Lefkada, a small island in Greece within the Ionian Sea may not be well known to the masses, but its beaches are hard to beat! In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that they are some of the most beautiful beaches in all of the Mediterranean.
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After spending a week in Lefkada on one of our many trips to Greece and experiencing the finest beaches firsthand, we can attest that Lefkada beaches should not be missed!
There is no shortage of beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear waters on Lefkada island, but when it comes to the best the island has to offer, we found these Lefkada beaches to be the best.
But before we get into the list, let us address some FAQs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any sandy beaches in Lefkada?
Yes, there are several sandy beaches in Lefkada. Some of the most popular sandy beaches in Lefkada include:
- Porto Katsiki Beach: One of the most famous beaches in Lefkada, with crystal-clear turquoise waters and white sand.
- Egremni Beach: A long and wide sandy beach with stunning blue waters, surrounded by steep cliffs.
- Kathisma Beach: A beautiful, organized beach with golden sand and clear waters, popular among windsurfers.
- Agios Nikitas Beach: A small sandy beach with shallow waters, ideal for families with children.
- Milos Beach: A secluded, stunning beach accessible only by boat, with white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Which part of Lefkada has the best beaches?
The southwest coast of Lefkada is where you’ll find some of the most famous beaches, including Porto Katsiki, Egremni, and Gialos. These beaches are known for their crystal-clear turquoise waters and dramatic cliff backdrops.
The west coast of Lefkada is also home to several beautiful beaches, including Kathisma, Agios Nikitas, and Milos. These beaches have more of a laid-back vibe and are popular among families with children.
Which area of Lefkada is most beautiful?
Lefkada is a stunning island in Greece with several areas that are known for their natural beauty. The west coast is popular for its laid-back atmosphere and stunning beaches like Kathisma, Agios Nikitas, and Milos, while the southwest coast is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and dramatic cliff backdrops at Porto Katsiki and Egremni. The mountain villages of Karya and Exanthia offer traditional architecture and cultural heritage with breathtaking views. For a peaceful atmosphere, nature lovers can explore the less developed east coast with its secluded beaches and hiking trails.
Is Lefkada a party island?
While Lefkada has a lively nightlife scene, it is not typically considered a party island like some of the other Greek islands. There are several bars and clubs in the main towns, as well as in popular beach resorts. However, the island is more known for its natural beauty, particularly its stunning beaches and scenic mountain villages.
Best Beaches in Lefkada
Lefkada’s beautiful beaches (or spiagge lefkada in Greek) span the entire island and can be found on both the western and eastern side of the island.
The Western beaches are often considered the best beaches of Lefkada. Their stunning blue waters, flanked by white vertical cliffs, and white sand will make you think you’re dreaming.
The Eastern Lefkada beaches, although somewhat less popular with foreign tourists, should not be discounted. Their sheltered coves and bays are surrounded by lush vegetation and their calm, clear waters make them ideal for swimming and snorkeling away from the crowds of other Lefkada beaches.
Mylos Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Sandy
Restaurants nearby: No
Facilities available: No
Mylos Beach, Lefkada (interchangeably called Milos Beach, Lefkada) is one of the island’s most popular beaches and it was definitely our favourite!
How to Get to Mylos Beach
This beautiful stretch is located 14 km south of Lefkada town and while the beach can be accessed on foot, the road to get down to the shore of Mylos Beach is bound to get your heart pumping.
The rocky path is steep and narrow and a walk down takes about 15-20 mins. If you don’t fancy a hike, a taxi boat offers an alternative transportation option.
Things to Do at Mylos Beach
Mylos is a great place to relax and take in the beauty of the area. You can go for a sunbath or swim. The beach is sandy which makes it easy to make your way into the calm water of the bay.
There are no restaurants on Mylos Beach so pack some snacks and lots of water. Sun chairs and umbrellas can be rented for 5-10 EUR per day.
Porto Katsiki Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Sandy
Restaurants nearby: Yes
Facilities available: No
Located on the southwest coast, Porto Katsiki Beach has an undeniable beauty. In fact, it is often voted among the most beautiful beaches in Europe and always tops lists of the best beaches on Lefkada island.
How to Get to Porto Katsiki Beach
The beach in Porto Katsiki is only accessible by descending a series of steps (about a hundred!) or by boat. It is located just over 30 km from Lefkada town.
Things to Do at Porto Katsiki Beach
At Porto Katsiki Lefkada Greece you can expect to find blue waters and sheer white cliffs framing the white sandy beach which are characteristic of the beaches of Lefkada. It’s a great place to go for a swim or sunbathe.
There are sunbeds for rent on the beach. However, there is no restaurant directly on the beach itself.
