Thinking of booking a trip to Nydri on Lefkada (also known as Lefkas)? Here’s what to expect from this popular tourist resort and harbour town.
Where is it?
Nydri (sometimes spelt Nidri) is in the middle of the east coast of Lefkada, south of Nikiana.
What’s the vibe like?
Thanks to its superb natural harbour and vibrant buzz, Nydri is unsurprisingly a major hotspot for yachties and boat trips in the Ionian Islands.
It has a 222-berth marina and plenty of space for anchoring. Lively bars and tavernas line the waterfront and the main road which is one block back.
But it’s not completely dominated by sailing. Nydri attracts a wide range of visitors from different countries and age groups, including plenty of domestic tourists. As the island is connected by a bridge to the mainland, it’s an easy road trip from Athens and an island journey that doesn’t require expensive ferry fees for taking a vehicle.
Lefkada is also popular with visitors from Italy and the Balkans for the same reason. And it’s one of the top destinations in Lefkada for Brits on a package tour too, as Jet2 and now Ryanair fly to nearby Preveza airport.
The southern end of Nydri is where you’ll find the marina and plenty of spacious guesthouses with pool bars open to the public playing classics for the slightly older crowd. There are some great tavernas around here, some right on the water. The bars aimed at a younger crowd are on the main street around Maraboo Beach.
What’s the beach like?
Nydri isn’t necessarily known for its beaches but they’re better than you might expect, especially if you prefer to stay just a few steps from the sea.
The main town beach is just north of the harbour and is the liveliest stretch. It’s a pebble beach though sandy in parts once you’re in the water. The beach is narrow with two rows of sunbeds which do fill up quickly. There are plenty of trees right on the beach providing welcome shade.
One of the best things about the Nydri seaside is the wonderful view of the islands in the bay as well as the mountains of the distant mainland. And Lefkada’s lush green scenery behind ensures the sea is a wonderful emerald colour.
There are numerous beach bars, restaurants, and shady gardens attached to hotels, with sunbeds for rent where the gardens meet the sea – you’ll pay a premium for the nice spots. Watersports are available and there’s a lifeguard.
It’s split in two by a small headland where you’ll find Kavvadas Watersports, just next to the popular Maraboo Beach Bar. The northern section is a little quieter and widens out towards a small stream with a little bridge.
Keep going over the bridge and you’ll reach Perigiali Beach (also known as Passa Beach), a quieter affair with a bit more space to spread out. Tall trees provide shade. It has a more family-friendly vibe and is popular with locals thanks to the parking options, free sections of the beach, and kids’ playground. You can tell from all the photos below that this is my favourite bit.
There’s one beach bar – Sail Inn – which plays electronic music and has day beds and upmarket cuisine, but the rest of the establishments on the beach are quiet tavernas and cafes.
Sunbeds belonging to hotels are sometimes reserved for guests, and sometimes available to non-guests for a higher charge. Most establishments have a sign displaying pricing information.
Activities and amenities
Nydri is a seasonal town with good tourist infrastructure and the 2km main road is packed with amenities including pharmacies (and a doctor), bakeries, souvenir shops, boutiques, rental agencies, mini-markets, tour agencies, fast food, ice-cream, restaurants and bars.
In terms of activities, boat trips and watersports reign supreme here. Take an evening stroll along the harbour and check out the boat trips on offer.
If you’re looking to visit some of Lefkada’s stunning cliff beaches on the west coast there are several itineraries which include Egremni and Porto Katsiki (and sometimes Agiofili). Boats which visit only these beaches are less common, although they do run on some days. Most itineraries include some of the smaller islands and swim spots too.
I loved my trip on MS Christina – Forgotten Islands Cruise and reckon it’s the best boat trip in town – it costs a little bit more than the others but is well worth it.
If you’re looking for a smaller boat the paddleboard cruise comes highly recommended (paddleboarding is optional).
Private boat rentals are available in the harbour too.
