Lefkada Tourism Information Ionian Islands, Greece .
Lefkada is one of the seven Ionian Islands on the west coast of Greece. It is a mountainous island with lots of green and is connected to mainland with a small draw bridge which offers easy access to the island. The city of Lefkada is the capital city situated on the north of the island. The island’s name means white and is taken from the white cliffs on the south part which are very characteristic for Lefkada. The island of Lefkada and the smaller islands of Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos, Skorpios, Madouri and Sparti form the Prefecture of Lefkada with a population of about 23,000. The island’s climate is typical Mediterranean with mild winters and hot summers.
Lefkada Map
Lefkada weather online
Island’s Topography
On the east coast going from north to south is the town of Lefkada, the resorts of Nikiana, Perigiali and the bigger resort of Nydri with many hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and a port. At the south of the Nydri, Vasiliki Bay (20klm from Nidri) is situated. It is a paradise for tourists who seek the perfect sailing conditions and a very well equipped windsurfing center.
Past the Cape Lefkada begins the west coast of the island with Porto Katsiki beach one of the most famous beaches all over the world. It is the characteristic white cliff leaning over the beach and the sea with the crystal-clean cyan water, combined with the green of the area that makes it so famous. There are cruise boats from Vasiliki and Nidri to Porto Katsiki. Going north is the beach of Ekremni, also one of the best beaches in the world. The access to the beach is difficult, going down the cliff using a few hundred steps, but the beach is so beautiful and the water crystal-clear that is all worth while. Egremni is preferred from those who don’t like the crowds because the beach is so long and there is space for everybody. Further north is Kathisma beach. It’s a long sandy beach with cyan waters, very popular because of the easy access. It’s very organized with many restaurants, bars, parking spaces, hotels and all sorts of beach activities. North of Kathisma beach is Agios Nikitas, a very picturesque village with a little pebble beach. Agios Nikitas has many restaurants, bars, hotels and the beach serves as a port with water taxis offering tours to other beaches.
Myths and legends
There are many myths and legends around the island. One of them is that the Greek female poet Sappho jumped to her death from the high hills of Cape Lefkada because a sailor denied her love. Another myth is that Lefkada is Homer’s Ithaka and Odysseus’s (the hero of Homer’s Oddysey) palace was located near Nydri. Legent has it that Lefkada was attached to mainland Greece and its first inhabitants dug a canal and transform it to an island.
History
Many nations occupied the island consequently and there were many attacks by pirates. After the Frankish rule the island changed hands between the Turks and the Venetians several times in the years of 1479 until the end of the 18th century when the Napoleon armies invaded. It was the Russians who followed until 1810 when it was taken by the Englishmen. Their domination lasted until 1864. Since then Lefkada and the rest of the Ionian Islands are under the Greek Free State.
Many notable people were born in Lefkada. The most known abroad is Angelos Sikelianos(1884-1951) a playwriter and poet who was nominated for the Nobel price of literature, Aristotelis Valaoritis (1824-1879) a poet and politician, Agni Baltsa an international Opera singer and many others.
Nearby Islands
Meganisi is located on the southeast of Lefkada with a population of about 1,100. The island has three villages (Katomeri, Vathi and Spartochori) and a harbour used mainly by fishermen. A car ferry service connects Lefkada with Vathi and Spartochori.
Kalamos is a mountainous island and a community in the prefecture of Lefkada with a population of about 600. On the eastern side is the port of Kalamos where people who sail the Ionian Sea moor their boats for a visit to the island. A regular car ferry service connects Kalamos to Mytikas on mainland of Aitoloakarnania. On the island there is another village called Episkopi where its few houses are used as summer residences.
Kastos is a community in the prefecture of Lefkada with a population of 120. Until the mid 1970’s it belonged in the prefecture of Kefalonia. A deep channel runs between Kastos and its nearest island of Kalamos. During the summer people with yachts and boats fill the island to pass a few peaceful days.
Skorpios is a private island located to the east of the island of Lefkada with a population of two inhabitants. The island is heavily forested with trees that Onassis brought from all around the world. Skorpios was bought by Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis in 1963 for his summer vacation and during the 60’s tourists and the international press gathered on the island to be close to him and the International jet-set. It was the place where in 1968 he married the former first lady Jackie Kennedy, and the place where he spend many days with his lover Maria Callas. Onassis, his son Alexander, and his daughter Cristina are all buried to Skorpio’s cemetery. Today the island has passed to Cristina’s daughter Athina Oassis De Miranda.
Accessibility
The city of Lefkada is 30 minutes away from Aktio’s International Airport. The distance from Athens is 378 kilometers, and Patras is about three hours away.
From the town of Lefkada there are regular car ferries to Kefalonia, Ithaki and Meganisi. Also from Vasiliki situated at the south of the island there are car ferries to Kefalonia and Ithaki.
Greece