Set right on the coastline as you cross the bridge, Lefkada Town offers wonderful views of the mainland. The harbour and waterfront are home to some great seafood tavernas and bars, perfect for dinner with a view. Head inland and you’ll find a charming maze of colourful buildings and narrow lanes lined with shops, restaurants and bakeries.

Marine life is very popular in Lefkada, with boat trips available from many of the resorts. You can easily arrange excursions to the nearby islands of Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia, as well as explore the stunning coastline of Lefkada. If you fancy taking the helm yourself, you can rent a boat without a license from Nikiana.

Due to the thermal winds passing the island, Lefkada is superb for wind-based watersports. You can try your hand at kite or wind surfing at Agios Ioannis and Vasiliki beaches. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, why not go paragliding at Kathisma beach? For more gentler pursuits, you can also arrange pedaloes, standup paddle boards and kayaks at Desimi.  

The resort of Nidri is popular with both tourists and locals alike. The busy port is ideal for organising trips to Meganissi and Ithaca, with daily cruises departing 3 or 4 times a day. Lining the harbour is a host of restaurants serving both local and international cuisine. The road is pedestrianised every evening after 7pm, allowing the alfresco dining to spill out into the streets.

Just outside Nidri town you’ll find Nidri Waterfalls. Accessed via a scenic walk along a rocky path flanked by cliffs, you’ll be glad to take a dip and cool down from the heat. The waterfalls are best visited in May or early June, after the rains of the winter.

Positioned on the southern coast of the island and backed by stunning mountain scenery, Vasiliki is well worth a trip during your villa holiday. Charming tavernas and restaurants line the waterfront, where you can enjoy lunch overlooking the harbour. Daily ferries run to the island of Kefalonia, and you can also join boat trips around the stunning coastline of Lefkada. Next to the harbour is a wide pebble beach, where you can organise kite surfing and diving.

With a stunning mountain backdrop, the picturesque waterfront town of Sivota is well worth a visit for a lazy lunch or dinner. Lining the marina you’ll find a good selection of Greek tavernas and seafood restaurants, as well as a chic cocktail bar. This is the perfect spot to kick back with a carafe of wine and admire the scenery.

Located up in the hills around 10 minutes’ drive from Lefkas Town, Faneromeni Monastery is well worth a visit for the views alone. Offering panoramic vistas across Agios Ioannis beach and beyond to the mainland, the photo opportunities are endless. The monastery has been rebuilt several times due to fires and earthquakes, and the church is home to some beautiful paintings.  

Vardea, a white grape, is found and cultivated in Lefkada. Lefkaditiki Gi Winery offers free daily tours where you can see the vineyards, learn about the cultivation and processes before arriving at the wine tasting hall to sample some of the produce. Be sure to pick up a bottle or two to enjoy back at your villa.

Located on the west coast of the island, the stunning Kathisma Beach is a wide, sand and shingle bay lined with a fantastic choice of chic beach bars. Be sure to stop at the viewpoint on your way down to get a photo of the picturesque bay. There are plenty of sun loungers and parasols to rent for the day, where you can order drinks directly to your sunbed. If you’re feeling adventurous you can arrange paragliding here or, for a more relaxed approach, simply lie back on your cabana and watch the paragliders come down.

Set on the northwest coast, close to Lefkada Town, Agios Ioannis is a popular spot for wind and kite surfing due to the thermal winds. This Blue Flag beach is a long stretch of sand and shingle backed by historic windmills. This beach has a more rugged feel, but there are a few tavernas and beach bars where you can rent a parasol and enjoy lunch while watching the colourful kite surfers.

Vasiliki Beach is located on the southern coast of Lefkada with stunning mountain backdrops. The pebble beach is wide with a few sunbeds and parasols plus a couple of beachfront tavernas. From here you can arrange kite surfing and diving. The marina is located next to the beach, where you can organise boat trips to visit other Lefkada beaches as well as excursions to Kefalonia.

This small, sheltered cove is located on the east of the island. The pebble beach has sunbeds and parasols to hire plus a couple of good tavernas where you can get a delicious lunch with a view. The waters are clear and calm, and you can hire pedalos, standup paddle boards and kayaks – you can paddle over to a nearby cave for some fantastic photo opportunities.

Agios Nikita Beach is accessed via a narrow pedestrianised street lined with charming tavernas and mini markets. At the bottom lies the sheltered sand and shingle bay with stunning clear waters, great for taking a dip to cool off. There are no sunbeds to rent but you can buy parasols at the nearby beach shops.

Next to the harbour, Nikiana Beach is a small, narrow sand and shingle beach. Nestled in a bay, the waters are calm and ideal for swimming. Take your own towel or deck chair and relax admiring the views of the mainland. You’ll find a few tavernas lining the harbour, with some mini markets and more restaurants further along the Nikiana road.

This small pebble beach is lined with olive trees, creating some welcome shade from the sun. There is a beach bar where you can order some drinks or a light bite, as well as hire sunbeds and parasols for the day. Set on the eastern coast, the waters are clear and calm.