Top Things To Do in Lefkada – The 2024 Ultimate Guide
With fond memories of our 2-week trip to this small Greek island, we have listed all the wonderful things to do in Lefkada.
Also known as Lefkas, this island is gorgeous in every way. Its beaches, the mountain scenery, the villages, and the people have made this island one of our favorite summer trips so far.
Select a couple of things to do in Lefkada from our list and we can ensure you will have the best time ever.
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Practical Travel Information for Lefkada
Location
Lefkada is one of the 7 Ionian islands. It is located along the west coast of Greece. The island is connected to the Greek mainland by a causeway, allowing for easy access by road.
The best time to visit
In late spring (May to June) or early autumn (September to October) temperatures range between 23-31°C (73-88°F) during the day. During these months it is less crowded and a great time to visit.
Temperatures reach 34°C (93°F) or higher in the summer months. For some, this might be too hot, but for others, this is the best condition for an ultimate beach holiday. However as expected, it can get pretty busy on the popular beaches.
In the winter months (November to March) temperatures can drop between to 8-14°C. There is more rainfall and heavy winds during (46-57°F). You won’t be able to enjoy the beaches to the fullest, but road trips along the coast and in the mountains are a great option, just as hiking.
Getting to Lefkada
There is no airport on the island of Lefkada. However, Aktion Airport is located in Preveza, a 30-minute drive from the island. Many European Airlines offer direct flights to Preveza Airport.
Additionally, you can easily reach Lefkada by car. A bridge connects the island with the Greek mainland. Lefkada is the only Greek island where you don’t need a ferry to reach.
Getting around Lefkada
Many rental companies in Lekfada rent out cars, ATVs, and motorbikes. Having wheels gives you the freedom to discover remote beaches and scenic small villages.
A budget-friendly option is the bus network that connects bigger towns with other parts of the island. They go more frequently in the peak season.
If you choose to go by bus, we still recommend renting transportation for day trips or boat tours so you don’t miss out on the things that make Lefkada so special.
Things to do in Lefkada
1. Find your favorite beach in Lefkada (hard to choose!)
There is no way around it. In Lefkada, you will be at a beach every single day. The island is small, so it is easy to visit many of its stunning beaches during your trip there.
West Coast Beaches
In the west, you will find stunning cliff beaches with all shades of blue and turquoise waters. The water is mostly calm however if the wind picks up and is coming from the northwest, the waves will set it in making it less ideal to swim.
So check the wind conditions before heading to one of these beaches.
East Coast Beaches
On the eastern side of Lefkada, small patches of the beach are set along the main road behind a hotel or restaurant. While the eastern beaches might not have the stunning blue water as in the west, all the beaches have crystal clear water. It is always great for swimming and ideal for little children to swim.
Additionally, many little East Coast beaches are only accessible by boat. You are allowed to rent one to go exploring for a day. No boat license is needed.
Which Lefkada beach should you visit?
The wonderful thing about the beaches in Lefkada is that they are so diverse. This makes it fun to go beach-hopping. Additionally, there is a beach for any type of beach lover.
While some beaches in Lefkada attract A LOT of people in the high season, many others remain quiet. Not because they are not as gorgeous. I think they are just not highlighted enough.
This is wonderful if you want to be on a beach and feel like you are the only one there…
So to make your choice of beaches a bit easier we have a list of the most popular beaches in Lefkada and the ones that do not attract a crowd.
Related post: Lefkada Beaches – Which One Is The Best?
The most famous and busiest beaches in Lefkada
Along the West Coast
Listed from North to South:
- Agios Nikitas beach – small beach along a cute little village near Lefkada town
- Milos beach – long stretched beach accessible by foot or boat only from the village of Agios Nikitas. No facilities.
- Kathisma Beach – lots of sunloungers, paragliding and beach activities
- Kavalikefta Beach – a stunning beach where people find a comfortable spot between the massive rocks, good parking facilities, and a small restaurant
- Egremni Beach – the most stunning cliff beach in Lefkada, it’s a long hike up and down to reach but the milky blue water is worth it.
