Things to do in Lefkada

Discover a new favourite beach every day
Ready to dive into paradise? This is where turquoise meets azure against a backdrop of white sand, white cliffs or smooth white pebbles. Vast exotic beaches, bays, cliffs that plunge into the sea and a forest of pine trees that tumble intoxicatingly towards the coast. And what a coast! Kathisma, Egremni, Milos, Pefkoulia, Myli, Ammoglossa … beaches that trip off the tongue. And the island’s number one star, Porto Katsiki. Every swim here seems unforgettable.

Set sail to the islets around Lefkada
At Nydri, row upon row of masts sway to the rhythm of the wind, always poised to cast off. Untie those ropes and set sail in the Ionian’s azure waters for delightful hideaways like Pringiponisa, Meganisi, Kalamos and Kastos.

Visit Skorpios, Onassis’ island sanctuary
Near Nydri, you’ll find Skorpios, the one-time summer refuge of legendary shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. He bought it in 1963 and decorated it with all types of trees and exotic plants. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Winston Churchill, kings, dukes, shipping magnates and, of course, Jackie O … all took part in famous parties and celebrations on Skorpios and on Onassis’ yacht, Christina, where they discovered the magic of the Ionian sea. He was buried here in 1975.

Let the wind be your inspiration at the beach
Board, boom, sail… and we’re off to windsurf in Vasiliki and Ai Gianni, two beaches loved by windsurfers and home to the International Regatta. If you prefer kitesurfing, Myli, near Lefkada town, is ideal. And if you’re even more courageous, you can paraglide at gorgeous Kathisma beach. Or soar through the sky with one of the Aeroclub’s prop planes or light aircraft.

Unearth the legend of Cape Lefkada
When you get here, the legendary energy sweeps you off your feet. At the spot where a lighthouse now stands, 60m above sea level, was the Temple of Lefkata Apollona, where sacrifices were made to the gods in ancient times.

Sacrifices to the gods were eventually replaced by the sacrifices of desperate lovers. The poet Sappho was allegedly the first to jump in 570 BC and the dramatic white cliff is named Sappho’s Leap after her. It has also been called Kavos tis Kyras (Lady’s Cape), after the love-struck girls who also threw themselves to their deaths here.

Stroll around the Venetian castle
When you enter the town, you’ll be welcomed by the castle. In 1300, the Venetian leader Giovanni Orsini received Lefkada in Greece as a dowry and began fortifying it with seven bastions on seven sides. Inside, you’ll find the church of Agia Mavra, patron saint of Lefkada, celebrated on May 3 with a huge feast day. From the castle to the northwest side of town, there is a thin strip of land, 7km long that encircles the Gyras Lagoon. The red villa Kalkani, windmills and fishermen’s homes adorn this unique wetland, along with numerous species of protected birds.

Explore the alleyways of Lefkada town
Like the playful breezes, you will whirl around the town’s alleyways, where you’re in for a whole series of surprises: in the lively squares and sidewalks, stores and churches, 17th and 18th-century architecture, impressive steeples, exquisite temples and Ionian icons. Here, you’ll be struck by the coloured sheet-metal facades of the houses’ upper floors. It’s a unique local ‘life hack’ devised to minimise earthquake damage.