Lefkada is an island on the west coast of Greece. It belongs to Ionian group of islands. Even though it is considered an island, Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a floating bridge so you don’t need to hop on a ferry to get there, unless you’re coming from another island. Lefkada is a real gem! It’s wild and unspoiled and it’s worth a visit. I already wrote a blog post about THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN LEFKADA. In this blog post I’ll tell you about 14 amazing things to see and do in Lefkada.
Beside breathtaking beaches this Greek island has so much more to offer.
Here are 14 amazing things to see and do in Lefkada:
- Visit Lefkas town
- Profitis Ilias church
- Dimosari waterfalls in Nidri
- Windsurfing at Kathisma beach
- Windmills at Agios Ioannis beach
- Agios Nikitas town
- Syvota town
- Villages Karya and Eglouvi
- Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni
- Archaeological museum of Lefkada
- Vasiliki town
- Cape Lefkatas
- Boat trip to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Scorpios island
- Fortress of Agia Mavra
- Visit Lefkas town
Lefkada town (or Lefkas) is the capital of the island. It is the economic, commercial and administrative centre of the island and home to about 9,000 people.
The first thing you can do when you come to Lefkada is to stroll around the Lefkada town and its winding cobbled alleys. If you’re coming in summer keep in mind that the temperatures can be high during the day so take your sunscreen and a hat with you. Spend time taking in the lively vibe of the town. Lefkada town is laidback and effortless and that’s why I loved it so much.
You will see colourful buildings and houses, small churches and pretty coffee shops and restaurants. This town portrays the easy summer life in Greece.
There are also many hotels, small shops with handmade things and souvenir shops. The shops may close for a few hours during the day but then they will be reopened again in the late afternoon. If you’re coming for an evening stroll make sure it’s by the sea. Lefkas marina is pretty popular during the evenings as it has many great restaurants.
There’s an interesting story about houses and architecture in Lefkada town. If you take a closer look to houses and buildings in Lefkada town you’ll not only see how colourful they are but you’ll also notice the facades. The upper floors of these houses are clad in brightly-painted corrugated metal. The city’s architecture is something you don’t see often. Numerous earthquakes that hit the island destroyed most of the town’s historical buildings.
So, to ensure the houses the ground floor walls are made of stone. The houses are constructed in such a way as to ensure that any load or tremor is transferred directly to the shock-absorbent foundations below. The second floors of the houses are made out of wood and they rest on wooden frames inside the ground floor stone walls. This is again to channel any load straight to the foundations. The wooden frames of the first floors are filled in with brickwork or branches and then strengthened with plasterboard or corrugated iron. Today, they are painted in bright colours.
If you have time I suggest visiting the Archaeological Museum. If you continue reading you’ll see more about this museum later in the article.
- Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elias) church
If you ask me, this is one of these 14 amazing things to see and do in Lefkada that really must be done!
A visit to the chapel of Prophet Elias on top of a hill is a beautiful experience. The drive to the church is looking dangerous since there is no actual road but it’s doable.
You need to drive very slowly and very carefully up the hill!
If you think you can’t handle the drive, but you want to visit, try to hire someone local from the village Karya or Eglouvi to drive you. Believe me, it’s worth it! You’ll witness magnificent views to the endless blue sea and the whole island of Lefkada. The church is located close to the two villages I mentioned and it’s altitude is around 1015 meters.
I think photos speak louder than words.
One more thing: Please keep in mind that this is a church, so don’t climb on the rooftop and do some crazy things so you can get that perfect Instagram photo. I’m saying this because I saw quite a few photos that were not appropriate at all for a place like this.
- Dimosari waterfalls in Nydri
Beside the beautiful beaches, there’s a beautiful nature in the island of Lefkada. Dimosari waterfalls are one of the 14 amazing things to see and do in Lefkada.
You can come to the waterfalls by car until some point. Then you’ll have to park the car and walk. There’s a small bar near the waterfalls so you can refresh yourself.
Dimosari waterfalls are about 15 meters high, surrounded by large rocks and cliffs. The waterfalls form a small natural pool, so if you’re a fan of really cold water you can take a dip.
