The 10 BEST Beaches In Lefkada Hand-Picked By An Expert

After spending two whole weeks in Lefkada, we can pretty much conclude that all the beaches in Lefkada are amazing. No matter which one you choose, you just can’t go wrong.

That said, we discovered that each beach has its charm and character. And if you don’t have the time to visit them all, we can imagine that you want to select those that attract you the most.

In this guide, we will start with the top 10 best Lefkada beaches followed by the many other stunning ones you can find on this Greek island.

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The BEST Lefkada Beaches (our favorites)

Lefkada Island has so many stunning beaches. We can imagine that it is difficult to choose which one you should visit.

We have created a 3-day and a 1-week itinerary that includes most of the best on the island. Perhaps this will help you plan your trip to Lefkada.

Here we have chosen the best 10 beaches of the 24 we were lucky to visit on this Ionian island. Some are the most popular while others are stunning or charming and are worth putting on your list to visit.

map with the 10 best beaches in lefkada — The 10 Best Lefkada Beaches

1. Egremni Beach

view from above of a white sanded beach with various shades of blue ocean water, cliffs are on the right — It’s one of the best beach views you can have…

Be ready to take in jaw-dropping views of Egremni Beach before jumping into the bluest water we have ever seen. This is probably one of the most famous beaches on the island. It was once listed as the most beautiful in the world.

There is a catch though….

You need to put in a lot of effort to get there.

stunning view of egremni beach — Is the beach worth the hike down?

A beautiful tarmac road takes you straight to the stairs leading to the amazing stretch of sand. Unfortunately, this road is not accessible by car due to a dispute between the locals and the local government.

The parking area is on top of the cliff and after parking your vehicle you will need to walk down the 1 km hair-pin tarmac road to the stairs with 350 steps leading to Egremni.

father and son climbing down the stairs to the egremni beach — The famous Egremni stairs

We are still surprised that most people talk about the steps. Yes, they are tough but doable, especially with the incredible view.

We thought the hike up and down the road was the worst…

But that said, Egremni Beach with its mixture of white pebbles and soft sand is amazing. We were there in the morning. After a while, it got busier but we walked further away from the stairs towards the north.

man swimming in blue water and white cliffs at egremni beach — The color of the water is amazing at Egremni

We couldn’t get enough of the water. The blue water against the sheer white cliffs is a picture you want to mesmerize forever.

It is a long-stretched beach so despite its popularity you can still find a quiet spot to lie down your towel. Try to avoid the southern part as boats arrive here to drop off people who visit this beach during a day trip.

In the morning cliffs provide shade during the climb down. In the afternoon the bright son will dazzle the white beach and blue water even more. Make sure to choose the right time of day that suits you best.

There are no facilities here so don’t make the same mistake as us by not bringing enough food with us. If you haven’t packed anything then the tiny canteen just before you descend the stairs is your last option.

Umbrella rental is available right at the beach.

🛵 easy 55 minutes ride from Lefkada Town

2. Porto Katsiki Beach

view of a huge cliff at an small strip of sand where many people have placed their umbrella. Water is beautifully blue with sail boats just off the shore — The white cliff gives this Porto Katsiki a dramatic look

The sandy Porto Katsiki beach is set along a white cliff. After the never-ending turning and twisting road, you will end up at a huge car park. You need to climb down 100 stairs to reach the spectacular beach.

Porto Katsiki was packed when we visited: cars had to park along the road, and there were a lot of people on the stairs down, and at the beach.

We couldn’t even find enough space to lay down our towels. In the end, we just piled our stuff near a huge rock and jumped into the amazing water.

people climbing up and down the stairs down to a busy cliff beach — Prepare yourself for a short climb

Similar to the nearby Egremni Beach, Porto Katsiki is often at the top of the list of beaches to visit. This makes it incredibly crowded during the high season.

Nevertheless, Porto Katsiki is definitely worth visiting. You can follow several paths that offer stunning views of the limestone cliff. So even if you are not there to jump in the wonderful water, Porto Katsiki is amazing to watch from above.

view of porto katsiki from the water where the white cliff dominates — Make sure you experience the water too!

