Lefkada
Ionian Island Reached By Road, With White Cliff West Coast Beaches (Porto Katsiki, Egremni, Kathisma), Vasiliki'S Windsurfing Bay And Boat Trips To Meganisi · Lefkada, Ionian Islands
Lefkada is the Ionian island you can drive to: a short causeway and a floating swing bridge join it to the mainland near Preveza, so there is no ferry to book and no wind to wait out. The two coasts feel like different islands. The east faces a calm inland sea dotted with small islands, with Nidri and its boat trips to Meganisi and past Scorpios, the former Onassis island. The west is wild: white limestone cliffs dropping to long beaches of pale pebble and sand over water of an almost unreal blue, at Porto Katsiki, Egremni and Kathisma. In the south, the bay of Vasiliki is one of the best-known windsurfing spots in Europe thanks to a steady afternoon wind. Lefkada Town is low-key and local, its houses built with light upper floors to ride out earthquakes. It suits families, road-trippers, windsurfers and beach lovers. Honest caveats: the famous west-coast beaches mean steep steps and paid parking that fills by late morning, that coast turns rough on windy days, Nidri is busy and commercial in August, and the island is bigger and hillier than it looks, so allow time for the drives.
Lefkada, Ionian Islands, joined to the mainland by a causeway and floating bridge; Nidri and Vasiliki ports; Porto Katsiki and Egremni on the west coast, Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece
Lefkada is an island, not a ticketed site: beaches, villages and viewpoints are open at all hours. The floating bridge at Lefkada Town swings open for passing boats at set times, historically about once an hour for a few minutes, so expect short queues (confirm the pattern). Porto Katsiki and Egremni have paid parking in season; there are no facilities at the bottom of Egremni. The small archaeological museum in Lefkada Town keeps shorter winter hours and closes on the main public holidays - confirm. Faneromeni monastery is open in daytime with a dress code. Boat trips from Nidri and Vasiliki run roughly May to October. Book car hire and August rooms early; boat trips can be booked a day ahead.