In summer months the volume of stream significantly decreases. In extreme cases the waterfall dries out. To avoid the heat, the best time to visit the waterfalls are in the morning hours or in late afternoon.
- Windsurfing at Kathisma beach
I haven’t tried windsurfing but even just looking at people doing it gave me goosebumps. If you’re a fan of sports like this then I’m sure you’ll have some amazing views from above. You’ll find all the information you need at Kathisma beach.
- Windmills at Agios Ioannis beach
Agios Ioannis beach is very close to Lefkas town. We came to this beach one late afternoon. It was very windy but I decided to go for a swim to cool off a bit. It was beautiful. You’ll see the old windmills and kite surfers. There’s the cutest little cafe-restaurant right across the road from the beach where you can have a Greek frappe and some snacks. The atmosphere is relaxed and perfect for a lazy afternoon.
I’m sure you’ll visit Lefkas town so this is definitely one of 14 amazing things to see and do in Lefkada.
- Agios Nikitas town
Agios Nikitas is located 14 km west of Lefkada town. It’s a pretty little town (village) with a small beach. The beach is pebbled and rocky on the side with clear water like everywhere on the island. Agios Nikitas is one of the places you can make your base while in Lefkada. It can get crowded in the summer season, but it is quite pretty and well connected to the rest of the island.
This is a picturesque town with many tavernas, bars and ice cream shops. It’s also a place where you start your hike to Milos beach or wait for a boat to take you there.
If you want to know all about Lefkada breathtaking beaches you can read my detailed guide here. There you’ll find everything about Lefkada beaches – how to get to each beach, what to expect and what to bring with you since most of them are wild. That’s one of the reasons why they’re so beautiful.
- Sivota town
We visited this pretty town one morning before going to the beach. It’s a small town but worth a visit if you like some peace and quiet and a great meal. We strolled around Syvota and had great lunch at Stavros Taverna. If you like seafood I highly recommend this place. Everything is fresh and prepared beautifully. You’ll see a lot of people parking their boats to have lunch in Sivota town.
Close to Sivota there’s a small beach Mikros Gialos in a town called Poros. You can spend a lovely afternoon here. On the beach there are a few restaurants and bars so you don’t have to carry anything with you if you’re coming here for a swim. You can also rent an umbrella, but it’s always a good idea to have your own.
- Villages Karya and Eglouvi
Karya and Eglouvi are mountain villages, far from the beaches of Lefkada. They are famous for its authenticity and architecture.
In Karya you’ll find a beautiful main square with tavernas where you can eat and have a Greek frappe under the shades from plane trees. You’ll also find many small shops with handmade leather goods, traditional carpets and beautiful unique souvenirs, such as embroidery pieces.
In the center of Karya village you will see the church of Agios Spyridon with its bell tower. The church dates back from 19th century and it is dedicated to Agios Spyridon, the patron saint of the village.
In Karya, there is also a unique Phonograph, Gramophone and Radio museum. The museum exhibits the collection of old gramophones, phonographs, radios and various discs.
Another place you can visit here is the Lambikos winery.
These villages are worth a visit to enjoy a relaxed afternoon and peaceful atmosphere.
Another amazing thing you can see in Lefkada and is close to these villages is Prophet Elias church. You can read more about it later in this blog post.
- Monastery Of Panagia Faneromeni
Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni is about 10 minutes from Lefkada town. This monastery is home to an icon of the Virgin Mary, the island’s patron saint.
This place was the site of a temple to Artemis, the goddess of hunting.
The monastery dates from the 17th century. It had to be reconstructed after fires, the most recent reconstruction happened in 1887. There are few reasons to visit the Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni. What you see immediately is the architecture. When you go inside you’ll see the museum, which has liturgical artefacts like icons, vestments, chalices and manuscripts.
- Archaeological museum of Lefkada
You can find archaeological museum of Lefkada in Lefkada town. Here you will see the material found at the caves and ancient cities (Nidri and Meganisi).
