🪪 The island at a glance
📍 Where it is
Meganisi lies in the Ionian Sea, east of Lefkada, opposite Nydri. From Nydri the ferry reaches Spilia in about 25 minutes and Vathy a little later. To get to Nydri, fly from Athens to Aktion airport, near Preveza, or go by bus or car to Lefkada, which is linked to the mainland by a bridge.
📍 Where Meganisi is
Meganisi lies in the Ionian Sea, a few kilometres east of Lefkada. The island is shown in red, and Athens airport and Aktion airport, from where you go on to Nydri, in green.
🗺️ The map of the island
Meganisi has an irregular shape, with many bays and headlands. On the north coast is Spilia, the harbour where the ferry arrives, with Spartochori above it. To the east is Katomeri, the capital, and below it its harbour, Vathy. A road links the villages and reaches the beaches, while the southern half of the island is almost empty, with hills and footpaths.
🗺️ Map of Meganisi
Meganisi has many bays, and across the water lies Lefkada with Nydri. On the north coast is Spilia, where the ferry arrives, with Spartochori above it. To the east is Katomeri with its harbour, Vathy, and nearby Atherinos and Fanari. Agios Ioannis is on the west coast and Papanikolis Cave on the south. Tap each number to see what it is.
Map: United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1866 (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
⚖️ Is it worth it? The pros and cons
Meganisi is for people who want peace, greenery and calm sea, not nightlife. Here is an honest picture.
📊 At a glance, from 1 to 5
👍 The pros
- A green island with pines, olive trees and sheltered bays.
- Very close to Lefkada, with ferries many times a day.
- Quiet villages and tavernas by the sea.
- Sea caves and islets to reach by boat.
- Ideal for a trip by motorboat or sailing boat.
👎 The cons
- Few beaches, and small ones.
- At midday the excursion boats arrive from Nydri.
- Few places to stay and almost no nightlife.
- You need a car or scooter for the beaches.
🏘️ Spartochori and Spilia
Spartochori is built on a hill above the bay of Spilia. It has narrow paved lanes, courtyards full of flowers and a square with the village church. From up here you see the sailing boats in the bay and, across the water, Lefkada and Skorpios.
Below, Spilia is the harbour where the ferry from Nydri docks, with a marina for boats, tavernas and a small beach. From Spilia a flight of steps and a road climb up to the village in a few minutes.
The harbour below Spartochori.
The view from Spartochori.
The village above the bay.
Water like a lake.
The village square.
Stone and bells.
Flowers and statues.
Paving stones and flowers.
Moored at the jetty.
Photos: TheFatDrummer (CC BY-SA 4.0), Upp75 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Panayotis Vryonis (CC BY-SA 2.0), Paul Lakin (CC BY 3.0) · Wikimedia Commons
⛵ Katomeri and Vathy
Katomeri is the island’s capital, a quiet inland village among olive trees. Below it, Vathy is the second harbour, in a deep, sheltered bay, with fishing boats, sailing boats and tavernas right on the water. The ferry from Nydri stops here too.
Nearby is Atherinos, an enclosed bay like a lake, where boats moor for the night. The island has always lived from the sea: many islanders were sailors, and even today fishermen bring in octopus and fish every morning.
An enclosed bay.
The harbour of Katomeri.
The fishermen's boats.
Tables by the water.
Morning at sea.
Fresh from the sea.
Blue water and green.
Photos: TheFatDrummer (CC BY-SA 4.0), Paul Lakin (CC BY 3.0), Ian Muirhead (CC BY-SA 3.0), 7777777kz (CC BY 3.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🏖️ The beaches and Papanikolis Cave
Meganisi’s beaches are small, with pebbles or a little sand and calm, clear water. The favourite is Fanari, near Katomeri, with trees for shade. On the west coast, Agios Ioannis is the biggest beach, looking across to Lefkada. At Atherinos and in other bays there are small beaches with nobody around.
On the south coast, Papanikolis Cave is a large sea cave. It is named after the submarine Papanikolis, which, so the story goes, hid here during the Second World War. You can only get there by boat or on the excursion boats from Nydri. By boat you can also reach the islet of Thilia and pass by Skorpios, the private island that once belonged to Aristotle Onassis.
- Fanari: sand and trees, near Katomeri.
- Agios Ioannis: the biggest beach, on the west coast.
- Atherinos: calm water in an enclosed bay.
- Spilia: a small beach at the harbour.
- Thilia: an islet for a swim, by boat.
The favourite beach.
Shallow, turquoise water.
Turquoise between the headlands.
You go in by boat.
Pines down to the water.
An islet for a swim.
Onassis’s island.
By the water.
From Nydri.
An island full of bays.
Photos: TheFatDrummer (CC BY-SA 4.0), Cascafico (CC0), Sarantis Karydas (CC BY-SA 4.0), Mickey Løgitmark (CC BY 3.0), spheeris (CC BY 3.0), Tomisti (CC BY-SA 4.0), Alf van Beem (CC0), Cabeza2000 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
In Spilia, Vathy and Nydri you can rent small boats that need no licence. It is the best way to see the caves and the empty bays. Set off early, before the afternoon wind picks up.
🍽️ What to eat
In the tavernas of Spilia and Vathy you will find fresh fish, octopus, small squid and home-cooked dishes. The olive oil comes from the island’s own trees. Also try the specialities of Lefkada: the Eglouvi lentils, small lentils from a mountain village on Lefkada, and Lefkada salami.
📅 When to go
June and September are the best months, with warm sea and few people. In August the bays fill with boats and at midday the excursion boats arrive from Nydri, but the villages stay quiet. The Ionian is greener than the Aegean, but it can rain in spring and autumn.
✈️ How to get there from Athens
| How | Duration | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane and ferry | About 1 hour to Aktion, plus 45 minutes by road and 25 minutes by ferry | Athens airport | Fly to Aktion and take a taxi or drive to Nydri. |
| Bus and ferry | About 5 hours to Lefkada, plus the trip to Nydri | Kifissos bus station | Buses every day to Lefkada town. |
From Ioulianou 50, Athens airport is an hour away on metro Line 3. The ferry from Nydri runs many times a day to Spilia and Vathy, and it also takes cars. On the island a car or scooter helps, but distances are short. Meganisi is easy to combine with Lefkada: see also our guide to Lefkada.
🗓️ Three days on Meganisi
Spartochori and Spilia
Take the ferry to Spilia and walk up to Spartochori, for the lanes and the view. In the afternoon swim at Agios Ioannis and, in the evening, have dinner in Spilia.
Katomeri and Vathy
Go to Katomeri and down to Vathy for a coffee by the harbour. Swim at Fanari and Atherinos, and in the evening have fish at the tavernas in Vathy.
By boat around the island
Rent a boat or take an excursion boat around the island. Go into Papanikolis Cave, swim at Thilia and pass by Skorpios.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Meganisi as a day trip from Lefkada?
Yes, easily. Take the morning ferry from Nydri, walk around Spartochori, swim at a beach and go back in the afternoon. You can also take your car across.
Where should I stay on Meganisi?
In Spartochori or Spilia, for the view and the harbour. In Vathy or Katomeri, for peace and quiet, tavernas on the water and nearby beaches.
How do I get to Papanikolis Cave?
Only from the sea: with a boat you rent, on your own boat, or on the excursion boats that leave from Nydri and go around Meganisi.
How many days do I need?
One day is enough for a quick look, but two to three days let you enjoy the villages, the beaches and a boat trip.
— Kathy
