Discovering Lefkada and its surroundings

Athens International Airport (AIA) started operating at 28th of March 2001. The years before the COVID pandemic travel restrictions, Athens International Airport traffic exceeded the amount of 8,5 million passengers per year, being by far the busiest airport in Greece and in the top 20 of Europe, with a high level of destination connections.

Web site:www.aia.gr

From Athens to Nydri Marina

By car: Athens International Airport is a car rental hub for plenty of companies. From there, you enter directly to the highway. The total distance is 405km and is drivable till Nydri using the Trikoupis bridge at Rio-Antirio, and the bridge connecting Lefkada to mainland. The last 84,6km are on old national road and 1,5hours driving, though a new road is to be delivered the following years.

By bus: using the intercity bus connection, from Athens to Lefkada, there are about 4 busses per day from Kifissos KTEL central station. To reach Kifissos station from the airport, there is an express urban buss connection identified by the number “X93”. After the arrival to Lefkada bus station, the traveler should change to the local intercity buss line, connecting Lefkada to Nydri, on a 35minutes ride..

Aktion Airport is based near Preveza town and 36,2km from Nydri. Is a small airport connected worldwide mainly with charter flights.

Web site:www.pvk-airport.gr

From Aktion Airport to Nydri Marina

By car: Aktion Airport is a car rental hub for plenty of companies. From there, Nydri is 36,2km driving on old national road. The new road is due to be delivered the following years.

The port of Patras is connected with regular service to the ports of Brindisi, Ancona, Venezia, Bari, Genova, Ravenna, Trieste, Catania. The routes are serviced from a variety of shipping companies, covering a traffic of almost 500.000 passengers per year and 100.000 vehicles.

Web site:www.patrasport.gr

From Patras port to Nydri Marina

By car: Travelling with a private vehicle, the port of Patras is one of the main entry points in Greece to reach the Nydri Marina. Additionally, there are plenty of car rental companies at Patras city. From Patras, you enter directly to the highway towards the Trikoupis bridge at Rio-Antirio. The total distance is 191km drivable till Nydri, using the bridge connecting Lefkada to mainland. The last 84,6km are on old national road and 1,5hours driving, though a new road is to be delivered the following years.

Visualizza sulla mappa (CON001)

Distance: 9 NM

Paleros is an ancient city and a modern town in Aetolia-Acarnania. Safe and comfortable marina offers sailors a safe settle.

Places of interest

Town center

The marina of Paleros is surrounded by the town. The visitor may walk around the beautiful buildings, explore the local market and enjoy the Greek cuisine in one of the plenty restaurants. One step south of the marina and in front of the yacht club of Paleros, the visitor can dive for a swim in the blue waters of the Ionian Sea.

Distance from the port: 0 km

Ancient Paleros

A very important archaiological site, the ruins of ancient Paleros stand at the hills North of the new town. With a history of more than 3000 years, part of the walls belong to the second millennium B.C., the Mycenean period. The city is thought to have had a population of over 10,000 people. The fortress was constructed in the middle of the 5th century.

Distance from the port: 12 km

Visualizza sulla mappa (CON002)

Distance: 12 NM

Standing at the nose (myti) of the land, comes the name of the fishing village of Mytikas. Well-preserved mansions, houses with traditional architecture and a port for fishing boats and yachts. Mytikas is a hub for small boat rental to visit the short distance islands of Kastos and Kalamos.

Places of interest

Village center

The port of Mytikas is at the edge of the village. The visitor may walk around the beautiful buildings, explore the local market and enjoy the Greek cuisine in one of the plenty restaurants. A must visit, the old kafeneio (café) just outside the port, offering traditional Greek pastries.

Distance from the port: 0 km

Kalamos

At the port of Mytikas, the visitor can rent a small boat and be transferred around Kalamos island. The village of Kalamos is a picturesque port with many restaurants. The beach of Asprogiali at the North part of the island, is a unique place to swim, with the pine trees making the waters deep green.

Distance from the port: 3 NM + 1 NM

Visualizza sulla mappa (CON003)

Distance: 41 NM

Gaios is the main port of Paxos, the smallest of the seven principal Ionian Islands. The main tradition requires Gaios name comes from the homonymous pupil Apostle Paul (Gaios), who teached Christianity on the island. The small fishing village stands behind two petit islands, which surround the bay and make a natural port and a unique scenery. Gaios has direct connection with mainland, Igoumenitsa and Parga, and Corfu main town Kerkyra.

Places of interest

Village center

Wandering around the village, through the fairytale like alleys, the visitor may admire the architecture of the island and visit the local market. The Museum at the South part of the port, someone can experience the history of the island. Tools from antiquity to prehistorical subjects, to venetian pistols and folklore clothes of the previous century. Gaios is well known for it’s high quality restaurants and small bars.

Distance from the port: 0 km

Visualizza sulla mappa (CON004)

Distance: 69 NM

Kerkyra, the main town of Corfu Island and the biggest city of the Ionian Islands. With a population of more than 25.000 people and a long history, offers a variety of places of interest for the visitor. Around the city there are two marinas additionally to the main port which connects the island to mainland Igoumenitsa and Italy.

