Lefkada is known for its beaches with an unreal milky-blue color of the sea, white pebbles, and high cliffs. All such beaches are located on the western coast of Lefkada, but it must be noted that most of them are difficult to access and often have strong waves. Nevertheless, the beaches on the western coast are the reason for Lefkada’s popularity and the beaches that attract visitors to the island.
On the eastern coast of Lefkada, there are less impressive beaches, without turquoise sea, narrow and accessible, with transparent water that is ideal for divers. These are the beaches that do not draw people to Lefkada and are generally not found in tourist brochures, but they can be useful when you want to take a break from visiting popular beaches.
About of the beaches:
- Gira: a sandy spit with a beach bar and tavern, part of a lagoon, quieter and spacious, with organized areas with showers and a lifeguard
- Mili: famous for windmills, a long beach with pebbles and stones, less developed but authentic
- Agios Ioannis: long and wide beach, a combination of pebbles and stones in the water, often windy, popular for surfing and kitesurfing, with few amenities but a good location near the town
Upon arriving on the island, you will step directly into the main town of Lefkas. Lefkas boasts an impressive marina and therefore does not have a town beach, but already 2km from the town or a 20-minute walk west of the town, you will come across a large lagoon and a long beach that borders it.
This beach consists of three parts: Gira, Mili, and Agios Ioannis.
Gira
is actually a sandy spit located on the outer side of the lagoon. It features a tavern and beach bar with sun loungers and umbrellas. On the northern part of Gira, there are two small beaches behind which are the remains of an old abandoned factory. One is called Kastro because it is located across from the Agia Mavra fortress, and the other is at the very end of the spit and is named Ammoglossa (translated as sandy tongue). In this area, near Kastro, there are showers, cabins, and a lifeguard present every day. The beach is pebbly, and the water gets deep relatively quickly.
Mili
Continuing west from Gira, the beach Mili extends, named after the windmills located on it (the Greek word “mili” means windmills). Today, there are a total of four windmills, originally there were 12. They ground flour until the early 20th century, but they are now out of function.
Agios Ioannis
is located further along the Mili beach. Since many accommodation facilities, hotels, and villas have been built behind the beach, Agios Ioannis has become a proper tourist spot, with a long beach but with few amenities. There is a tavern on the beach, and only a part of it is organized. At the end of the beach, on a hill, there is a small church dedicated to Saint John, after whom this area is named. As mentioned, the beach is very long, mostly wide, and there are stone slabs or rocks in the water. In some parts, there is gravel that allows for a pleasant entry into the water. The shore is mostly fine gravel.
These three beaches are actually part of the same beach, which has three names for different sections due to its length of about 3km.
Agios Ioannis Beach has a beautiful turquoise sea color, but few visitors swim there mainly because of the almost constant wind, especially in the afternoon. This beach is popular among surfers, and therefore, at any time of the day, you can enjoy watching the skills of experienced surfers. Apart from windsurfing, kitesurfing is also popular, and every September a big competition in this sport is held here.
Agios Ioannis is a decent choice for a holiday destination because it is very close to the main town and all the amenities it offers, the beach is suitable for swimming, and some of the most popular beaches on the western coast are very close by. The beach is easily accessible by car, located next to the road where there is plenty of parking space.
