The journey to Lefkada is a wonderful experience in itself!
Whether from Athens, Thessaloniki or Patras, the route offers stunning landscapes, ancient historical sites and delicious local flavors in magical mainland Greece.
Here is a collection of special recommendations for perfect stopovers that will enhance your journey, allow you to discover magical corners and start your vacation already on the way to our Greek paradise.
Get ready for an unforgettable journey combining culture, nature and authentic flavors on the way to the magical island of Lefkada.
Corinth Canal
One of the most impressive engineering marvels in Greece, connecting the Aegean Sea to the Gulf of Corinth and creating a significant maritime shortcut between Italy and Athens. Dug through the narrow isthmus connecting the Peloponnese peninsula to mainland Greece, the canal is characterized by stunning vertical rock walls rising up to 90 meters high.
The canal, which is 6.4 kilometers long, 25 meters wide and 8 meters deep, represents an exceptional engineering achievement completed in 1893, though the idea for its construction was born in ancient times during Emperor Nero’s era. Visitors can marvel at the impressive canal from several viewpoints – the most prominent being the pedestrian bridge in the center of the canal, allowing a view from above of the blue waters flowing between the steep rock walls.
For those interested in a unique experience, there is an option to cruise the canal using tourist boats departing from the small port at Isthmia, or experience thrilling extreme sports with bungee jumping from the central bridge.
Near the Corinth Canal you can also visit the archaeological site of Ancient Corinth and see the temples and monuments from the Greek and Roman periods, as well as enjoy select fish restaurants offering local delicacies with a view of the canal.
The Corinth Canal is a must-stop on the way from Athens to Lefkada, providing both a fascinating history lesson and an unforgettable visual experience!
Delphi Town
The town is a mythological historical site “home of the Oracle” from ancient Greek times. The location of the Oracle of Delphi is the most important site and is considered by many as the site of greatest archaeological importance in all of Greece. Delphi town itself is a small commercial city, located on a cliff edge and providing stunning views of the surrounding area. It has small hotels and colorful shops – it’s worth visiting the Delphi Museum which contains a wonderful collection of ancient sculptures and the entire archaeological site including the “Temple of Apollo” and the hippodrome.
Suitable for travelers who decide to spend a night in Athens and then continue to Lefkada, as this extends the route somewhat. Highly recommended!
The villages Elaionas Diakopto
On the northern route from the Corinth Canal you can find several picturesque coastal villages including the villages Elaioas Diakopto.
The distance between the two villages is 22 km so the travel time is about an hour.
We recommend stopping here for the night and traveling on the mountain railway between Diakopro and Kalavrita.
The mountain railway or its local name “Odontotos” (Greek: tooth) travels between mountains inside Greece’s second rock canyon, climbing the narrow and fantastic gorge into the mountains. The journey is so beautiful and special the train passes through tunnels, streams, waterfalls, and rare landscapes.
Simply a Recommended Experience!
Patras City
Greece’s third largest city on the way to Lefkada, the city is located in northwest Peloponnese, on the Ionian Sea coast.
The city has over 200,000 residents. It is one of the maritime and land trade cities with a large and thriving port. The city concentrates maritime trade routes from the Adriatic and Ionian seas – a regular ferry line from Italy and traffic from the Rio-Antirrio bridge.
The city has an abundance of restaurants, cafes, tavernas and shopping centers.
There is a market operating on weekends near “Psila Alonia” square – a playground area in the city and a famous carnival held in the city between February-March.
The most prominent site in Patras is the Roman theater which has been restored and serves as an open theater for performances and concerts during summer periods. There are also ruins of a Venetian fortress, a remnant from its rule in the city during the 18th century overlooking the city and now serving as an open site.
After crossing the large bridge of “Patras” turning left at the gas stations you can stop for souvlaki, cheese börek and other local delicacies
Rio-Antirrio Bridge
After your stay in Patras, it’s recommended to drive about 50 minutes on the highway toward the Interio bridge (“the suspension bridge”) and through Rio port take a car ferry (at a lower cost than the toll bridge) to the other side of the bridge to continue the journey toward Lefkada via Messolongi.
On the way to Lefkada, a stop in Diakopto can be a refreshing experience as well as continuing the journey allowing observation of the suspension bridge from the ferry taking only 20 minutes and thus enjoying sea breeze and rest.
Aitoliko Island
After crossing the Patras – Rio bridge on the way to Lefkada island, it’s worth stopping at Aitoliko island or as the locals call it “Bird Island”.
A special island that “sits” within a freshwater lagoon and is connected to the mainland on all sides by two bridges, the island is actually one large town housing around 10,000 residents.
On the island you can visit local tavernas and restaurants, enjoy the green nature on the island and the various bird species.
Definitely Worth a Visit!
Amfilochia Town
A municipality in the northwestern part of Greece located at the foot of mountains and at the edge of Ambracian Gulf right on the road leading to Lefkada island.
On the promenade you can sit and enjoy the view at local cafes and restaurants, beside the dock fishermen unload the day’s catch from colorful fishing boats which is transferred fresh to the tavernas.
The city has elementary schools, middle school and high school which children and teenagers from the entire region attend, with church bells ringing in the background.
Definitely Worth it as a Last Stop before Arriving at Lefkada Island!
Lefkada Town
The capital city of Lefkada island can definitely be the last stopping point right after crossing the bridge to the island.
There you can stop to eat at excellent tavernas at good prices or drink coffee at one of the cafes in the area.
You can also visit the markets in the city and enjoy a shopping trip, a photography tour of the city’s colors, a walk along the promenade dock, be impressed by the abundance of sailboats and yachts dotting the marina or simply take a short stroll on the pedestrian street.