The exhibits date from the Middle Palaeolithic Age tens of thousands of years ago to late Roman times.
There are four rooms of artefacts. Here you can see collections from private and public lives of Lefkada residents in Ancient Greece.
There are also burial customs, urns, sarcophagi and offerings. Also, you’ll see many finds by the German archaeologist Wilhelm Dorpfeld, who discovered Stone Age tools and Bronze Age jewellery while looking for proof that Lefkada was Homer’s Ithaca.
(The main street in Lefkas town got its name by Wilhelm Dorpfeld.)
- Vasiliki town
Some tourists choose Vasiliki as their base while on the island of Lefkada.
Vasiliki is located 38 km from the capital Lefkas. Vasiliki is a picturesque fishing harbour and it’s very popular among tourists. This town is also famous for windsurfing. Vasiliki is also a harbour where you can catch a boat to one of Lefkada beaches. You can take a cruise around the island and visit the three other islands that I will write about later.
- Cape Lefkatas
Here we are at number 12 of 14 amazing things to see and do in Lefkada. If you made it so far, well done, I’m guessing you really like what I wrote so far.
South of Porto Katsiki, the island of Lefkada comes to an end at Cape Lefkatas. The island of Lefkada got its name by Cape Lefkatas and its dramatic scenery is one of these amazing things you need to see.
The cape has white cliffs that go up to 70 metres.
There are two stories related to Cape Lefkatas. The first one says that the poet Sappho threw herself from Cape Lefkatas when Phaon rejected her. The other one is that Lefkatas jumped from these rocks to escape Apollo.
From here you can admire the views to two beautiful islands – Ithaca and Kefalonia. You will also see the Doukato Lighthouse, which has been there since 1890.
The lighthouse stands tall on steep rocks and visitors are always in awe of the sight. If you are here at sunset, you’ll see sky in red and pink tones which is definitely a sight to see.
- Take a boat trip to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Scorpios island
One of the 14 amazing things to do in Lefkada is to take a boat tour around Lefkada and admire the gorgeous Ionian sea. Another option is taking a boat from Nidri and Vasiliki, so you could go to beaches like Egremni or Porto Katsiki. You can buy tickets directly at the harbour (keep in mind that the summer months are busy) or at the kiosk and travel agencies around the island.
If you want to spend a day exploring other islands near Lefkada, I recommend taking a boat trip to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Scorpios island.
Kefalonia is also famous for beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. If you’re a fan of Greek mythology you will love the island of Ithaca. Ithaca is famous as the island that Odysseus lived in and returned to after the journey that changed his life. And the last, but not least, the Scorpios island. This island is private. Aristotle Onassis, a shipping magnate who was also one of the world’s famous and richest men owned the Scorpios island.
Even though it’s a private island, there are a few spots where the boats can anchor to let their passenger go for swim. Scorpios island has huge forests and the greenery gives a wonderful contrast to the blue Ionian sea.
- Fortress of Agia Mavra
You can see Agia Mavra Fortress from the entrance to the island. The fortress is very close to Lefkas town, just a few minutes drive from it. It was built in 1300. In the beautiful Castle (fortress) of Agia Mavra you can see the church of Agia Mavra. The church was built in the 15th century.
The original fortress was much smaller than it is today. It was rebuilt and expanded several times. When Ottomans occupied this area they built a mosque and a bridge inside the castle walls. Later, when Venetians took control over the island they increased the area of the castle and strengthened its walls. In that period Lefkada became a Venetian province.
So, if you’re taking a stroll through Lefkas town be sure to check out this beautiful sight.
I know this was a longer blog post, but I wanted to make sure to include all the details you need for planning your trip. Lefkada is an amazing island, as I already said and there is so much to see. I hope this blog post about 14 amazing things to see and do in Lefkada will help you if you’re planning to visit this beautiful island.
Again, if you’re in Lefkada, you’ll want to see those world famous beaches and you can read more about them here.
If you love Greece as much as I do you may be interesting in reading a post about beautiful Crete island.
Thank you for reading! If you need more information feel free to contact me or send me a message on Instagram.
