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The best things to do in Kefalonia in Greece - Blog Voyage - Découvrir Ensemble

The best things to do in Kefalonia in Greece

Last update : 29 April 2024
We'd like to take you on a tour of Kefalonia, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea that's well worth a visit. Still relatively untouristy, Kefalonia will surprise you with its white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, charming colorful villages and numerous water sports.

To get the most out of this island, we recommend spending at least five days here, and possibly two hotels in different locations. In this article, discover the island’s must-see attractions, including beaches, caves, water sports and good restaurants!

Perhaps you’re also familiar with the neighboring island of Zante (Zakynthos)? You can extend your vacation by discovering these two Greek islands during the same stay. That’s what we did, and we recommend it! In our blog, we explain how to get from one island to the other by ferry. Come on, it’s time to plan your next travel to Greece!

Cephalonia (Kefalonia), where to sleep?

Hotel Electra Kefalonia & Spa

We discovered this hotel during a lunch, we were able to visit it but we didn’t stay there. The comfort and design of this beautiful place made us really want to try it out on our next visit to Kefalonia. The rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, and all have a balcony or garden with private pool – a dream come true!

The hotel has a large outdoor pool as well as an indoor pool. It’s conveniently located close to the airport. We recommend it for your vacation in Kefalonia!

hotels Cephalonie

What to do in Kefalonia? Our 10 must-sees

Map Kefalonia
 

1. Myrtos Beach

One of our favorite beaches in Kefalonia! It’s apparently one of the most spectacular in Europe, to the northwest of the island. It’s set in the heart of towering cliffs, and you can admire it from a pretty vantage point on the road to Assos.

It’s a beach of white sand and pebbles, which contrasts wonderfully with the turquoise water. However, it’s not the ideal place for swimming, as the currents are strong and the seabed slopes steeply.  From mid-June onwards, you’ll be able to relax on deckchairs, hosted by a beach bar-snack bar. A real “coup de coeur” for us, a must-see on your visit to Kefalonia!

Céphalonie intournables cephalonie myrthos plage myrthos
 

2. The village of Assos and the ruined Castle

This small Greek village is clearly worth a visit during a stay in Kefalonia. Picturesque and colorful, it reminded us of the Cinque Terre villages in Italy. It’s a rather confidential village, as there are apparently very few inhabitants outside the school year (seven, according to what we heard on the spot 😂). If you’re a cat lover, you’ll also be in heaven.

What creates this idyllic setting are also the surrounding forests, the bougainvillea in bloom and the turquoise sea. A mix of colors that’s sure to lift your spirits! Let yourself be carried along the narrow streets of Assos to the village square, where you’ll find plenty of cats. You can also sit on the terrace of the Sea Side in Assos, for a Spritz with a view, for example? 🍹

The village was partly destroyed by an earthquake in 1953 and rebuilt with the help of the French. On the hill opposite, you’ll find the ruins of the Chateau d’Assos, built in 1593. You can get there by a pleasant walk of around 40 minutes.

Assos Céphalonie village assos cephalonie village assos
 

3. The village of Fiskardo

The village of Fiskardo was one of our favorite spots on our visit to Kefalonia! This port village is located at the very north of the island, and will surprise you with its superb Venetian architecture. In this Greek village, you’ll find many colorful houses, textile stores, terraced restaurants and moored boats. It’s a fairly touristy place, even posh in high season. But it’s well worth the detour – trust us!

If you want to have lunch in Fiskardo, we recommend the Vassos restaurant, which serves excellent local specials: mezzes as starters followed by spaghetti with lobsters, a real treat.

Fiskardo Cephalonia village fiskardo fiskardo cephalonie
 

4. Melissani cave

A truly magical place, it’s one of the must-dos on your vacation to Kefalonia. The Melissani cave was discovered after an earthquake toppled its roof. Measuring 150 metres wide and 60 metres long, you can discover it from the inside during a fun activity: a boat trip on the lake. The lake is 39 meters deep and a sensational turquoise-blue color!

We advise you to go between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in summer, when the sun shines through the cave – an exceptional moment. Admission is around €7 per person.

grotte de melissani grotte melissani lac melissani

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5. The Zervati caves

These caves are much less well known than Melissani, yet they’re all nearby. They’re not touristy, but they’re not off-limits either, so don’t hesitate to check them out!

grottes de zervati cephalonie
 

6. Drogarati cave

Another atypical spot we never thought we’d discover in Greece! This cave of stalactites and stalagmites is formed from limestone. Since 1983, the caves have been fitted out so that visitors can explore them on foot, and there are even concerts organized inside – it must be a fantastic experience! The Drogarati cave in Cephalonia is said to be over 150 million years old, no less. We really enjoyed our visit to this cave, feeling completely out of time amidst its immensity and warm colors.

Admission is €5 per person, so remember to bundle up as it’s below 18 degrees inside.

grotte drogarati
 

7. Pessada beach

This little cove near the Port of Pessada is well worth a visit if you want to swim somewhere away from the crowds. On the other hand, access has to be earned and there are no facilities once you’re there, so pack a picnic lunch for a day on Pessada beach, for example! We enjoyed our swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Pessada, we recommend it.

