Great Things to Do Near Melodia
Mikros Gialos Beach
Hop in the car and drive to the beach at Mikros Gialos. This beautiful sandy bay has a variety of bars and restaurants to explore as well as gorgeous white sands and turquoise waters to be enjoyed. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas here as well, so there’s no excuse to not relax!
Lefkada Town
Lefkada Town is the capital of the island. Like most Mediterranean capitals, you will find a charming labyrinth of streets with shops and restaurants in abundance. However, unlike many towns, Lefkada Town also has a glorious natural lagoon which fills with flamingos in the summer months, as well as a beautiful natural beach to the north of the town. From this beach you will have an amazing view of the mainland as well as Paxos and Anti Paxos. Spend a day exploring the area and don’t forget your camera!
Try scuba diving
Whether you’re an experienced diver or are just trying it out for the first time, Lefkas Diving Centre in Nikiana is able to offer internationally recognised diving courses, which teach you diving techniques, take you out to open water and let you dive freely around the impressive Lefkada coastline. Nautilus Diving Club in Nydri also offers diving experiences and certified courses. Their experiences range from a 4-5 hour session to courses lasting a few days.
Take a walk around the Dimosari waterfalls
Nestled into the hills and forests above the coastal village of Nydri, the Dimosari waterfalls are a haven of beauty and tranquillity. Put on your most comfortable shoes and spend the morning walking around and exploring this impressive landscape. The waterfalls form small pools among the rocks on the hillside, so take your swimwear with you as you may be tempted to take a dip in warm weather!
Papanikolis Sea Cave, Meganisi
This cave is the second largest cave in Greece and is believed to have been the hideaway for the Papanikolis submarine during the Second World War. The cave can only be reached from the water, and boats can be rented from Nydri on the east coast or from Sivota in the south.
Visit the island of Meganisi
Take a small ferry boat from Nydri harbour over to Meganisi for the day and explore its three traditional villages. The island is much smaller than Lefkada and has a population of about 2000 permanent residents. Once on the island it is possible to hire a bike and explore on two wheels, cycling from one village to the next and making the most of the impressive scenery and the local tavernas and bars!
The Gramophone and Radio Museum
Tucked behind the busy streets of Lefkada Town, you will find this charming museum with its collection of classic gramophones and radios. A lot of care has been taken to ensure these beautiful machines are kept in good condition. Look out for the sign on the main street in the town indicating the way to the museum.
Egremni Beach – one of the most beautiful in Greece!
Located on the west coast of the island, Egremni is a 2km stretch of white sand and cobalt blue waters and can either be accessed by boat from Vasiliki or Nydri, or by descending around 350 steps which take you down to the sand. You can park at the top of the steps. The seclusion and views from this beach will be worth the effort!
Aghia Mavra Castle
Although a lot of the ancient ruins on the island have been destroyed over the years by earthquakes, one of the structures still standing is the Castle of Aghia Mavra. This partially ruined fortress is located north of Lefkada Town, set between a beautiful natural lagoon and the sea. It was built in 1300 by Ioannis Orsini when he bought the island of Lefkada as a wedding gift for his bride and was primarily constructed as a first defence against invaders and pirates.
Bird watching at the Lefkada lagoons
The two lagoons that border Lefkada Town’s northern coastline, Divari and Ivaria, are an incredible habitat for many varieties of flora and fauna. The abundance of long light rushes and grasses provide the perfect shelter for many birds throughout the year, whilst some migratory breeds only arrive during the warm summer months. One special visitor are the pink flamingos, which use the waters for feeding between May and August while the weather is at its warmest. Other breeds you may spot at these sea lakes are cormorants, herons, swans and white egrets.
Rent a boat
Take advantage of the proximity to Sivota Bay and rent a boat for the day in order to visit the nearby islands of Skorpios or Meganisi, the beach at Mikros Gialos or the Papanikolis sea cave, also on Meganisi. Please be aware that you need a license to hire certain boats.
Visit Vasiliki…
Just 15 minutes away to the west you will find the bustling village of Vasiliki. If you are interested in water sports this is just the place for you! With clubs along the seafront offering surfing lessons and equipment rentals, Vasiliki has everything you need to practise your moves on the waves. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars here playing popular music, and designated areas on the beach for bathers.
The Faneromeni Monastery
Spend an afternoon exploring the Faneromeni Monastery, which is currently the only working monastery on the island. An annual festival is held here 50 days after Easter and a market is set up along the roadside. It is located near the village of Frini in the north of the island and its hilltop position affords wonderful views over Lefkada Town and across the sea to the mainland.
Spend a day on Ithaca…
Ithaca, the second smallest of all the islands in the Ionian Sea (after Paxos) is well known around the world from Homer's epic poems 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey' and his central hero Ulysses. You can catch the ferry from Vasiliki or from Nydri, which takes around an hour, and spend the day exploring this historic island full of tradition, legend and myth!
Try the local dishes…
Although we can buy ‘Greek’ produce in the UK, there is never anything as good as the real thing. Wherever possible, choose local and traditional dishes and sample the produce grown on the island. Seek out some deep fried feta cheese drizzled with honey as a starter, or try fresh tzatziki with fresh bread as a mid-afternoon snack.
Island of Skorpios
Take a boat day trip and sail around the famous island of Skorpios, once home to Aristotle Onassis and where he and his family are buried.
A Visit to Nikopolis in Preveza
As Lefkada is within easy reach of mainland Greece, it is absolutely feasible to drive over to Preveza and head for the World Heritage site of Nikopolis. You can visit the amazing museum and walk around the old city of Nikopolis.
Further away Arta
Easy to drive to from Lefkada is the town of Arta, with its famous stone bridge over the River Arachthos – although rebuilt many times over the centuries, the current bridge was an Ottoman construction from the early 17th century. The town also has a great selection of shops if you fancy some retail therapy.
