Kefalonia, our top 10 things to do and see

Cephalonia (or Kefalonia in Greek), an island not to be missed! The Ionian islands are less well known than the Cyclades, yet well worth a visit. Kefalonia is a beautiful island, but also a very large one. It takes over 1h45 to reach Fiskardo (north) from Skala (south). We’ll help you plan your stay with our top 10 must-sees and must-dos. Cephalonia (Kefalonia) won us over with its mountainous landscape of olive, eucalyptus and cypress trees, its beautiful coastline where cliffs meet a translucent blue sea, its colorful houses, its archaeological sites…

Situated between Lefkada and Zakynthos, and very close to Ithaca, it’s still not very touristy, which makes it just the kind of island we love! Discover Kefalonia through our Top 10!

1 – Argostoli, Cephalonia’s largest town

Set in a bay, Kefalonia’s capital Argostoli is also the island’s largest town.

Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of things to do and see in Argostoli:

• Stroll along the waterfront, on the two-tone esplanade decorated with pebbles and lined with palm trees. Or take a break at one of the quayside cafés or restaurants.
• Take the historic Bosset bridge and admire its obelisk. This pedestrian bridge was originally built of wood in 1813. Almost 700 metres long, it is now the longest stone bridge over the sea in the world! Linking Argostoli to Drapano, it also marks the boundary of the Koutavos lagoon, a Caretta Caretta turtle park where turtles swim freely in their natural habitat. You can also go pedal-boating or hire an electric boat to get a better look at them!
• The Korgialenio Historical and Folk Museum covers the history and life of Kefalonia through art and culture. This was the case from Venetian times until the terrible earthquake of 1953, which destroyed a large part of the island.
• Along the cobbled Lithostroto shopping street, you’ll find small boutiques, cafés, ice creams and tavernas. In fact, it’s a very lively area in the evening.
• At the end of the peninsula, take a look at the Katavothres, a unique geological phenomenon in which seawater seeps into the cracks in the rock and emerges on the other side of the island towards Sami!
• If you’re in the area, take a look at the Agios Theodori lighthouse dating from 1829, a stunning monument of round white columns.

2 – Kastro Agios Giorgios, the ancient capital of Kefalonia

Situated high above the village of Peratata, this Byzantine fortress was once the capital of Kefalonia and home to an entire town. From up there, you’ll have a beautiful panoramic view of the island.

A word of advice: park before the small pedestrian street. It’s an easy 5-minute walk uphill to the Kastro.

Practical info: Open from 8.30am to 4pm, admission charged. By way of indication, in 2024: €3 full price, €2 concessions. Website Odysseus Culture

On your way down, don’t hesitate to have a drink at the Il Borge café, in the shade of the pergola and lulled by the song of the cicadas, where the view over the island is superb.

3 – The port of Sami and its surroundings

Sami is a pretty port with many ferry connections. You’ll also find taverns and cafés to quench your thirst and enjoy the harbour.

After the town of Sami, head for the ancient Sami Acropolis for a superb panoramic view. The road then takes you through olive groves. First, there’s the Kastro, where you can wander freely among the ruins. We recommend continuing a little further on to visit the Akropoli, also open to the public. Park a little past the“Ακρόπολη Αρχαίας Σάμης” sign. Access to the site is on foot from the small path to the right of the sign.

After a 5-10 minute walk through the trees (semi-shaded route), you’ll reach the ruins of the ancient Acropolis of Same, one of the 4 cities of ancient Cephalonia. Unfortunately, at the time of our visit, the explanatory panel was in tatters. But from up there, you can enjoy a shady summit, also appreciated by the goats. And above all, from a superb vantage point overlooking Sami and the island.

4 – The astonishing caves of Kefalonia

Like most of Greece, Cephalonia is home to a number of caves. The perfect place to enjoy a cool moment in summer.

Here are some of the caves you can visit:

The Melissani cave

Discovered in 1951, this cave, whose roof has collapsed, can be visited by boat. The lake, located 20 metres below the surface, is a beautiful shade of blue, whose hues change as the sun’s rays enter the cave. And The blue water, which comes from Argostoli, is simply magnificent. The cave is divided into 2 chambers, one open-air, the other darker with an island of stalagmites. Oil lamps and figurines representing the god Pan and the Nymphs, dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries BC, have even been discovered here.

The boat tour is quick and cool, lasting just 10 mins, but well worth it. Guide prices in 2024: €10 per adult, €5 per child. Combined ticket with Drogarati 13€. Open from 10am to 2 pm.

The Drogarati cave

This is a “more classic” cave, with stalactites and stalagmites, many of which are unfortunately broken.

Guide prices in 2024: €6 per adult, €3 per child. A group ticket is also available for the Melissani cave (€13 for the 2 caves).

The Zervati caves

Located in the heart of nature, these 2 caves are open to the public. Very untouristy, just go through the gate and walk 2 mins to get there. These are in fact two small caverns with two pools of beautiful blue water, also from Argostoli. The second grotto is the most beautiful. For the more adventurous, it’s possible to swim there, but the water is icy cold! It’s a pleasant place to be, as the coolness rises from the icy water. Beware of falling rocks.

