“Lefkada is one of the seven islands of the Ionian Sea, along with Corfu, Paxi, Kefallonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos, and Kythira, and it’s one of the very few in Greece that you don’t need a boat to reach. It’s a five-hour trip from Athens, so arm yourself with patience, but if your vacation is about great beaches, this is where to go. The first place to visit should be the village of Agios Nikitas, where a pedestrian road with taverns and hotels on each side leads to a small, colorful beach. From there, you can swim or snorkel to the cape and reach the first “major beach” of the island, Mylos, which has beautiful flat sand and turquoise waters. You should also visit Egremni beach—lots of people consider it one of the two best beaches in Greece, along with Elafonisi in southern Crete. The steep cliffs (which is what egremni means in Greek) come down to meet thick sand and light blue sea for the most impressive scenery I’ve ever seen.”—Vasilis, engineer
Did you know: Lefkada is one of the most popular islands in Greece for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and routinely draws professional athletes. Take a lesson in the small bay at Vasiliki, one of the best places in the country to learn.