Porto Katsiki

Porto Katsiki sits at the far south-west of Lefkada, below towering white cliffs near Cape Lefkatas: a strip of white pebbles and sand, water in shades of turquoise and one of the most famous beach views in Greece. The name means goat harbour, a nod to how hard the place once was to reach.

Today a road leads to a paid car park on the clifftop, with snack bars and a viewpoint, and from there a stairway of around 80 to 100 steps drops to the beach. Parking fills fast in July and August, so arrive early or come by one of the boats from Nydri or Vasiliki. The beach faces west, so it gets shade under the cliffs in the morning and full sun later. Keep away from the cliff base, where stones can fall.