Lefkos is a picturesque fishing village of Karpathos island with the best beaches of the area, located on the west coast. It is usually known as Kato Lefkos or Κάτω Λευκός in Greek, because this seaside resort was just a small port for decades.
The village is one of the most charming places in Karpathos due to its beautiful natural surrondings and calm atmospheres, near the highest mountains of the island. Lefkos has also some apartments and hotels with great reviews, which can be recommended for a holiday.
And now let’s see the photos, infos and the most important things about Lefkos in our travel guide.
Where to find Lefkos
Lefkos village is situated on the west coast of Karpathos island, about 34 kilometers away from Pigadia, and 32 kilometers away from the airport if we arrive through Arkasa. The nearest village is Mesochori, which lies about 9 kilometers away.
Lefkos definitely worth a visit during a holiday in Karpathos, because this seaside resort is an ideal combination of natural beauty and hospitality, and offer beautiful beaches for visitors. It can be reached by car or motorcycle from other villages, or by public bus transport from Pigadia.
Most of the time almost everyone use simply the name ‘Lefkos’ (Λευκός in Greek) for this coastal village, but its real name is Kato Lefkos (Κάτω Λευκός). The old village is located a few kilometers away from the coast, and this place by the sea was just the port of the village for long time. A few decades ago near the sea there were just a few fishing huts, but when the tourism became more significant in Karpathos, the residents realized how beautiful this place is, and tried to take advantage of its exceptional location.
Now Kato Lefkos is much larger than the old Lefkos, in recent years apartments and hotels were built in the area. On most of the maps the resort can be find with the ‘Kato’ prefix, which means ‘under’ or ‘below’ in English, referring its location by the sea. This is the reason, why are some coastal villages named as Kato all over Greece.
The population of Kato Lefkos is 89 (census 2011), while the old village, Ano Lefkos has 57 residents.
Lefkos travel guide with photos
Lefkos is a small village in Karpathos, but also there are tourist services which operate during summer. Visitors can find here apartments, hotels, taverns, coffee bars, mini markets and car rental agencies. The streets are quite narrow – even the main street which goes through the village – most of the parking lots can be find near the center.
There isn’t significant nightlife here, just a few bars and taverns are open in the evenings. Lefkos is a quite popular destination for holidays, but it is very a quiet village in most of the time with relaxing atmospheres. Most of the touristic services are offered from May till the end of September, during off season months the village is very quiet without touristic services.
Sights and attractions
The best sights of Lefkos are the amazing beaches of the area, which are tiny bays with different characters. These beaches have easy access on foot from the center of the village, situated just a minute walk from each other. The small port is used by local fishermen and it is a tiny, but picturesque place with some fishing boats.
There are some small historical sights in Lefkos, of which the most famous is the Roman Cistern (Ρωμαϊκή Δεξαμενή Λευκού in Greek). This attraction can be find in the outskirts of the village, some brown coloured road signs show the right way. By visiting the Roman Cistern we can see the ruins of the underground cistern, surrounded by some ancient walls. There is no entry fee, because it’s a very small cistern, protected by a fence, and can be viewed only from outside.
The other sight near Lefkos village is a small islet, called Sokastro. When Greek archeologists discovered this small islet, they found some ruins from Byzantine and medieval periods. Don’t forget about the sunsets, because most of the time these minutes are magical – just walk to the western part of the village while the sun goes down.
The highest peak of Karpathos island, Kali Limni can be seen from the village, a barren mountain situated on the east. You can visit also the neighboring village, Mesochori which is located 9 kilometers away. The whitewashed houses of Mesochori and its churches and lookout points offer quite different experiences.
Lefkos beach info
The amazing beaches of Lefkos are listed as top places in Karpathos, due to the beautiful natural scenery and the exceptional colours of the sea. The emerald and turquoise bays have very easy access, because the beaches are located just a few hundres meters from each other, almost side by side.
This great place is situated directly in the center, which is simply known as Lefkos beach or Παραλία Λευκός in Greek. It is a shallow beach with calm waters and organized with parasols, sunbeds, coffee bars, taverns, and most of the photos are taken here.
Lefkos beach is one of the most suitable places for children in Karpathos island, which deserves family friendly badge.
The other two bays are also beautiful, just a short walk from each other. The west bay is famous for its emerald colours and marine life, it is slightly organized sometimes. Sea temperatures depend from actual weather conditions and sea currents, but usually the central bay is the warmest.
The north beach of the area is known as Frangolimiona Beach or Παραλία Φραγκολιμιώνα in Greek, and it’s the largest bay of the village.
Frangolimiona has usually larger waves and deepens quicker, but it’s also beloved by many people. All of the bhes in Lefkos are famous in Karpathos island due crystal clear waters and snorkeling possibilities, and these can be ideal also for families.
Where to stay? Apartments, hotels and villas
If you would like to spend a holiday in of the most charming places in Karpathos island and in Greece, take a look to Lefkos, which is a small hidden gem for many travellers. A holiday here is recommended for everyone who are looking for a quiet and calm place, with atmospheres of a small fishing village.
General information
- Population: Kato Lefkos 89, Ano or Old Lefkos 57 (via census 2011)
- Can be accessed on asphalt road by car, or by local bus transport from Pigadia
Have a pleasant stay in this amazing village!
Accommodation reviews from travellers
Looking for studios or apartments in Kato Lefkos? Always check the ratings and reviews before you book, just click the image.