Unfortunately, no ferry runs from Athens to Lefkada or any other port in mainland Greece. However, you can get to Lefkada by bus or car since it is linked to the mainland via a narrow channel and sturdy bridge. In addition, it is worth noting that the port of Lefkada only operates local ferry schedules to nearby islands.
How long is the bus ride from Athens to Lefkada?
It takes about five and a half hours to travel the 355 km distance between Athens and Lefkada by bus. If you want to sightsee or are in a hurry, this is not the best mode of transportation. Instead, consider a private door-to-door car service like Daytrip, whose drivers can easily and effortlessly get you to Lefkada while accommodating any sightseeing stops you may have if you're not too low on time.
How many days is enough in Lefkada?
That depends on how many days you want to spend on a Greek island paradise. Most people spend 3 to 5 days to have time to enjoy the beautiful beaches and nightlife (if thatโs your thing). Longer is obviously better if you want to explore the surrounding islands or just vibe.
How far is Lefkada from Athens by train?
There is no train from Lefkada to Athens. You can get to Lefkada by bus or with a private car service like Daytrip. A car transfer is your best bet if you want to get to the island city quickly with minimal hassle. You can fly from Athens to Ioannina and drive to Lefkada, but this is slower, less convenient, and more expensive.
Is Lefkada very touristy?
Lefkada has become a popular holiday destination, so itโs definitely crowded in the summer. However, itโs still not as popular as places like Santorini and Mykonos, so you can still have an authentic Greek island experience, especially if you visit in the off season.
Is Lefkada town worth visiting?
Whether or not Lefkada is worth visiting will depend on you, but in our opinion, it's one of the best cities to visit in Greece, far superior to the 'touristy' Santorini and Mykonos. This city boasts idyllic coastal attractions, stunning beaches, exquisite cuisine, and some of the most beautiful landmarks and small museums. It's safe to say it's worth visiting if you love to explore by foot or by boat and want to experience an authentic Greek travel destination.
Making your way from the ancient Greek metropolis Athens to Lefkada City by car might feel like a hardship, considering Athens is an extraordinary city known for its mouthwatering cuisine, pristine beaches, nightlife, beautiful attractions, and weird and wonderful markets. Yet we promise driving from Athens to Lefkada city in Greece is worth the trip.
Lefkada City is a beautiful Greek oasis with stunning beaches, gorgeous landscapes, and iconic seashores perfect for strolling, sunbathing, and swimming. It's also a small city that often exceeds visitor expectations, and it's not hard to understand why, considering it is blessed with mesmerizing turquoise waters, dramatic cliff backdrops, quaint boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, and a wild but beautiful natural landscape.
So, if you're in Athens and looking for your next travel destination, you might want to consider Lefkada. It may seem like a daunting place to get to, considering there is only a small bridge linking the Greek mainland to this island city, but with Daytrip, we can get you there safely.
Our drivers are well acquainted with safely driving travelers from Athens to Lefkada City, so why not take advantage of this opportunity? As a door-to-door private car service, we'll fetch you based on your timeline. You can stop along the way if you have a few sightseeing plans of your own.
About Lefkada
Lefkada might be small in size but mighty in reputation thanks to its glorious beaches, sophisticated boutique shops, culinary delights, friendly residents, and thriving culture. Lefkada is in the Ionian Sea, above the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia. It's both a city and an island, connected to the mainland by a drawbridge above a narrow channel and a bridge atop the lagoon. Thanks to these bridges, Lefkada is the only Greek island that can be reached by road.
If you're traveling from places like Athens to Lefkada with a car hire service like Daytrip, you should have no issue reaching the island. Of course, once on the island, you can take a ferry to one of the neighboring satellite islands, such as Kythros, Thilila, Skorpios, Kastos, Meganisi, Madouri, and Petalou.
Although it's an island, you can expect to enjoy the sights of mountainous and fertile lands with lush greenery and vegetation. This greenery helps make Lefkada city one of the most heavenly places on earth to visit, especially for those whose idea of paradise is white pebbled beaches with sparkling turquoise ocean.