The beach is pretty organized. There are restaurants, shops and a huge parking lot.

As you can tell, Porto Katsiki is much busier than Egremni Beach. Perhaps because it is more accessible.

🛵 easy 1 hour 15 minutes ride from Lefkada Town

There are boat trips and taxi boats from Vasilki that take you to Egremni and Porto Katsiki Beach. This might be an option for you if you want to avoid the hike.

3. Avali Beach

motro scooter driver waiting for the car to find a parking spot along a narrow road at avali beach — Parking skills are needed to find a remaining spot

Avali is one of the 4 beaches off the main road from the village Kalamitsi. When you are zigzagging downhill you will see signs pointing in the right direction.

The road will eventually become narrow, especially when you arrive to the point where cars are parked.

view of beautiful beach with white sand and bright blue water — Avali has a mix of white pebbles and sand

Surprisingly the long soft white sanded beach of Avali is not as popular and pretty quiet compared to the neighboring Kalalikefta. We don’t really understand why since we loved the white pebbles set against the amazing turquoise waters.

There is a small canteen/ snack bar just at the entrance that sells drinks and snacks. You will need to bring your sun umbrella.

🛵 easy 45-minute ride from Lefkada Town

4. Mylos Beach

view of hills and Milos beach — View of Milos beach from the boat taxi

blue water at milos beach — A great place for a whole day at the beach

Mylos/Milos Beach is pretty unique because it is inaccessible by car. You can either tackle the trail that leads you over the hill towards the beach or pay €4 a person and hop a boat/ water taxi to get there.

A 30-minute hike might seem like a no-go with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius, but the view is the best. So it is a great option for the colder months.

cliffs and blue water at milos beach — Amazing blue creamy-like water at Milos

boy swimming in the water at the cliff beach, there are more people swimming too — Good swimming conditions

The lovely long beach has small pebbled sand. When we were there the water was calm, making it perfect to be in the water the whole time.

We visited Milos just after lunch, but we could have easily spent the whole day there. If you plan to visit this beach bring enough food and drinks with you as there are no facilities here.

🛵 20min easy ride from Lefkada town to Agios Nikitas, followed by a 30-minute hike or 10 minutes boat ride

5. Agiofili Beach

boy standing at top of the stairs looking at a busy beach — First impression of the beach 😅

OK…don’t be taken off by the crowd. Remember, we were there during the peak season. So you can imagine how wonderful this white pebbled beach looks during the other months.

That said, we still enjoyed this small cliff beach with various shades of green and blue water. Once we found a place to leave our stuff, we spent the whole time in the water.

amazing turqoise water and rocks, a lot of people are enjoying the calm water — The amazing turquoise water is irresistible, even with so many people

Agiofili Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches closest to Vasiliki (just 15 minutes) making it very popular. Plus it is pretty tiny so it can get overcrowded easily.

We soon discovered that once we headed to the end of the beach we could laze away in the shallow water between the rocks and away from the crowds.

A small canteen at the parking lot offers drinks only. So bring enough food with you.

view of the busy cliff beach, the sun umbrellas are a colourful sight. The water have various colours blue, turquoise and green — The most colorful beach on the island

We suggest skipping Agiofili entirely if you prefer relaxing on the beach without feeling like sardines in a can.

🛵 55 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

6. Mikros Gialos

umbrellas and kayaks at the beach in the morning — Mikors Gialos early in the morning

We are probably a bit biased when it comes to Mikros Gialos Beach. We spent two nights at an accommodation right at the beachfront. This gave us the chance to experience this part of Lefkada in the early mornings, and late evenings before more people arrived.

Plus we did a kayak tour here, enabling us to experience more of the surroundings.

view of boy playing in the clear water — Can the water get more clear than this?

While we loved this part of the island, we wouldn’t recommend heading from Lefkada to Mikros Gialos for just a day. However, it is worth taking the never-ending twisting road down to the village if you are staying nearby such as Vasiliki or are driving past

little sandy beach with view of mikros gialos village — Secluded little bay near Mikro Gialos

The water is wonderful for swimming. We also swam to the small bay about 300m to the right of Mikros Gialos beach. It’s nice to just sit here and to enjoy the view.

