A small island, about 3 miles wide, 2 miles deep, with a long tail stuck on the bottom end which has a spectacular sea cave. The setting of the island is spectacular, with some wonderful views around the Inland Ionian Sea. You'll walk around the place to visit the various inlets.

There are two villages on the top of the island, Katomerion and Spatahori, about a mile apart, each with probably 150 residents, mostly old. They're lovely places to visit, but they'd be a bit too quiet for my taste for more than a few of days. Stuck in a time warp, each village has a tiny store, a simple taverna and a cafenion or two. Spatahori has an additional taverna which caters for large parties on holiday from the mainland in the evenings - in an inimitably Greek way.

Visitors to the island are mainly a lot of yachts. Two ports harbour most of them, Vathi and Spilia (just below Spatahori). Both these ports have several tavernas, and they're often pretty busy. The coastline is very deeply indented with gravel beaches and olive groves at the head of many inlets. These inlets are also popular with yachts, and sometimes they come to life as a whole flotilla makes whoopee with a barbecue ashore.

Porto Atheni, on the east coast, is probably the quietest inlet, with a very small hotel and a nice gravel beach.

Ferries trot back and forth between Spilia and Nidri regularly (a 20 minute crossing) and for any serious shopping, you'd go to Nidri.

JimB
http://www.jimbaerselman.f2s.com/
for lots more info about Greece

absolutely loved Meagannisi. Stayed at Poro Elia just under Katomeri.
Accomodation was "rough" but perfectly placed on its own shingle beach. Out of this world.
Try Peter's ouzeri in Katomeri it's like a time warp but very friendly when you get sat down with all the old guys from the village.
You didn't say where you are going to stay but if you're not in Spartochori
(scatterd village because most of the residents originat from elsewhere) then use the taxi to get there for an evening meal. If you eat at taxi Geroge's taverna the taxi fare is NIL (or was when we were there about three years ago) AND the food was worth the visit.
Vathi is popular with the yachtis and the price reflects it.
Enjoy it, we did

many thanks for your replies....Meganissi sounds just the island for us, still traditionally Greek, and quiet which is often hard to find in August.

Our apartment is described in the brochure as just being outside the village [Spartohori] on the road leading to Katomeri. 400m from tavernas and 1km from Rocca beach.

Are the beaches good for snorkelling. Would there be water taxis to other beaches, or just the ferry to Lefkas..how often does this cross??

claireuk1
sounds like apartments used by Manos. The beaches are reasonable for snorkelling, they are certainly nice and safe.
I do not recall water taxis but there is an island "bus" which goes around the island at regular intervals calling at Spartachori, Vathi and Katomeri.
the ferry goes to Lefkas whenever the captain feels like it although there is a formal timetable.
we hired a small boat for a couple of days which helped us access beaches that, although accessible by foot, were a long way.
enjoy

Hi Claire..we have a yacht in the area and regularly call in at the various harbours in Meganissi. Vathi..the biggest,is a very attractive village ,however I would disagree with Greekophile re prices..it is no more expensive than average as,contrary to popular belief,yachties are not all wealthy and big spenders. "the twins bar" is popular and run by,as the name suggests,twin girls ,The "rose Garden" is worth a visit except when the flotillas are in town when it gets very busy. The village of Spartachori is a gem..high on a hill and very old and greek. Try Laki's restaurant in the evenings,especially when it is busy ,as the floor show has to be seen !! Their Moussaka is probably the best you will taste anywhere. Last month..1 starter,2 moussakas and 1 bottle house wine...13 euros. It is worth while hiring a small motor boat..from porto Spilia or Vathi..there are lovely bays to be explored nearby..(Abouliki bay and Kapali bay.There is a very good and cheap ferry service to Nidri o the mainland ,,it takes about 1/2 an hour. From there,you have the choice of several boat trips to the more outlying islands (Kalamos,Kastos,Keffalonia and Ithaka.for example) There is an excellent bakery in Katomeri,and also in Vathi,although they tend to only make bread ,which is delicious.If you hire a boat,it is worth taking a trip over to the island of Skorpios,which once belonged to the Onassis family. You are not permitted to land there,however you can anchor off and the swimming and snorkelling is excellent. Take plenty of sunscreen (,obviously) and also mossie cream. Have a great time!!

Parahandy
did not wish to infer that I thought those on yachts were "rich" just that I found, on my trip, that prices down in Vathi were more expensive by quite a bit than in the other two villages.
I still think on the whole that the island is wonderful.

Hi Greekofile...I have not noticed that the prices in Vathi are more than the rest of the island...however I will make a point checking when we return next spring. On the whole though,Meganissi is not an expensive place,and is always our first and last port of call .We have noticed though that there is increasing development on the island,which seems to be a bit more upmarket than the average. Hopefully this will not spoil the place as it is a real gem.

Ahh Meganissi,yes lovely place,it was a few years ago but It sounds like it hasn't changed much.No ones mentioned the climb upto Sparti yet!!!
We stayed at Panarama studios with Manos,very nice too.Only just on the edge of the village with its narrow streets and friendly locals.We hired mountain bikes from Nidri, much to the amusement of said locals( mad englishman and the mid-day sun and all that!!)and got all round the island.The local beach 'Rocca' gets very busy with boat trippers for a few hours but other than that if its quiet traditional Greek you want, you've got it! DL1