Things to do
16-
Assos
A small village on a narrow isthmus below a pine-covered headland crowned by a Venetian fortress. Pastel houses ring a tiny harbour, with tavernas on the quay. A cobbled track zigzags up to the fortress walls, a steep climb with views back toward the Myrtos coast. The road down to the village is narrow and tight for parking.
-
Myrtos Beach
Swim off a single cove of white marble stones under rocky cliffs on Kefalonia's north-west coast, in water that runs turquoise close in and deepens to sapphire further out.
View more → -
Antisamos Beach
A bay of white pebbles below steep green hillsides, reached over a winding hill road from Sami. The water is deep and very clear, and the slopes run straight down to the shore. Scenes from the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin were shot here, and in summer sunbeds and a beach bar take over part of the shore.
-
Castle of Saint George
The island's medieval capital stood on this hill above the village of Peratata, and Venetian walls still ring the summit. Inside are the ruins of churches and barracks, with a view over the southern plain to Mount Ainos, and tavernas line the lane that climbs to it through the village.
-
Cyclopean Walls of Krani
The massive stone walls of ancient Krani climb a dry hillside east of Argostoli, above Koutavos Bay. Entry is free and the site is within walking distance of the centre. Further up the mountain lie the ruins of the ancient town itself.
-
De Bosset Bridge
A long stone causeway across the shallow Koutavos lagoon at the head of Argostoli bay, built in 1813 under the Swiss engineer Charles de Bosset. An obelisk stands near its middle. The crossing is a flat evening walk from the harbour, where loggerhead turtles often surface by the fishing boats.
-
Drogarati Cave
A show cave in the hills above Sami, where stairs lead down into a large chamber hung with stalactites and stalagmites. The main hall carries sound so well that concerts have been staged inside. The air stays cool all year, so a layer helps even in August. It keeps the same hours as Melissani, a short drive away.
-
F Zeen Kefalonia
An adults-only retreat on the hillside above Lourdas beach on the south coast, with Mount Ainos rising behind. Rooms and villas are spread through terraced gardens, some with their own pools, and the spa and main pool face the sea, with a path down to the beach below.
-
Fiskardo
A harbour village at the island's northern tip, largely spared by the 1953 earthquake, so its painted Venetian houses still stand around the quay. Yachts moor stern-to along the waterfront in summer, below a line of tavernas. A path past the lighthouse leads to the ruins of an early church. Summer ferries leave here for Ithaca and Lefkada.
-
Kalamia Beach
A cove of grey sand with a shallow seabed, where the sea is usually calm and the shore is almost never crowded. It is reached by road, or on foot from Lassi. In summer a few parasols and a bar stand on the sand.
-
Katavothres
Beside the coastal road out of Argostoli, seawater flows in from the shore and drains underground through a line of sinkholes, seen from a viewing platform. The site has free parking, a water-mill wheel and a café, and it is close enough to the centre to reach on foot.
-
Lassi
A sandy beach resort 3 km southwest of the centre on the Fanari peninsula, a few minutes out of Argostoli. A local bus links it with the capital, so a beach day here needs no car. As a base, it puts a room within reach of the sand, with the town a short ride away.
-
Melissani Cave
An underground lake near Sami, where part of the cave roof has fallen in. Around midday sunlight drops straight onto the water and lights it a vivid blue. Boatmen row small boats across the lake and through into a second chamber. Opening hours change through the season and are set by the municipality.
-
Mount Ainos National Park
The island's highest mountain is cloaked in dark forest of Greek fir, the tree also called the Kefalonian fir, and grazed by a herd of semi-wild horses. A road climbs close to the summit, and marked paths follow the ridge with views to Zakynthos and the mainland. The top is often in cloud, and snow falls in winter.
-
Saint Theodore Lighthouse
A lighthouse on the Fanari peninsula, at the edge of town, reached on foot from the centre. The walk out ends on a view back across the bay toward Argostoli. The Katavothres sinkholes lie close by on the same stretch of coast.
-
Valianou Square
Argostoli's central square is a pedestrian space in the middle of town, busy through the day. It makes a good stop for a break on a walking day between the sights. In the evening the town is busy but relaxed, and the square sits at its centre.
