The largest of the Ionian Islands in Greece, Kefalonia is a stunningly calm, relaxed alternative to some of the other popular islands in Greece like Kos & Mykonos. Well known for it’s landscape diversity, good wine and stunning beaches, you will love this island! Here is more about it and the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia.
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About Kefalonia
Vast, green and with a real laid back vibe, Kefalonia is one of the Greek Islands gems. Jam packed with natural beauties like underground caves and beaches that will just make you want to dive in. Wine is what this island has always been about much longer before tourism started too.
The Robola grape variety is grown in abundance, and produces an elegant dry white wine which is extremely popular and you will often see served in restaurants on the island.
One of the main differencing factors of Kefalonia is also the architecture. It’s not your typical white domed Cycladic architecture you find in Santorini or some of the other Greek islands. Most of the towns, aside from Fiskardo, are actually quite modern.
That is actually due to a major earthquake that destroyed a lot of the island in the 1950s! The 1953 The Ionian Earthquake did extensive damage to Kefalonia and neighbouring Zakynthos and that meant that most of the island had to be rebuilt.
How to Get to Kefalonia
Flying
There is one airport on the island, Kefalonia International Airport Anna Pollatou. If you are travelling from mainland Greece – there are are usually 3 flights a day that connect Athens to Kefalonia (just over 1 hour flight time). The island is also very well connected to other parts of Europe with several budget airlines flying to Kefalonia like Ryanair & EasyJet.
Ferry
There is no direct route via ferry from Athens, so you would first need to travel from Athens to Patras or Kyllini (both still in mainland Greece but to the south) to reach Kefalonia. From other islands, there are also ferry connections to the nearby islands of Lefkada (Vasiliki to Fiskardo), Ithaca (Pisaetos to Sami), Zakinthos (Agios Nikolaos to Pessada). The ferry routes are only 1-2 hours depending to which islands you are coming from and prices start from as little as 20 Euro pp one way.
Once you do get to Kefalonia, I do recommend hiring a car to get around! Do book ahead to secure the best price as it does get busy over peak holiday times of June, July & August.
Where to stay in Kefalonia
There is a variety of accommodation options throughout Kefalonia. The majority of the accommodation is located in the main town of Argostoli, but also in Skala, Assos, Fiskardo & Sami.
There are also lots of other smaller villages that you can stay in if you want to be somewhere quieter, and if you have a car it’s very easy to get around to most places. Check out Expedia.com to see what’s available.
We opted to stay in Svoronata, in the south, just 10 minutes away from the airport. We stayed at the beautiful Avithos Resort. It’s recently had a refurbishment and is now a modern, upscale complex with a stunning pool.
Check Prices and Availability for Avithos Resort Here
Nearby there is also the popular sandy Avithos Beach and two fabulous Taverna’s where you can get your fix of your classic Greek dishes, and of course some very fresh seafood. You can check them out here: Avithos Preview & Taverna To Enetiko.
These are the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia
Myrtos Beach
Stunningly beautiful. I don’t really have many other words to describe it because it really is the postcard kind of beach that you will see on a lot of advertising for Greece. It’s a white pebble beach (wear beach sandals!) and it’s located about 8 km from Assos. As you drive down the steep windy road to reach it, there are lots of viewing points where you can see the beach and it’s tall marble cliffs in all of it’s beauty. There is free parking as you reach the beach, but it does get very busy in summer! An absolute must see in the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia.
You can read about Myrtos and more great beaches in Greece on my other post 5 of the Best Beaches in Greece.
Assos
Nearby the town of Assos (about 20 minutes by car), is another stop that is worth seeing and is a beautiful colourful seaside village. Assos was mostly destroyed during the 1953 earthquake, but with the kindness of the French community which loved the village so much, Assos was completely rebuilt as it was previously!
Antisamos beach
Close to the port of Sami, this is a place that brought some significant fame to the island. It was a filming location for the 2001 movie Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz. Since then it’s retained popularity as one of the most visited beaches in Kefalonia.
The beach has lots of amenities like restaurants, beach bars, toilets and facilities. It’s also very long, so If you want to be away from the crowds there is plenty of room. Just walk further down the beach away from the loungers to get some more peace and quiet. It’s surrounded by pine trees, that protect it from the wind, it’s green all around! It has white, smooth pebbles and the water is of a stunning turquoise colour.
Lake Melissani Cave
Also nearby Sami, this cave and lake is a definite Top 5 Attraction in Kefalonia. Before going and seeing the pictures I did have my doubts if it was that incredible to see with my own eyes, but it well and truly was! It’s a cave, which has an underground lake with an opening at the top. If you see it especially around midday, the sunlight that comes in directly above the cave, lights up the lake in an unbelievable blue and mystical glow. It’s sure to blow your mind!
The history surrounding this place is nothing short of spectacular either. Also called the ‘Cave of the Nymphs’, artefacts were found in the cave dating back to the post Classical period, thousand of years old! To note: You cannot swim in the cave. After paying for the entrance you will be taken for a short boat ride across the lake (10-15 minutes). The cave is just open to visitors May to October. Check their direct website closer to travelling for up to date opening dates.
Fiskardo Harbour
This stunning village is one of the few places that was not destroyed by the 1953 earthquake and still has the authentic old world charm. If you are a history buff, you can take a short walk and visit a Roman Cemetery that dates back thousands of years and gaze at the old Venetian lighthouse. There are lots of tavernas and shops so it makes for a great stop. Fiskardo is a working port and is very popular docking stop. It does get very busy with yachts and boats during the summertime.
Book
I hope you enjoyed this post on the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia. Efcharistó (Thank You!) for reading!
Browse some great Kefalonia Hotel deals, check out the best prices and availability on Expedia.com
To book a car in Kefalonia, check out Expedia in their Car Hire section!
Check out the best airfares to get to Kefalonia, check out Skyscanner.
