The largest of the Ionian Islands in Greece, Kefalonia (a.k.a Cephalonia) combines wild nature, picturesque villages, beaches with crystal waters, rugged mountains and rich vineyards. There are so many things that a visitor can do on the island, that one visit throughout the summer is not enough. Crowded – yet well organized – beaches with almost daily beach parties for the cosmopolitan visitors. Water sports and nature activities (horse ridding, mountain excursions, paragliding etc) for the athletic ones. Great restaurants, bistros, cafes and taverns for the fine taste connoisseurs. Interesting archeological monuments for the Greek history lovers. Stunning vistas for the photography experts. Plenty of quiet – almost undiscovered little paradises for those who seek some days of tranquility. And of course, hotels and villas for the most pretentious visitors.
Towns
Argostoli is the capital of the island since 1757. It is amphitheatrically built around the Koutavos lagoon and has many tourist attractions and sights for the visitors, including museums, monuments and natural beauties.
Lassi is a famous destination for tourists on the island. It has a great variety of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars, so the visitor does not have to go far. Also, some of the most beautiful beaches on the island can be found here.
Skala is one of the busiest tourist resorts. What makes this village so famous, apart from the many hotels and restaurants, is the beautiful 5 km long beach – a combination of thick sand and pebbles and blue waters.
Fiskardo, a picturesque village 50km north of Argostoli, with its fine Venetian buildings, framed by green hills, and its graphic port, is a very popular place for visitors and locals.
Assos is built amphitheatrically around the peninsula with steep slopes crossed by a narrow strip of land where the Venetian castle stands. In the village you can find traditionally built houses – covered with bougainvilleas- and a variety of shops and taverns.
Beaches
The most photographed beach on Kefalonia, Myrtos, is nothing less than stunning. The beach itself is mainly white pebble with light blue waters.
Makris Gialos is a cosmopolitan golden sand beach in Lassi. Among services offered are restaurant-bar, sun beds, Wi-Fi, and water sports.
Platis Gialos is essentially the extension of Makris Gialos. It too has a snack bar, sun beds, a beach volley area and ample parking space.
Lourdas beach is a long beach in length with clean turquoise waters, and combines fine sand with white pebbles.
Antisamos is one of Kefalonia’s most cosmopolitan beaches. The crystal deep blue extra clear waters worth exploring with snorkeling gear.
Petani beach is protected by large slopes and has very deep crystal water, forming all the shades of blue and white pebbles combined with the white sand.
Platia ammos beach is in Lixouri. It has blue waters combined with golden sand and is ideal for relaxation since the masses have not discovered it yet.
Xi is a long beach with red sand in Lixouri. It offers a natural mud-bath since the sand is high in clay. It has shallow waters and is therefore preferred by families.
Ai Helis has dark, fine grain sand, with natural spa properties. The waters are shallow making it a good choice for families.
Avithos beach is a golden sand beach located in Svoronata. The beach is very long in length and has shallow blue waters.
Must Visit
In Argostoli you will find the Devosetou Bridge, named in honor of the Swiss engineer Philip Charles-De Bosset and built in 1813. It is the largest stone bridge over the sea with a length of 900 meters. In 1970 it was declared a monument preserved and protected by international authorities. Today, it is suitable for walking on and especially at night it offers an idyllic atmosphere.
The Venetian kastro (castle) from the 1500s sits atop a hill southeast of Argostoli and was the capital of Kefalonia for about two hundred years. Well worth a visit for its stellar views, the castle is also surrounded by a small village with Byzantine churches and restaurants (also with stunning vistas).
The Cave of Melissani, situated just outside Sami, is one of the most significant places to visit. Inside the cave there is a lake that has trees surrounding it and a tinny island in the center. The roof caved in centuries ago letting sunlight filter in. The depth of the lake is 20 to 30 meters. At noon, as the sunlight hits the turquoise-blue waters, creates a magical atmosphere.
Drogarati is an impressive cave with remarkable formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Speleologists say that it is about 150 million years old and constitutes a rare geological phenomenon. The cave is about 60m deep and has a constant temperature of 18˚ C.
How to get to Kefalonia
By air |
By sea |
During summer season the island’s airport (located in a distance of 9 km from Argostoli) is pretty busy. The following airlines assist visitors from abroad as well as other Greek islands and cities.
We would be happy to assist you book your flight to Kefalonia. |
Beginning from Athens Airport, you can take a taxi or the bus X93, which will lead you at the central bus station of Athens. From there you take the Kefalonian bus in order to reach Kyllini (3, 5 hours). From this port you can catch a ferry boat in order to reach Kefalonia. The itineraries are daily and very frequent during summer months. From Kyllini port you will reach Poros port, within 1, 5 hour. You can book your ferry tickets here:
We would be happy to assist you book your ferry tickets to Kefalonia. |
Useful Telephones
Airport of Kefalonia | +302671029900 |
Bus Station of Argostoli | +302671022281 |
Bus Station of Athens | +302105124910 |
+302105124911 | |
+302105132601 | |
Hospital of Argostoli | +302671024641 |
Municipality of Argostoli | +302671022230 |
Police Department of Argostoli | +302671022200 |
Port Authorities of Argostoli | +302671022224 |
Port Authorities of Lixouri | +302671094100 |
Port Station of Kyllini | +302623092000 |
Port Station of Fiskardo | +302674041400 |
Port Station of Poros | +302674072460 |
Port Station of Sami | +302674022031 |
Prefecture of Kefalonia | +302671022327 |
Tourist Police | +302671022815 |