Planning another sun-drenched, ABBA-soundtracked, Mamma Mia summer this year?
With picturesque church domes against whitewashed towns, romantic dinners on waterfront terraces, and postcard-ready pebbly beaches hugged by turquoise seas?
You’re not alone in your obsession:
Greece is one of the preferred European destinations for travelers flying long-haul this year, but hey, not everybody has upwards of $5,000 just sitting in the bank to splurge on an all-inclusive cave villa in Santorini or Mykonos.
Well… has it ever crossed your mind that those two overhyped cash cows are far from being Greece’s most rewarding islands?
There are over 200 islands to pick from, after all, and if you’re hoping for something a little more offbeat, affordable, safe, and with gorgeous beaches untouched by the maddening crowds, you might want to check out TravelSupermarket‘s latest ranking:
The Second-Cheapest Greek Island
Listen, we’re not ones to blindly follow every cookie-cutter travel agency hawking packaged holidays and churning out clickbait lists, and you have every reason to eye TravelSupermarket with suspicion—but having island-hopped Greece extensively myself, they’ve nailed it this time.
Plus, they’re a real certified company based in the United Kingdom.
Ranking as the second-cheapest Greek island, Lefkada is indeed a steal of a deal compared to many of the mainstream Greek destinations I’ve visited. I’m thinking Santorini, Corfu, Rhodes, and even the increasingly-trendy Athenian Riviera.
Though it is an island on the Ionian Sea, it’s actually connected to the mainland by a floating bridge, so there’s no need to hop on one of those painfully slow Aegean ferries.
According to TravelSupermarket, a one-week stay in Lefkada costs around $745 per person, including accommodation, meals, transportation, and tourist attractions. Just to give you an idea, sojourning in the trendy Naxos, in the touristy Cyclades, will set you back by around $1,094.
Most taverna dinners cost an 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 the roasted lamb down, and a night at a 3-star hotel like Hotel Lefkas starts from only $53.
Like I said, an absolute bargain.
What To See In Lefkada
Most travelers fly into Aktion (PVK) on the mainland, then rent a car for the quick drive to Lefkada itself. Despite being surprisingly small, the airport hosts flights from pretty much every major European hub in summer, so getting there is very convenient.
On Lefkada itself, it’s possibly the most family-friendly, accessible island I’ve set foot on. It has gorgeous white-pebble beaches, backed by dramatic cliffs and stretching for endless miles along teal-colored seas, like Porto Katsiki and Egremni, and you can literally drive there and park right at the entrance.
If you’ve ever climbed down a shoddy, suspended, rickety wooden staircase, holding to the reinforcement rope for dear life on a beach in Milos, you know drive-to beaches are rare on any Greek island.
Lefkada is also known for its charming coastal villages, like Nidri, Agios Nikitas, and Karya.
That said, if you’re hoping to find that classic Santorini postcard shot, with the chalk-white houses and the cobalt-blue domes, this is not the island for you. The Ionian side of Greece leans towards Italian aesthetics, so you’ll be getting narrow streets and pastel hues instead.
The Best Greek Island For Cheap Deals This Season
The absolute cheapest island in Greece, also on the Ionian side, Kefalonia tops TravelSupermarket’s list with an average week-long vacation costing $733 per traveler.
Only marginally cheaper than Lefkada, but hey, if uncrowded beaches and crystal-clear seas are your deal-breaker, you might want to prioritize this one.
Recently, Fteri Beach, a short hike down from the village of Zola, was named one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. It has that typically Ionian beach look, with white pebbles set along impossibly turquoise, Gatorade-like seas, and none of the beach-club buzz.
It’s wild, hard-to-access, but absolutely stunning.
In the high season, water taxis shuttle passengers from Zola to Fteri, skipping the challenging cliffside descent. The ride takes 10 minutes tops, and the metered fare is $3.78.
Want me to remind you how much getting a taxi from Athinios Port in Santorini, all the way up to Thira or Oia will cost you again? Let’s just say… a lot.
Where To Stay In Kefalonia
If you’re looking for hotel deals in Kefalonia this spring, the cheapest and best-rated guesthouse, Argostoli Tiny House 2, costs only $40-a-night to book.
It’s right in the heart of Argostoli Town, the capital of Kefalonia, and the prime spot for shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.
For smaller towns with a villagey vibe, check out Fiskardo: it has that cute Venetian-style harbor, owing to centuries of Venetian control, modest townhouses lining cobblestone streets, and the odd contrasting luxury yacht bobbing in the harbor.
Straddling a narrow peninsula, Assos is probably the prettiest town on the island, with Italianite pastel-colored houses hugging the hillside, and scenic castle ruins above the entire scene. Super peaceful and romantic, especially during sunset.
Now, if you’re here for the beaches, you don’t want to just stop at the award-winning Fteri.
Kefalonia’s flagship beach is in fact Myrtos: more of those bright-white pebbles and surreal waters, with that imposing cliff for backdrop. Some say this is Greece’s most beautiful swimming site, even surpassing Zakynthos’ iconic Shipwreck Beach.
Check The Latest Greece Travel Advice On The Traveler Dashboard
If you’re going to Greece this summer, make sure you check the latest developments on the security front on our Traveler Dashboard.
It is the absolute best tool to use to stay up to date with strikes and protests that may affect your journey.
For instance, on March 23, the Dashboard alerted Greece-bound travelers all trains were suspended nationwide due to the ‘Tempe trial protests’. It indicated they should instead use KTEL intercity buses or rent cars for long-distance travel.
Granted, this wouldn’t affect you if you’re headed for either Lefkada or Kefalonia, as train lines don’t serve there anyway, but you get the gist.
Whether you’re island-hopping or road-tripping, double-checking you have all your travel essentials and current safety regulations on the Traveler Dashboard is a must-do before embarking on any international trip, particularly in this volatile geopolitical climate.