After my vacation in Lefkada I finally understood why some people come here every summer, as there are so many things to do and see, that a 7 days stay is definitely not enough.

Now, let’s start with the most asked questions: first one is “where should I stay?” There are many popular areas where you can find accommodation for all budgets and for all types (even all-inclusive resorts) but it depends on the following factors:

• If you have a car or scooter – remote areas are not easily accessible by public transport (see my previous post)
• If you plan to spend most of your time at the beach and don’t want to go on day trips
• If you have small children with you and you need supermarket, pharmacy and medical care in the proximity
• If you prefer a quieter area or a crowded one

The main areas used by tourists are:

• East coast – Lefkada Town – Lygia – Nikiana – Perigiali – Nydri.
  This side of the island hosts the most tourists, as they are connected with a somehow regular bus route and it is where most tour operators send their customers. There are tavernas and supermarkets and the sea is much calmer here and there are some sandy beaches as well, which makes it suitable for families with small children. From here, most precisely from Nydri port, you can take the boat tours to the surrounding islands or those that include Kefalonia and Ithaca.
• West coast – Agios Nikitas.
  Tourists that arrive here by car or rent one choose this area as it is close to the most popular beaches in Lefkada and probably in all Greece, all famous for their stunning shade of turquoise waters. To be extremely honest, I seriously thought that the pictures from Kathisma, Megali Petra, Egremni and Porto Katsiki were all photoshopped to look that blue, until I saw them myself.
• South coast – Vasiliki
  This area is more chill and usually preffed by families with children, as the seabed is sandy and being in a gulf it has shallow and calm water. It also the port where you can take the ferry to Fiskardo – Kefalonia and Frikes – Ithaka.

Of course, you can also stay more inland if you prefer nature or peace & quiet, but remember that you will rely on a car or scooter to move around. Walking 4kms to the nearest beach or supermarket is not fun at all in the scorching summer sun.

Second most asked question: “what can I do or see in Lefkada?”

Beaches

The most famous ones are on the west coast of the island and some of them are difficult to get to if you don’t have a car. Also, they are dangerous, difficult or challenging to reach by foot from the parking lot but good news is that all of them can be reached by boat, which makes things easier 😊 If you plan a romantic dinner at sunset, these are the best places. I will not focus on the beauty of these beaches, but on the important things you should know about them.

Kathisma beach – sandy and pebbled, but very crowded and expensive and parking is allowed for a fee. Also, it is a very beach, with high waves and strong currents and the seabed becomes abrupt in a couple of meters, making it unsuitable for small children or swimming can be prohibited for days

Milos beach – pebbled, can be reached by foot if you descend a hill or take a hike from Agios Nikitas. Best way to get there is by boat, there are regular departures starting from Agios Nikitas. Also prone to winds, high waves and strong currents

Megali Petra beach – probably one of the most beautiful beaches in Lefkada. It has an exotic vibe but kind of difficult to reach. The road is narrow and you will have to walk between rocks from the parking lot.

Egremni – mostly pebbled, probably one of the most famous beaches in Greece. To get there you will have to walk around 1km from the parking lot and then descend 400 stairs, which is not recommended for those that are not in a good physical condition or have health issues, as the way is not shaded. It is a very dangerous beach, due to high waves and strong currents, the latter making your way out the sea look like mission impossible. It was closed after the 2015 earthquake as it was marked as a imminent danger after a landslide. I strongly recommend to get there by boat, as it is included in the day trips from Nydri and Agios Nikitas. The boats are docked on a separate part of the beach, with no sunbeds and umbrellas. Yes, the view from above is stunning, but I preferred safety

Porto Katsiki – pebbled, you will have to descend some stairs from where you leave the car. It is inlcuded in the daily boat trips from Nydri, so I would definitely recommend that

Day trips by boat

You can book a day trip from Nydri with the following companies and itineraries:

Lakka Beach (Lefkada), Vathi (Meganisi), Kalamos, Kastos, Skorpios

7 islands cruise – Egremni, Porto Katsiki, Fiskardo (Kefalonia), Afales Beach (Ithaka), Papanikolis Cave (Meganisi), Skorpios, Madouri

Odisseia – a sail ship that will remind you of ancient Greece and take you to: Papanikolis cave, Spartochori (Meganisi) village tour, Klimaki beach (Lefkada) for lunch, Scorpios, Sparti and Madouri. Lunch and ouzo are included in the price.

Visit Lefkada town

Get lost on the narrow streets of Lefkada town, enjoy a coffee at a kafeneio, take photos on the “love bridge” and shop for souvenirs. Make sure to visit Agia Mavra Fortress too and if you are lucky, you can catch the 12:00 pm passing of the ships, when the bridge is moved. Unfortunately I cannot post any picture from Lefkada town as all of them have people’s faces in close ups and I want to respect their privacy.

Nydri

Take a short hike to Nydri waterfall. As I mentioned in my previous post it can run dry starting mid-May, but it’s worth the walk anyway. Just make sure you use sunscreen and mosquito repellent 😀 Take a walk in Nydri marina and enjoy the delicious food from the tavernas. This city is very vibrant and you can enjoy a cold beer at a pub, shop for souvenirs and local products and taste the delicious Greek cuisine.