Kefalonia is a Greek island that is part of the Ionian Islands in the western part of Greece. It’s a lesser known island that doesn’t have as much mass tourism yet, but it still has everything you expect and want from a vacation in Greece. If you want to travel to Greece, but you don’t want the crowds, Kefalonia is a great option. It’s a neighboring island of the more touristy Zakynthos. Compared to Zakynthos, Kefalonia is more authentic and traditional. There are lots of fun things to do on Kefalonia and many beautiful places to visit.
Table of Contents
Things to do in Kefalonia
The island has a lot to offer: beaches with Caribbean-like waters, mountains with stunning views, warm-hearted locals and delicious traditional Greek food. Here’s a list of the best things to do in Kefalonia:
Melissani Cave
Melissani Cave, also called Melissani Lake, is an underground lake that reminds of the cenotes of the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico. A set of stairs leads down into the cave where you get a magical view of a hole in the ground above you.
There’s an entrance fee of € 6 that includes a short boat tour on the lake. The best time to visit Melissani Cave is at around noon. At that time, the sun shines right through the hole and illuminates the water, making it shine turquoise.
Fiskardo
Fiskardo is a little fishing village in the very north of the island. It’s a perfect place to get lost in the narrow alleys, to do some window shopping and to have a glass of Greek wine in one of the numerous bars next to the marina. Also, there’s a variety of great seafood restaurants. Fiskardo is very picturesque so don’t forget your camera. It features typical Greek style houses and a pretty marina.
Myrtos Beach
Myrtos was my absolute favorite beach of Kefalonia. It’s located on the foot of a steep cliff. Head to the Myrtos Viewpoint first to admire the impressive view from above and then drive down the windy roads to the beach. You can park your car right next to it. There’s no shade on the beach so either bring your own umbrella or be prepared to be exposed to the sun. Also, check out the cute café Myrtillo when you’re at Myrtos beach. It’s located at the main road before you head down to the beach.
Assos
Assos is a lovely little village on the west coast of the island. There are not many things to do but stroll through the alleys, admire the picturesque port and the pretty houses on the hill. Assos doesn’t have many restaurants but it’s a nice place to have a drink on the seaside.
Argostoli
Argostoli is the capital of Kefalonia island. It features a harbour and numerous bars and restaurants around the main square. I visited Argostoli in the morning and the town center was dead but I can imagine that it could get quite lively in the evening.
The main attraction of Argostoli is located a 10 minute drive outside of the town: The Lighthouse of Saint Theodori. It‘s worth a visit once you’re in Argostoli and the views are especially beautiful at sunset.
Mount Ainos
Mount Ainos (1,628 m) is the tallest mountain of Kefalonia and of the whole Ionian Island group. The most part of it is located in a National Park. From the top of the mountain you can see Zakynthos, Ithaka and Lefkada. You can drive pretty far up the mountain until you reach a parking lot. From there I recommend hiking to the peak of Mount Ainos. It takes about 30 minutes and it’s a rather easy hike with rewarding views.
Day trip from Kefalonia to Ithaca
Ithaca is a smaller neighboring island of Kefalonia. It’s famous for being the homeland of Odysseus, the hero of the poem Odyssey by Homer.
There’s a daily ferry at 8:30 in the morning that departs at the ferry port in Sami. The return ferry leaves at 16:15 and at 22:00 from Ithaca. (But make sure to check the current schedule when you’re there in case they change it.)
Ithaca is even less densely populated than Kefalonia. Besides the capital Vathy, the island is mainly just nature and a few tiny villages. There are several hidden beaches and beautiful viewpoints. You’ll need a car to get around the island or you can also do a boat tour to visit bays that you cannot reach otherwise.
One day is enough to explore Ithaca, but if you enjoy the very quiet and natural environment you could stay 1-2 nights on the island.
How to get to Kefalonia
Kefalonia has a ferry port and an airport, so depending from where you arrive to the island you have different options.
Getting to Kefalonia by plane
Kefalonia has an international airport with flights from several European countries. Olympic Air also operates flight connections from Athens to Kefalonia.
Getting to Kefalonia by ferry
In case you’re already near Kefalonia on one of the other Ionian Islands or on Greek mainland, you can take a ferry to get to Kefalonia. Levante Ferries has daily connections from Zakynthos to Kefalonia.
