Start at the central square near the Church of Panagia ton Xenon, then wander the pedestrian streets lined with old wood-carved houses and jewelry and souvenir shops. If you are there early, look for the small morning produce stalls on the main shopping street.

Pick a table on the seafront road facing the Ionian, along the promenade between the yacht marina and the ferry dock. Order a Greek coffee or freddo cappuccino for about $3, and the cafenion will often bring a small glass of water and a sweet on the side.

Pick a taverna on the old town pedestrian lanes where locals are eating and a grill is visible from the street. Order the sofigado (rabbit stew in tomato) or whatever is cooking fresh that day, with Greek salad and a carafe of house wine.

The castle sits at the island end of the causeway bridge, about 3 km north of town, so take a taxi ($3-4) or KTEL bus if you do not want to walk the flat road. Climb the stone battlements for wide views over the lagoon and the sea, and check the drawbridge and moat before you leave.

Walk from the fishing harbor by the ferry dock up along the yacht marina as boats return at dusk, with the sun dropping over the Ionian. Save a spot on a marina-side bench for the best light, then decide which seafront restaurant to settle into for dinner.

Arrive before 10am to beat crowds and snag parking near the top. Bookmark Porto Katsiki in Google Maps and shoot the famous cliff panorama from the viewpoint before descending the 340 steps to the pebbles. Bring water shoes, the stones get hot and sharp.

Photo: Mikuláš Prokop mikulas_prokop, CC0

Reached via a rough dirt road and roughly 400 steps, so pack light and carry plenty of water. At low season a boat from Nydri can drop you off and pick you up, saving you the uphill climb. Check the sea conditions first, swells can be strong.

Wide sandy beach with cheap sunbeds and beach bars for a cold beer and quick snack. The access road is partly unpaved, drive slowly and watch for potholes. Swim in the shallow turquoise calm of the north end.

Photo: iant71, CC BY 3.0

Walk the clifftop trail linking Kathisma to Agios Nikitas and pick a spot on the west-facing rocks. Search Agios Nikitas view in Google Maps and arrive 30 minutes before sunset to watch the sun drop into the Ionian Sea. Bring the Vertzami wine you packed for the toast.

Park at the marked lot off the road toward Nikiana and follow the forest path about 15 minutes downhill to the main waterfall, where you can swim in the chilly plunge pool. Entry is around 3 euro, arrive early to beat the tour groups.

The small stone museum in Karya village holds looms, traditional costumes and handwoven textiles, and the desk staff offer a quick English explanation. Plan on about 45 minutes and check closing times, since it often shuts for a midday break.

Mandolato is a hard nougat of almonds, honey and sugar and a Lefkada specialty, and Karya is one of the best villages to buy it fresh. Stop at a bakery or sweet stall near the main square, taste a sample, then grab a box to carry home.

Reached by a signposted lane off the west coast road, the monastery sits on a headland with sweeping views over the Ionian Sea. Dress modestly and arrive before sunset to enjoy the grounds quietly.

Search 'sailing day trips Vasiliki' and book from the small harbor at Vasiliki next to the ferry dock, ideally the night before. Most boats head southeast toward the Green Islands of Skorpios and Meganisi, stopping for a swim in sheltered coves before returning around 1:00 PM.

Milos is the pebbled southern end of Vasiliki Bay, reached by walking the shoreline footpath from the village. Bring water shoes for the stones and snorkel the rocks at the far tip where the fish gather.

The main golden sand stretch in front of Vasiliki village has the calmest water on this coast, ideal for a break after the sail. Rent two loungers from the beach bar and watch the windsurfers ride the afternoon breeze across the bay.

Lesson stands line Vasiliki Beach and run when the thermal wind builds in the mid to late afternoon, so book your slot in that window. Ask for a beginner board with a small sail and stay inside the buoyed training zone until you can tack; kitesurfers launch from the beach south of the village.

Start at the main square and follow the pedestrian lanes between whitewashed houses down to the small harbor, then climb to the windmill above town for wide views over the Ionian and Skorpios. Stop in a bakery on the main lane for coffee before heading out.

Drive south past the village of Episkopos and park at the roadside pull-off near the Kalamitsi Beach sign, then take the short path down to the long golden sand. The water shelves gently and beach bars rent loungers, with a rockside taverna just above the sand.

Walk the paved seafront promenade from the harbor tower past the moored excursion boats heading to Skorpios and Meganisi. Loop back through the market street behind the port for shops and gelato before dinner.

Take a waterfront table on the Nydri harborfront and order kakavia, a Lefkada fisherman's stew, plus freshly grilled fish. Ask the waiter to name the day's catch and confirm the price per kilo before ordering.

Book ahead online by searching for a sea kayak tour Lefkada that departs from Nikiana or Nydri on the sheltered east coast. Expect a relaxed paddle past small coves with swim and snorkel stops, so wear quick-dry clothes, sunscreen, and water shoes.

From the Nydri waterfront, follow the signposted coastal path north along the bay towards Vlicho and loop back through the olive groves. Carry water and wear sturdy shoes, and start shortly after kayaking so you can reach the estate tasting by 4 PM.

Head to an olive press or small estate in the hills around Karya, an inland village known for its oil, and search for a tasting in advance. Ask to sample cold-pressed oil on fresh bread and confirm the label carries the protected Lefkada olive oil mark, since many mills only take visitors during autumn harvest.

Walk the pedestrian lanes off the main square in Lefkada town and look for wine bars near the marina. Order Vertzami, the island's signature grape, and ask staff which estate bottled the wine so you can buy a bottle to bring home.

Agios Ioannis is the long sandy stretch just south of Lefkada Town with calm, shallow water, ideal for a slow autumn morning. Walk along the shoreline past the beach bars and stop for a coffee before heading back to town.

Browse the pedestrian lanes around the central square and the Faneromeni quarter for thyme honey, olive oil, local wine, and Lefkadian lace handicrafts. For a sweet souvenir, look for mandolato, a nougat of almonds and honey, sold in the small sweet shops.

Find a traditional taverna in the Old Town near the marina and order Savoro, Lefkada's signature fried fish marinated in garlic and vinegar, with a horiatiki salad. Ask what fish is fresh that day and finish with a small glass of local wine.