Aghios Ioannis Holidays

The quaint village of Aghios Ioannis sits on Lefkas’ northern tip. It’s a laidback place that’s spread out across idyllic green plains – it’s got the Gyra Lagoon to the east, and a long, sand-and-shingle beach dotted with 18th-century windmills to the west. You’ll find authentic Greek tavernas and beach bars along the waterside, while the nightlife of bustling Lefkas Town is just five minutes’ away on the other side of the lagoon.

Aghios Ioannis’ beach is well known in these parts for the hefty winds that sweep across it. As a result, it’s a haven for watersports fans, with kitesurfing and windsurfing being two of the most popular along the two-mile stretch that straddles the edge of the village. There’s a handful of beach bars and tavernas sprinkled along the front, too, if you like to sip on a cocktail while you sunbathe.

The historic town of Lefkas is just five minutes’ drive away from Aghios Ioannis. 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 two minutes’ drive out of Lefkas Town, there’s a towering 14th-century sea fortress. These days you can tour the intact walls that once kept pirates away from the island.

Lefkas’ historic stone windmills can be traced back to the island’s Venetian rule in around 1760. You’ll find them dotted around the island, with five of them still in place along Aghios Ioannis’ beach. Back in their heyday, 12 of them could be found here, when flour production was in full swing. Nowadays, only one of them’s in use, but not as a flour mill – instead it’s been converted into a smart beach bar with top-notch sea views.