Welcome to Lefkada

Lefkada is actually an artificial island, which has been separated from the Akarnanian mainland by a ship canal since antiquity. Today there is a bridge over the narrowest point of the channel, which ranges in width from 660 yards to 3 miles. The island has 22.000 inhabitants, is 34 km long and 15 km wide, with amazing landscape, beautiful white sandy beaches, hills covered with olive trees, cypresses and pine, small traditional hidden villages and friendly people. The roads are generally in good condition, even if unavoidablly steep and twisting. Accommodations range from luxury resorts to little quiet rooms on remote beaches.

Lefkas or Lefkada town is picturesque, with attractively coloured wooden buildings, and is situated on the north end of the island. This is today’s commercial center. The diversity and range in restaurants, bars and cafe’s, the variety of shops and services make Lefkada the most attractive holiday destination for any taste or pocket. Annual International Folklore Festival in August organized by the Cultural Center of the Municipality. The churches of Agios Dimitrios and Agios Minas are both worth a visit. The Venetian fortress of Santa Maura ( Agia Maura ) was built by Orsini about 1300. Two other fortresses, Alexander and Konstantine were built during the Russian protectorate in 1807 to guard the channel.

Nidri, a former small fishing village 18 km. west of Lefkada town, where in 1905-10 the German archaeologist Dörpfeld excavated the prehistoric round building of an early Bronze Age culture from around 2000 BC. His residence near the site has been turned into a museum containing some of its finds. Nidri can offer the visitors anything from Greek traditional cuisine, to water-sports and great night life. During high season Nidri is also a busy summer resort with Scandinavians and English.