Bigger kids love jumping from the rocks found at the very end of Mikros Gialos. Our son couldn’t get enough of it.

boy jumping from the cliffs — Kids will have fun at Mikros Gialos

There are many nice restaurants in the village of Mikros Gialos. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Tavern Zolithros. Its neighbor, the Molos, looked very nice too, and was packed by the end of the evening.

🛵 45 minutes easy ride from Lefkada town

7. Pefkoulia Beach

view from above the cliffs of pefkoulia beach — Take in the magnificent view before heading down

The long-stretched sandy Pefkoulia beach is the first beach you will see when driving from Lefkada town along the main road to the West Coast beaches.

There is a pretty large parking area here. From there you can walk from the restaurants to the waterfront. You can either stay here and rent a sunbed or prepare yourself for a 20-minute walk to a more quiet part.

waterfront at pefkoulia beach lekfada — Pefkoulia has stunning clear blue water

We recommend heading to the north part, where the crowd slowly fades away. If you are there in the summer months, you might want to jump in the water every now to cool down until you find your ideal spot.

We spent our whole last day at this Pefkoulia and were still blown away by how clear the water was, even after 2 weeks of touring around.

green mountain slopes a pefkoulia beach — A quiet spot with a view of the impressive mountain slopes

Despite being close to Lefkada Town, Pefkoulia is a quiet beach (even in the high season). So it’s one you want to add to your list if you are searching for a relaxing day at the beach.

🛵 15-minute easy drive from Lefkada town

8. Gialos Beach

beautiful view of Gialos beach from the road above — Admire the view before you head down to the beach

With its 4km long beach with a mix of pebbles, sand, and boulders in the water, Gialos Beach is probably the roughest-looking one. However, the water is calm and crystal clear which makes it ideal for swimming.

The best part is that parking is in abundance and there are hardly any people, which we don’t really understand why since Gialos is beautiful.

quiet beach with just a couple of umbrellas, calm water and vegetation on the hills — The quietest beach we have visited on the west coast of Lefkada

rocks are visible in the crystal clear water at gialos beach — You can see the rocks in the crystal-clear water

You can divide Gialos into two parts. Just north of the beach restaurants, it is rocky and very quiet compared to the southern part.

South of the restaurants there are more people, most of them enjoying the beach from their camper van. We saw many camper vans here and think it is a popular place to spend a night here.

motor scooter driving along the road to gialos beach with olive and pine trees — Wonderful scenic route to Gialos

The road down to the beach was one of our favorites. Once you take the turn off the main road, you will drive through the olive plantations followed by a pretty steep downhill hair-pin road to the beach.

The road conditions are great. Just make sure you stick to your side to make way for incoming traffic. If there is any at all…

🛵 55 minutes easy drive from Lefkada town

9. Ellomeno beach

woman sitting at a deserted beach overlooking the calm ocean water — Enjoying the beach all to ourselves

Theoretically, Ellomeno Beach belongs to the list of beaches only accessible by boat. There are many boat rental companies at Nidri or Desemi. However, we didn’t know that.

We saw a road….and we took it.

motor scooter driver ready to tackle a dirt road — If we knew the road conditions, we might not have gone…

Ellomeno was the most challenging ride we had experienced in Lefkada. The dirt road had a lot of rocks, so we lost our grip many times. But we kept going and were treated with a pebbled beach all to ourselves.

And it was beautiful…

deserted beach with green vegetation and clear water

nobody at the beach, just two unbrellas — One of our best experiences in Lefkada

The water was great. We had shadows from the nearby trees, snorkeling along the rocks was wonderful and we even swam to the other beaches around the corner.

If not by road, then by boat… This beach is one you should add to your list.

🛵 45 minutes ride difficult ride from Lefkada Town

While we love an adventure, it was tough getting to Ellomeno by motor scooter, and therefore recommend renting a small boat (no boat license needed) in Nidri and cruising along the east coast and visiting deserted beaches such as Ellomeno, Lakka and Angel Cave.
Unfortunately, we didn’t rent a boat when in Lefkada. We regretted it but were lucky to experience exploring the coast of Corfu independently by boat. So we highly recommend renting one if you are in Lefkada too.