There is one right at the base of the stairs, called Bilvi, which has servers patrolling the beach, so it is possible to order off the restaurant menu and have your meal delivered to you right on Porto Katsiki Beach Lefkada.
Egremni Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Sandy
Restaurants nearby: No
Facilities available: No
Lefkada Egremni Beach is located just minutes from Porto Katsiki Beach and boasts similar natural beauty. It is a nice alternative to Porto Katsiki Beach since, due to its length and accessibility, Lefkada Egremni Beach does not get as crowded as its neighbour.
How to Get to Egremni Beach
Because of the 2015 earthquake, Lefkada Egremni Beach can only be reached by boat. Whereas in the past it could be reached by a few hundred steps from the mainland.
Things to Do at Egremni Beach
Egremni Beach is a quintessential Lefkada beach which never seems to get too busy. Visitors can enjoy a day swimming, enjoying beach games and laying out under the blue skies. However, be wary while paddling out. The beach drops off quickly while wading out to sea.
Egremni Beach Restaurants & Facilities
There are no facilities or restaurants on Egremni Beach so bring everything you’ll need for a day in the sun.
Kathisma Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: White Pebbly Sand
Restaurants nearby: Yes
Facilities available: Yes
Kathisma Beach, Lefkada is one the most developed Lefkada beaches but stunning nonetheless with its overhanging green cliffs, sandy beach, and turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea.
How to Get to Kathisma Beach
Unlike many of the other west coast Lefkada beaches, you can drive right down to Kathisma Beach Lefkada on a well-paved road. There is lots of car parking but the lots fill up fast, so to get a good spot arrive early.
Things to Do in Kathisma Beach
Restaurants, bars, and even swimming pools are abundant on this busy beach. Thus Kathisma Lefkada is a very popular spot to spend the day in the sun and one of the best beaches on Lefkada for a little bit of action.
If you are looking for a more adventurous Lefkada Kathisma beach day, then consider joining a beach volleyball game or trying your hand at paragliding. For 80 euros, you can try tandem paragliding from one of the beach’s operators.
While this organized beach is suitable for families, they should be wary that sometimes waves can get quite high at Kathisma Lefkada. Obey the flags at Lefkada beaches. If it is red, do not swim.
Libre Cafe is a great place to grab a bite to eat while discovering Lefkada Kathisma beach. The alfresco dining area has sweeping ocean views and wonderful Greek food.
You can also rent a sun lounger from Libre Cafe, or one of the many other cafes along the beach. They will serve you drinks on Kathisma Beach Lefkada.
Agiofili Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Pebbled
Restaurants nearby: No
Facilities available: No
This little, white pebble beach is insanely picturesque and is definitely worth a visit.
How to Get to Agiofili Beach
Located about 40 km south of Lefkada town, Agiofili Lefkada Beach is one of the island’s true gems. The beach can be reached by a water taxi from Port Vasiliki Beach Lefkada for just 6 Euros/person.
Things to Do in Agiofili Beach
Agiofili Beach Lefkada is a great spot for sunbathing, swimming or snorkelling (but bring your own equipment!). Unlike some of Lefkada’s other beaches which have cloudy blue waters, Agiofili Beach’s waters are crystal clear. You’ll spot little fish skirting around the waters scattered boulders.
You can rent a sunbed but there are no restaurants at Agiofili, Lefkada so bring snacks and water to spend the day.
Afteli Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Pebbled
Restaurants nearby: Yes
Facilities available: Yes
Located on the east coast, Afteli Beach Lefkada is tucked into a small bay. It is covered with fine pebbles and like Agiofili Beach has crystal clear waters.
How to Get to Afteli Beach
Reaching Afteli Beach Lefkada by land is an adventure in itself. You’ll have to traverse a gorgeous, narrow twisting road to get there. However, you’ll be rewarded with one of Lefkada’s quieter beaches.
Things to Do in Afteli Beach
Read a book, play frisbee, go for a swim, and socialise with friends or just relax on this pretty little beach. It’s easy to spend the day relaxing in the beauty of Afteli Beach.
There is one restaurant at Afteli Beach Lefkada, called the Afteli Beach-Bar Restaurant. This no-frills institution is known for tasty cocktails, good beer, and good food.
You can rent sunbeds and parasols from the Afetile Beach Bar. However, the beach is rather small and can fill up quickly in the high season so we would only recommend a visit here in the offseason.
Ammousa Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Pebbled
Restaurants nearby: Yes
Facilities available: Yes
Ammousa Beach Lefkada (also sometimes spelled Amouso Beach Lefkada) is an intimate beach that sees few visitors outside of locals. So it is perfect for those looking to get away from the bustle and hustle of some of Lefkadas more popular beaches.
