A Meganissi & Lefkada Itinerary: 7 Days Across the Idyllic Ionian

Lefkada is connected to the Greek mainland by a causeway, so no ferry is needed to reach the island itself. Preveza/Aktion Airport (PVK), on the mainland side, is the closest, around 25 minutes from Lefkada Town, and takes direct seasonal flights from a range of European cities.

Meganissi has no airport of its own and is reached by a short ferry crossing from Nidri, on Lefkada's west coast.

We recommend hiring a car or chauffeur for Lefkada, since the island's mountainous interior and spread of beaches and water sports coasts don't sit close together. Meganissi is compact enough to explore by foot, but for ease we can organise a car or private chauffeur for your trip.

• Car hire: Covers Lefkada's coastline and its mountain villages, from Nidri to Vassiliki
• Ferry to Meganissi: The only way to reach the smaller island, departing from Nidri
• Boat rental or skippered charter: The best way to reach Meganissi's northern bays, either self-driven with local help or fully arranged

• Day 1: Lefkada Town, Agia Mavra Castle and Kitesurfing at Agios Ioannis
• Day 2: A Walk in the Mountains
• Day 3: Pefkoulia Beach and Water Sports at Nidri
• Day 4: A Day on Meganissi
• Day 5: Vassiliki and the Mountain Roads
• Day 6: Going Archaeological on the Mainland
• Day 7: Villa Days, Zorba Nights

Start in Lefkada Town, the island's economic and administrative centre, home to around 9,000 people and surrounded by the sea on three sides. Its pedestrianised main street is lined with shops, churches housing carved iconostases, and colourful two-storey houses clad in painted corrugated metal, alongside a scattering of Venetian buildings. A museum on the excavations of German archaeologist William Dörpfeld is worth a look, given his belief that Odysseus was actually from Lefkada rather than Ithaca.

At the island's northern tip, Agia Mavra Castle, also known as Santa Maura, was built around 1300 to defend the town from pirate attacks. In its heyday it was a hub of activity and home to two churches, houses, an infirmary and a large gunpowder store to feed its seven giant canons. Its location at the centre of the island’s protected wetlands means that a visit there also includes the chance to see some rare

If anyone in the group is keen on kitesurfing, Agios Ioannis, at the island's northernmost tip, is considered a mecca for it, and worth arranging lessons or equipment for before the day is done.

Lefkada's beaches tend to draw the most attention, but its mountainous interior, with peaks rising over 1,100m, is an essential addition to your itinerary.

Forests enclose picturesque villages and romantic ruins of monasteries and watermills, fabulous views abound, and a profound sense of peace prevails; best discovered on foot rather than from a car window. "Lefkada on Foot" by Lida Out is worth picking up beforehand, written by one of the island's own walking experts.

One of our favourites on Lefkada is Pefkoulia Beach on the northwest coast. Bordered by steep wooded hills, it has nearly 2km of fine white sand lapped by irresistible turquoise waters, not to mention a taverna and café.

Nidri, on the west coast, is a good starting point for water sports beginners, with calm, shallow bays and excellent conditions. Lessons or equipment, whether dinghy sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling or paddleboarding, are worth arranging in advance.

Take the short ferry crossing from Nidri to Meganissi for a change of pace. The island's north holds a seemingly endless run of bays, transparent water, golden beaches and pine woods, best seen by boat, either rented with local help or booked as a skippered charter for the day.

On Meganissi, try Agios Ioannis, a pebbly beach with transparent waters and stunning views over to the forested mountains of Lefkada. There’s an excellent taverna, Il Paradiso, and a truly tranquil atmosphere. For those who'd rather cover ground on two wheels, Meganissi is small enough to cycle in full over a few hours, stopping to swim wherever looks good along the way.

Vassiliki, on Lefkada's south coast, is renowned for windsurfing, a fitting way to spend a morning on the water. Whether it’s dinghy sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling, kayaking, kitesurfing, or stand-up paddleboarding, we know the right people who can craft an unforgettable adventure. In the afternoon, swap the sea for Lefkada's mountain roads, which offer sweeping panoramas and a proper change of scenery, worth arranging as a guided cycling route or simply renting bikes for the day.

Connected to the Greek mainland by a causeway, Lefkada is less than two hours’ drive from several of western Greece’s famed archaeological sites.

Including Nikopolis, a former Roman fortress town founded by Emperor Augustus after the Battle of Actium; Cassope, whose agora, theatre, and prytaneion date back to the 4th century BCE; and the Oracle of Dodona, mentioned in the Odyssey and second in importance only to the famed Oracle of Delphi. The historic town of Ioannina also makes for an excellent day out.

Close the week at a slower pace. Fresh fish and seafood are plentiful on both islands, tavernas often taking their catch straight from fishermen docking outside, while the interior favours lamb, cheese and locally grown vegetables. An in-villa cook is worth booking for an evening that doesn't require going anywhere at all.

For a proper send-off, a Greek dancing teacher can come to the villa and walk everyone through the fundamentals of traditional dance, the kind of evening that tends to turn into one of the better memories of the trip, for adults and children alike.

Seven days moves through a genuine cross-section of these two islands, a buzzing town, a mountainous interior, water sports coasts and a smaller island reached only by boat, but it's a starting point rather than a fixed route. A Villa Specialist can adjust the order, the pace or the focus to suit how you'd rather spend the week.

Get in touch with a Villa Specialist to begin shaping your own version of this trip.