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Plans for another sun-drenched, ABBA soundtrack, Mama Mia summer this year?
With picturesque church domes against whitewashed towns, romantic dinners on waterfront terraces and postcard-ready pebble beaches surrounded by turquoise seas?
You’re not alone in your obsession:
Greece is one of them favorite European destinations for travelers flying long distances this year, but hey, not everyone has more than $5,000 just sit on the couch and splurge on an all-inclusive cave villa in Santorini or Mykonos.
Well… has it ever occurred to you that these two overhyped cash cows are far from Greece’s most rewarding islands?
After all, there are over 200 islands to choose from, and if you’re hoping for something unusual, affordable, safe and with beautiful beaches untouched by the maddening crowds, you might want to take a look TravelSupermarket‘s latest rankings:
The second cheapest Greek island
Listen, we’re not the ones who blindly follow every travel agency offering package holidays and creating clickbait lists, and you have every reason to view TravelSupermarket with suspicion – but having traveled extensively to Greece myself, they’ve got it right this time.
Moreover, they are a truly certified company based in the United Kingdom.
Ranking as the second cheapest Greek island, Lefkas is a bargain indeed compared to many of the regular Greek destinations I have visited. I’m thinking of Santorini, Corfu, Rhodes and even the increasingly trendy Athens Riviera.
Even though it is an island in the Ionian Sea, it is actually connected to the mainland by a floating bridgeso there’s no need to get on one of those painfully slow Aegean ferries.
According to TravelSupermarket, a week’s stay in Lefkada costs approximately $745 per person, including accommodation, meals, transportation and tourist attractions. To give you an idea: a stay in trendy Naxos, in the touristy Cyclades, will cost you around $1,094.
Most taverna dinners average $17-$21, and that’s for a three-course meal paired with local wine, and maybe an ouzo shot at the end to wash down the roast lamb, and a night in a three-star hotel like Hotel Lefkas starts from just $53.
Like I said, an absolute bargain.
What to see in Lefkada
Most travelers fly into Aktion (PVK) on the mainland and then rent a car for the quick drive to Lefkada itself. Despite being surprisingly small, the airport offers flights from almost all major European hubs in the summer it is very convenient to get there.
On Lefkada itself, it is perhaps the most family-friendly, accessible island I have set foot on. It has beautiful white pebble beaches, backed by dramatic cliffs and stretches for miles along blue-green colored seas, such as Porto Katsiki And Egremniand that is literally possible driving force there and park directly at the entrance.
If you’ve ever climbed down a sloppy, hanging, rickety wooden staircase while holding on to the reinforcement rope on a beach in Milos, you know that driving to beaches is rare on any Greek island.
Lefkada is also known for its charming coastal villages Nidri, Agios NikitasAnd Karja.
That said, if you’re hoping to find that classic postcard photo of Santorini, with the chalk-white houses and the cobalt blue domes, then this isn’t the island for you. The Ionian side of Greece leans towards the Italian aesthetic, so you get narrow streets and pastel shades instead.
The best Greek island for cheap offers this season
The absolute cheapest island in Greece, Also on the Ionian side, Cephalonia tops TravelSupermarket’s list with an average holiday of a week costs $733 per traveler.
Only marginally cheaper than Lefkada, but if quiet beaches and crystal-clear seas are your deal-breaker, you might want to prioritize this one.
Fteri Beach, a short walk from the village of Zola, was recently voted one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. It has that quintessential Ionian beach look, with white pebbles lining impossibly turquoise, Gatorade-esque seas, and none of the hustle and bustle of beach clubs.
It’s wild, difficult to access, but… absolutely stunning.
In high season, water taxis transport passengers from Zola to Fteri, skipping the challenging cliffside descent. The ride takes a maximum of 10 minutes and the metered fare is $3.78.
Would you like me to remind you how much taking a taxi from Athinios port in Santorini, all the way to Thira or Oia, will cost you again? Let’s say… a lot.
Where to stay in Kefalonia
If you are looking for hotel deals in Kefalonia this spring, the cheapest and best rated guest house, Argostoli Small House 2, costs just $40 per night to book.
It is located in the heart of Argostoli town, the capital of Kefalonia, and the best place for shopping, dining and nightlife.
For smaller towns with a village atmosphere, head to Fiskardo: it has that cute Venetian-style harbour, thanks to centuries of Venetian control, modest mansions along cobbled streets and an oddly contrasting luxury yacht bobbing in the harbour.
Located on a narrow peninsula, Assos is probably the most beautiful town on the islandwith Italian pastel houses hugging the hillside, and picturesque castle ruins above the whole scene. Super peaceful and romantic, especially during sunset.
If you’re here for the beaches, you won’t just want to stop at the award-winning Fteri.
Kefalonia’s flagship beach is actually Myrtos: more of those bright white pebbles and surreal waters, with that imposing cliff as a backdrop. Some say this is the most beautiful swimming location in Greece, even surpassing Zakynthos’ iconic Shipwreck Beach.
View the latest travel advice for Greece on the traveler dashboard
If you’re heading to Greece this summer, make sure you check out the latest safety developments on our Traveler Dashboard.
It is absolutely the best tool for staying informed about strikes and protests that could impact your trip.
For example, on March 23, the Dashboard warned travelers heading to Greece that all trains had been suspended across the country due to the ‘Tempe Process protests’. It indicated that they should instead use KTEL intercity buses or rent cars for long-distance travel.
Granted, this won’t affect you if you’re headed to Lefkada or Kefalonia, as there are no train lines there anyway, but you get the gist.
Whether you’re island hopping or taking a road trip, double check that you have all your travel essentials and current safety regulations the Traveler Dashboard is a must-do before embarking on any international travel, especially in this volatile geopolitical climate.
