In the 6th century BC the Corinthians opened a channel a mere 20 metres wide and divided Lefkas from the mainland of Greece.

Easy access to the island has made Lefkas an ideal tourist destination for the summer months. The island has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Ionian islands, while its name is closely connected to that of the Greek tycoon Aristotle Onasis, the owner the island of Skorpios.