Lefkada :: The Easy-Going Ionian Paradise

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Last summer, we were lucky enough to visit once more, one of our favorite islands on the Ionion Archipelago – Lefkada. It remains one of the less touristy Greek islands although, her fans are increasing by heaps every year. Lefkada is truly a beautiful island with some of the most incredible beaches in Greece and turquoise clear waters. This mesmerizing island can win over just about anyone, bit by bit. So what do you say I take you on a visual trip to the “white” island as it goes by some?

View of Porto Katsiki, one of the best known beaches in Lefkada with the white cliffs in the background and turquoise clear waters.
Porto Katsiki. One of the best known beaches in Lefkada.

I love Lefkada because it is a very unassuming place. There’s no glam or hype. Therefore, it is perfect if you are truly looking to relax and forget about the city buzz.

Sea view of the Western coastline of Lefkada. Image by Velvet Karatzas.
Sea view of the Western coastline of Lefkada. On the far right end of the stretch, you’ll find a kite surf school.

It is perfect if you want to learn to kite surf and equally great if you want to rent a sailboat and sail about the Ionian Sea and maybe do some island hopping. (It is very easy to visit Kefallonia – another one of my favorite islands that I wrote briefly about here – and Ithaca from Lefkada). However, it is my sincere opinion that you should take the time to explore first some of the fantastic beaches of Lefkada – with Porto Katsiki being one of the best known, before going anywhere else.

Sunset from the beach of Egremni before the November 2015 earthquake.
Sunset from the beach of Egremni before the November 2015 earthquake.

Actually, I think Egremni, was by far the best beach I’ve ever been to in Greece and believe me, I’ve been all over mainland Greece and plenty of Greek islands. It is a shame that an earthquake back in November 2015, caused a landslide cutting off the access to the beach via a staircase. Still it can be accessed via a boat. Come to think of it though, this resulted in a much lesser crowd of beach visiting tourists, hence enhancing further this very much like paradise experience

View of the white cliffs of the west coastline of Lefkada. Image by Velvet Karatzas.
Lefkada or Lefkas (meaning “white” in Greek) was named after these white cliffs along her west coastline.
View of the lush greenery that extends down to a sandy beach located on the Western coast of Lefkada in Greece. Image by Velvet Karatzas.
One of the beaches that allow free-style camping. If you look more carefully you might discern the tents under the lush greenery.

Moreover, one thing that also amazes me about Lefkada is that there are still a couple of beaches that allow free-style camping… Now, that is something I haven’t ever come across anywhere in Greece and it goes to show that despite the inevitable changes, some things have remained quite unspoiled.

The first time we ever visited the island and did not know better, we stayed at a village called Liya (which was anything but exciting). My recommendation now though would be to stay either at Agios Nikitas, a lovely sea-side village on the west coast or Nydri on the east coast. They are both much more scenic with gorgeous sea views and plenty of options for dining out and having fun.

The rocky edge of Agios Nikitas beach in Lefkada Greece. Image by Velvet Karatzas.
By the edge of Agios Nikitas Beach
Sea view from a taverna's back patio with a coffee shop in front.
Sea view from a taverna’s back patio with a coffee shop in front.
A traditional outdoor taverna setup at the seaside village of Agios Nikitas in Lefkada. Image by Velvet Karatzas.
A traditional outdoor taverna setup at the seaside village of Agios Nikitas in Lefkada.
View of the the packed by people Agios Nikitas beach in Lefkada.
View to the right of Agios Nikitas Beach in Lefkada.
View of the the packed by people Agios Nikitas beach in Lefkada.
Agios Nikitas Beach
Another traditional dish: stuffed zucchini.
Another traditional dish: stuffed zucchini.
Souvenirs and hand made jewellery sold by a street vendor at the sea side village of Agios Nikitas in Lefkada.
From a street vendor at the seaside village of Agios Nikitas.
Traditional dish: stuffed tomatoes and green pepper.
Traditional dish: stuffed tomatoes and green pepper.

Getting to Lefkada is quite easy, for it is joined with the mainland by a short bridge followed by narrow stretch that leads you straight to the town of Lefkas. The town has many restaurants, tavernas, bars and ice-cream parlors – a little something for everyone. After a long day at the beach, it’s always nice to know that you can roam in the streets of this peaceful and charming town. 

The footbridge and partial view of the Lefkada town.
The footbridge and partial view of the Lefkada town.
Traditional local exterior facades of homes in Lefkas town, Greece.

Typical local traditional architecture. Many of the newer homes or the renovated ones, no longer employ this type of wall cladding that is still widely seen in some housings in the town of Lefkada.

Traditional local exterior facades of homes in Lefkas town, Greece.
More traditional facades with cladding. This type of cladding is not used in any other part of Greece, so it does strike visitors as an oddity.

The town’s flair, just like in the rest of the island, remains very laid back and casual. Everything here seems to have a much slower pace and before you know it you’ll fall in love with this new pace.

Give Lekfada a bit of time and she’ll crawl right under your skin. She is still very raw and understated, but that’s all part of her charm

Hope you all give her a chance and let me know of your impressions…

Love,

Velvet signature
A pin graphic with an image of a sunset from the Egremni beach in Lefkada, Greece. Image by Velvet Karatzas.
In case you want to come back to it…

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