Exceptional sea colours and calm atmospheres are the main features of Agios Ioannis beach in Lefkada. This great place is located just a few kilometers away from the capital of the island, and you can meet on some maps with some names of the beach: it is known as Ai Giannis beach, Paralia Agios Ioannis, or Παραλία Άγιος Ιωάννης in Greek language also.
There is a small village behind Agios Ioannis beach with the same name, which can be a great destination for a holiday due its calm atmospheres, olive forests and a lot of apartments and villas.
- Coordinates: 38.832643, 20.676266
- Lefkada 311 00, Greece
- Apartments in this area: accommodations in Agios Ioannis and Lefkada town
Location and access
Agios Ioannis beach is one of the nearest beaches to Lefkada town, because is situated just about 2,5 kilometers away from the town center in west direction. To road which leads to Agios Ioannis starts from the Cultural Center, where the Archeological Museum of Lefkada can be find also.
The other way to access Agios Ioannis beach is via the main road, from the direction of the floating bridge ‘Agia Mavra’, which bypasses the center of Lefkada town in the north. Boat excursions don’t arrive to Agios Ioannis beach from the ports of Lefkada because of its northwest location, but it can be accessed by car, by motorbicycle or on foot from Lefkada town. If you decide to walk, get prepared for a hiking time about 40 – 50 minutes without natural shade.
Parking lots of Agios Ioannis beach are next to the road, where the parking is allowed and of course it’s free for cars and scooters.
Agios Ioannis beach guide with photos
The area of Agios Ioannis beach is a well organized place in Lefkada island with some great cocktail bars and taverns behind the long coast. The sea deepens average, but there are some shallow places also, which can be suitable for families with smaller children.
On the beach you can rent parasols and sunbeds, but if you prefer to use your own equipment, you can find a lot of places here. The seabed is primarily filled by coarse sand and by some stones. At some places there are some slippery stones in the sea, where you have to walk in the water carefully, but from the coast these places can be seen well.
Agios Ioannis beach is one of Lefkada west beaches, where the sea surface is varied, and sometimes waves arrive. When the water surface is calm, the sea has amazing colours, with million shades of blue and green. Therefore 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 this travel guide is totally free from color manipulation.
Sea temperatures and wind conditions
Sea temperatures of Agios Ioannis beach are varied, because it is situated on the west coast, where the beaches are more exposed to the local sea currents and to the winds: it can change often from cool to warm. From mid June to mid September at Agios Ioannis beach the sea temperatures are above 23 – 24 Celsius, up to 24 – 26 Celsius in July and in August.
This region can be windy in the afternoons, which make an ideal destination for surfers in Lefkada, and visited especially by kitesurfers. The winds always blow from west direction at this place.
Agios Ioannis beach usually is awarded by Blue Flag for the cleanliness of the sea and the services of the area, the well known logo can be seen behind the beach year after year. On the coast there is a lifeguard during summer season, who protects the health of the visitors.
In the north side of the beach there are some unused, old stone windmills, which are famous in Lefkada island and milled flour in the past. One of these windmills is well maintaned and known as Orlof Mill Café (Μύλος Orlof).
Where to eat and drink
The well known bars and taverns of Agios Ioannis beach are Aramos cafe bar, Anemos (Άνεμος), Orloff Mill Cafe, Tilegraphos (Τηλέγραφος) restaurant and Liogerma Taverna (Λιόγερμα). This beach bars and restaurants waiting for guests all day, and these are respected places not just by tourists, but also by the local community. These taverns and bars can be find next to the road, just a few steps from the beach.
Due for the special location of Agios Ioannis beach, which means it is situated near to Lefkada town, a lot of locals choose this great beach during summer months, from June to September. They enjoy the crystal clear Ionian Sea, and a trip from the town takes just a few minutes by bicycle, by scooter or by car.
Agios Ioannis beach is one of the best surf spots in Lefkada
This coast is quite long and wide, and on the north parts of Agios Ioannis beach there is a very popular area for kitesurfers. This is one of the best surf spots in Lefkada island: the surfers come here usually in the afternoon, when the winds are getting stronger and have fun with their kites till sunset.
The center of kitesurf can be find at the windmills, about 1 kilometer away from the central part of Agios Ioannis beach, so just walk in the north and watch their interesting stunts and high speed. The other famous surf spot of Lefkada is located in the south, in the bay of Vasiliki and Ponti villages. That place is the number one windsurf spot of the island, and well known by the surfer community not just in Greece, but in several countries of Europe.
Sights near Agios Ioannis beach
The small church of Agios Ioannis (Aios Ioannis Antzousis, Άγιος Ιωάννης Αντζούσης) can be find in the southern side of the beach, hidden by the trees. This is one of the oldest and smallest churches in Lefkada island, and it is a really special one: the church was carved into a rock. Agios Ioannis village is famous for its old olive trees, primarily by historical reasons: a lot of these were planted centuries ago, when the island was under Venetian control.
On the north side of Agios Ioannis, about two kilometres away there is an other nice place, called as Gira beach (Παραλία Γύρας), and if you go further, you will meet the wavebreakers of Ammoglossa beach (Αμμόγλωσσα). Near these beaches, beyond the floating bridge of Lefkada there can be seen one of the best sights of Lefkada, the Castle of Agia Mavra (Κάστρο Αγίας Μαύρας), which dates back to the Venetian and Turkish eras.
A lot of sights and attractions of the area can be visited in Lefkada town, where old churches, museums, monuments and a long pedestrian road are located. Other interesting attraction nearby is the most beautiful monastery of Lefkada, Faneromeni Monastery (Ιερά Μονή Παναγίας Φανερωμένης), which offer also great panoramic views to Agios Ioannis beach. The bell tower of Faneromeni Monastery can be seen from Agios Ioannis beach also, just take a look up to the hills in the north.
Where to stay in Agios Ioannis beach, local apartments and studios
The area of Agios Ioannis is a great place for a vacation in Lefkada, just take a look at the photos of this amazing beach. The village is calm, but it is situated near Lefkada town, where bustling atmospheres, picturesque street views, and a lot of shops and restaurants waiting for visitors just a few kilometers away. The recommended apartments, studios and villas of Agios Ioannis with reviews are listed below, find your favourite and book.
Click here for apartments, studios and villas in Agios Ioannis (and Lefkada town) for reviews, photos and prices!
For other accommodations in Lefkada island just click the picture below.
Agios Ioannis beach info
Known as: Agios Ioannis beach, Paralia Agios Ioannis, Ai Giannis, Παραλία Άγιος Ιωάννης
- Coordinates: 38.832643, 20.676266
- 2 km west from Lefkada town
- Sea water color: blue, turquoise
- Sand type: small pebbles, pebbles, rocks under the surface
- Depth: shallow
- Sea surface: varied
- Crowds: normal
- Facilities: restaurants and beach bars behind the beach
- Other Information: you can find here some old ruined windmills, kitesurf spot
- Accessibility: paved road from Lefkada town
+ Pros
- amazing water colours
- easy access
- shallow waters at some places
- ideal for water sports, especially for windsurf and kitesurf
- near Lefkada town
– Cons
- usually windy
- rocks in the sea