- Porto Katsiki – the most famous cliff beach in Lefkada and easier to reach than Egremni beach. It’s one of the busiest beaches on the island.
Along the East Coast
Listed from North to South:
- Beaches at Nikiana such as Episkopis – little beaches along the main road that can fill up quickly
- Beaches at Nydri – small patches of beach behind the restaurants, beach bars, and accommodations along the main road
- Desemi Beach – at this beach, you can rent boats making it feel pretty busy, but it still has a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.
Along the South Coast
Listed from West to East:
- Vasiliki beach – nice beach along the big town of Vasiliki, known for windsurfing
- Agiofili beach – amazing cliff beach but very small so it can be crowded quickly. Head straight for the water to loose the crowd. Located near Vasiliki.
- Amoussa beach – little beach with clear water, fills up quickly because of its size
- Afteli Beach – tiny beach, at 10 am there was no spot anymore to place our towel. Fish swim near the beach shore.
- Mikros Gialos – a cute village at the beach, can get busy but beautiful water for swimming
To fully enjoy the famous beaches in Lefkada go early in the morning or prepare to walk as far as possible from the main entrance.
The less crowded or deserted beaches in Lefkada
Along the North Coast
- Agios Ioannis beach – located north of Lefkada town you can find a long beach. With strong winds these beaches are more popular for wind- and kite surfing. This is the place to have the beach all to yourself.
Along the West Coast
- Pefkoulia Beach – just 15 minutes from Lefkada town, stunning water along a long stretched beach. Walk away from the restaurants to lose the crowd.
- Avali Beach – bright blue water with a mixture of pebbles and soft white sand.
- Gaidores Beach – a rocky beach with clear water, pretty much deserted
- Megali Petra Beach – just head to Kavalikefta beach, walk towards the south passing the huge rocks and heavy crowd towards this quiet beach.
- Gialos Beach – A beautiful long-stretched beach of which one half is almost deserted and the other is popular among camper vans.
Along the South-East Coast
- Kamari Beach – head towards Desimi Beach and tackle the dirt road towards this beach. Doable with a motorcycle. Very quiet beach.
- Ellomeno beach – easier to reach by renting a little boat, but if you want some off-road adventure you can reach this deserted beach by motorcycle. One of our best Lefkada beach experiences (incl. the pain and sweat of getting there by motorbike)
- Meganisi Island – hop on a ferry from Nydri and discover the quiet beaches on this less-visited island.
Long-stretched beaches in Lefkada feel less crowded then the cliff beaches
2. Swim at Nydri Waterfalls
The Dimosari Waterfalls, mostly known as the Nydri Waterfalls is definitely something you want to go to. The drive (or hike) along the houses and lush greenery is a great start to the trip to the parking area of the waterfalls.
From there it is an easy hike along the river gorge to the waterfall. Depending on the season, it can get incredibly busy and at some moments you probably will have to stand in line to just see the waterfall. But we went early in the morning and it wasn’t that bad.
Surprisingly not many make the effort to jump in the water. We highly recommend you do this. Not only is the water refreshing and a lot of fun to swim under the waterfall and wade downstream through the huge rocks, but you will feel like you are the only one there.
Unlike the people standing on the stairs, we had all the space in the water. We never expected it to be so beautiful and it was one of the most fun things to do in Lefkada.
3. Discover Lefkada’s hidden beaches by boat rental
Nesttled between the limestone cliffs along Lefkada’s coast you will find the most beautiful secluded beaches.
The best way to reach them is by boat. And the best thing of it all is that you can rent a little boat without a boat license. You can cruise along the eastern coast at your own pace without anybody else. This is an extremely great thing to do.
Or at least, that is what we gathered when we were there…
We only discovered on our last day that renting a boat for 4 to 6 people isn’t too expensive and we would have enjoyed so much more of the east coast. So if you have the chance, book a boat in advance to enjoy this unique experience.