10. Gaidores Beach

motor scooter on a dirt road located along the ocean front — The dirt road from Avali to Gaidores

Gaidores is located right next to Avali Beach. Once the road gets rally bad, you will know you have arrived at Gaidores Beach.

We ended up here out of curiosity, wondering how far this dirt road would take us. Eventually, we spent the whole morning enjoying this deserted beach.

woman swimming at gaidores beach, boy playing on the beach — Enjoying the amazing water at Gaidores beach

It’s a rough type of beach, with huge pebbles at the waterfront and boulders in the water. But the water was calm and clear, so we had fun swimming from one huge rock to another.

🛵 last part is a road with lots of rocks, 55 minutes ride from Lefkada Town

Quiet & Hidden Beaches

Quiet and hidden often means more effort to get there. Luckily this is not always the case in Lefkada. Some of our favorites, such as Gaidores and Gialos Beach, are deserted and are easy to reach.

But for those seeking more deserted beaches, we have listed a few more that we found during our travels in Lefkada.

11. Megali Petra Beach

megali petra beach see from above — View of Megali Petra Beach from Kavalikefta parking area

Megali Petra is directly connected to Kavalikefta Beach. While they are right next to each other, they look completely different.

Megali Petra Beach is a long stretched sandy beach. There are no rocks on the beach or in the water, making it perfect for swimming. It reminded us of Milos Beach. There are no sunbeds, restaurants, and facilities here as well.

waterfront of megali petra beach — Calm blue water, perfect for swimming

It’s a lovely beach. Somehow not many people come here. Perhaps because its neighboring beach is more popular.

We enjoyed the crystal clear water perfect for swimming and consider this beach one of our favorites.

There is a large paid parking area at Kavalikefta Beach. However many cars parked along the road towards the beach.

🛵 45 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town, the signs to Kavalikefta

12. Kamari Beach

motorbike on dirt road — The dirt road to Kamari Beach

If you really want to leave the crowd behind, this is one of those beaches. Head to Desimi beach and before entering this bay turn right and follow the dirt road. It is a bit of an off-road experience but it can be done by motorbike.

The road is narrow however we saw camper vans parked at the beach too. So it is doable if you are a confident driver.

mother and son enjoying the crystal clear water at the pebbled beach — We could sit here the whole day in the crystal clear water

We arrived in the morning and there was hardly anybody. To be honest it was a nice change coming from Nidri where it can get very crowded.

Kamari has big stone pebbles and calm crystal clear waters. From here you can see the island Meganisi. Again, bring food and drinks with you so you can enjoy this beach as long as you want.

🛵 40 minutes from Lefkada Town, difficult towards the end

13. Meganisi beaches

bay with sailboats — Sailboats stay here to explore the amazing beaches too

Meganisi has a whole list of wonderful beaches, some only accessible by boat. Like the the main island of Lefkada, they all have crystal clear waters.

The small island has sandy and pebbled beaches. But what differentiates it from the beaches in Lefkada is that at Meganisi they are surrounded by green vegetation (even in the summer months). And it is almost always deserted here. No matter what time of year you go.

deserted beach at meganisi island — Discover your deserted beach at Meganisi island

So if you truly want the unspoiled Greek experience, then grab a ferry from Nidri and head to Meganisi Island. Take the motorscooter with you so you can easily explore the narrow roads of this island.

The beaches in the small villages have restaurants, but those further away have no facilities so make sure you are prepared.

🛵 25 minutes easy ride from Lefkada to Nidri, 25 minutes by ferry to Meganisi island

Town Beaches

There are a couple of bigger towns on Lefkada that are located along the water. A bigger town provides a great choice of accommodation, restaurants, and shops. And with a beach just around the corner, you have easy access to the ocean no matter what time of day.

14. Agios Ioannis

old windmills near the agios ioannis beach — The north part of Agios Ioannis

Agios Ioannis Beach is located on the northern tip of the island, just minutes away from Lefkada town. Not many people make the effort to come here, despite being so close to the main town.

