Sivota, or Syvota (Σύβοτα) is a charming fishing village in Lefkada Island, Greece, which belong to the most picturesque local settlements. While the port of Sivota village is important for yachts and smaller boats, for travellers the taverns and bars are memorable, which are decorated by thousands of flowers.
The apartments of the village were built around a well protected bay, which is surrounded by green hills. Some inhabitants of Lefkada Island say that Sivota village is blessed all the gifts by the mother nature, so if you are looking for the most beautiful fishing villages, keep in mind to visit this gem.
Where to stay: find and book apartments and studios in Sivota!
Where to find Syvota in Lefkada Island, and how to get there
Sivota is located on the east side of Lefkada Island, approx. 32 kilometers away from the capital. When you see its location on maps, you will notice the village lies between Nidri and Vasiliki villages. For the access of Syvota you have to turn off the main road, which leads on the east coast – the junction is wide, and indicated well by road signs.
After the junction road conditions are average until you reach Sivota village, there are no such narrow or winding mountanious routes while driving on this 2 kilometers long section. The only thing you have to keep in mind, that road slopes down to the sea, so even the road is almost straight, don’t go fast to avoid heavy breakings before the village.
Slightly further away from the entrance of the settlement you will see a small parking lot, and we suggest park your car here, if there are empty spaces. The main streets of the village are quite narrow, and parking is forbidden at many places. The parking lot of Sivota can be used for free, and the center of village is literally just a minute walk from here.
You have to know there is a public bus service to Sivota from Lefkada town, but buses run only 1-2 times during a day, therefore we suggest a visit by car or by scooter.
What to find in Sivota and what to see
The apartments of Sivota were built in a wide and long bay, surrounded by the green hills of a valley. This bay was used as a small port for centuries by local fishermen, because these waters are well protected from waves. In recent decades Sivota became a tiny, but beautiful tourist destination in Lefkada Island, where the local restaurants and boat services are the best features.
The pedestrian street leads around the bay of Sivota, and connects the north and the south sides of the bay to each other, the parking lot is situated in the middle. Besides the main street there were built just a few narrow streets in the village, which lead to higher places, and to villas of the hills.
The local bakery, supermarket and gift shop are situated also on the main street, so literally everything is near to each other. On a sightseeing tour exploring a village takes just approx. 1-2 hours, because of its small size.
By walking on the main street of Sivota visitors will meet the famous restaurants and cocktail bars, which are waiting for guests in the port from May to October. This pedestrian road is filled by the best restaurants of Sivota, which are recommended by user reviews: Taverna Spiridoula, Taverna Stavros, 12 Gods, Odyssey and Taverna Ionion. The local taverns offers breakfasts and dinners as well.
Sivota is a perfect place in Lefkada Island to take a seat in one of the top local restaurants and coffee bars and relax. Enjoy the exceptional atmospheres of a charming fishing village, which are so beloved in Greece by many travellers. Panoramic views to emerald coloured, calm Ionian Sea and to the colourful houses of the bay, where a lot of beautiful flowers grow, make unforgettable moments of holidays.
Sivota beach
This bay is much more recommended for sightseeing and for relaxing in a local restaurants in Lefkada Island, than swimming. The reason is that in Sivota there are no such good beaches, just a few small, shallower places with coarse sand. Due to many docked boats and yachts of the port a swim or a snorkel is not really recommended here, we noticed the waters are not so clean than in other bays.
The best beaches near Sivota, which we prefer much more for swimmind and diving are Afteli beach (7 kilometers) and Mikros Gialos beach (13 kilometers). If you rent a boat in the port, you can sail to hidden gems such of the east coastline of Lefkada Island, such as to Ksilokeratidi cove or to other tiny bays with crystal clear waters.
Sivota port
The port can’t be missed in Sivota, because it is situated in the heart of the village, directly next to parking lots and taverns. This place is well known by sailors of Lefkada Island, because the bay offers one of the best natural protections for boats, where bigger waves or stronger winds are not significant.
The port of Sivota belong to the largest and safest marinas on the island, where fishing boats, yachts and sailboats are anchored as well. You have to know in this port travellers can rent a small boat or rib without licence, the station of a few local boat rental companies is situated here.
By renting a boat in Sivota the emerald bays of the east coast, and the hidden beaches nearby can be discovered easily and private. An important information that the port of Sivota don’t offer significant daily boat trips to the famous Porto Katsiki beach or Egremni beach, so you have to drive to Vasiliki or to Nidri village for organized boat excursions.
An interesting fact about Sivota: some tourists sometimes confuse this village and an another seaside settlement, which has the same name in Greece. The other Sivota is located in the Epirus region, between Parga and Igoumenitsa, and it is much larger than the Lefkadian Syvota, with a population of 900. The distance between these two Greek villages is 140 kilometers, and the only common thing apart from the names that both are picturesque seaside resorts!
Apartments and studios of Sivota for stay
The tiny village of Syvota is unique place for holidays, which offer apartments and studios for travellers in Lefkada Island as well. In our opinion Sivota is recommended primarily for those guests, who are looking for accommodation in a quiet, charming fishing village, and who would like to stay away from the crowds.
The settlements is maybe small, but the best restaurants of Sivota, the bakery and supermarket take care for the needs of the guests.
Find and book apartments and villas of Sivota here, where reviews and ratings can be seen!
Sivota photos and infos
- Known as: Syvota, Σύβοτα
- Coordinates: 38.624874, 20.6813
- 31 km south from Lefkada town
- Population: 100 (increases during summer months)
- Facilities: taverns, coffee bars, apartments, studios, supermarket, port, ATM, boat rent, gift shop
- Nearest beaches: Afteli beach (6,6 km), Amousa beach (9 km), Mikros Gialos beach (12 km)
+ Reasons to visit
- pretty fishing village with many flowers
- safe port for yachts and sailboats
- can be rent a boat / rib
- great restaurants
– Cons
- the nearest beaches are further away
- lack of frequent public bus service
