A three-day stay in Lefkada

For visitors spending only a long weekend, there are three basic routes covering a good portion of the island.

Route Nydri, the islands and the surroundings explores a large part of the island’s eastern side. It runs along the coast of the generally calm straits separating Lefkada from Aitoloakarnania, among plentiful greenery, past sites of archaeological interest and villages with enticing fish tavernas. This route can be enjoyed under any weather conditions, and for a swim it offers sheltered beaches where the sea is almost never rough. The abundant vegetation reaches down to the shore, embellishing the landscape with all its shades of green and blends with the spectrum of blues of the sea.

Read more: Nydri, Lefkada: The cosmopolitan village that will astound you

Routes South-western Lefkada and Heartland of the interior traverse the island’s western side, abrupt and steeply rocky, with fantastic seascapes. Some of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean are to be found on this side of the island and the remarkable landmark Cape Lefkatas, also called Kavos tis Kyras. These routes lead to the beaches for which Lefkada is justly famous: Kathisma, Egkremnoi and Porto Katsiki. If you visit the island during the peak season, especially over a long weekend, these beaches are best visited either early in the morning or near sunset, else the crowds will be a problem. In the course of the day, you can visit Egkremnoi beach (close to Porto Katsiki), or Mylos beach at Agios Nikitas, or the beaches of Kalamitsi or Pefkoulia. Just as attractive are the beaches around the town: Kastro, Gyra, and Ai Giannis, preferred by the locals.

If you have time for one more route, we suggest route Northern interior leading to the hilly interior, where the agricultural character of the countryside remains mostly unadulterated, with villages of stone houses, where women still dress in regional costumes, and fields are still cultivated despite the hardships.