It is a stunning long-stretched beach, with soft sand and amazing blue water however it is known for its strong wind. The water can get rough here and is therefore more popular among kite- and windsurfers.

deserted beach in the south of agios ioannis beach — South part of Agios Ioannis beach

The southern part of the beach is more developed and this is the place where you can find a couple of restaurants, accommodations, and sun-loungers on the beach.

If you head towards the north, you can find parking spots along the main road between the sea lake and the beach. The more north you go, the more deserted it will become.

boy running away from a huge waves at the north of lefkada — There are huge waves when the wind picks up

When we were there during the high season there was hardly anybody at this beach. Perhaps because it was pretty windy and there were big waves. Or because there are more stunning ones just minutes away.

🛵 10 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

15. Gyra, Ammoglossa & Kastro Beach

beaches near the greek mainland — Ammoglossa beach

There are a couple of more similar beaches north of Lefkada town as Gyra, Ammoglossa, and Kastro. They are popular among the locals.

These beaches are also closer to the bridge that connects Lefkada Island with mainland Greece. The water seems much calmer here than Agios Ioannis Beach, located just around the corner.

🛵 10 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

16. Agios Nikitas Village Beach

crowded beach at agios nikitas lefkada — One of the most busiest beaches we have seen

Agios Nikitas is a cute village just a 20-minute drive from Lefkada town. The little streets are covered with tourist shops and restaurants. So you won’t go hungry here.

We can imagine that if you would have accommodation here, it would be wonderful to head to this small sandy beach in the morning before the crowd arrives.

But when we were there, we were pretty shocked. It was extremely busy. There wasn’t even a tiny spot to place our stuff.

view from the boat of agios nikitas village lefkada — Agios Nikitas Village

We were surprised that people would want to spend their day here. Luckily you can hop on a water taxi boat from Agios Nikitas to Milos, a long-stretched beach just a bay further.

During the off-season months, this beach will have fewer people. This makes Agios Nikitas a wonderful place to stay so you can fully enjoy its beach.

🛵 25 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

17. Nidri Beaches

colorful tree with pink flowers along the main road in nidri. — Walking along the main road in Nidri

Nidri is the second largest town on the islands, after Lefkada town. It is the number 1 tourist spot and there is a huge choice of restaurants and beaches.

Not all beaches are visible. Some are along a parking area on the main road, while others are at a restaurant or beach club. They are open to the public though. So all you need to do is find a parking spot and walk between the buildings.

beach with shade at nidri — One of the nicest spots, not visible from the road

There are no waves here and like everywhere in Lefkada, the water is crystal clear. The beaches have mostly pebbled stoned.

The beaches in Nidri are beautiful, but we thought they were not as spectacular as the Western coast of Lefkada.

piece of beach at an accommodation and beach club — A patch of sand next to the beach club

Nidri is known for its amazing sunsets. There are many restaurants located right at the beach. So it’s a great spot to have a tasty Greek dinner.

🛵 25 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

18. Nikiana Beaches

busy beach in nikiana — Episkopis beach is located in Nikiana

Similar to the Nidri, the beaches in Nikiana are all set along a busy main road. However, they are not obscured by buildings. So once you see a nice patch of beach, you can stop and walk straight down to the water.

Episkopis Beach is the most popular in Nikiana. So as you can imagine, it can get busy.

We also think it is one of the nicest in Nikiana and it’s easy to reach by foot from the main road.

woman swimming in clear water, the rocks in the water are visible

We drove a bit further north, parked our motorbikes in the bushes, and climbed down a narrow path down to a narrow pebbled beach.

🛵 20 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

19. Vasiliki Beach

view from the mountains to the beach in vasiliki — View of Vasiliki town and it’s beach

Vasliliki Beach is located along the village that holds the same name. The beach is reached through small roads found along the main road that runs through town.

