Lefkas

Lefkas, also known as Lefkada, is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea.  It is situated at the west coast of Greece and links to the Greek mainland by means of a long man-made causeway and a pontoon, or floating bridge.  The bridge floats on the water, supported by pontoons, or floating devices.

Towns in Lefkas

Lefkas consists of 14 villages.  Lefkas Town is the first village you enter when crossing the causeway and it is the administrative capital of Lefkas. It is therefore the town with the most activity throughout the year.  A holiday in Lefkas should include exploring the villages.

Most of the villages are located on the coastal parts of the islands, with a few inland villages. The coastal villages are more modernised due to tourist activity and displays as true fishing villages.

The inland villages offer different features such as nearby waterfalls and architecture that is more traditional.  Vafkiri is a village located in mountain area and features the traditional stone mansions.

Lefkas Climate

Lefkas has a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers.  The heat is broken during the day by the seasonal winds.  The location of Lefkas makes it more susceptible to windy conditions.

The winters are cool, especially in the mountain area.  Winter is also the rainfall season with a higher rainfall rate than the other islands.  This leads to lush green trees and vegetation across the island.

Holiday attractions in Lefkas

Start your holiday in Lefkas with the Seven Island Cruise.  The starting point is the harbour at Nidri.  From here, you are taken by boat to six surrounding islands.

You can spend some time on each beach and harbour and explore the villages if possible.  Information is given about each island that you visit.  The islands are Porto Katsiki, Kefalonia, Ithaka, Meganisi, the three islands of Onassis and lastly Madouri.

Porto Katsiki is an attraction in own right.  It is a remote beach and repeatedly being voted as the most beautiful beach in Greece.  There are no roads leading to the beach and the only access is via several steps through a steep and rugged cliff.  The water is crystal clear and blue and the beach is made up of pebbles.

The Papanikolis Cave is another attraction you can visit while on holiday in Lefkas.  During World War II, the Papanikolis submarine of Greece used to hide in this cave.  It is worth the visit for its historic value, but dolphins swimming and playing around the boats also usually entertain you.

Nightlife in Lefkas

Nightlife on this beautiful island is very laid back.  Most of the bars and taverns operating during daytime are used for nighttime entertainment to.  Music plays in the bars and many people dance to the sounds of the music.

The island and culture is not overly Westernised and one should not expect to find dance clubs and discos in Lefkas.

Accommodation

When on holiday in Lefkas, expect to stay in accommodation that is true to the traditional Greek culture.  Accommodation is available in all the villages, yet it is mostly the coastal villages that focus on tourist resorts and hotels.

Conclusion

The island of Lefkas is a beautiful island with breath taking scenery and has roots that run deep through ancient Greek history and two world wars.  A holiday in Lefkas will be a relaxing holiday where you can return to the beauty that nature has to offer and savour the culture of one of the most beautiful places on earth.