Besides being a beach haven, Lefkada City is also the birthplace of numerous world-renowned artists like writer Angelos Sikelianos, opera singer Anges Baltsa, poet Aristotelis Valaoritis, and author Patrick Lafcadio Hearnโotherwise known as the national poet of Japan Yakumo Koizumi.
Lefkada City is also rich in culture and history and is home to numerous museums, monuments, liberties, and archeological sites of interest, and colorful wooden houses. So, if you're interested in visiting, it might be time to add Lefkada City to your travel bucket list since this city offers everything, including an authentic Greek experience.
From Athens to Lefkada City: travel tips
Traveling from Athens to Lefkada City in Greece is one of the most exciting travel experiences, considering it's the only Greek island that can be reached by road. However, to ensure your experience is pleasurable it's best to remember a few travel tips for your journey overall.
Avoid peak season travel when possible
Traveling to Lefkada City from Athens during the peak season can be tempting, but we would advise against this if possible. Although the weather is best during the peak season, the traffic is bad and the crowds even worse. Not to mention, prices are also high for everything from food and attractions to accommodation โ even on a little island and certainly along the way.
### Brush up on your mythology
It might sound odd, but one of the best things to do while traveling is brush up on your fiction reading, especially if planning a trip from Athens to Lefkada. Reading novels like The Odyssey, The Iliad, and other contemporary page-turners will give you insights into the region and ideas about the few places you should visit along the way.
Luckily, if you travel with Daytrip (a car hire service), you can catch up on this reading while traveling between the two cities, or you can skip reading and get travel insights from your professional English-speaking driver instead. They might not be tour guides, but they are knowledgeable.
### Eat and drink and like a local
It's true that Greeks love their grub, but eating out in places like Athens, Nafpaktos, and Lefkada City is a casual affair.
In Greece, you'll want to eat more than three times a day since most meals are light. But don't fretโthere are plenty of opportunities to grab a delicious bite to eat and something to drink while you travel from Athens to Lefkada on Daytrip.
Our drivers can recommend a few of the best cafes and restaurants and won't mind stopping while you eat and potentially do a bit of sightseeing.
How to get from Athens to Lefkada City
Getting from Athens to Lefkada can be a challenge if you're unfamiliar with the transportation options available. That's why we've shared a few of the best ways to travel between these two cities so that you can determine which transportation option best suits your travel needs.
From Athens to Lefkada by private car
The fastest, safest, and most convenient way to travel from Athens to Lefkada is by car. The distance between these two cities in Greece is 235 miles (355 km), and if you travel with a private car service like Daytrip, it will only take about four hours. In addition, Daytrip offers something the other transportation options don't โ sightseeing.
When you drive with us, you can stop and tour the 2000-year-old Corinth Canal, the weathered but still-standing Castle of Acrocorinth, the Ancient Nemia ruins with ties to Hercules, and the legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mycenae. If you don't plan to sightsee, you can still strike up a conversation with our professional drivers, who are eager to share their local knowledge of Lefkada with you.
Or, if you're not in the mood to talk, sit back and relax, taking in the stunning coast and the towns you pass through from the comfort of your seat.
### From Athens to Lefkada by flight
Unfortunately, taking a flight from Athens to Lefkada shouldn't be your go-to choice, considering there is no direct flight to this island city. You can choose between two flight routes, but both offer incredibly long trips.
For example, you can fly from Athens to Preveza and then drive from Preveza to Lefkada. This trip can take more than 20 hours with stopovers, so it's not worth it. Alternatively, you can fly from Athens to Ioannina and drive to Lefkada from Ioannina.
This route is faster, with an average trip taking about five hours, (plus another 2 hours for check-in and security) but it can be pricey. There are a few airlines offering trips, so you can shop around, but depending on when you plan to travel, it might be out of your price range and timeline. In general, a private car is faster, more comfortable, and often cheaper than flying.
### From Athens to Lefkada by bus
One of the most affordable, if not most comfortable, ways to travel from Athens to Lefkada directly is by bus. The main bus line operating trips between these two cities is KTEL Lefkadas. They provide travelers with three possible trips daily with an early morning, afternoon, and evening bus.
A trip takes about five and a half hours and a ticket costs between $33 and $50. The entire route is traveled along the coast, so you will see glimpses of the beautiful Greek coastline, but you won't have any opportunities to stop and see the sights.
