Getting to Lefkada: Complete Travel Guide

Preveza Airport (PVK) - The Main Route

Distance to Lefkada Marina: 30km (30-40 minutes by car)

Preveza Airport (officially Aktion National Airport, code PVK) is the closest airport to Lefkada. It’s a small regional airport that operates seasonal flights from across Europe.

Direct Flights to Preveza (Summer 2025)

From UK:

  • London Gatwick (EasyJet) - Multiple flights per week
  • Manchester (Jet2, TUI) - Weekly
  • Birmingham (TUI) - Weekly
  • Bristol (EasyJet) - Weekly
  • Edinburgh (Jet2) - Weekly

From Germany:

  • Munich (Lufthansa, Eurowings) - Multiple per week
  • Frankfurt (Lufthansa) - Weekly
  • Düsseldorf (Eurowings) - Weekly
  • Hamburg (Eurowings) - Weekly
  • Berlin (Eurowings) - Weekly

From Switzerland & Austria:

  • Zurich (Edelweiss) - Weekly
  • Geneva (EasyJet) - Weekly
  • Vienna (Austrian) - Weekly

From Italy:

  • Milan Malpensa (EasyJet) - Weekly
  • Rome Fiumicino (Aegean, ITA) - Weekly
  • Venice (Volotea) - Weekly

From Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic:

  • Amsterdam (Transavia) - Weekly
  • Brussels (TUI fly Belgium) - Weekly
  • Prague (Smartwings) - Weekly

Flight season: Mid-April to late October. Very limited or no direct flights November-March.

Transfers from Preveza Airport

Pre-booked taxi (recommended):

  • Fixed price: €50-60 for up to 4 people
  • Pre-book through your charter company or online
  • Driver meets you at arrivals with name sign
  • 30-40 minute drive direct to marina

Local taxi:

  • Available at airport rank
  • Metered, expect €50-70
  • Can be unreliable during peak Saturday arrivals

Car rental:

  • All major companies at Preveza Airport (Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise)
  • €200-350/week depending on size and season
  • Useful if you want to explore mainland Greece
  • Parking at Lefkada Marina: Free long-term parking available

Shared shuttle:

  • Some charter companies offer shared transfers
  • €15-25 per person
  • Fixed schedule (usually timed for common flight arrivals)

Alternative Route: Athens Airport (ATH)

Distance: 400km (5-6 hours drive or bus)

Athens International Airport has year-round flights from worldwide. Consider this route if:

  • You’re traveling off-season (November-March)
  • You want to spend time in Athens before/after
  • You can’t find affordable flights to Preveza

Athens to Lefkada:

Option 1: Rent a car in Athens

  • Drive across the Rio-Antirrio Bridge (spectacular!)
  • 5-6 hours, motorway most of the way
  • Car rental: €300-500/week from Athens Airport

Option 2: Bus (KTEL)

  • Athens (Kifissos Terminal) → Lefkada Town
  • 5.5-6 hours, 2-3 buses per day
  • €35-40 per person
  • Then taxi (15 minutes, €15) to marina

Alternative Route: Corfu Airport (CFU)

Distance: 140km + ferry crossing (3.5-4 hours total)

Corfu has good flight connections year-round. Route:

  1. Fly to Corfu
  2. Taxi or bus to Corfu port (~€15, 20 minutes)
  3. Ferry to Igoumenitsa (1 hour, €10-15 per person)
  4. Bus or taxi Igoumenitsa → Lefkada (1.5 hours, €25-35)

Only worth it if Corfu flights are significantly cheaper or if you want to visit Corfu.

Ferry from Italy

For Italian sailors: Regular ferries run from Ancona, Bari, and Brindisi to Igoumenitsa.

Ancona → Igoumenitsa:

  • Superfast Ferries, Minoan Lines
  • ~20 hours overnight
  • From €80 per person + €120-150 for car

Bari → Igoumenitsa:

  • Superfast Ferries, Ventouris Ferries
  • ~10 hours overnight
  • From €60 per person + €100 for car

Then Igoumenitsa → Lefkada:

  • 80km, 1.5 hours drive
  • Bus available (KTEL, €12-15)

This is popular with Italian sailors bringing their own car.

For most charterers: Fly to Preveza (PVK) in summer, pre-book transfer, arrive Saturday morning.

If flying from far away (e.g., USA, Australia): Connect via London, Frankfurt, or Athens. Book separate tickets (international + Preveza) as package deals are rare.

For off-season or winter sailing: Fly to Athens, rent car, enjoy the scenic drive across Greece.

Arrival Timing

Charter check-in is Saturday 16:00. Most sailors aim to:

  • Arrive Preveza Airport 10:00-14:00
  • Transfer to marina (30 minutes)
  • Check into apartment/hotel near marina (most charter companies offer free Friday night accommodation if you arrive Friday)
  • Provision at nearby Lidl (walking distance from marina)
  • Check-in at yacht 16:00

Pro tip: Many charter companies offer free Friday night accommodation in a nearby apartment if you arrive Friday instead of Saturday morning. Gives you more time to provision and relax before boarding.

Departures

Return flights: Book for late afternoon Saturday or Sunday. Charter check-out is Saturday 16:00, but budget 2-3 hours for check-out process and marina-to-airport transfer.

Safe flight times:

  • Saturday departures: 19:00 or later
  • Sunday departures: Any time (gives you breathing room)

Avoid Saturday morning flights — too tight if check-out delays.