Getting from Chania to Lefkada

If you are heading to Lefkada from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities 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.

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. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada, which takes around 5 hours from Athens via the E65 motorway, gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Chania to Lefkada. Lefkada has no main ferry port as it is linked to the mainland by a floating bridge. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus, which takes around 8 to 9 hours, and then driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada, which takes around 5 hours from Athens. The total journey takes the better part of two days.

Your best option

Fly from Chania 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 overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and drive northwest to Lefkada, which takes around 5 hours from Athens.