Places of interest

Town center

Kerkyra (Corfu) town, especially its oldest part, is one of the most charming places of Greece. An ancient Venetian and Byzantine outdoors museum that will fascinate the traveler with its alleys and panoramic points. Surounded by the Ionian Sea, the town is hosted between the two ancient fortresses. Local market, restaurants, museums and a variety of bars and clubs, Kerkyra is an intense and at the same time romantic place. The square of Spianada at the East edge of the town is the largest square of Greece. Live music is all around the city, as Kerkyra is well known for its conservatories, orchestras and municipal band.

Distance from the port: 0 km

Visualizza sulla mappa (CON005)

Distance: 29 NM

Sami is one of the two ports of Kefalonia connecting the island with mainland Sami stands at the South end of Kefalonia-Ithaka canal. The village was destroyed from the 1953 earthquake and was rebuilt keeping the local architecture. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and travel agencies.

Places of interest

Melissani cave

The breathtaking lake cave of Melissani, lays a few minute ride by car or taxi, from Sami. Part of an underground river that flows under Kefalonia from the West side and Argostoli, towards the East at Sami area. According to the Greek mythology this was the cave of the Nymph Melissani and Pan. Melissani committed suicide and fell in the lake because Pan was not responding to her love for him. The cave was “lost” and was rediscovered in1951 by speleontologist Giannis Petrochilos.

Distance from the port: 3 km

Visualizza sulla mappa (CON006)

Distance: 58 NM

Zakynthos is the main town of the homonymous island. Intense night life, plenty of restaurants offering folklore local music aside from the delicacies. The town is always busy, and the shops open till late during the summer. Zakynthos port offers safe berth to local and passing boats, and connects the island with mainland.

Places of interest

Town center

Zakynthos main town offers to the visitor Intense night life, plenty of restaurants with folklore local music and a local shop market with a variety of products. At the square of Solomos, the municipal buildings and museums, follow the architecture of the destroyed buildings in the 1953 earthquake. On the square of Agios Markos, someone may visit the Museum of the poets D. Solomos and An. Kalvos. In the museum you will see works of art and tools, musical instruments and rich local costumes. At the South part of the town and close to the port, lays the church of Agios Dionysios, the protector saint of Zakynthos.

Distance from the port: 0 km

Navagio beach

Voted as the most beautiful beach in the world many times, Navagio is a must visit place for the visitor. By car or stepping on a daily cruise boat, the local travel agencies will offer any information is needed for the arrangements. Navagio means shipwreck in Greek. Originally known as Agios Georgios, the name of the beach occurs from the ship laying on the sand, which ran aground during stormy weather and bad visibility at 2 October of 1930.

Distance from the port: 36 km

Visualizza sulla mappa (WR001)

TYPE: Walking Route

DURATION/DISTANCE: 58min/3,6km

Dimossari Waterfalls of Nydri, are one of the most impressive natural landscapes of Lefkada. The water forms small ponds where one may refresh in the cool water, making it an unexpected surprise for the visitors. Situated at a hiking distance from the Nydri marina, can be accessed also by car or taxi.

Visualizza sulla mappa (WR003)

TYPE: Walking Route

DURATION/DISTANCE: 2h13min/10,8 km

The beautiful bay of Vlycho (Vlicho), is one of the safest anchorages in the Ionian Sea. A great opportunity for the visitor to walk around and sight the landscape. First stop at the quiet beach of Desimi with the gorgeous emerald, green colored waters. A good opportunity to swim until the beautiful cave of Agios Nikolaos at the east side of Desimi bay. There the visitor may swim and have a lunch at one of the restaurants. Following the road back to Vlycho bay, and towards the south end, you will find the picturesque church of Agia Kyriaki. If you are lucky you may experience a traditional Orthodox wedding or baptism (name giving).

Visualizza sulla mappa (WR002)

TYPE: Hiking Trail

DURATION/DISTANCE: 50min/2,8 km

One of the short trails, leads through the pine forest of Fiskardo, to one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, Emblisi.

Once a small fishing village, after Onassis bought Scorpios Island, Nydri was spotted as a destination for the international jet set. Plenty of bars offer an intensive night life. The village is full of bars and night clubs, playing music till the first hours of the morning. All kinds of restaurants offer high quality services. Additionally, during the summer dozens of minimarkets, gift and souvenir shops, are open all day, till very late in the night.

Additionally to the boat rentals and daily cruises, for the lovers of sea, Nydri offers a variety of choices. There a few water sports centers, located around the port, in walking distance. The visitor can try Parasailing & Paragliding, learn and train at Waterski, ride a Jetski or rent Sea Kayak to explore the area and being pulled on an inflated toy.

Located at Nydri and the surrounding villages, there is several diving centers, offering scuba diving and snorkeling experiences. Someone may be qualified as a diver through the training programs or if already a diver, may follow a diving trip to explore the amazing underwater beauty of the Ionian Sea.

Lefkada is a windsurfers “Mekka”. The bay of Vassiliki is well known to the windsurfing community around the globe. The last years a new sport evolved. Kiteboarding is the new trend and Lefkada is again at the center of interest. Agios Ioannis (Mylos) beach, has become an international destination for kiteboarders. Both destinations, Vassiliki and Agios Ioannis, are easily accessible from Nydri, by car or local transportation.