If you’d like to take advantage of an excursion to visit the island’s highlights, we spotted but didn’t test this 4-hour excursion to visit Lake Melissani and the Drogarati cave, among others. It has very good commentary.

5 – The village of Asos

This is one ofour favorite villages. The access road alone is worth the detour! Indeed, it offers superb views. Below the mountain, you can see this pretty fishing village, wedged into the hollow of a small mountain peninsula where the ruins of a Kastro lie.

As this picturesque village was relatively spared the terrible earthquakes of 1953, it has retained its picturesque soul of yesteryear, with its colorful Venetian houses.

A word of advice: park in the parking lot for easy access to the city on foot.

Walk down the street and you’ll come to a small port lined with cafés and tavernas. There are also two small beaches ideal for cooling off.

If you continue the walk towards the kastro, you’ll reach a lovely viewpoint over the village and harbor, before the big cobbled climb. And if you have the courage and time, you can continue on to the ruined castle. From up there, you can enjoy a superb panorama!

6 – Fiskardo and its little port

Situated in the far north of Kefalonia, the small port town of Fiskardo, like Asos, was relatively unscathed by the 1953 earthquake. To visit this village, we recommend parking in the parking lots outside the historic center and then strolling leisurely through the narrow streets of Fiskardo.

The harbor is lined with colorful Venetian-style houses, most of which are restaurants, cafés or souvenir stores. A charming place to take a break on the quayside and watch the boats come and go, offering rides to visitors.

You can also take a stroll along the harbour and head for Zavalata beach, a pebble beach with crystal-clear water. Take the opportunity to take a look at the nearby Roman cemetery. Discovered in 1993, it contains tombs dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries.

From the port, we recommend a short stroll (approx. 15 mins) to the Venetian lighthouse for a superb view of Fiskardo and Ithaca, just opposite.

7 – The beaches of Kefalonia

It’s hard to choose between all the beautiful beaches of Kefalonia! The contrasts between the turquoise blue of the sea, the white of the pebbles and the orange-colored sand give a great diversity to these magnificent beaches: Myrtos, Makris Gialos, Antisamos, Kimilia, Xi, Petani…

In fact, we’ve dedicated an entire article to it: Kefalonia’s most beautiful beaches.

But if I have to make a small selection, here are the ones I’d keep in mind:

Myrtos beach

This magnificent beach is often cited as one of the most beautiful in Greece! A large pebble beach at the foot of a white cliff that gives the sea a lovely blue color, as if milk had been poured over it!

Makris Gialos Beach

Makris Gialos is another beautiful beach on Kefalonia. Its large expanse of fine sand, translucent water and shallow depth make it an ideal beach, especially for families with children.

Kimilia beach

A lovely little cove within easy walking distance. The wild beach is surrounded by rocks and pine trees that provide welcome shade. Once again, the water is transparent.

Antisamos Beach

Antisamos is a large, easily accessible pebble beach with ample parking nearby. The translucent blue sea also has a fairly steep gradient.

8 – Culinary tourism

Each Greek island has its own local specialities! In Kefalonia, you’ll find several producers who will be delighted to show you their work and let you taste their products: honey,olive oil of course, but also wine such as the famous local Robola.

Kefalonia is definitely an island for gourmets! Don’t leave without tasting the famous kreatopita, a meat pie simmered to perfection! You’ll also often find ladotiri (cheese from Cephalonia), bouyourdi (baked feta with peppers), imam (eggplant dish), beef stifado, lamb kleftiko or veal kokkinisto.

9 – Hiking and other sporting activities

Kefalonia is also perfect for hiking, and we love the AllTrails website, which lists numerous hikes all over the island. The island boasts one of the oldest nature parks in Greece, Mount Ainos National Park. Mount Ainos is also the island’s highest point, promising panoramic views across the island. Kefalonia’s fir-tree forest offers a wide range of hiking trails for keen walkers.

We also spotted this 3-hour hike around Fiskardo, which takes in the beaches of Kimilia and Emplisi. Perfect for combining walking and swimming!

Sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers will also find top-notch sporting activities! We spotted these various activities on Manawa:

• A kayak tour from Argostoli
• A tandem paragliding flight over Myrtos beach for a spectacular view of the turquoise sea!
• Or discover the hinterland with a guided quad-biking excursion starting from Skala.

10 – Take a day trip

On vacation, if you too plan your days, it’s nice to occasionally leave things as they are and let yourself be guided for a day on an organized excursion.

In particular, we spotted these interesting day trips:

Finally, from Kefalonia, it’s also easy to reach the neighboring island of Ithaca, either by booking your ferry directly from Sami – morning and evening schedules lend themselves well to a day on the island – or through an excursion like this one, for example.

*****

Tempted to discover Kefalonia? To find out more about this Ionian island, take a look at our articles :

• Must-have information: how to get there, how to get around, where to stay, our best addresses…
• Kefalonia and the richness of nature
• The island’s most beautiful beaches

Virginie W.