Where to find Agios Ioannis beach in Lefkada Island, location and how to get there

Agios Ioannis beach is located just approx. 2,5 kilometers away from the central areas of Lefkada town, in west direction. The road which leads to Agios Ioannis, starts from the Cultural Center, where the Archeological Museum of Lefkada can be find, and leads directly to the beach. The area has very easy access in Lefkada Island, because the landscape is surprisingly flat near the beach. The flat parts include the roads, which lead here, without any hairpin bends or steep sections.

There is an other way to reach Agios Ioannis beach, from the direction of the floating bridge ‘Agia Mavra’, which bypasses the center of Lefkada town in the north, and leads next to the shallow lagoon of Lefkas. This long coastline can be accessed only by cars or bikes, boat excursions don’t arrive from the port of Vasiliki or from the port of Nidri, because of local geographical reasons and larger distances.

Some travellers visit this beach on foot from Lefkada town, which takes about 40 – 60 minutes of walk, mostly without natural shade.

Parking lots of Agios Ioannis beach are next to the road, where the parking is allowed. The visitors of the beach can park here for free at most places, but always park here carefully, do not park directly at the entrances of local apartments.

Agios Ioannis beach is a beautiful gem of Lefkada Island

The area of Agios Ioannis beach is a well organized place in Lefkada Island. Along the long coastline cocktail bars and restaurants were built near to the Ionian Sea, offering magnificient sea views for their guests.

The shore is medium sized, covered mostly by grey coloured coarse sand, with some pebbles and stones. The seabed deepens average at most places: there are shallow parts as well, which can be suitable for families with smaller children.

In front of the cocktail bars sunbeds and beach umbrellas can be rented, while there are spacious places to use own equipments. In the seabed there are some slippery stones and rock pads under the sea surface, where you have to walk carefully, but water shoes not needed in most cases.

Agios Ioannis beach belong to the west coast beaches of Lefkada Island and faces to the open sea. Therefore the sea is not always calm here, at some days significant waves can be experienced. The most beautiful colours of the bay can be seen in sunny and hot days, when the sea is calm. The strong sunshine combined by crystal clear waters produce amazing colours, literally almost every shades of blue and green.

Many travellers mention this amazing place as ‘the Caribbean beach of Lefkada Island‘, and they are right – just take a look to our Agios Ioannis beach photos, because our travel guide is totally free from manipulating colours. When the waves are getting stronger, the face of the bay changes a lot, and lightblue colours rule in every direction.

For snorkeling and diving the calm sea is much better, because the waters have much better seeing distance. Most of the fishes can be seen near the rocks of the seabed, but based on our experiences the east coastline has better diving options, such as the tiny bays of Afteli and Ammousa.

Sea temperatures of Agios Ioannis beach are measured between 23 – 27 Celsius from June to end of September. The warmest waters are in July and in August here with temperatures 25 – 27 Celsius, but the first two week in September is warm enough. The west coast is much more exposed to local sea currents and winds, therefore actual sea temperatures can change often in a week, from slightly cooler sea temperatures to warm.

This area can be windy in the afternoons, which make an ideal destination for surfers in Lefkada Island, and the coast is known as a famous kitesurf spot in Greece. The winds always blow from west direction.

Agios Ioannis beach usually is awarded by Blue Flag for the cleanliness of the sea and many services of the area, the well known logo can be seen behind the beach year after year. At central areas of the coast there is a lifeguard during summer season, to protect the swimmers.

In the north side of the beach old windmills were built, which are abandoned for now. In last decades these windmills are unused and empty, now belong to the local sights of Lefkada Island. One of these windmills is well maintaned and known as Orlof Mill Café (Μύλος Orlof), offering bar services.

