Thinking of booking a trip to Nikiana on Lefkada (also known as Lefkas)? Here’s what to expect from this small and friendly resort.
Where is it?
Nikiana is on the east coast of Lefkada, south of Ligia and north of Nydri.
For an overview of all the resort towns on the island, check out Lefkada Resort Guide.
What’s the vibe like?
Nikiana is a small harbour town and beach resort set in lush green scenery. It’s particularly popular with sailors, with facilities for both yachts and dinghies.
The main coastal road runs right through the village. The northern end is home to the harbour and marina which is lined with a handful of cafes and restaurants. Around the headland is the southeast-facing beach. There are a few blocks of accommodation in the triangle between the two.
It’s compact and quieter than Nydri and Vassiliki, and the beach is also much smaller. It has a slightly upmarket vibe due to the sailing and tends to attract older couples and families with teenagers who enjoy the watersports on offer, as well as Greeks with holiday homes.
It’s ideal for those looking for a relaxing destination with good scenery and watersports.
What’s the beach like?
The main beach in Nikiana is a 600m narrow strip of pebbles and shingle. There are some sandier parts and some rockier parts. The water is crystal clear.
As with most of the beaches on Lefkada’s east coast, there are many trees directly on the beach providing shade. There’s no path or road alongside the beach, nor wooden decking.
There’s just about enough room for one row of sunbeds along most of the beach, belonging to the hotels located behind.
The widest section of the beach is home to NV Beach Bar which is popular with visiting Italians. It has good cocktails and comfort in spades (daybeds and bean bags as well as the thick mattress-style loungers) but does seem somewhat at odds with Nikiana’s low-key and natural atmosphere.
To the north of the harbour is Episkopos Beach which is much bigger, especially at its northern end. There is parking if you prefer to drive.
Activities and amenities
Watersports are the name of the game here.
There’s an RYA sailing school at Nikiana Beach Club which offers lessons and rentals for dinghy and multihull sailing, windsurfing, powerboating, kayaking and SUP. Packages are available including solo traveller weeks with no single supplement.
Lefkas Diving School is located at the south end of Nikiana and offers both entry-level and advanced courses as well as dive trips.
Most of the restaurants are located around the harbour. Along the main road, you’ll find amenities including car rental and a supermarket, plus a few bakeries and fast food joints.
Lefkada Town, Lygia and Nydri are all an easy bus ride/taxi away if you feel the need for a change of scene or wider range of eateries.
Transport and accessibility
From the airport:
Nikiana is a 40-minute drive from Preveza-Aktion International Airport. Taxis cost €50-55.
Public transport:
Nikiana is served by Lefkada’s KTEL bus service – check the KTEL website for timetables and routes. The bus stop is on the main road – there’s no shelter, just a sign.
Buses run fairly frequently throughout the day to Lefkada Town along the east coast. You can connect here for other services. The bus is geared towards locals and is of limited use for visiting the island’s popular west coast beaches, although in high season there’s a bus which continues on from Lefkada Town to Agios Nikitas and Kathisma. In the other direction, the bus will take you to Nydri and occasionally on to Vassiliki.
Single bus tickets tend to be around €1.60-2.20. A taxi from Nikiana to Lefkada Town will cost you €15-20.
To reach the airport by bus you’ll have to connect in Lefkada Town with a bus running to the airport and Preveza. These aren’t quite as frequent as you might imagine and don’t necessarily coincide with airport departures and arrivals.
Accessibility:
Nikiana is mostly flat but there is a gentle slope uphill at the southern end and some accommodation behind the main road may require steps or an uphill walk.
There’s parking at either end of the harbour but you can’t directly access the main beach by car. Side paths to the beach are narrow with rough paving and some steps. The road running along the harbour is closed to vehicles in the evening.
The nearest Sea Trac for wheelchair access to the sea is at Lygia.
Prices
Nikiana has an increasing number of upmarket accommodation options but apart from that (and NV Beach Bar) prices are average for Lefkada.
Where to stay
Nikiana is home to one of Lefkada’s most stylish boutique hotels, 4-star Crystal Waters. It’s a 10-minute walk to the main part of town. Rooms are modern boho chic and some have private plunge pools.
Nikiana Beach Club has a hotel (and pool) right on the beach, packages of watersports + flights + accommodation are available. It also runs a kids’ club during the UK school holidays.
KN Ionian Suites are located between the beach and the harbour. There’s a pool and airy modern rooms.
White Rock Villas Nikiana are a 15-minute walk south.
Aparthotel Daniel Beach has traditional studios right on the southern end of the beach.
Serenity Retreat runs wellness weeks for solo travellers with beachfront accommodation.
Read more about Lefkada:
Where to Stay on Lefkada: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
10 Most Beautiful Beaches on Lefkada
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