Aghios Ioannis Holidays

Aghios Ioannis is a peaceful village in northern Lefkas, an island just off the Greek mainland. It’s a laid-back place spread across idyllic green plains. To the north it’s bordered by the wide Gyra Lagoon, and to the west by a long sand-and-shingle beach dotted with 18th-century windmills. You’ll find authentic Greek tavernas and beach bars along the waterside, while the nightlife of bustling Lefkas Town is just 5 minutes away on the other side of the lagoon.

Around Aghios Ioannis you’ve got 3 of Lefkas’ most popular beaches. First there’s the 2.5-kilometre stretch along the village itself – it gets busiest towards the south, but a short stroll along the sand will soon find you a private spot. The sandy Milos Beach is 15 minutes south. Here you get sunloungers and umbrellas, plus a couple of seafood shacks on the promenade. Then Kathisma is 5 minutes further down the road – its major draw is the watersports centre offering parasailing.

The historic town of Lefkas is just 5 minutes’ drive away. In the old town there’s half-a-dozen Renaissance-style churches to explore, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. To get a taste of traditional Lefkas, the Folklore Museum has exhibits on traditional dresses and textiles. There’s also a road bridge across to the Greek mainland – halfway along it, about 2 minutes’ drive out of Lefkas Town, there’s a towering 14th-century sea fortress. Today you can tour the intact walls that once kept pirates away from the island.