The Beaches of Lefkada (Lefkas)
The most famous beaches of Lefkada line the west coast - Porto Katsiki and Egremni sit below tall cliffs in the south, while Kathisma and Kalamitsi stretch out further north. Most are reached by car, several have room for naturists, and the west-facing sand lies in the shade until late morning, so afternoons are the best time to visit.
- Island
- Lefkada
- Best-known
- Porto Katsiki
- Longest
- Kathisma · 1 km+
- Reached by
- Car · bus
Porto Katsiki
Porto Katsiki is the best-known beach of Lefkada, in the south of the island and easily reached by car. It sits below high cliffs and is reached by a stairway down from the car park. The sand shelves gently into the sea, though the waves can run high, and drinks and parasols are for sale in high season. Because the beach faces west it stays in the shade of the cliffs until about 11:00, so the afternoon is the best time to visit. It is a popular beach and can get crowded. Parts of the cliffs fell onto the beach in 1999, so it is best not to lie directly beneath them.
Egremni
Egremni lies on the south-west coast, a little north of Porto Katsiki, and is harder to reach - the last stretch runs over a narrow, steep dirt track with many bends, and you then climb down about 300 steps. It is a long, quiet beach of sand and pebble, often called one of the finest in Greece, with crystal-clear water and room for naturists on some parts. In high season there are sunbeds, parasols and drinks. The descent into the sea is steep and there can be currents, so it does not suit families with small children. Paid parking is at the beach, with a final stretch down a wooden stairway.
Gialos
Gialos lies just above Egremni in the south-west, west of the village of Athani. A paved but very curvy road of hairpin bends ends at a car park where you can buy food and drink in high season, with a small taverna sometimes open north of the track. The beach is a long pebble beach hemmed in by cliffs, and it deepens quickly as you enter the water. Like the other west-coast beaches it stays in shade until around 11:00 or 12:00, so it is best in the afternoon. It is fairly quiet, and the southern end has room for naturists.
Kathisma
Kathisma sits on the west coast a little north of the middle of the island, south of the village of Agios Nikitas. It is a wide beach of sand and pebble more than 1 kilometre long, with large rocks standing in the water at the front and tavernas behind for food and drink. Sunbeds and parasols are for rent, the entry into the sea is steep but mostly sandy, and the southern part is used by naturists. Kathisma can be reached by bus from Lefkada Town and has plenty of parking, though it gets busy at weekends; being so large, it always has a quiet spot to be found. In recent years it has become more commercialised, with extra hotels, tavernas and beach bars.
Kalamitsi
Kalamitsi lies south of Kathisma, a beach of sand and pebble with picturesque big rocks on the sand and in the sea. It has some sunbeds and parasols and drinks for sale in high season, yet it is usually quieter than the nearby beaches. The village of Kalamitsi itself is worth a look, with old stone houses and many windmills. A walk along the shore between Kalamitsi and Kathisma passes several small sandy and pebbly coves, some shaded by pine trees, where you can often find a deserted cove of your own, and there is room here for naturists.
