Lefkada is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. Lefkada is the sleeper hit of the Ionians. Mountainous and remote in the centre, with
gorgeous vistas and forests, the island is lined on its west coast with some of the best beaches in Greece. Holiday resorts tend to cling to the east coast where 10 satellite islets dot the sea.
Lefkada is less insular than most islands; it was once attached to the nearby mainland by a narrow isthmus until occupying Corinthians breached it with a canal in the 8th century BC. A causeway now spans the 25m strait, yet Lefkada remains steadfastly island like in the best of ways. In remote villages older women sport traditional dress and the main town, Lefkada Town, has a refreshing mid-20thcentury appeal.
The island’s bustling main town has a relaxed, happy feel. It is built on a promontory at the southeastern corner of a salty lagoon where earthquakes are a constant threat. The town was devastated by one in 1948, only to be rebuilt in a distinctively quake-proof and attractive style with the upper-storey facades of some buildings in brightly painted corrugated tin. Stroll the vibrant main pedestrian thoroughfare, Dorpfeld, and lively Plateia Agiou Spyridonos or visit the handsome churches.
Lefkada’s east coast has seen heavy tourist development over the years with the main focus at Nydri, once a gorgeously placed fishing village but now a crowded strip of tourist shops without much of a beach. Escape inland, however, to another world of scattered villages and pretty walks. From Nydri itself, you can escape seaward to the islets of Madouri, Sparti, Skorpidi and Skorpios, plus Meganisi. Amblers enjoy the lovely walk to waterfalls 3km out of Nydri.
Vasiliki has a stony beach but is one of the best windsurfing venues in the Mediterranean. The enormous bay has soft breezes in the morning which are ideal for instructing beginners, and in the afternoon winds whip down flanking mountains for serious aficionados. The winding waterfront, with eucalyptus and canopy-covered eateries, is a pleasant place to relax.
Serious beach bums should head straight for Lefkada’s west coast where the sea lives up to every cliche: it’s an incredible turquoise and the beaches range from arcs of cliff and white stone to broad expanses of uninterrupted sand. The long stretches of Pefkoulia and Kathisma in the north are lovely , as are Megali Petra and Avali, south of Kalamitsi. Or find remote Egremni and breathtaking Porto Katsiki in the south. Explore! You’ll pass local stalls selling olive oil, honey and wine. Word is out about the picturesque town of Agios Nikitas, and people flock here to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of this holiday village.
