The Greek island of Kefalonia (also called Cephalonia) is beautiful, and it’s not as busy as other Greek islands like Zakynthos or Santorini.
You can take a day trip from Zakynthos to Kefalonia and see some of the best sights in one day, but I think it’s better to stay on the island for at least a few days and spend more time seeing the sights.
The Melissani lake and cave are the most well-known things to see on the island of Kefalonia. However, the island also has a lot of nice beaches with soft white pebbles and blue water.
This travel blog will talk about some of the best things to do in Kefalonia, Greece. It will also talk about how to get there, where to stay, the best ways to get around, and the best tour packages. I’ve also included a picture of the island of Kefalonia to help you plan your trip.
Where is Kefalonia Island located?
Kefalonia, which can also be written as Cephalonia, is an island in the Ionian Sea, west of Greece.
There are seven Ionian Islands in Greece, and Kefalonia is only about 260 kilometers (160 miles) away from Athens if you go in a straight line.
How to Get to Kefalonia in Greece?
You can fly or take a boat to get to the island of Kefalonia.
Flying is the easiest, fastest, and most expensive way to get to Kefalonia, but it is also the best way to get there. Kefalonia Airport (EFL) is served by nonstop flights from Athens and other places like Amsterdam, London, and Munich every day.
A one-way trip from Athens to Kefalonia takes an hour and costs between 50 and 100 Euros on Aegean/Olympic Air or Sky Express.
If you have a choice, Aegean or Olympic Air, which is part of Aegean, is better than Sky Express, but any of them will do. Most of the time, the price of the ticket includes free checked bags.
Taking the ferry from Athens to Kefalonia is cheaper than flying, but it’s also slower and more difficult.
You have to take a bus from Athens to Kyllini, which takes 4 hours and costs 25 Euros, and then take a boat to get there. From Kyllini to Kefalonia by boat takes about an hour and a half and costs about 14 Euros.
There are also boats from nearby islands like Zakynthos and Ithaca, so if you want to go island hopping in Greece and see more than just Kefalonia, you can change your plan a bit.
For example, you can fly to Kefalonia, stay there for a few days, take the boat to Zakynthos, and then fly from Zakynthos back to Athens. Or do the same thing but the other way around. We did that, and it turned out great.
There are day trips to Kefalonia from Zakynthos if you don’t have much time but still want to see some of the island’s best spots.
Transportation: How to Get Around Kefalonia
Kefalonia is a big island, almost twice as big as Zakynthos. It can take hours to drive from one side to the other. If you want to give the island its due, you’ll need a way to get around.
You can’t use Uber for short rides close to town, but you can hire a taxi. We had a great time getting to and from the airport in Greece with Welcome Pickups. They have clean cars and safe drivers who will take you from the airport to your hotel and back.
On Kefalonia, the best way to get around is to rent a car. On the island, there are many places to rent cars, but we recommend DiscoverCars.
Driving in Kefalonia is a little stressed, but not too hard, and most of the roads are in good shape. It was a little easier than Zakynthos. It is a more hilly island, so sometimes the roads will be steep, but they will be well-paved.
Some dirt roads in remote parts of Cephalonia may still have potholes, but even those roads are getting better quickly as the island becomes easier to get to and more popular with tourists.
Driving is hardest in Argostoli town, where there is more traffic, the roads are small, and there are a lot of cars parked on both sides. Drive slowly and pay attention in town. Once you get out of town, most of the roads are easy to drive on.
Like the US and Canada, Greeks drive on the right side of the road. The people who live there like to drive fast, and they often don’t care about speed limits or double yellow lines. Just keep this in mind and move over so they can pass.
What’s Best to Do in Kefalonia, Greece?
• Antisamos Beach
Antisamos is a lovely beach with clear water and gentle waves. It is ringed on all sides by green hills. This beach has water that is as clear as glass and is great for swimming.
It used to be a quiet, secret beach, but now it’s a commercial beach with a lot of people. From the port town of Sami, the beach is easy to get to on a paved road. There are restaurants with lots of umbrellas, bathrooms, and parking on the beach.
Because this beach is close to Sami, it is easy to visit Melissani Lake and Drogarati Cave at the same time.
Overall, it’s a great beach for swimming and resting with the family.
• Melissani Cave Lake
Melissani is a beautiful underground lake and cave on the Kefalonia island. The cave’s top is open, which lets light shine down on the beautiful blue water.
One of the best things to do in Kefalonia Island is to go into this cave and take a short paddleboat ride around the lake. If you go to Melissani cave at the right time of day, the roof lets in just enough light to make the water crazy blue.
I would almost say that this is something that everyone who travels around the world needs to see. The boat ride is a bit short, and the lake looks best when the sun is shining.
Melissani has become one of the most popular places to visit in Kefalonia because of how beautiful it is, so you’ll usually have to wait in line to see it. During the busy months, the line can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes.
The best time to see the cave is in the middle of the day, when the sun is high in the sky and makes the colors of the lake stand out. That’s also the most popular time to visit, so be ready to wait.
