Getting from Astypalaia to Lefkada

If you are heading to Lefkada from Astypalaia you are making your way from a butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to an island in the Ionian Sea connected to the mainland by a causeway, on the opposite side of Greece. It has some of the finest beaches in Europe on its west coast with sheer white limestone cliffs dropping to turquoise water.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Astypalaia to Lefkada. Lefkada has no main ferry port connecting it to the wider Greek ferry network as it is linked to the mainland by a floating bridge. Getting there means taking the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus, which runs around 5 times a week and takes around 8 to 12 hours, and then driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada, which takes around 5 hours from Athens.

Getting there by air

Lefkada has no airport. The nearest airport is Preveza, around 22 kilometres from Lefkada Town, but it has no domestic connection from Athens. Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Astypalaia to Athens and then driving or taking the KTEL bus to Lefkada gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Astypalaia to Athens and drive or take the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada via the E65 motorway. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus and drive northwest to Lefkada, which takes around 5 hours from Athens.