
Lefkada Guide.
Lefkada is known for the huge west-coast beaches sitting below pale cliffs, but the island also has green inland roads, villages and sheltered eastern coastline. Being road-connected makes it unusually easy to add to a mainland Greece trip.
Best for
Cliff-backed beaches, road trips and intensely blue water
How long
4–7 days
Getting there
Lefkada is connected to mainland Greece by road, so no ferry is required. Preveza/Aktion is the closest airport.
Plan your stay
Use the road connection to build a proper west-coast road trip.
Lefkada's dramatic west coast is its headline, but the island works best when you allow for the drives, viewpoints and different beach conditions rather than chasing every beach in one day.
Plan the west coast by area
The famous beaches are not all next door to one another, and the roads can be slow and steep.
Keep a calmer east-coast day
The sheltered side gives you a change of pace from the bigger, wilder west-coast scenery.
Build in viewpoint stops
The island is as much about the approach and landscape as the beach itself.
Where to stay
Lefkada Town is practical for arriving by road; Nidri is useful for east-coast boat trips; west-coast stays are quieter but less central.
Getting around
Hire a car. It is the only realistic way to see the beaches and viewpoints without spending most of the trip arranging transport.
How long to stay
Four or five nights allows for the west coast, east coast and a boat day. A week is ideal for a relaxed road trip.
Good to know
Before you go
The west-coast beaches can involve steep roads and steps. Build in time for the drives rather than trying to tick off too many beaches in one day.
I’m continuing to add more of my own photographs, exact recommendations and detailed itineraries to each island guide.