Dangling like a gemstone on a precious bracelet from the western edge of Greece, it is the only member of the Ionian Islands chain linked directly to the mainland by a causeway. The good news is that it hardly changes anything. You still get the same slow rhythms of life, the same untouched mountainscapes cloaked in hemlock and chestnut forests, the same pretty pebble coves, and the same blazing white beaches backed by soaring cliffs.
What the road link has done is make Lefkada a bit of a sailing mecca. A trio of harbour towns on the east coast has emerged as a hub for charters. Chief among them is bustling Lefkada Town, where you can sip gritty Greek coffees on the main boulevard before cruising out of port to explore the rest of the island or the nearby islets of Meganisi, Ithaca, and Kefalonia. The smaller port of Nydri also has plenty of berths for catamarans and large luxury yachts.
The coast of Lefkada is a tale of two sides. The eastern edge of the isle is softer, flatter, lusher. Quaint marina towns huddle behind narrow slivers of pebble, and the well-protected coves are great for snorkelling.
Over in the west is where those quintessential Ionian bays blaze into the spotlight. Most famously, Porto Katsiki is a visual symphony of chalk-white cliffs plummeting into azure seas. Just north of that is Gialos Beach, fringing the base of two imposing limestone bluffs.
In the south, Vassiliki Beach is a sandy spot popular with families. Less protected from the elements, it is also the perfect place to try your hand at windsurfing, sailing, and other exhilarating water sports.
Between the two shores, Lefkada rises into highland zones that have hardly changed for millennia. Forest reserves swirl around the tops of Mount Elati, the highest peak. They conceal the tile-topped cottages of villages like Syvros, which has its own museum dedicated to olives, and Karia, which is surrounded by wild waterfalls.
After a day of exploring beautiful Lefkada, you’ll be able to return to your luxury private villa for an R&R session beside your infinity pool or a chef-cooked Greek dinner set to 180-degree panoramas of the Ionian Sea. Bliss!
See
- The incredible cliff-backed beach at Porto Katsiki
- Pretty Lefkada Town
- The charming port town of Nydri
Experience
- Savour traditional Greek food in highland tavernas
- Try windsurfing at Vassiliki Beach
- Swim in the crystal-clear waters at the base of Nydri waterfalls
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