Things to do when you get to Lefkada
Since driving from Athens to Lefkada is possible thanks to the floating bridge linking the island city to the mainland, it's surprising that Lefkada hasn't become flooded with tourism.
Don't get us wrong, this beautiful town sees its fair share of visitors annually, but its unspoiled nature is all the more reason to ensure you visit, see, and do as much as possible. To help you with this endeavor, we've shared some things to do when you get to Lefkada.
Visit the Lefkada Archeological Museum
Lefkada City is bursting at the seams with a modern marina, chic restaurants, a cosmopolitan restaurant scene, gorgeous boutique shops, and monuments everywhere you look. If you're planning a trip to the city center, you need to add visiting the Lefkada Archeological Museum to your travel list.
Unlike other European museums, this perfectly formed cultural fix only costs a couple of euros to visit. This museum showcases treasures from the Middle Paleolithic era up until the late Roman era, including clay idols, a beautifully reconstructed ancient lyre, and stone and copper tools found in multiple excavation sites on the island itself.
### Sunbathe on Egremni Beach
Lefkada is a beach town, so it would be remiss of you to visit without taking a few hours to stop at Egremni Beach to sunbathe or swim in the ocean. This is one of Lefkada's most popular beaches in terms of attractiveness, but you won't likely feel crowded, considering it's quite a walk to reach it.
So, if you plan to visit, be prepared to descend and climb (on your way back) more than 300 steps, and wear a pair of sturdy and comfortable shoes. But we promise the journey is worth it when you see the electric blue ocean, sandy shores, and staggeringly beautiful landscape.
However, if you don't want to climb the stairs or spend much time on the beach, you can take a ferry tour of the many beaches near Lefkada, including Egremni.
### Explore Vassiliki fishing village
Those planning to visit Lefkada's southern coast should stop and explore the picturesque Vassiliki fishing village. This quaint village has become an international destination for travelers who enjoy sailing and windsurfing.
Even those who don't have windsurfing or sailing on their agendas can just walk around, enjoying the charming atmosphere, friendly fishermen, and tasty street food. There are also numerous tavernas, cafes, and shops where you can relax and guiltlessly indulge in an unforgettable view while enjoying something to eat.
When is the best time to visit Lefkada?
The best time to visit Lefkada will depend on your travel preferences, but we recommend that those driving from Athens to Lefkada City do so during the late spring or early fall.
Lefkada has mild weather year-round, but late spring and early fall offer a taste of the summer heat without the crowds, so you can really enjoy this island oasis. June, July, and August are considered peak season for Lefkada with high prices and packed beaches.
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The Corinth Canal
Connecting the Gulf of Corinth and Saronic Gulf was a 2000-year-old idea that took centuries to realize. ย A Long Time Comingย
Castle of Acrocorinth
This fortress has weathered the test of time, being used for almost 2000 years.ย The Walls of Timeย
Ancient Nemea
Greek mythology says that the town of Nemea was terrorised by a mythical beast - until Heracles killed it.ย Clash of the Titansย
Mycenae
This legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site was the richest city of Late Bronze Age. ย From Bronze to Goldย
Mega Spileo Monastery
Built into the side of a mountain, this ancient monastery is a sight to behold.ย A Mountain of Faithย
Nafpaktos
This small seaside town, with its charming atmosphere, rich history, and breathtaking setting is a Corinthian jewel.ย A Glittering Gulfย
โWe booked our Daytrip driver online from New Zealand for our yacht connection in Lefkada Greece. The cost was lower than many others by a significant amount. Our Driver - George - was fantastic, incredibly helpful and informative. We were really happy when it was George that came to pick us up at the end of our yachting holiday and return us to Athens. We even changed our pickup time for the return journey several days ahead and communication by email was immediate and so easy. We will now always use Daytrip they were absolutely superb.โ
โOrganisation prior to the trip was brilliant. E-mails and updates before the actual day make you feel confident that everything is going to work out well. Driver arrived exactly on time in a very comfortable minivan. Our guide was very knowledgeable and full of fun. He helped us find our holiday rep and waited with us until she arrived with the rental car. An excellent way to travel across Europe.โ
