Getting from Preveza Airport to Lefkada or Preveza

Preveza Aktion Airport (also called Lefkada Airport) serves two quite different destinations. Preveza city is just 5 km away — a 10-minute drive. Lefkada island is 25 km away, connected to the mainland by a short causeway. Greek taxis run on a national tariff, and because the airport sits outside any town's boundary, every fare from here is charged at Tariff 2: 1.80 EUR to start, 1.25 EUR per km, plus a 4 EUR airport pick-up charge. That puts Preveza city at roughly 12 EUR and Lefkada Town at roughly 37 EUR on the meter. There is no reliable public bus from the airport to Lefkada. For any destination on Lefkada island, a pre-booked transfer or taxi is the only practical option.

Preveza Aktion Airport is a small regional airport. The terminal is compact with a single arrivals area. Processing is quick — EU passengers are usually through immigration within minutes, and the baggage carousel delivers luggage faster than at larger airports.

The airport is functional but basic. Outside arrivals is a small road area where taxis and pre-arranged vehicles wait. There are no buses waiting at the kerb.

Taxis are available outside the terminal. Supply is limited — this is a small regional airport, not a major hub. For Preveza city, taxis are no problem. For Lefkada, taxis need to be called or pre-arranged because the airport rank does not reliably have enough cars for larger flight arrivals.

Public transport is the main gap here. There is no scheduled bus service from the airport to Lefkada. Some local buses serve Preveza from road stops nearby, but the timetable does not align reliably with flights and would not help Lefkada-bound travellers anyway.

Pre-booked transfers are the practical standard for anyone going to Lefkada. A driver is confirmed before you travel, tracks the flight, and waits in arrivals. For the 25 km journey to Lefkada Town or the 50-60 km journey to Nidri or Vassiliki in the south, this removes all uncertainty.

Rental cars are available at the airport. If you plan to explore Lefkada — especially the east coast (Nidri, Vassiliki) and west coast beaches (Porto Katsiki, Egremni) — a rental car gives you freedom. The island's roads are manageable, though the mountain roads to the west coast are narrow and steep.

Greek taxi fares are set nationally rather than invented locally, so you can work these out yourself. The tariff: 1.80 EUR to start the meter, 0.90 EUR per km on Tariff 1 (inside a town's boundaries, 05:00-24:00) and 1.25 EUR per km on Tariff 2 (outside those boundaries, or any time between 00:00 and 05:00). There is a 4 EUR surcharge on any hire from an airport, a 4 EUR minimum fare, 0.39 EUR per item of luggage over 10 kg, and 15 EUR per hour of waiting. Source: Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport decision 191290/2022, Government Gazette B' 3136. Tariffs are revised from time to time — check the current one before you travel.

Every journey from this airport starts outside a town boundary, so Tariff 2 applies. On the meter that works out to roughly:

• Preveza city centre (5 km): about 12 EUR
• Lefkada Town (25 km): about 37 EUR
• Agios Nikitas (45 km, northwest Lefkada): about 62 EUR
• Nidri (50 km): about 68 EUR
• Sivota / Poros area (55-65 km): about 75-87 EUR
• Vassiliki (65 km): about 87 EUR

Those are meter figures derived from the published tariff and the distances above, before luggage charges. A pre-booked transfer is quoted per booking instead — compare your quote against these numbers and you will know exactly what you are paying for.

One thing worth knowing: because these routes are already on Tariff 2 by day, arriving after midnight does not push them onto a higher rate. The night tariff and the out-of-town tariff are the same tariff.

Lefkada is technically connected to the mainland by a floating bridge and causeway, making it the only Greek island accessible by road without a ferry. This is the access point from Preveza and the airport. The bridge crossing itself takes a couple of minutes and there is usually no delay outside of rush periods.

This road connection is why driving to Lefkada from PVK is practical. The journey to Lefkada Town takes about 25-30 minutes. Nidri, the main resort hub, is another 20-25 minutes south along the east coast road.

Charter flights to Preveza frequently land late in summer. For Preveza-bound passengers, late-night taxis are manageable. For Lefkada, a pre-booked transfer is essential after dark — you cannot count on finding a taxi at the rank for a 50-70 km journey at midnight. The driver will know the route and the bridge access, and you will not be attempting to navigate dark mountain roads on an unfamiliar island.

Standard taxi sedans fit 3-4 passengers with 2-3 bags. For larger families heading to Lefkada resorts, a pre-booked minivan is advisable. Greek taxis do not carry child car seats — request one through a transfer service at booking.

The airport is small and flat. The walk from baggage claim to the exit is very short. Trolleys are available.

Going to Preveza: A taxi from the rank is fine. Short journey, adequate supply.

Going to Lefkada Town: A pre-booked transfer is advisable. The taxi supply at the airport rank is variable.

Going to Nidri, Vassiliki, or further south: Pre-book without question. These are 50-80 km journeys; having a confirmed driver is important.

Planning to rent a car: Pick it up at the airport on arrival — it is efficient and you will need it on Lefkada.