How to Get to Ammousa Beach
This family-friendly, pebbly beach is located in Southern Lefkada, 35 km from the town of Lefka. The beach is easily accessible by car and the parking lot is located next to the beach but parking is limited so come early to secure a spot.
Things to Do at Ammousa Beach
The beach at Ammousa Beach Lefkada has crystal clear waters and white pebbles surrounded by lush greenery. It is a great spot to go snorkelling and there is a small shallow area that extends for 5 metres into the water which is great for children.
There is a beach bar called Ammousa Beach Café & Restaurant and sunbeds for rent, as well as a nearby tavern with very reasonable prices. We recommend you try the tavern for lunch. You’ll rub shoulders with locals and get a truly local experience.
Gialos Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: No
Pebbled or Sandy: Sandy
Restaurants nearby: Yes
Facilities available: No
Gialos Beach Lefkada is characteristically west coast with its towering white cliffs, white sand beach, and incredible blue waters.
How to Get to Gialos Beach
Gialos Beach is located 35 km south of the beaches of Egremni Lefkada and Porto Katsiki Beach Lefkada and is accessed from the village of Athani. Up until recently, the road to Gialos Beach was closed due to the effects of the 2015 earthquake but it is open once again. The car park backs directly onto the beach.
Things to Do at Gialos Beach
Gialos Beach Lefkada is the longest beach on Lefkada. You’ll find lively pockets on the long stretch filled with bars, restaurants, and sunbeds for rent, as well as secluded bits of beach to have all to yourself at Gialos Lefkada.
However, it is fairly exposed so it can be windy, waves tend to be high and swimming is sometimes unadvisable. So it is best to go for a walk or to just enjoy relaxing on the seaside.
There is a small restaurant near the parking lot that serves up basic drinks and snacks. However, we would recommend you head back into the village of Athani for lunch or dinner.
Lefatas Taverna has an open-air patio which has stunning views of the coastline and surrounding mountainside. They specialize in serving high quality, home-cooked Lefkadian cuisine.
Vassiliki Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Sandy
Restaurants nearby: Yes
Facilities available: Yes
Vassiliki Beach Lefkada is a windsurfers dream. Thanks to the great afternoon wind conditions, Vassiliki Beach has been dubbed one of the top windsurfing destinations in Europe.
How to Get to Vassiliki Beach
The beach is located in a large sheltered bay on the south coast of Lefkada island. It is about 40 km south of Lefkada town, in the tourist hub of Vasiliki Port which takes about 40 minutes to drive to and fro. It is close to nearby beaches Port Egremni beach and Porto Katsiki.
Things to Do in Vasiliki Beach
Watersports enthusiasts will love Vasiliki Beach. You can windsurf, swim, snorkel or dive just off shore.
If you don’t have your own gear or would like to try windsurfing for the first time then stop by Windsurfing Vasiliki, one of the many watersports centresin Vassiliki Beach Lefkada. They offer lessons and gear hire, as well as kayak and SUP board hires.
For a peek into the underwater world, head over to the Nautilus Diving Club. They offer fun dives, scuba diving courses and snorkelling tours.
There are a few designated swimming areas in Vassiliki Beach, such as Ponti Beach Lefkada, and countless restaurants, bars, and nearby cafes to hold your attention.
Kalamitsi Beach, Lefkada
Family friendly: Yes
Pebbled or Sandy: Sandy
Restaurants nearby: Yes
Facilities available: Yes
Kalamitsi Beach itself is made up of white sand and met by Lefkada’s characteristic blue waters. But the rock formations just offshore and the plethora of activities available here, make Kalamitsi Beach Lefkada truly unique.
How to Get to Kalamitsi Beach
Kalamitsi Beach Lefkada is located less than 20 km from Lefkada town beach and is connected to Avali Beach Lefkada. It is located near one of the oldest villages on Lefkada, Kalamitsi. The town’s namesake beach is one of the island’s most stunning!
Things to Do at Kalamitsi Beach
There are paddleboats, kayak, and SUP boards available for rent on Kalamitisi Beach Lefkada. As well as some great snorkelling and dive sites located just offshore.
However, if you would like to keep things simple by spending the day swimming and sunbathing there are sunbeds for rent too.
There are about a handful of restaurants and beach bars on Kalamitisi Beach Lefkada but among them, we would recommend you choose Taverna Zorbas. This beachfront affair serves tasty Greek dishes with fresh seafood.
There are a number of Lefkada hotels on the beach here too. However, if you’re more interested in camping Lefkada, there are nearby sites for camping Lefkada.
Skorpios & Meganisi Islands
If you get tired of exploring Lefkada’s amazing beaches and are looking for a day trip that’s a little bit different, consider taking a trip to the group of islands that lie just east of Nydri Beach, Lefkada.
