How to get to Lefkada

Come as you are

By car

Lefkada is the only island accessible by car, without the cost of a ferry. It is connected to the Akarnanian mainland by a floating pontoon for a constant flow of vehicle traffic, and is also a swinging bridge.The bridge is fully rotating every hour from 08:00 p.m to 22:00 a.m in order for the boats to enter. During the night, from 23:00 a.m to 07:00 p.m the bridge rotates whenever there is a ship.

Entrance to Lefkada | Floating bridge raises to allow the boat's passing

Lefkada's bridge

The Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge, as well as the Aktion tunel under the sea makes access to the island much easier. Likewise, the new road axes Igoumenitsa-Alexandroupoli, Egnatia Odos Motorway, makes the journey from Northern Greece and Thessaloniki faster and easier. The Ionian and the Amvrakia odos motorways facilitate acess to the island from the rest of Greece.

 Come to Lefkada by car | Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge | Lefkada Slow Guide

Rio-Antirrio bridge

If you are driving from Central Europe to Lefkada via Italy you have four options

option 1. Drive your car to Ancona (280 km to the north east of Rome) and then catch the ferry boat to Igoumenitsa (trip duration: 16 hours). Then you have to drive from Igoumenitsa to Lefkada (road distance: 110 km).

option 2.  Drive your car to Brindisi (Adriatic Sea coast in the Apulia region) and then catch the ferry boat to Igoumenitsa (trip duration varies from 7hrs 30min to 10hrs depending on the ferry operations). Then you have to drive from Igoumenitsa to Lefkada.

option 3. Drive your car to Bari (Adriatic Sea coast) and then catch the ferry boat to Igoumenitsa (trip duration varies from 8hrs 30min to 12hrs 30min depending on the ferry operations). Then you have to drive from Igoumenitsa to Lefkada.

option 4. Drive your car to Venice (in the north east of Italy) and then catch the ferry boat to Igoumenitsa (trip duration varies from 25hrs 30min to 28hrs 30min depending on the ferry operations).Then you have to drive from Igoumenitsa to Lefkada.

If you are driving from the Balkans to Lefkada

You have to drive to Northern Greece and then take the newly constructed Egnatia Motorway until Ioannina.  When you reach Ioannina you head to Preveza and then through the Aktio-Preveza undersea tunnel. After 20kms you will reach your destination. 
 

Toll Post

Rent a car in Lefkada 
 

*Driving Licenses

*E.U. Member-State citizens may use their own national driving license, while citizens of other countries must have an international driving license together with their own valid national driving license.

By bus

There are 3 departures daily from/to Athens (378 km) by coach (KTEL of Lefkada) and 3 weekly from/to Thessaloniki (420 km). It takes about 5 hours to arrive to the island from Athens and 4.40 hours from Thessaloniki. There are also regular itineraries from/to Igoumenitsa (115 km) which take about 2 hours to Lefkada and also two scheduled trips from/to Patra (187 km) which are 2 and a half hours away. 

Lefkada Bus Schedules

Athens Central Bus Station - Kifisos/ Tel:  +30 210 5150108

Thessaloniki Central Bus Station/ Tel: +30 2310 595412

Patras Central Bus Station/ Tel: +30 2610 623 888

Preveza Central Bus Station/ Tel: +30 26820 22213

 

By taxi/ limo/ mini-bus

All taxi vehicles are brand new and fully equipped to provide the highest safety standards and comforts. The drivers are very experienced and very helpful.

Island hopping in the Ionian

Island hopping | Lefkada | Lefkada Slow Guide

Car/bus using boat connections

From Igoumenitsa directly to Lefkada
To Kalamos/Kastos via Mytikas
From Igoumenitsa or Lefkada to Kefalonia/Zakynthos via Kyllini
From Kyllini to Ithaki via Poros (Kefalonia)
From Patra to Ithaki