Here is the happiest surprise about Lefkada, and the thing that catches most first-time visitors off guard: you don't take a ferry. Lefkada is the one Ionian island joined to the Greek mainland by a short causeway and a small floating bridge, so you simply drive on. That changes everything about planning a trip here — no sailings to miss, no schedules to build a holiday around. This is how to arrive, and how to get about once you have.
The short version
- No ferry. A causeway and a swing bridge connect Lefkada to the mainland — you drive straight across.
- Nearest airport: Aktion / Preveza (airport code PVK), roughly 30 minutes from the island.
- From Athens: about a four-hour drive, or a domestic hop to PVK.
- On the island: you'll want a hire car, especially for the quiet south-east coast.
Flying in: Aktion / Preveza (PVK)
The closest airport is Aktion National Airport, usually listed under Preveza and the code PVK. It sits on the mainland just north of the island, and from the terminal it's only around 30–40 minutes to the bridge, then on down the coast to us. Through the summer season PVK takes direct charter and scheduled flights from across the UK and northern Europe, which makes it by far the easiest way in for most of our guests — bags off the belt and you can be at the villa pool inside a couple of hours.
If you can't find a convenient PVK flight, the next nearest options are Kefalonia (EFL, reached by a short ferry plus a drive) and Corfu (CFU, a longer ferry hop). For most people, though, PVK is the obvious choice — book it first and build the trip around it.
Driving from Athens
If you're combining Lefkada with time on the mainland, or flying into Athens, the drive west is straightforward and genuinely scenic — roughly four hours on good motorway most of the way. You'll cross the Rio–Antirrio bridge near Patras (a toll road), follow the coast up towards Amfilochia and Vonitsa, and arrive at the causeway from the south. It's an easy, well-signed run; allow a little extra for a coffee stop and the tolls, and you'll roll onto the island relaxed.
Athens also has frequent domestic flights to PVK if you'd rather not drive the whole way — handy if you're landing long-haul into Athens and want to be at the coast the same day.
Why you'll want a hire car
Lefkada has buses between the main towns, but the magic of this island is in its quiet corners — the hidden coves, the mountain villages, the tavernas down a single-track lane — and those reward having your own wheels. Our two houses sit on the peaceful south-east coast, away from the resort strip, so a car turns "a lovely spot, but a bit out of the way" into "ten minutes from three different beaches and your own private pool." For a relaxed week of swimming, lunching and exploring, a hire car isn't a luxury here; it's the thing that unlocks the place.
Pick the car up at PVK on arrival — it's the simplest plan, and it means you're independent from the moment you land. A compact car is ample for two; a family will be glad of a slightly larger boot for the beach kit. We're happy to recommend the local firms we trust and can have a car waiting; just ask when you book.
Reserve your hire car early for July and August — the island's fleet is small and the good-value local agencies sell out weeks ahead in peak season. Booking a few months out, rather than on arrival, can save you both the stress and a noticeably higher walk-up rate.
The access roads to the south-east
Once you're over the bridge, the main road runs down the east coast through Lygia and Nidri before the lane peels off towards Poros and Mikros Gialos. The roads down here are paved and perfectly fine for a normal hire car — the last stretch to the villas is a quiet country lane with a few bends and a gentle climb, the kind of approach that tells you you've left the crowds behind. Only very low-slung sports cars need to take the final slope slowly; everything else makes it up with ease.
- From PVK to the villas: roughly 50–60 minutes, all on good road.
- From the bridge: follow signs for Nidri, then Poros / Mikros Gialos.
- Last leg: a quiet country lane — easy in any standard car, just take the final climb steadily.
We'll send you a simple pin and door-to-door directions before you travel, so the final turns are stress-free even after a long day.
Stay nearby
When you arrive, you'll want somewhere worth the drive. Cavos Villa sits above the bay of Mikros Gialos, and Villa Anatoli on its ridge above Poros — both an easy hour from PVK, both with a pool and the quiet south-east coast at the bottom of the garden.