Airplane
Aktion-Preveza airport is just 20 minutes drive from Lefkada Town. It is a great small airport with good snack bars airside, landside, or even two tavernas outside across the road. Flights operate March-October to and from many destinations in Europe. There are several car-hire companies operating at the airport. Taxis are usually waiting at the rank and charge about 60 Euro to Lefkada Town, more to other parts of the island. There are about six buses a day to Lefkada Town> (in summer) and cheap if the timing works out. If driving note there is currently a detour along the motorway as they are rebuilding the direct route – so allow 10 minutes more.
Athens airport is open all year. All services including a hotel. By car it is four and a half hours drive along an easy toll motorway with great views. You can go by comfortable bus> taking five hours including a short rest-break. The Athens “KTEL Terminal A” bus station> is not very central but has a taxi rank and local buses. Taxi is quickest and reasonable price. The X93 bus every 30 mins peak direct to the airport (allow another hour travelling time). Also the 051 bus every 8 mins peak a much shorter distance to Omonia Square from where you can explore and then get metro to the airport. If just heading for metro transfer at the nearer Metaxourgeio Square. If you haven’t been to Athens before then a diversion to the city is a must.
It is also possible to travel via Thessaloniki airport. Slightly further than Athens but you don’t have to drive in Athens traffic. A good motorway runs all the way. Buses too>. Again lots to see enroute.
Firms do offer transfers between Athens airport and Lefkada by car/minibus. It isn’t cheap but worth considering, especially if you have a small group to share the cost.
Car
You can easily drive to Lefkada despite it being an island. It is linked by causeway and a special floating bridge across the remaining canal. For most of the day and night you drive straight over the bridge. It moves to allow boats to pass – usually every hour on the hour during the day in summer – less in winter.
The drive from Athens is very easy along good toll motorways. Takes about four to five hours depending on traffic in Athens. The last 50km of road to Lefkada is being upgraded to motorway too, part open already. Fully open late 2023(?) taking 20 mins off the drive.
Many interesting places to stop enroute e.g. the Corinth Canal, Corinth, northern Peloponnese, or even Delphi if you take the much slower northern side of the Gulf of Corinth. If you haven’t seen those places before it is worth taking time. You also go over the amazing Rio–Antirrio Bridge> – the longest in the world of it’s type (multi-span cable-stayed).
If heading to Thessaloniki then Meteora is high on world-bucket list places to see. Also the tomb of Alexander the Great’s father, Philip, at Vergina is a must-see with gold treasure rivaling Tutankhamen. The treasure is displayed inside the reburied mound tomb – very atmospheric. The museum at his nearby palace is newly opened too.
Car hire is available at airports or in Athens, Nidri and Lefkada Town. One way hire is possible but often expensive.
Bus
Buses leave Lefkada Town for the Aktion-Preveza airport and Preveza itself, Igoumenitsa, Athens and Theseloniki. From Lefkada Town bus station busses depart for the rest of Lefkada – some bits with several buses a day – other parts less frequently. The timetables> change often.
Long distance busses are pretty cheap and comfortable in Greece. They stop enroute for rest breaks although no toilet on board – so go before boarding.
Ferry
Ferries link to nearby islands from Nidri (to Meganisi) and Vasiliki (to Ithaca and Kefelonia). There is also a summer ferry from Lefkada Town to Paxos and Corfu.
From Igoumenitsa (90 minutes drive or bus> up the mainland coast) you can get daily ferries crossing to Italy. This is a good route for cars from north or west Europe. If you have a campervan you can get good camp-on-board deals in summer. Comfortable (but not cheap) cabins if not. Cheap to sleep on airline-type seats or even cheaper on deck (ok in summer if you have a sleeping bag and mat).
Train
Get the ferry to/from Igoumentisa (see above). From Italy you can pick up trains from Bari, Ancona or Venice to take you on to the rest of Europe. If you have time, a great green way to travel. See Man in Seat 61> who describes the route from London or Paris to Corfu, just get the bus from Igoumentisa to Lefkada rather than continuing to Corfu. An option is to take the >Lefkada-Patras bus and then the ferries to Italy from there – depends on the most convenient timetable for you.
The closest train heading for Athens is Kiato just Lefkada side of Corinth. From there trains take an hour> into the centre of Athens. There is free parking at Kiato station. Worth considering as an option if driving or can get a transfer. The train is as fast as driving into Athens (quicker in peak traffic times). It runs to Piraeus too if heading out to the Aegean islands. The train takes you to Athens airport with a simple change of train.
Taxi
Taxi ranks at Aktion-Preveza airport, Lefkada Town and Nidri. They operate by phone anywhere on the island.