Lefkas

The island of Lefkas is the fourth largest of the Ionian Islands and lies between the islands of Corfu and Kefalonia. Although an island, it is connected to mainland Greece by a narrow causeway. Arriving Lefkas, from the mainland, is a truly memorable experience, crossing the causeway and over a floating bridge. Once you have arrived on Lefkas, a delightful holiday starts. Friendly locals, perfect beaches and interesting places to visit. Lefkas has all the ingredients for a perfect holiday location.

Lefkas is a paradise of colour and a green Greek island which is due to the large number of well kept olive groves covering the island.

 

Lefkas Holidays

Lefkas is also a popular holiday destination but has not been spoilt. Even in July or August it is still possible to find a quiet sandy beach all to yourself.  Many visitors head to the popular beaches for windsurfing and kite surfing on the North and South coast. The most remarkable west coastline, which offers amazing sandy beaches was dedicated to nymphs and goddesses by the Ancient Greeks!

Why Holiday to lefkas?
Many choose Lefkas for their holidays as it is unspoiled. During the summer months, the weather is always excellent and rain is rare. The sea remains warm until the end of the season.  All of this coupled with the friendly welcome of the locals, the many tavernas serving traditional dishes with homemade wine, and you have the perfect setting for a delightful holiday.

When to Visit Lefkas?
Holidays to Lefkas are usually from early May until mid October. The hottest (and driest) months being July and August where the temperature will often reach 35c. May and October are cooler, but you can still swim and sunbathe. The daytime temperature will be between 25-30c. June and September have temperatures around 30c. Of course it rarely rains during the summer months.

Villas, Apartments and Hotels
Accommodation is usually apartment or a Lefkas Villa Holiday, although recently some boutique hotels have been constructed along the East coast of Lefkas and in Vassiliki.

Lefkas Villas

Renting a villa on Lefkas could not be easier. There are plenty of villas to choose from and most offer a private pool or are location a short distance from the beach. The advantage of a renting a villa on Lefkas is that you usually have a private pool, terrace with sea views and of course privacy. Click here for a selection that we offer: Lefkas Villa

Lefkas History

Lefkas was separated from the Greek mainland by a ship canal. Today, a causeway and bridge links Lefkas from the mainland. After the fall of the Bizantine Empire, Lefkas was ruled by many including the Venetians, the French, the Turks and even the British - all leaving a distinct architectural impression that can still be enjoyed today. A holiday to Lefkas can be as interesting as you want to make it. The town is particularly interesting.

Lefkas Town

The capital town of Lefkas is a delight and very likely to surprise the visitor.

The initial view of the town is dominated by the great walls of the Agia Mavra fortress, and on entering Lefkas town it is apparent that it is nothing like the other Ionian island towns. This is largely due to an earthquake, in 1948, that completely destroyed the town of Lefkas. The town was re-built with limited resources and has resulted in a fascinating collection, and colourful, style of architecture. The houses have a stone ground floors and a light wooden storey above. Hammered sheet metal was used to cover the upper wooden storey and later brightly painted in a range of pastel colours - resulting in a unique visual experience that has made Lefkas so popular today.

Lefkas Island Description

Lefkas is a large and very fertile island, quite mountainous, with two peaks rising to over 1000m. It is well watered by underground streams, with fields of cotton, dense olive groves, vineyards, and woods of pine and fir. The western side is distinguished by a rugged coastline where steep cliffs plunge down to golden beaches, some quite unfrequented. On the eastern side, green hills frame fjord-like inlets that make ideal harbours for sailors. It is here that no less than 10 islets are scattered between Lefkas and the mainland. Inland, time moves slowly in the quaint old villages, in contrast to the seaside villages of the south, where keen windsurfers come for the best action in the Mediterranean.

The appeal of Lefkas lies in its variety and in the fact that mainstream tourism has so far ignored it. With the opening of Preveza airport to charter flights, Lefkas is bound to become more popular, but for the present it retains its pleasantly unspoiled atmosphere.

Lefkas has lots to offer - walking, exploring historic sites or just lazing in the sun. The highest point is over 1200m and the terrain and plants are a complete contrast to the sandy beaches below. The views are superb -one of the finest overlooks Scorpios, the island of the Onassis family, and the myriad islands lying between Lefkas and the mainland.

Beaches on Lefkas

Lefkas has some of the best beaches in Greece. (This is not just a made up statement in order to promote the island, no, this is our honest opinion having visited many of the Greek islands; the Agni team truly believes that Lefkas has the best beaches.)  Beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear waters make swimming a delight. Sunsets too should not be missed out, they are spectacular. The unique character of Lefkas is a remarkable blend of natural beauty, Ionian culture, and the unstinting hospitality of its people.

Some of our favourite beaches on Lefkas are:

Milos Beach
A little to the south of Agios Nikitas, just over the hill, about a 20min walk, is the sandy beach of Milos, one of the best stretches of beach on the entire island of Lefkas. At the top of the hill is a windmill, built in 1741 and now converted into a cafe and bar. From here, is a spectacular view over the bay. The southern end of the bay, with caves, is particularly popular with naturist bathers.  

Kathisma beach
Kathisma beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, 2 km in length and just 2km from the village of Agios Nikitas. There are beach bars, umbrellas and sunbeds for hire. The colour of the water here has to be seen to be believed.

Agios Ioannis
Just a short drive from Lefkas Town is the sandy beach of Agios Ioannis (Gianis). It stretches for miles and has immense variety, from golden sands at the western end to wild windswept sand dunes, dotted with old windmills, at the other end. This is a wonderful spot for water sports due to the steady winds that are a trademark of this part of the island of Lefkas.

