Famous for its spellbinding beaches yet still flying under the radar (despite being one of the few Greek islands you can access by car), Lefkada is a fantastic island to be based on. It is conveniently connected to the mainland by a causeway. Meanwhile, the airport is 25km away in Aktion. The villa itself is in Sfakiotes, in the north of the island, a peaceful and authentic local area.
Lefkada has a charming, typically Greek town centre full of narrow streets and alleyways. There's fantastic shopping in the form of cute boutiques and gift shops, and the main square has a plethora of characterful cafes and quirky bars. The town comes alive at night, when everyone gathers for delicious food and conversation, creating an infectious buzz.
With dazzling beaches on every coast, you'll be spoilt for choice when planning a beach day in Lefkada. The postcard-perfect beach used in many marketing campaigns is Porto Katsiki, a beach with soaring white cliffs topped with greenery, a delicate ribbon of white sand and a spectacular turquoise sea. Alternatively, head to relaxing Agios Nikitas beach, with beautiful water and lots of high-quality seafood restaurants because of the fishing village. Around the island, watersports are very popular, including paragliding, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Yachting is a popular pastime for locals and visitors - visit the sophisticated Lefkada Marina and watch the fancy catamarans and yachts bobbing in the harbour. Boat trips to different beaches around Lefkada and neighbouring islands like Skorpios and Meganisi can be arranged.
Visit Nydri waterfall, accessed by a short yet scenic hike through olive and citrus groves and over rocky areas. The reward is a jaw-dropping wall of water that descends into a pool where you can swim. In high season, local stalls sell honey from around this region.
For culture fans, explore the Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni, surrounded by captivating gardens and perched high atop a hill. There is a museum inside with icons, chalices and manuscripts, and even a small zoo dating back to the 17th century.
The food on Lefkada is similar to that of mainland Greece and the Mediterranean area - except many of the restaurants here have amazing sweeping mountain views. One dish to try in a traditional taverna is a tasty moussaka - layers of minced meat and tomato sauce with aubergine and creamy bechamel sauce, baked like lasagne. Another dish to try is souvlaki, which is skewered and grilled meat and sometimes with vegetables. A local speciality is a creamy and zingy tzatziki with freshly baked crusty bread.
The Region
How to reach Lefkada island
You can easily reach Lefkas by car from mainland Greece, via the bridge connecting Lefkada with Aitoloakarnania. Lefkada island does not have an airport.