Where to eat and drink at Agios Ioannis beach

The best restaurants and bars in the area of Agios Ioannis beach are Aramos cafe bar, Anemos (Άνεμος), Orloff Mill Cafe, Tilegraphos (Τηλέγραφος) restaurant and Liogerma Taverna (Λιόγερμα). Most of these bars are open all day, and are beloved places not just by tourists, but also by the local Lefkadian community. From the tables of the bars there can seen amazing views to the Ionian Sea.

These bars were built next to road, which leads behind the sea, their access is easy as a pie. The local cocktail bars are popular even at nights, not just during the day.

Agios Ioannis beach is one of the best surf spots in Lefkada Island

Agios Ioannis beach is very popular area for kitesurfers in Greece, belong to the best surf spots of the country. In the afternoons, when the western winds are getting stronger, dozens of surfers arrive to the coast, and have fun with their kites until sunset. The center of kitesurf are further away from the central areas of Agios Ioannis beach, approx. one kilometer from there, at the old windmills.

The windmills can be reached by cars as well, because the road leads behind these buildings, and cars can park easily next to the road. There are always a few tourists, who watch the interesting stunts and high speed sailing of kites. When the kitesurfers rule the coast at the windmills, swimming is not recommended there for safety reasons.

The other famous surf spot of Lefkada is situated in the south part of the island, in the bay of Vasiliki and Ponti. That place is slightly different than Agios Ioannis beach, because the bay of Vasiliki is visited by primarily windsurfers.

What to see near Agios Ioannis beach, local sights to discover

The small church of Agios Ioannis (Aios Ioannis Antzousis, Άγιος Ιωάννης Αντζούσης) can be find in the southern side of the beach, hidden by some old trees. This building is one of the oldest and smallest churches in Lefkada Island, and it is a really special one: this church was carved inside a rock.

Agios Ioannis village, behind the coast is best known for its old olive trees. A lot of the old olives were planted centuries ago, when the island was under Venetian control. The trees grow in even in some gardens of local apartments and villas.

On the north side of Agios Ioannis, approx. two kilometres away the coast is called as Gira beach (Παραλία Γύρας), and if we go further, we can see the wavebreakers of Ammoglossa beach (Αμμόγλωσσα). This place is near the entrance of Lefkada Island, in front of the floating bridge of Agia Mavra. There is another historical attraction, which belong to the best sights of the region: the Castle of Agia Mavra (Κάστρο Αγίας Μαύρας), dates back to Venetian and Turkish eras.

Most of local attractions can be visited in Lefkada town, where medieval churches, archeological museums, picturesque old streets, and a long pedestrian road with dozens of shops can be discovered. The beautiful monastery of Lefkada Island, Faneromeni Monastery (Ιερά Μονή Παναγίας Φανερωμένης) was built on the hills above Agios Ioannis, the bell tower can be seen from the coast. Inside the monastery a Religious Museum and a Nautical Museum are waiting for guests, while from the entrance of the building exceptional panoramic views to Ionian Sea is a great attraction.

Where to stay near Agios Ioannis beach, local apartments and studios

The area of Agios Ioannis offer calm atmospheres and beautiful beaches for a vacation in Lefkada Island. One of the best features of the village is its nearness to Lefkada town, where bustling atmospheres, a lot of souvenir shops and restaurants waiting for visitors just a few kilometers away.

Find and book local apartments, studios and villas of Agios Ioannis and Lefkada town!

Most of the local apartments and studios have lush vegetation with spacious gardens, old olive trees and well maintaned rooms, which can be ideal for families and for smaller children.

Photos and infos

• Known as: Agios Ioannis beach, Paralia Agios Ioannis, Ai Giannis, Παραλία Άγιος Ιωάννης
• Address: Lefkada 311 00, Greece
• Sea water color: blue, turquoise, emerald
• Sand type: coarse sand, small pebbles, pebbles, rocks under the surface
• Depth: shallow at many places
• Sea surface: varied
• Crowds: normal
• Facilities: restaurants and cocktail bars, free parking
• Other Information: old ruined windmills as local attractions, top kitesurf spot
• Accessibility: paved road from Lefkada town