While we love touring around on a bike and tackling little steep hills, after doing a kayak tour at Mikros Gialos and renting a paddle boat at Desemi Beach, we realized how much fun it is to be on the water and to discover what is just behind the next cliff.
So with this lesson learned, we believe that renting a small boat will be one of the highlights of your holiday in Lefkada.
If you want to go to the open water along the West Coast and even have a peek at the other beautiful island south of Lefkada called Kefalonia then you have to go on a boat tour that is offered at many stands in Lefkada town and Vasiliki.
Which is the next on our list of things to do in Lefkada…
4. Hop on a boat tour
No matter which Greek island you go to, you will find full-day boat tours available that offer a trip to stunning beaches.
This is also the case in Lefkada. In Lefkada town, Nidri, and Vasiliki you will find plenty of kiosks where you can book a ticket for a boat trip the next day.
Stops include the best beaches of Lefkada such as Porto Katsiki and Egremni Beach. Some boat tours even head to the nearby islands such as Kefalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi, and Madouri where you can explore the little villages or the underwater world.
Double-check what type of cruise you wish to join. Some cater to party animals while others are for those who want a peaceful day on the water.
5. Head to the mountains on a day trip
While the beaches might be the main attraction of Lefkada, the mountains in the center of the islands are a must-see. Along the winding roads, you will enjoy lush vegetation, colorful flowers, incredible views, and picturesque villages.
We stayed two nights in Karya, a green village known for its fresh meat and delicious wines.
While it wasn’t bad we don’t recommend staying here if you are visiting Lefkada for a short holiday. Instead, add Karya to a day trip from Nydri to the West Coast. We loved the views from Karya to Gialos Beach.
If you drive towards Gialos Beach you will see a lot of stands along the road selling locally produced olive oil. You will see more once you head down to the beach. If you purchase a bottle make sure to pack it as check-in luggage. At Perveza Airport the security will confiscate all forms of liquid.
Another great day trip is from Lefkada town via Karya to Vasiliki. The diverse landscape on the route along the villages Egklouvi, Manasi, and Nikolis was one of our favorites.
6. Wander through Lefkada Old Town
The main town of Lefkada is located on the northern tip of the island. A lot is going on here as this is where you can easily arrange tours and rentals.
Lefkada town is also an ideal place to stay, since distances to the wonderful beaches are not that far plus there are enough restaurants to choose from at the end of the day.
We particularly loved strolling through the narrow streets of Lefkada’s Old Town. It is a pedestrian-only area with many colorful houses, shops, bars, and restaurants. Most of these streets lead you to the old town’s main square.
For stunning sunsets, a beautiful picture on the popular wooden bridge, and a nice drink at the water head to the northern part of town in the early evenings
If you are in Lefkada town for a day or more, rent a motorbike to explore Agios Ioannis beach, drive around the salt lake, and head to the Castle Agia Mavra. It is a great way to see the diverse landscapes and settings.
Related post: Is Lefkada Town Worth Visiting? Top 10 Reasons to Visit
7. Explore the towns and villages of Lefkada
Similar to the beaches, the towns and villages in Lekfada have their own charm and character. We highly suggest adding a couple of them on a day trip around the island, or better yet, arrange a cute accommodation in one of these villages.
The big villages have numerous restaurants and shops to check out while the little sleepy villages are nice to drive through. During a hot summer day, the villages are deserted but you will probably see some people sitting in the shade under one of the biggest trees.
We particularly love passing at the picturesque mountain villages set against the slopes.
Not many know that Lefkada has a thriving wine industry. Local wines are sold all through the island. If you love wine, you should include a visit to a winery on a day trip. Head to a vineyard such as Sýflogo Winery or Lefkaditi Gi Winery. Both are near to Nidri. Occasionally you will see stands along the road selling wine too.
The harbor at the fishing village Vasiliki offers a great place to admire the emerald-colored water set against the mountain cliffs. This is also the place in town for wonderful food and good shopping.
