Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
Lefkada is separated from the mainland by a channel a few hundred metres wide, crossed by a causeway and a floating bridge that swings aside on the hour to let boats through. You drive onto the island.
The three ways
By car. West on the motorway to Antirrio, over the Rio-Antirrio bridge, then north on the Ionia motorway, or the older coast road. Roughly four to five hours from Athens, almost all of it dual carriageway, and the last stretch is the good bit.
By bus. KTEL runs from Athens to Lefkada town direct. It is a long ride and it goes through, so no changes. See getting around Greece for how the KTEL network works, which is unlike any other bus system you have used.
By air. Fly Athens to Preveza/Aktion (PVK), about twenty minutes’ drive from the bridge. It is the airport most international charters to Lefkada use, and in summer it is served from across Europe.
Why this matters for the trip
Because you drive on, you keep your car, which changes what Lefkada is for. The island’s best beaches are on the west coast under white cliffs, reached by steep roads down: Porto Katsiki, Egremni, Kathisma. Without a car you see very little of them.
It also makes Lefkada the easiest Ionian island to combine with the mainland: Preveza, Parga, Sivota and the whole of Epirus are on the same road.
Onward by sea
From Lefkada’s own ports the boats go to the small islands: Meganisi from Nydri, and Kalamos and Kastos from Mytikas just up the coast. Ithaca and Kefalonia are reachable in season.
Lefkada is also the main sailing charter base in the Ionian. See sailing in Greece.
Practical notes
- The floating bridge opens on a schedule to let masts through, which delays traffic for a few minutes. Do not plan an airport run with zero slack.
- August traffic on the island’s single western road is genuinely slow.
- Fill up on the mainland. Fuel is easier on the motorway than on the island.
Last checked August 2026. Bus and flight schedules change seasonally - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Is there a ferry from Athens to Lefkada?
No. Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a causeway and a floating bridge, so the journey is by road or by air.
How long does it take to drive from Athens to Lefkada?
Roughly four to five hours, mostly on motorway via the Rio-Antirrio bridge and then north.
Which airport serves Lefkada?
Preveza, also called Aktion (PVK), about twenty minutes from the bridge, with domestic flights from Athens and summer charters from across Europe.
Do you need a car on Lefkada?
Strongly recommended. The best beaches are on the west coast down steep roads, and without a car you will see a small fraction of the island.
Can you get from Lefkada to the other Ionian islands?
Yes. Boats run to Meganisi from Nydri, to Kalamos and Kastos from nearby Mytikas, and seasonally to Ithaca and Kefalonia.
Next
Read Lefkada, Meganisi, or sailing in Greece.