Skorpios Island, Sparti Island, and Meganisi Islands are the most frequently visited islands of the bunch. They are easy to explore on a day trip and offer some incredible views and sheltered bays.
One of the best ways to explore this group of islands is on this Full Day Sea Kayaking Tour. The tour starts in Nydri Port and takes you to some spectacular spots like the Red Rock Beach, mythic caves of Messini, the uninhabited island of Thilia, Meganisi and Skorpios.
Kalamos Island
Kalamos Island is one of the least known inhabited Greek islands, located past the islands of Meganisi and Skorpios, to the east of Lefkada.
This is a very mountainous island with two settlements – Kalamos and Episkopi. The island is located only 15-20km from Lefkada. The only way to reach the island is by taking a Kalamos Islands Boat Tour to take you out to the islands.
This trip starts in Perigiali port in Nydri Town and combines a visit to Meganisi and Skopios Islands and includes lots of stops along the way for swimming and cliff jumping. Papanikolis Cave was one of our personal highlights of this tour!
There are dozens of other beaches around Lefkada that are worth a visit, so if you are planning to visit Lefkada, make sure you stay for at least a week to give yourself lots of time to enjoy these beautiful beaches.
Honourable Mentions
While these lovely beaches didn’t make it onto our list of Lefkada top beaches if you have more time they are worth checking out.
Lygia Beach, Lefkada
Located just off of the main road in the fishing village of Lygia. This pretty in-town beach is also sometimes called Ligia Beach Lefkada. It is great for smaller children since the waters at Lygia Beach Lefkada are shallow and calm.
Megali Petra Beach, Lefkada
This is one of the more secluded beaches of Lefkada. Megali Petra Beach Lefkada can be reached by walking from Kavalikefta Beach Lefkada. It has turquoise waters, a shelly beach and occasionally there are a few parasols and sunbeds available.
Kavalikefta Beach, Lefkada
Kavalikefta Beach Lefkada is one of the most unique beaches of Lefkada. It is famous for the giant boulders which adorn its sandy beachfront.
Perigiali Beach, Lefkada
Located in the village of Perigiali, the small strip of sand at Perigiali Beach Lefkada has almost no waves and is suitable for swimming.
Kastro Beach, Lefkada
Located only a few minutes from the Lefka city center, Kastro Beach Lefkada is a sandy beach with shallow waves. Its waters are turquoise and calm but it backs onto an abandoned hall and old factory which can be very unappealing.
Agios Nikitas Beach, Lefkada
Agios Nikitas Beach Lefkada is located in the tiny port town of Agios Nikitas Lefkada. This tranquil beach is famous for its village charm and natural beauty.
Agios Nikitas restaurants serve great Mediterranean cuisine so make sure you stay for lunch after a morning at the beach. Or even better, spend the night at a hotel Agios Nikitas to get the full village and Agios Nikitas beach experience!
Gyra Beach, Lefkada & Agios Ioannis, Lefkada
These Lefkada beaches are located in Lefkada town and make up part of the Lefkada lagoons. Gyra Beach Lefkada is popular with local families. However, further down Gyra Beach you will find Agios Ioannis Beach Lefkada. Agios Ioannis Lefkada is an exposed pebbly beach popular with kiteboarders and windsurfers.
Nidri Beach, Lefkada
The well-developed Nidri Lefkada beach is located in the village of Nidri. Nidri beach Lefkada has lots of nearby restaurants, bars, and has sunbeds and umbrellas for rent.
Perfkoulia Beach, Lefkada
This beach has all the facilities you need to spend a day in the sun: sunbeds, parasols, toilets and showers. The beach itself is sandy but there are some pebbles and rocks in the waters at Pefkoulia Beach Lefkada.
Poros Beach, Lefkada
One of the southern beaches of Lefkada on the Mediterranean Sea. Poros Beach Lefkada has a swimmable beach with nearby restaurants.
Nikiana Beach, Lefkada
This small, sandy beach is located in the village of Nikina. The calm, shallow waters make Nikiana Beach Lefkada a family favourite.
Sivota Beach, Lefkada
Sivota Beach Lefkada is more of a bay and harbour than a place to spend the afternoon lounging. The town is a popular place for holidaymakers to base themselves while exploring Lefkada beaches and is located east of Amousa Beach Lefkada.
Desimi Beach, Lefkada
Located on the east coast and 6 km from Nidri, there are two restaurants and camping sites at Desmini Beach Lefkada. The beach itself is stunning and fringed by green hills and blue sea
You don’t need the best beaches in Lefkada map to know that there are lots of stunning beaches to explore. There are dozens of beaches around Lefkada that are worth a visit, so if you are planning to visit beaches in Lefkada, make sure you stay for at least a week to give yourself lots of time to enjoy these beautiful places.
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