The charming fishing Sivota is considered one of the most beautiful towns on the island. It is filled with beautiful flowers and has a cute harbor with stunning water and welcoming taverns surrounded by green hills.
Agios Nikitas is a popular beach village that consists of one little main street with shops and restaurants and many little alleys with hotels. We highly suggest staying a night here to fully experience this village and its beautiful beach.
8. Enjoy Active activities
The coast of Lefkada town (north) and Vasiliki (south) are the best places for wind and kite surfing. The wind especially picks up during the morning and you will see dozens of windsurfers on the water. There are many windsurfing schools to choose from, particularly in Vasiliki.
It is also possible to go diving in Lefkada. There are a couple of diving centers located in Nikiana or Vasiliki. The dive centers will take you to the island’s seabed where you can explore the underwater caves, reefs, and wrecks. The nearby small islands Meganisi and Scorpios have great diving sites too.
Sea kayaking is also a great way to explore the limestone cliffs of Lefkada. There are a couple of tours that will take you to caves, good snorkeling spots, and secluded beaches.
At Kathisma beach you can go paragliding, the most calming way to float above the stunning turquoise water of Lefkada.
Besides water sports, mountain biking is also popular in Lefkada. If you are familiar with mountain biking then you will enjoy the ride along the single trails through olive groves and the views from the highest peaks.
If you are more into hiking, there are numerous trails in every part of Lefkada island. Hiking is in the ‘colder’ months (October to March) and in spring. Lefkada Trails has wonderful hiking routes available.
19. Go to Cape Lefkatas for Breathtaking views
On the southern tip of the Lefkada white cliffs, you will find a bright white lighthouse and the most stunning views.
Cape Lefkatas is a special place, not only because it is a bit far out but also because there are many legends and stories about it. In the past, it was a spiritual place where a shrine was built dedicated to the god Apollo.
However, the story has it that this cape was also a place where those escaped from unfulfilled love by throwing themselves off the cliff.
The lighthouse is inaccessible, but the cape is a wonderful spot to take in the cliff and ocean views. The best time is to go just before sunset. It is a half an hour drive from Vasiliki.
10. Luxury Sailing to other islands
Picture yourself sailing the blue Ionian sea along the Lefkada coast, where you can stop at the most beautiful beaches, jump into the ocean whenever you want, and might even spot dolphins.
It’s all possible..!
Sailing rental companies rent out sailboats in all sizes. If you have a sailing licence then you can go independently. But if you don’t have one, then no problem. You can still charter a boat. A skipper will join and be the captain and guide throughout your trip.
One week on a boat will take you around Lefkada and to the tip of Kefalonia. If you go two weeks you can even head to Corfu.
So far we haven’t done any trips on a sailing boat before during our travels. But we are considering it, especially after meeting a family of 4 who had rented a sailboat for a whole week. They had the best time sailing around Lefkada and couldn’t recommend it enough. After a week of sailing, they spent another week on Lefkada Island to explore it from land. We can’t imagine a more wonderful way to spend two weeks in Lefkada.
Conclusion: Best things to do in Lefkada Greece
For such a small island there are plenty of things to do in Lefkada. The magnificent beaches along the West Coast with their bright blue waters are just mesmerizing. Even on our last day, we were still blown away!
And the great thing about Lefkada is that it is still very laid-back. Yes, it can get extremely busy at the popular beaches but it is easy to leave the crowd behind.
The East Coast has a dozen smaller beaches that you can explore by boat. And if you are a skilled motorcycle driver you can even spend a whole day alone at one of the deserted beaches…
Besides the beaches, we can’t imagine a better place to go on a road trip. The roads of this small island will easily take you from one stunning spot to another while offering amazing views of the ocean and mountain at the same time.
As you can tell, we highly recommend going to Lefkada. It is a diverse island. There is so much more to do besides lying on the beach your whole holiday. Which isn’t a bad thing too! Taking it slow will make you appreciate the beauty of the island even more…
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