Meganisi, Greece: The Green Ionian Island near Lefkada

The island and its villages

Meganisi lies south-east of Lefkada, a fertile, lush island reached by ferry or tour boat from Nidri on Lefkada's east coast, with several smaller islets - Sparti, Skorpidi and Skorpios (Onassis island) - scattered in between. It has three villages. Vathi, the small capital, sits in a deep northern bay with views across to Skorpios, a handful of shops and tavernas and the pebble coves of Pasoumaki and Porto Abelaki nearby. Spartochori, west of Vathi, stands high above its little harbour of Spilia, a 10-minute climb rewarded with wide views over Lefkada. Katomeri, a 15-minute walk south of Vathi, is the most traditional, with tavernas, a bakery and a petrol station.

The beaches of Meganisi

Meganisi has many small, lovely beaches, most of them pebble and without facilities, so bring your own water and shade. Spilia Beach, about a kilometer from Spilia harbour, is the best known - white pebbles, crystal-clear water, a couple of tavernas and rarely crowded. Agios Ioannis, a long narrow beach on the west side, is reached on foot from Spartochori, while Megalo and Micro Limonari near Katomeri are more sandy, and Fanari near Vathi is a quiet, picturesque pebble beach. Several of the finest coves can only be reached by boat.

Sights of Meganisi

The most famous sight is the Papanikolis Sea Cave, the second-largest sea cave in Greece, which local legend says once hid a Greek submarine during the Second World War. The coastal road between Katomeri, Vathi and Spartochori is ideal for walks and bicycle rides, and footpaths and goat trails lead inland to remote corners with wonderful views over the sea, the mainland and Lefkada.

Getting to Meganisi

Visitors fly to Aktion (Preveza) airport on the mainland, an international airport with direct European connections, then drive or take a taxi about an hour to Nidri on Lefkada - which is joined to the mainland by a bridge - and cross by ferry, roughly 20 minutes to Spartochori and another 10 to Vathi.

Where to stay on Meganisi

Rokka Villas

Rokka Villas offer self-catering, stone-built villas with a private pool and Ionian Sea and mountain views, 2 kilometers from Spilia Beach and set in a 700-square-metre garden with barbecue. Each air-conditioned villa has traditional furnishings, beamed ceilings, a seating area with fireplace and flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen and a spa bath. Restaurants and shops are 500 metres away, and the island is reached by a 15-minute boat trip from Nidri or by sea taxi, with free parking on site.

Esperides Resort Hotel

Esperides Resort Hotel is built on the slopes of a green hill facing the sea, so every room has a majestic view over the Ionian and the legendary island of Skorpios. It stands 500 metres from the traditional village of Spartochori and 6 kilometers from the port of Vathi, combining quiet with easy access to island life, and its Mesogeios Hall can host conferences and events for up to 250 people.