Ferries run throughout the day to the neighbouring island Meganisi, making a quick trip cheap and easy.
There are several watersports operators along the beaches – as well as inflatables, pedaloes, and kayaks, you can also try high-octane activities like fly board, e-foil, jetskis, and parasailing.
If you fancy a bit of a hike then the beautiful Nydri Waterfalls (or Dimosari) are a few kilometres away. It’s possible to walk from Nydri (it is all uphill) but there’s also a car park and cafe closer to the falls which cuts the walk down to 20 minutes. It’s worth noting that in the hottest months of the year, the water flow might completely dry up.
Transport and accessibility
From the airport:
Nydri is a 45-minute drive from Preveza-Aktion International Airport. Taxis cost €60-70.
Public transport:
Nydri is served by Lefkada’s KTEL bus service – check the KTEL website for timetables and routes. The main bus stop is just outside the town hall (note: this is a 10-minute walk from the main part of the harbour).
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.
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:
Although surrounded by hills, Nydri itself is completely flat. All of the amenities are along the main road or the harbourfront, and accommodation tends to be along small side streets. Part of the main strip is pedestrianised in the afternoon and evening (or at least it tries to be) but overall it’s wide and relatively well-paved for Greece.
There is no road or path running alongside the beach. Many side streets leading to the beach are dirt tracks or small roads in between hotels that have direct beach access. Most parts of the beach with sunbeds have wooden slat boardwalks.
There is no Sea Trac in Nydri, the nearest ones are at Lygia and Mikros Gialos.
Parking options are reasonable but not along the main road. There are several paid car parks in the town centre, but many hotels in the busiest part of town have their own parking spaces. At the quieter ends of town, there’s plenty of space on the road for parking – although it does get busy with out-of-towners at the weekends.
Prices
Accommodation prices in Nydri are good value considering it has an international airport nearby and attracts holidaymakers from around Europe. But a room in Nydri is more expensive than many other places on the island.
The restaurants and bars in the busiest part of the harbour are slightly above average for Greece, but you can find value in the tavernas at the quieter ends of town.
Some sun loungers (namely the newer-style mattress ones and those closest to town) charge up to €25 for a pair for the day, but equally there are many establishments offering free sunbed use or with a minimum spend at their snack bar. In quieter times negotiation is usually possible.
Best places to stay in Nydri
Nydri is a long and low-rise resort that hugs 3 small bays. The main road stretches on for around 2km, with the (sometimes) pedestrianised strip in the centre.
There are no major hotels, accommodation here is mostly in traditional family-run hotels (2 and 3-star level) and studios. The rooms tend to be similar but it’s worth checking the reviews as they will vary on points like wi-fi, breakfast, parking, and bed comfort.
The main road can be a little noisy at night, although traffic (scooter and motorbike) noise is more of an issue than thumping music. Still, it’s recommended to stay off the main road unless you know it has good soundproofing.
Boutique options are a bit thin on the ground so the stylish 13 Keys Suites stands out with its whitewashed minimalist decor. A few suites with private pools or hot tubs are available.
Beachfront hotels close to the centre of Nydri include:
- Eva Beach Hotel (recently renovated but be aware the sunbeds, pictured above, and AC are charged separately)
- Orion Hotel
- Avra Beach Hotel
- Hotel Nydri Beach
- Avli Studios
- Akrogiali Studios (the bargain)
For a quieter beach-focused stay with more space look around Perigiali Beach, which is my favourite part of Nydri. There are several establishments right on the beach including:
- Palmyra Beachfront Studios
- Sea View Hotel Apartments
- Porto Perigiali Apartments
- Armeno Beach Hotel
- Madouri Beach Studios
- Pansion Marina Studios
Some of the hotels in the wider bay such as Iris Hotel Apartments and Hotel Cleopatra are accessible by boat.
Read more about Lefkada:
Where to Stay on Lefkada: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
10 Most Beautiful Beaches on Lefkada
All images © The Mediterranean Traveller