On Kálamos, narrow alleys meet island trails and a history that can be traced in several places. For planning your trip, it helps to make a clear distinction: the island has two settlements, Kálamos and Episkopi. Several beach and coastal destinations are located in the wider island area.

Explore Kálamos and Episkopi on foot

In Kálamos, you can stroll through the narrow alleys and talk with local residents about earlier times and life on the island. The Church of Saint George is in the village; its bell tower features architectural elements of the Ionian Islands. A visit to the village thus offers both conversations about island life and a concrete example of regionally influenced architecture.

A walk leads from Kálamos to Episkopi through unspoiled, authentic countryside. It offers a different focus from a stroll through the alleys: in the village, conversations and island life take centre stage; between the settlements, the landscape does. Check the current condition of the route before setting out.

History near Episkopi

Kálamos Castle is near Episkopi and is also known as Kastromonastiro. In the period from before the Greek War of Independence until the Ionian Islands were united with Greece, it served as a base for Giannos Varnakiotis and as a refuge for klephts and armatoles from Epirus and western Greece. Families also found refuge there during the 1821 Revolution, as did the population after the Exodus of Messolonghi. The castle thus complements the architectural history of the church in Kálamos with a distinct historical site associated with Episkopi.

On the other side of the island lies Porto Leone, a small, picturesque bay. An old bridge, built centuries ago, stands near the bay. The name also points to the area’s history: Venetians who mapped it named it Porto Leone.

Beaches and coastal areas of the island

The wider island area has small pebble beaches with clear water, which are usually accessible from the sea. Mirtia and Asprogiali are near the port. Agriapidia, Pefkoi and Kefali are on the south side of the island; Kedros, Alexaki, Kipoi and Trachilos are on the west side. Porto Leone lies on the other side of the island. The names offer an initial guide to the different coastal areas; when planning a visit to the small pebble beaches, also bear in mind that they are usually accessed from the sea.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your time on the island: village life and architecture in Kálamos, the walk to Episkopi, or the other coastal destinations.

Discover more destinations: Asprogerakata, Aghios Petros, Plastitoma, Fterno, Lefkada, Episkopos, Sivota, Kastos

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Lefkada.