From Preveza Airport to Lefkada: Taxi, Bus or Rental Car?
Updated October 22, 2026 · 5 min read
Preveza airport, officially Aktion, is not on Lefkada but on the mainland, about 22 km from Lefkada Town, and it is a 20 to 30 minute drive. Rental desks are in the arrivals area, taxis wait outside, and a public bus stops outside the airport on the main road. Which of the three is right depends mostly on where on the island you are sleeping and whether you will want to leave it.
The short version
| Option | Cost (indicative) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | €35–45 to Lefkada Town, €55–65 to Nydri | two to four people with luggage, late arrivals |
| KTEL bus | about €3 to Lefkada Town | one traveller with time and light luggage |
| Rental car | see the offers | anyone staying more than a few days |
The taxi fares come from a 2023 travel-blog guide; the same guide quotes about €50–55 to Nikiana, €45–50 to Lygia, €85–95 to Vasiliki and €55–65 to Agios Nikitas. They may have changed, so agree the fare before you get in. The bus fare comes from a separate guide, which also puts the ride at roughly 40 minutes.
The bridge
The road from the mainland crosses into Lefkada at the canal near Lefkada Town. The bridge there swings open on a timetable to let boats through, which stops road traffic for ten to fifteen minutes each time. Opening times have changed in recent years and published schedules differ, so check the current ones if you are on a tight connection. In summer it is a known source of queues.
Taxi
There is a taxi rank outside the arrivals hall. A taxi takes you to the door, while the bus ends in town and you still have to reach your hotel. Book a private transfer in advance if you land late or with small children.
Bus
The bus is run by KTEL. The stop is not signposted inside the airport: walk out of arrivals, turn left past the taxi rank and the café, follow the exit road to the main road, and the shelter on the right is for buses towards Lefkada. A blog author who travelled in high season counted only six buses a day to Lefkada, with the last at about 8:45 pm, and found they are not timed to flights. Almost everyone then changes at Lefkada Town for onward buses on the island, and local fares there are usually under €2.50. If your flight is late in the day, do not count on the bus.
Rental car
Many of Lefkada’s best-known beaches lie on the west and south-west coast, and your own car makes them easier to reach. Collecting it at the airport saves the transfer. Compare rental cars at Preveza airport if you want it from the moment you land, or rental cars in Lefkada if you would rather pick one up on the island. Read the excess, deposit and fuel terms on the offer page before you choose; we have not checked them for this article.
A car also removes the problem that Porto Katsiki and Egremni raise, which we cover in Porto Katsiki and Egremni: by boat or by car?.
Without a car
Without a car, Nydri is the practical base. The boat trips leave from there, and whether hotel pickup is included is on each booking page; on several of the tours we looked at, it is explicitly excluded. Our cruise guides start from the harbour: island cruises from Nydri and boat trips from Lefkada. Taxis cover the rest.
Our recommendation
Take the taxi if you are a group of three or four or land late. Take the bus only if you travel alone, land in the morning and are staying in or near Lefkada Town. Rent a car if you want the beaches on the west coast, and book it for the days you need it, not the whole stay.