Like at Lefkada town, Vasiliki beach is also known for its kite- and windsurfing. You will see vans with all the gear parked along the beach. It is also one of the best places to learn windsurfing. There are many schools to choose from.

boats and windsurfers at vasiliki beach — In the afternoon the water is full of windsurfers

This is the only beach we visited and didn’t go for a swim. The wind made it less attractive. Plus most parts of the beach were located straight at the car park. It’s ideal if you don’t want to walk too much, but we prefer something more secluded.

sitting at the waterfront in vasiliki — Enjoying dinner at Vasiliki harbor

In the end, we did spend two nights at Vasiliki and enjoyed the harbor. The color of the water is beautiful, just as the view of the mountains.

🛵 50 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

Other Lefkada Beaches

20. Kathisma Beach

row of sun loungers at kathisma beach — Enough sunloungers at Kathisma Beach

Kathisma is the first beach after Agios Nikitas village. It is located just off the main road and it’s for paragliding and water sports.

On the dirt road along the beach, you can find a large paid parking area and many restaurants that rent out sun loungers.

We just spent the morning at Milos Beach and were quite overwhelmed by how busy it was here. I think the contrast with Milos was too big because we decided to leave straight away.

busy beach at lefkada — Despite its large size, it can be very busy here

Perhaps we would have appreciated it more if we had been there at another time or had made the effort to walk further down the beach.

Kathisma is often listed as one of the best beaches in Lefkada. I think for its soft sand or the many facilities (including a swimming pool?!?!). Plus I couldn’t think of a better place to go paragliding and to soar along the most stunning coast of Lefkada…

🛵 30 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

21. Kavalikefta Beach

umbrellas scattered at kavalikefta beach — View of Kavalikefta Beach

Kavalikefta Beach is quite different compared to most beaches at Lefkada. Huge rocks dominate it and many people find a nice sandy spot between them.

Make sure you wear water shoes if you head to this beach.

The water has this creamy blue color that will lure you in for a swim. Wade into the water or climb up one of the many rocks and jump in.

There is organized paid parking at Kavalikefta and a small restaurant that serves snacks and drinks.

people under an umbrella between the rocks at kavalikefta beach — Kavalikefta has soft sand

In the summer season, this beach can get busy. If you want to lose the crowd, walk further away from the parking area where it will get quieter. The rocks will suddenly disappear and be replaced by a long-stretched beach.

Initially, we thought this was Kavalikefta too, but after checking the map we learned it was Megali Petra Beach.

22. Afteli Beach

view of small beach from the mountains — Drive down a hairpin road before reaching Afteli Beach

We left early to check out Afteli Beach, not expecting it to be busy. The hairpin road down is long, passing a little village and providing beautiful views of the mountain valleys.

Only when we approached this beach did we realize how tiny it is.

There was hardly any parking space so cars were already lined up along the road. There are two restaurants and a lot of sun loungers, which is quite a lot for such a small beach.

So Afteli can get full pretty quickly…

waterfront of afteli beach — Towards the end of the morning, people were sitting right at the waterfront

We were able to find a great spot under the tree. While this beach doesn’t sound that attractive, we loved snorkeling here. The fish seem to be used to swimmers because they are not afraid and tend to stick to the shore too.

The soft sand and shallow water make this a popular beach for smaller kids. You can also rent paddle boats to explore the area.

🛵 50 minutes easy drive from Lefkada Town

23. Ammoussa Beach

Unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity to visit Ammoussa beach. But towards the end of our trip an owner of a place we were staying at told us that Ammousssa was her favorite beach of all Lefkada beaches.

Well, that says a lot…

It is near Vasiliki, so it’s ideal to visit when staying there. It is a small beach so it fills up quickly. There are a lot of facilities here, including a shower and many choices in restaurants.

Ammousssa looks similar to Afteli Beach.

🛵 55 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

24. Desemi Beach

Desemi Beach is just south of Nidri Harbor and is dominated by a campsite. It is easy to reach. The long pebbled beach is very narrow so it can get difficult to find a spot.

There are a lot of activities at the waterfront. Many rental companies rent out small boats to explore the hidden beaches along the east coast. There are also many restaurants located right at the beach.

yellow paddle boat floating near a patch of sand at a tall cliff

We rented a paddle boat here to check out the nearby cave and to take a peak around the corner of the cliff. We highly recommend doing this, or if you have more time try to rent a small motorized boat for a whole day.

