"A jewel of an island, Meganissi floats in azure seas and will make your dreams come true if you're out to escape the modern world."
Time really seems to stop in Meganissi - so if you fancy giving your alarm clock and wristwatch a breather, you've come to exactly the right place. You're about as likely to hear the loud, pressing ticking of a clock here as you are to spot a double-decker London bus. It's that kind of place – a dream for anyone who wants to slow down, kick back and let some serious Greek serenity seep deep into their soul. Basking in the sapphire Ionian a few kilometres south of larger Lefkas, this six kilometre-square island is cloaked in dense olive groves and pinewoods, giving it an idyllic, Garden-of-Eden feel that befits its off-the-beaten-track reputation. Most activity and development – if you can call it that - is dotted around its northern shores, which are scored by three magnificent bays. This is where you'll find the three main settlements - Vathi, Spartoheri and Katomeri. Home to most of Meganissi's population – just 2,000 people – this trio of towns exudes a wonderfully unhurried atmosphere that'll have you slipping off your shoes and blanking out any thoughts of desks and meetings within minutes. We're talking shimmering blue waters speckled with colourful fishing boats. Picturesque fishing harbours lined with shuttered houses. The hum of cicadas interrupted only by the occasional buzz of a moped. Narrow paved streets spilling with bright bougainvillea. And in between, peppered along the coastline, idyllic inlets and beaches fringed by cypress trees and fragrant pines. If you can't chill out in this kind of place, then you'll be hard pushed to do so anywhere else in the world.
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Meganissi holiday resorts
Resorts in Meganissi include Vathi.
More Greece holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Greece? Our Greece holiday destinations include Corfu, Crete, Halkidiki, Kefalonia, Kos, Lefkas, Meganissi, Messinia, Nauplion, Paralio Astros, Parga, Paxos, Pelion, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Skopelos, Thassos, The Mani and Zante.
Beaches
Where do we start? Without a shadow of a doubt, one of Meganissi's biggest draws is its beaches. And they're a big attraction largely because they stay pretty much uncrowded even in high season. Imagine strolling downwards through tranquil olive terraces and along forgotten goat tracks to suddenly see a deserted white-shingle cove unfold before you and you've got the picture. The best-known beach is Ai Yiannis. A beautiful strand of honey-coloured sand along the west coast, it's reached on foot via a twisting path from Spartohori. Put together a picnic, pull on your walking shoes and prepare for a blissful day poring over that pot boiler and letting your limbs slowly soak up the sunshine and crystal-cool waters. You'll think you've died and gone to heaven. If you like your beaches with a taverna attached, then Spillia Bay will fit the bill. Follow the road from Spartohori and you'll arrive at a delightful little harbour bobbing with yachts and crowned by a shingle beach and waterfront taverna. Close by, the beautiful beaches of Fanari, Limonari and Elia Bay lie in wait as do the inlets and bays around Vathi. There's also Ambelakia to the south with its soft sands. And that's only half the story. All around Meganissi, lonely footpaths descend through olive groves to secret sandy bays and coves where it's possible to see out the day sunning, swimming and snorkelling without spotting another soul. Not into strenuous walking? Then take to the water instead by hiring a small motorboat from a harbour village or catching a caique from Vathi. That way, you can discover even more blissfully quiet coves, some inaccessible on foot.
Shopping
It's pretty obvious, but don't expect to spend much time shopping in Meganissi – you'll need to hop on the ferry back to Lefkas if you fancy some enthusiastic sessions of souvenir foraging. However, if you're out for picking up a few local handicrafts and trinkets, try Katomeri or Spartohori. The former is the island's capital – though it's hard to believe because it's so sleepy – and within its pretty lanes, you'll find a few souvenir shops to root around. Look out especially for Lefkas' delicate needlework items. These hand-embroidered tablecloths and placemats are intricately sewn by the womenfolk of mountain villages. Also, Spartohori plays host to a small selection of shops tucked into its maze of flower-filled sidestreets. Another take on your souvenir hunting is to take home some culinary goodies. Dive into the little grocery shops and bag yourself some homemade olive oil pressed in Spartohori, as well as quintessential Greek delicacies like thyme-infused honey, tasty almonds, ouzo or the local favourite of 'kumquat' liqueur. This luridly orange coloured drink may look a little strange, but it sure tastes good.
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