Food, Wine & Olive Oil on Lefkada

Both work. By car it is a drive of roughly an hour from Lefkada Town on narrow mountain roads, followed by a walk down about 80 steps from the clifftop car park, and the climb back up is part of the day. Boats from Nydri and Vasiliki show the beach from the sea and spare the road, but a boat day is long and the swim stop does not always fall at the beach you came for. Check which stops a cruise lists before booking.

We cannot confirm it. The stairway has been damaged and repaired more than once since the 2015 earthquake, and sources disagree on its current state. Ask your accommodation or the local tourist office before you drive out; boat cruises from Nydri and Vasiliki are the dependable way to see it.

Nydri on the east coast is where most boat trips leave: the Meganisi, Skorpios and Madouri cruises, the swimming-pigs cruises and the full-day trips to Kefalonia and Ithaka. Vasiliki in the south is closer to Porto Katsiki and is known for windsurfing. The two are about 20 km apart, so pick the one near your hotel rather than crossing the island for a departure.

They are long: the listings run about nine hours, with a large share of that at sea. They suit people who want several islands in one day and are comfortable on a boat. If you only want a swim and a beach, a shorter Meganisi or Skorpios cruise gives you more time in the water. Check the stops on the booking page.

No. Most visitors fly to Aktion near Preveza on the mainland, which is roughly 20 to 30 minutes by road from Lefkada Town. A floating bridge connects the island to the mainland. Nydri is a further drive of about 17 km from Lefkada Town.

No. The west coast is exposed: in wind the waves are strong and swimming can be unsafe. The east coast around Nydri is more sheltered. Boat operators decide on the day, so a morning cancellation in strong wind is possible – book something with free cancellation.