Kefalonia
 

8. Fteri Beach

Among the best things to do in Kefalonia, Fteri Beach! This beach in the heart of the cliffs looks really unique. We didn’t get the chance to go there, but it’s on our list for our next visit to Kefalonia. To get there, you can walk 40 minutes from the parking lot or take a cab boat for €14 return per person. This beach is made up of pebbles, so don’t hesitate to bring water slippers to make the most of it!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A publication shared by Kefalonia Island Blog 🇬🇷 (@kefalonia__island)

 

9. Visit Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia

The capital of Kefalonia is very pleasant to discover. Completely destroyed in 1953 following an earthquake, the notable architecture is therefore no longer Venetian, but it’s still colorful and charming. There’s a long pedestrian bridge that takes you to a different viewpoint of the city, 700 meters long, and if you go to the end you might even come across a few turtles!

argostoli capitale
 

10. Extend your vacation in Greece by discovering the island of Zante (Zakynthos)

The neighboring island of Zakynthos is also worth a visit! We loved our 5 days in Zakynthos and can’t recommend going there enough. If you’d like to find out more, we recommend you read our dedicated article.

zakynthos

How to get from Kefalonia to Zakynthos ?

You can get from one island to the other via a ferry that departs from the port of Pessada in Kefalonia and reaches the port of Agios Nikolaos in Zakynthos in just 1? hours. It’s difficult to find information on the Internet about this ferry crossing, so we recommend you visit this site for crossing times.
Tickets can be booked when you arrive at the port of Agios Nikolaos, and we recommend that you arrive a few days beforehand to pick up your tickets. The fare is €8 per person and €31 for a car.

ferry zante cephalonia

Cephalonia (Kefalonia), where to eat?

1. Vassos Restaurant in Fiskardo

An excellent restaurant on the quays of Fiskardo where you can enjoy mezzes and local specialties. We recommend it when you visit Fiskardo in Kefalonia!

restaurant fiskardo
 

2. Sea Side in Assos

A pretty address for a drink overlooking Assos beach and its colorful houses. The perfect spot to take a break and enjoy Dolce Vita Greek-style.

sea side assos

3. Electra Kefalonia & Spa

A beautiful hotel in Kefalonia where you can come for lunch or a drink without even staying there. That’s what we did and had a delightful time overlooking the pool and the sea. The cocktails are excellent, you absolutely must try them!

electra kefalonia spa
 

Kefalonia, practical information

How to get to the island of Kefalonia

Direct flights with Transavia

This Greek island is served directly by Transavia from Paris Orly, as is its neighboring island Zakynthos, at very affordable prices (around €150 return, depending on the period). The flight to Kefalonia takes around 2 hours 40 minutes. A perfect option for discovering the islands of the Ionian Sea at lower cost! We recommend that you book well in advance, as flights are scarce, especially out of season.

vol direct zakynthos

When to come to Kefalonia

The best months to discover Kefalonia are May, June, September and October. You’ll enjoy mild, sunny weather, without too much tourism, and prices are also more affordable. You can also visit in high season (July, August), but expect more crowds!

Insuring your trip to Greece - Blog Voyage - Découvrir Ensemble
Insuring your trip to Greece

To travel with peace of mind, it’s important to choose the right insurance. We recommend Heymondo, which offers a selection of tailor-made insurances with very good value for money.

plage mythos cephalonie

How to rent a car at the best price in Kefalonia

If you’re looking to rent a car during your trip, we recommend you take a look at the RentalCars website. This will enable you to find the best prices and conditions for your rental.

How to find the best hotels to visit Cephalonia

In order to find the best hotels and benefit from the best conditions (security, cancellation…) we go almost exclusively through Booking.com for our trips. We recommend that you take a look at the available hotels and filter them according to their ratings. There are plenty of recent customer reviews, so there are no nasty surprises when you’re traveling!

Must-do activities on the island of Kefalonia?

1. Board a fishing boat

If you want an authentic, immersive experience on the Ionian Sea, embark with Michalis Fishing for a morning of fishing. You’ll be able to discover Kefalonia from the sea, and then enjoy lunch of the day’s catch, cooked Greek-style by the crew. A convivial and delicious moment!

Michalis Fishing tourism
 

2. Wine tasting at Orealios Gaea

If there are any wine lovers among you, this tasting is sure to please! You’ll discover local creations explained with passion by the staff at Orealios Gaea. The winery and boutique are well worth a visit!

domaine orealios gaea visiter cephalonie
 
orealios gaea cephalonie

Article in commercial collaboration - Blog Voyage - Découvrir Ensemble
Article in commercial collaboration

This entire trip was co-constructed with the teams at the Tourist Office of Greece. However, we remain free to express our opinions, which are therefore personal and sincere.


Thank you for reading

We hope the tips and good addresses in our travel blog will help you plan your trip to Kefalonia.

You can also follow our daily adventures on Instagram 🙂
Clem & Alex

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