# Meganisi, Greece: The Green Ionian Island near Lefkada > Meganisi is a small, green Ionian island just south-east of Lefkada, still untouched by mass tourism. Guide to its three villages, the beaches, the Papanikolis sea cave, getting there and where to stay. | | | |---|---| | Sea | Ionian | | Size | 20 km² | | Population | ~3,000 | | Villages | Vathi · Spartochori · Katomeri | **Meganisi is a small, green island in the Ionian Sea just south-east of Lefkada, still untouched by mass tourism, with three traditional villages, quiet pebble coves and hidden beaches reached only by boat.** Its name means "the largest" - it is the biggest of the little islands scattered off Lefkada - and with a little luck you can still find a cove of your own on this fertile, lush island inhabited since the time of Homer. _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ _Photo: Meganisi, Ionian, Greece_ ## 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 _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ _Photo: Rokka Villas, Meganisi_ 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. [Check availability & book](#) ### Esperides Resort Hotel _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ _Photo: Esperides Resort Hotel, Spartochori, Meganisi_ 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. [Check availability & book](#) --- Source: [Meganisi, Greece: The Green Ionian Island near Lefkada](https://fly2greece.net/meganisi.html) — fly2greece.net, an independent guide to Greece written and photographed by Hans Huisman since 2000. Reviewed July 2026.