Pefkoulia Beach
Pefkoulia takes its name from the pine trees (pefka) that grow down the mountainside right to the shore, providing excellent shade. The crystal clear sea is quite amazing and the beach is of very fine shingle or coarse sand, which is found on most of the beaches on this coast of Lefkas.

Agios Nikitas
Agios Nikitas is a popular holiday resort but retains its old-world charm, with stone houses built very close together - originally to minimize the effects of pirate attack - and a very hospitable atmosphere. The nearby beaches are delightful - in particular, Milos Beach, accessible from the resort on foot or by taxi-boat.

Egremnoi
Egremnoi (Ekremni or Egremni) beach is an outstanding beach of coarse sand, long and not at all crowded. In part, this is due to the fact that it can only be accessed by a dirt road full of hairpin bends from the village of Athani, and then a steep flight of about 300 steps, but there is a cantina on the beach for a reviving cool drink or a snack. If you want to avoid the steps at Egremnoi, go a little further south to the beach of Porto Katsiki.

Nikiana Beach
Just 9 km from the capital Lefkas Town, is the wonderfully picturesque fishing village of Nikiana, built at the foot of the Skaros Mountain, where the unique oak forests are to be found. Nikiana has some particularly good seaside tavernas - perfect for an evening meal by moonlight! Activities include water skiing, windsurfing, fishing and climbing.

Nidri Beach
The gently shelving beaches in and around Nidri are of pebble and shingle although sand has been added to some parts of the beach. The water is generally clear, of a beautiful turquoise colour, and without currents. There is a selection of tavernas and sun beds and umbrellas can be hired on the beach. Many water sports are available, including sailing and scuba diving. This coast, with its tranquil waters and many bays and coves, is ideal for exploring by motor boat, which can be rented.

Vassiliki Beach
Vassiliki is one of the most popular resorts on the island of Lefkas. The reason for this is to be found in its position - open to the south and subject to strong winds off the land, it has proved to be an ideal spot for windsurfing and kite surfing, and is considered by those who know these things to be the best centre for these sports in Europe.
Vassiliki is 40 km south of the town of Lefkas. The bay offers many facilities, shops, tavernas, night club, camping and of course, windsurfing. A very busy resort surrounded by green hills, that make a most attractive setting.

Poros Beach
Poros is built like an amphitheatre on the slopes of a high mountain, invisible from the sea and thus enjoying protection from the pirate raids of the past. The area is very fertile with a great variety of vegetation. Below the village are the beautiful beaches of Mikros Yialos and Rouda, with clean, almost green, waters, usually very calm as the bays are protected from the winds.

Porto Katsiki
We have left the best until last, Porto Katsiki, the most famous beach on Lefkas although also the most remote beach on Lefkas! Today it is considered to be one of the most outstanding beaches in the whole of Europe and of exceptional beauty. Its blue-green waters, sparklingly clear, and white sand and steep cliffs, make it truly spectacular and quite unique.

Meganisi

No travel guide of Lefkas could be complete without a mention of Meganisi.

Meganisi lies just of the coast of Lefkas and can be reach by a short ferry journey of just 20mins. (The ferry departs regularly from Nidri.) This tranquil island is just 20 sq.km in area and has a population of fewer than 2000 inhabitants. There are three traditional stone settlements; Vathy, the port, Spartohori, the 'capital', and Katomeri. The island is thickly covered with olive trees and grape vines, giving it a verdant appearance, and its shores are pitted with sea caves and indented by many bays.

Meganissi has a good selection of tavernas, and the network of quiet paths and a few small roads make this ideal for walks.

The most remarkable feature of Lefkas is the colour of the Ionian sea. The white soft sand creates a breathtaking  turquoise sea that has given Lefkas some of the finest beaches in Greece.

 

Look out for the unusual clock town - at the center of Lefkas Town. After the earthquake, it was rebuilt in metal and stands as an interesting monument.

It is said that some of the best sights on Lefkas are the wonderful churches, many Venetian in style. The majority of the churches were built between the 17th and 18th centuries. Most are open to visitors, but please note that you may need to be respectably dressed.

 

The names of Lefkas

The island of Lefkas is also known as Lefkada. The name of Lefkas comes from the Greek word 'leukos' (pronounced lefkos) meaning 'white', a reference to the stunning south-facing white cliffs of the island.

Architecture - Building against Earthquakes

Houses in the town of Lefkada are built according to anti-seismic specifications that are unique in Greece and Europe. Lefkada was built on unstable ground, so it was necessary to create a new style of building to avoid the disasters of the earthquakes of the past. New buildings are resilient to seismic activity!

Most of the Ionian Islands are prone to earthquakes, some more than others, but Lefkas  is particularly unstable and has suffered destructive earthquakes in the past. One of the most destructive took place in 1825, when the island was under British rule, and the rebuilding of the town took place according to British anti-earthquake specifications of the time.

The houses dating from this period have stone ground floors, with upper storeys in wood. Supports transfer the load directly to the foundations and not to the stone walls. The wooden frame was filled in with brickwork which was covered with boards, or in later years, with the more economical sheet iron. Nowadays the sheet iron is painted in a different colour for each house, and it is this that gives the town its unusual appearance.

It is interesting to note too, that the churches of the island, mostly dating from the Venetian period, are of a fairly simple, single-aisle rectangular type, which, it was believed, would withstand earthquakes more efficiently. The simple exterior often belies an opulent and extravagantly decorated interior.