Even though the boat ride is only about 10 minutes long, there are lots of good places to take pictures. If you’re lucky, you might also see an eel swimming in the lake. It’s a fun little journey.
• Assos Village
Assos is a small village on a point in the northern part of the Kefalonia Island. One of the best things to do in Kefalonia, Greece, is to go to this place.
It’s a cute, lively town that looks great in photos, and we wish we could have stayed longer. Along the coast, there is a nice, safe beach where you can go swimming and a lot of shops and places to eat.
It’s a great place to sit and relax because there are trees for shade and seats by the water.
Assos was the capital of northern Cephalonia when it was ruled by the Venetians, beginning in 1593.
If you have spare time, climb the hill to the Venetian Castle of Assos for a great view of the town from the other side. From the parking lot, it takes about 30–40 minutes to walk to the castle ruins, which you can see for free.
• Myrtos Beach
Myrtos is one of the most beautiful places in Kefalonia Island, Greece. It has a white pebble beach surrounded by steep rocks on both sides and a lookout point from which you can see the beach below.
Make sure to stop here at the roadside lookout before you go down to the beach. It has some of the best scenery in Kefalonia, and you don’t have to pay or hike to see it!
From this spot, you can see the coast of Kefalonia and the steep road that goes down to the beach. There isn’t a lot of parking, but there’s usually room because cars are always coming and going.
Myrtos Beach is reached by a steep, paved road that can be a little scary at times, especially since you have to share it with cars going back up the hill.
During the busy season, it’s best to get here early so you can find a place to park. The beach is over 700 meters long, though, so it never feels too busy. There can be big waves here, so kids probably shouldn’t swim there.
At Myrtos Beach, the rocks and cliffs are almost blindingly white, and the water is a beautiful blue color. It’s likely the most beautiful beach in Kefalonia Island.
• Fteri Beach
Fteri is a quiet beach that can be reached by boat (called a “water taxi”) from Zola.
The ride on the boat is easy and comfortable, and each way takes less than 10 minutes. You can stay at the beach for as long as you want, and the boat captain will give you a WhatsApp number to call when you’re ready to go back to Zola.
At first, I wasn’t sure about this set-up, but it worked out great for us. You don’t have to book anything ahead of time, and there are lots of boats coming and going during the busy season.
Fteri is a beautiful beach with blue water that makes it look like it can’t be real. When we got there, the beach was empty, but by the time we left, it was getting crowded.
• Fiskardo Village
Fiskardo is an old port town on the northern tip of the Kefalonia Island. From there, you can take a ferry to the Greek islands of Ithaca and Lefkada, which are close by.
Even if you don’t want to take the boat, Fiskardo is a great place to visit to walk around the harbor and enjoy the views of the water. In Fiskardo, we had a great lunch of Greek gyros and got some gifts.
I have to say that Fiskardo was busier and not quite as attractive as Assos. Still, it’s worth a trip, but if I had to pick only one of these places to see, I’d say Assos.
Best Photo Spot in Kefalonia
The Melissani cave and lake are possibly the best place to take pictures in Kefalonia. It was my best place we visited in Kefalonia, Greece.
Also, the view from above Myrtos Beach is great, and Assos town is a great place to take pictures at any time of day. Photographers should go to Kefalonia.
Kefalonia island is a great place for drone users to take photos that are out of this world. People in Greece aren’t too strict about drones, and there are lots of quiet places to fly without bothering anyone. If you’re not sure, just ask before you take off.
Things to carry
Here are some ideas for what to bring with you to Kefalonia, Greece.
Most of the things on this list can probably be found on the island, but you can’t be sure of the quality of things you buy on the street. For example, I wouldn’t put my expensive camera gear in a cheap knockoff bag from a street seller.
It’s best to buy goods that have been checked out online!
A waterproof bag: It is a must-have for boats to keep your gadgets safe. I brought a 30 liter bag and was able to fit my drone, computer, camera, phone, and a bunch of other things in it. Even when I took the bag swimming a few times, nothing got wet.
Waterproof Phone Pouch: These are the same as the ones above, but they only hold your phone. Great if you only need something small to protect your phone and don’t have any other gadgets.
Snorkeling gear: It is great for discovering the clear waters around Kefalonia, where turtles can sometimes be seen. You can also borrow or rent snorkels and masks from the boat companies, but if you want to go on more than one tour, it’s best to bring your own tools.
Water Shoes: Your feet will be happier if you wear water shoes. Many of Kefalonia’s beaches have rocks instead of sand, so water shoes will help you get in and out of the water more easily.
Best Time To Visit Kefalonia Greece
Depending on what you want to do, the best time to visit Kefalonia island is between the beginning of May and the end of October. Most days are warm and sunny in all of these months. If you want good weather without a lot of people, the spring and fall vacation months can be nice.
Greece’s hottest months are July and August, when Kefalonia can get as hot as 82°F (27°C) during the day and as cold as 67°F (19°C) at night. This can be great for going to the beach or swimming in a pool, but it can also mean that there are more people around during these two months.
