VILLAGES TO VISIT
Lefkada, a truly beautiful undiscovered island in the Ionian Sea
Geni is a pretty little coastal village on the east coast with an abundance of great fish tavernas located on the water’s edge which can be reached by land or boat. Sitting just South of Nidri in the sheltered cove of Vlicho bay, Geni overlooks the numerous yachts moored here with a mountainous backdrop. The church of Agia Kyriaki can be found at the tip of this tranquil cape, as can the grave of William Dörpfeld the German architect and archaeologist who identified Lefkada with Ithaca.
Karya is the principal village in the upland part of the island. It is widely known throughout Greece for its lace and embroidery in the style local to the area known as Karsaniko. There are many shops where you can buy hand woven rugs, cushion covers, embroidered table cloths, sheets etc. and the quality and price of these are by far the best in comparison to the rest of the island. The square with amazing plane trees, which shade you from the burning Mediterranean sun, is an ideal place to stop if you have been to the west coast of the island. Because it is quite high up it is always very cool and it is a particularly nice stop for a cold drink and a bit of souvenir shopping.
Nidri is the primary holiday resort on Lefkas. There are a variety of tavernas, restaurants and cafes here, also a handful of bars and a couple of nightclubs. The majority of shopping and tourist facilities are on the main street. On the seafront, known as the ‘Paralia’, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Pringiponissa islands – amongst which is Scorpios, owned by the Onassis family.
Ag. Nikitas on the north-west tip of the island, is a pretty little village surrounded by fabulous beaches such as Pefkoulia, Kathisma and Kalamitsi. The nucleus of the village has been placed under preservation order, thus maintaining the traditional Ionian ambience. To the west of Agios Nikitas, a 20-30 minute walk from the village, one can find one of the most beautiful beaches on the island -Milos Beach.
Syvota Bay is in the south-east at the head of a large bay and has an outstanding natural harbour. The traditional fishing village and picturesque bay is located 30km from the town of Lefkada and 10km from the cosmopolitan Nidri. Built at the foot of the lush green hills leading to the blue waters of the Ionian, Syvota is a wonderful destination for an evening meal, boasting a handful of great fish tavernas by the sea.
Vassiliki in the south is a self-contained tourist resort with a full range of facilities. The harbour is lined with restaurants and cafes and the main street has a fair number of shops. Many sailing companies operate from here and you may hire windsurf boards on a daily or hourly basis. Vassiliki has a ferry port operating a service to Cephalonia and Ithaca.