Current situation 2021: There used to be a direct ferry from Zakynthos to Kefalonia, but it was stopped because of travel restrictions. Now, you need to take a ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and then from Kyllini to Kefalonia. The journey takes longer, but it also means that there will be less tourists in Kefalonia, so it does have an advantage too!
Best time to visit Kefalonia
Most people travel to Greece for sunny beach days and mild nights. The best time to visit Kefalonia is between June and August, as this is the warmest time of the year.
However, if you want to avoid the main season and prefer to travel at a time when the island is less crowded, I recommend traveling to Kefalonia between September and October. In these months it’s still warm enough to spend time on the beach but there are way less tourists.
Getting around in Kefalonia
I highly recommend renting a car to get around in Kefalonia. The roads are steep and curvy and many attractions are far from each other. If you want to explore the whole island, renting a car is definitely the best option.
Best restaurants in Kefalonia
I love Greek food! During all the days in Greece I never even once had bad food at a restaurant. My personal all-time favorite is a Greek salad, which I ate almost everyday. Here are my top 3 best restaurants in Kefalonia:
Taverna Agrapidos
Taverna Agrapidos in Poros was my absolute favorite restaurant on Kefalonia. It’s located on the top of a hill overlooking the ferry port and the coast line. In many restaurants you pay more for a beautiful view, but this one is very affordable. They serve delicious Greek food for a fair price.
Myrtillo
Myrtillo is Kefalonia’s best brunch place! Make sure to stop there before you head to Myrtos beach. The owners and their dog Lisa are sweethearts and their brunch options and fresh juices are amazing. They also sell locally produced goods in a little shop that is part of the restaurant.
Taverna Karavomilos
Taverna Karavomilos is a lovely restaurant right on the beach in a quiet area. It’s not far from Melissani Cave so you could have lunch there after visiting the cave. They serve traditional Greek dishes and good wine.
Kefalonia vs. Zakynthos - Which island is better?
Our trip to Kefalonia was very spontaneous. We had planned to stay in Zakynthos for a week, but a local friend recommended us to also check out Kefalonia. He said it would be less touristy and more authentic than Zakynthos. I’m very grateful for his advice!
I enjoyed Kefalonia much more than Zakynthos. There was more nature, and less tourist infrastructure. Kefalonia is bigger than Zakynthos, but less people live on the island. It also seemed a little less developed but you still have everything you need.
As I personally dislike mass tourism destinations and big hotel resorts, I would always go for Kefalonia rather than Zakynthos. Both islands are beautiful and I recommend spending some time on both of them, but if you’re limited in time I would recommend Kefalonia.
Coffee is the fuel that keeps me running. I put a lot of time and effort into creating blog posts to make travel planning easier for you. If you benefited from my blog, I would appreciate a cup of coffee! 🙂
July 23, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Such beautiful photos! Plenty of fun things to do on Kefalonia.
July 26, 2021 at 1:12 pm
Thank you! So true!
July 23, 2021 at 1:47 pm
First off, congratulations on getting your master’s! That is amazing! Also, what a great trips. You definitely made me add Kefalonia to my bucket list. It looks incredible there and totally a hidden gem. So glad you had a great time! 🙂
July 26, 2021 at 1:12 pm
Thank you so much Taylor! Kefalonia really is amazing!
July 31, 2021 at 9:03 am
Myrtos beach indeed looks out of the world. I am a beach lover and this is now one of my bucket list beaches that I would love to visit.
July 31, 2021 at 8:30 pm
I totally agree! Myrtos beach is amazing!
July 31, 2021 at 12:30 pm
There are definitely a lot of fantastic things to do in Kefalonia! That cave looks amazing to visit, and I would love to try some of that delicious looking food too.
July 31, 2021 at 8:31 pm
I totally agree! And the food really is delicious
July 31, 2021 at 12:45 pm
Ooh! I want to pack my bags right now! Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips and your photos just bring Kefalonia to life. That water! Love it.
July 31, 2021 at 8:34 pm
The water is truly stunning! Thank you so much Alma!
July 31, 2021 at 9:12 pm
WOW! I can’t believe how beautiful the water is! Your photos are incredible and I love your dresses. I don’t like the touristy areas either, so Kefalonia sounds perfect!
August 3, 2021 at 8:03 pm
Thank you so much! Kefalonia is an amazing place to escape the crowds!