🛵 35 minutes easy ride from Lefkada Town

How to get to the best Lefkada beaches?

motor scooter driver enjoying the view of the ocean while heading to one of the beaches in lefkada — Well kept roads take you to the many beaches on the island

Lefkada is pretty small. For instance, Lefkada town is located in the northern part of the island. The drive from Lefkada town to Vasiliki, which is located at the southern tip of the island is just about 45 minutes.

The conditions of the main road are great, so it is easy to travel around the island.

The best way to get to the beaches in Lefkada is to rent a car, motorbike, or ATV so you can go beach hopping and explore as many amazing beaches as you want.

We ofcourse suggest renting a motorbike, especially during the summer season. It can get extremely busy which makes finding a parking place a nightmare.

parking area for cars and motorbikes — Easy parking with a motorbike

We rented motorbikes and could always park closest to the beach entrance.

If you prefer a car, then you should go for that option. In the summer months arrive early at the popular beaches so you don’t have to walk too much.

Many beaches are located near each other, so if you rent a car or motorbike you can easily visit 2 or 3 in one day

Buses run between the bigger villages during the summer months. However, these will not take you down to the gorgeous cliff beaches along the West Coast.

Another option is to sign up for the many boat trips that will take you to the most popular and secluded beaches on the island. If this is something you want to do, then check what type of boat you want. This can range from party boats to luxurious yachts.

Are the beaches in Lefkada easily accessible?

pink flowers at the harbour of nidri — Walking along the water at Nydri

The road conditions in Lefkada are very good, including the narrow hairpin roads that lead you to the beaches. So all beaches are easily accessible by road. Occasionally you will bump into a dirt road. These are often only for the secluded beaches along the east coast.

The beaches located between Nikiana and Nidri are all easily accessible as they are located along the main road running along the east coast of the island.

Many are located at a restaurant, beach club, or hotel. So they might not be that evident.

small boats along the hidden beaches in the east of lefkada — Rent a boat to explore the East of Lefkada

The beaches more south of Nidri are however only accessible via a dirt road or by boat. Luckily you are allowed to rent a small boat without a boat license. It’s the best way to explore the little hidden beaches along the East Coast of Lefkada.

When heading to the South and West Coast of the island, you will need to drive down the never-ending twisting road to reach the beach. But the road conditions are always good, so you won’t have any trouble.

We will let you know what to expect in our list of Lefkada beaches here below.

sign of a hair pin turn at a road to a beach of lefkada — Hairpin roads taking you to the stunning beaches of Lefkada

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side of Lefkada has the best beaches?

lefkada beaches with stunning blue water — Crystal-clear turquoise water at most of the beaches in Lefkada

In our opinion (together with many others 🙂), the west coast of Lefkada has the best beaches when it comes to swimming in crystal clear turquoise-colored waters and relaxing at the long-stretched beaches.

Moreover, before arriving at the beach itself, we were always mesmerized by the view from above

That said…

We loved the calm water of the secluded beaches in the South-East. At first glance, they might not be as spectacular as the Western part of the island. However, they are lovely too.

map of 11 beaches along the west coast of lefkada — Beaches along the West Coast

Which Lefkada beaches have waves?

If the wind is coming from the North-West and is stronger than 3km/h then there will be waves at the Lefkada West Coast. But overall the water is very calm, especially during the summer months.

The East Coast is known for its still waters and is ideal for small children to swim in, while the beaches North of Lefkada town and at Vasilki are the best places for wind- and kite surfing.

big waves at one of the beaches in lefkada — Big waves at Agios Ioannis beach

We experienced strong winds on our first day in Lefkada. At that time we were exploring the Agios Ioannis beach, located north of the town of Lefkada. The waves were pretty big and rough.

But during the rest of our 2 weeks holiday, all the beaches in Lefkada were calm and ideal for swimming.

So when visiting the beaches in the North and West, check the wind conditions first if you wish to swim. Otherwise, you will need to head to the east side of the island.

