Lefkada

Lefkada Town is the capital of Lefkada island, with a Venetian castle, painted timber houses and a bridge to the mainland.

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Lefkada Town is the capital and main town of Lefkada, an island in the Ionian Islands region of western Greece. It sits on the island's north and northeast side, the point closest to the mainland, facing the Aitoloakarnania coast across a narrow strait. A bridge links the town with the mainland shore, and most of its streets radiate out from that bridge. Most visitors fly into Aktio airport, which is on the mainland across the water and serves Lefkada.

The medieval Venetian castle at the town entrance was built in the early 14th century by the Venetian Orsini and takes its name from the chapel of Agia Mavra. It stands at the edge of the narrow channel and is surrounded by a moat. Derpfeld Street, the main pedestrianized street, is named after German archaeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld, who excavated on Lefkada in the early 20th century, and many of the town's 17th-century churches in the Baroque style stand along it. Because of the area's high seismic activity, almost all bell towers in town are metal, and traditional houses are timber-framed, earthquake-resistant and usually painted in bright colors.

Lefkada in five

Drive across the bridge, no ferry neededA short swing bridge links the island to the mainland and opens at set times for boats, so allow a brief wait. Preveza's airport is about 20–30 minutes from Lefkada Town by road.Preveza
Visit Porto Katsiki early and check the sea firstThe beach lies below a long staircase and a small car park, and swell can close it to swimmers. Arrive in the morning, and look at the water from the cliff before you descend.
Ask locally before you plan on EgremniEarthquakes and landslides have closed stairs and shifted sand on this cliff beach more than once. Check recent local reports, or reach it by boat from the south.
Sail from Nidri, windsurf from VasilikiNidri on the east coast has boat trips to Meganisi and the sheltered bays. Vasiliki in the south has steady afternoon wind that suits windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Choose a coast before choosing a hotelLefkada Town and Nidri are the east-coast hubs with services and boats; Agios Nikitas and the west have the best beaches and fewer restaurants. Most days involve a drive.Kefallonia

Things to do in Lefkada

See all attractions in Lefkada

a body of water with a mountain in the background

Sight · LefkadaMoni Faneromenis

Beach · LefkadaMylos beach

Beach · LefkadaEgremni Beach

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to LefkadaPut the places you like in Lefkada on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Aktion (PVK) near Preveza, about 20–30 min from Lefkada Town
Getting there: Road bridge from the mainland; ferries from Kefallonia and Ithaca in season
Getting around: Rental car; limited buses between main towns
Best base: Lefkada Town or Nidri for services; Agios Nikitas for beaches
Time needed: 4–6 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Rain, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Rain, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Spring flowers
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Easter, mild
MayClear9 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Warm, few crowds
JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Warm, sailing
JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low24°Hot, busy
AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, peak
SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Warm sea, calm
OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Mild, quieter
NovemberRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh19°Low15°Rain, closing
DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, rain

Average daily high and low in Lefkada Town, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Lefkada

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 12°
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 28 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Ionian Islands

10:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today19°15°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue18°15°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed18°14°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 15%.
Thu19°13°3%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
Fri18°11°13%Friday: Clear. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 13%.
Sat18°10°15%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 15%.
Sun15°13°15%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 15%.

Updated 08:15 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Meganisi and Skorpiosfull-day cruise from NidriSwim stops and a village lunch; Skorpios itself is private and no landing is possible.
Prevezaabout 30 min by carA mainland port with a seafront and tavernas, near the airport.Read the guide
Kefalloniaseasonal ferry from Vasiliki to Fiskardo; check operatorsReach Fiskardo and the north of Kefallonia by sea.Read the guide

Before you go to Lefkada

Rental car on LefkadaBeaches on the west coast need a carCompare car hire

Meganisi and Skorpios cruisesDay boats from NidriCompare tours

eSIM for LefkadaMaps and wind forecasts on the cliffsRead the guide

Insurance for LefkadaCover for stairs, scooters, sailingRead the guide

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Rules for Lefkada, checked

Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
Non-EU visitors are fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
The emergency number in Greece is 112 for police, ambulance and fire. Save it before you travel.

Plan around Lefkada

All of Greece

Entry rules, ferries and island planning

Read the guide Kefallonia

Larger neighbor with Myrtos and Fiskardo

Read the guide Preveza

Airport town on the mainland side

Read the guide Parga

Colorful port town on the Epirus coast

Read the guide Corfu

Ionian island with a UNESCO old town

Read the guide Getting around Greece

Cars, buses and ferries compared

Read the guide

Lefkada FAQ

Do you need a ferry to get to Lefkada?

No. A short swing bridge connects Lefkada to the mainland, so you can drive from Preveza airport or from Athens. The bridge opens for boats at set times and causes brief delays.

Where should you stay in Lefkada?

Lefkada Town or Nidri for restaurants and boats, Vasiliki for wind sports, Agios Nikitas for quiet west-coast beaches. Pick the coast first, since the west has the best beaches but fewer services.

What are the best beaches in Lefkada?

Porto Katsiki, Egremni, Kathisma and Milos are the best known, and the west coast overall has the whitest pebbles and clearest water. Check swell and access before you drive there.

Is Lefkada or Kefallonia better?

Lefkada is smaller and easier, with a bridge, big beaches and sailing. Kefallonia is larger, with caves, mountains and villages that need more driving. Pick Lefkada for a simple beach trip.

When is the best time to visit Lefkada?

May, June, September and early October give warm sea and fewer crowds than July and August. Sailing and windsurfing peak in summer, and many places close from November.