Are the Lefkada beaches crowded during the high season?

overcrowded beach — Agiofili Beach is crowded

Some Lefkada beaches can get crowded during the summer months only. However, this shouldn’t withhold you from visiting it. Sometimes it can be crazy busy, yet the atmosphere is very relaxing.

Luckily there are many other beaches where you will have a spot all to yourselves. It all depends on which beach you go to.

boy playing with a toy boat in the crystal clear water nearby huge rocks — Enough space at the waterfront of Agiofili beach

That said, if you do want space and have the feeling that you are the only one then you have two options:

1. Don’t go during the summer months (July, August, September) as these are the busiest months on the island. The best time to go is in May, June, the end of September, and October.

OR…

2. choose the long-stretched beaches instead of the tiny cliff beaches. Tiny cliff beaches tend to fill up quickly leaving hardly any space to place your towel.

long stretched beach with hardly anybody — Hardly anybody at Gialos beach

If the long-stretched beach is busy too, pass the crowds and walk further away from the entrance. You are very likely to find a quiet spot there.

We visited Lefkada in June and many times we had a piece of beach all to ourselves.

Does Lefkada have sandy beaches?

father and son swimming in the blue blue water at megali petra beach — A mixture of sand and tiny pebbles at Megali Petra

Lefkada does not have powdery soft sanded beaches. You know, that type of sand that makes a squeaking sound when you walk barefooted…

Instead, they have pebbled beaches. Some have small pebbles with a mixture of sand, while others have little rocks. It all depends on which beach you are at.

boy pushing would into the water, there are big pebbles at the beach and rocks in the water — Rocks, pebbles, and boulders at Gaidores Beach

There are even huge boulders in the water at some beaches. Luckily the water is clear, so you can easily see where to place your feet.

It is wise to wear water shoes when visiting the beaches in Lefkada. It just makes walking on pebbles more comfortable plus you don’t have to be afraid of bumping your toe on a bigger rock.

What to bring with you when visiting the Lefkada beaches?

Besides the usual, there are a couple of things you should bring with you to make your day at the beach in Lefkada more pleasant.

Water shoes

First of all, water shoes. The beaches in Lefkada can have soft sand, but many have pebbles and even rocks. It’s easier to walk into the crystal clear with water shoes without hurting your feet.

Sun/Beach Umbrella

While many beaches have sun loungers (some don’t), we still highly recommend getting one of the simple sun umbrellas sold at the bigger supermarkets or tourist shops on the island.

two umbrellas at the beach — Umbrellas will protect you from the strong sun

Initially, we didn’t have a sun umbrella because we didn’t think we could tie it to our motorbike. But after seeing riders drive by with an umbrella tied to the bike, we did the same.

The accommodation that we stayed at offered us umbrellas which we could borrow. So that is also an option if you don’t feel like buying one.

Food and Water

boy enjoying a snack with family at the mikros gialos beach — Snacks are sold at some of the beaches in Lefkada

Not all beaches in Lefkada have a restaurant. So make sure you bring lunch, snacks, and water with you.

After a tough off-road experience, we ended up at a deserted beach only to discover later in the day that we hadn’t brought enough food. We would have stayed the whole day if our stomachs hadn’t started to rumble.

drive through the mountains of lefkada for views of the beach — View of one of the many beaches on the west of the island

Final Thoughts Best Beaches in Lefkada

map where all the beaches mentioned in the post has been highlighted — 24 Lekfada beaches

We hope we have been able to help you find your way through the long list of Lefkada beaches. As you can tell, they are all stunning in their own way.

We mostly enjoyed the views of these beaches from the mountains above. They are always spectacular. The water was of course also incredible. The Ionian Sea is known for its unbelievably clear blue water. You won’t be disappointed at Lefkada.

family of three smiling for a picture while being in the water

As we mentioned earlier, the best way to travel is by motorbike so you can visit many different beaches easily. We often visited one in the morning, had lunch, and spent the afternoon at another beach.

If driving isn’t your thing, then you can go on a boat trip that will take you to the best beaches of Lefkada.

But most importantly…

Remember, you are on a holiday. You don’t have to check all the beaches on the list. Most importantly you take in the beauty of each beach and enjoy it to the fullest.

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