10 Beautiful things to do in Kefalonia

Kefalonia is an incredible island off of mainland Greece. Part of the collection of Ionian islands in the Ionian Sea. Kefalonia is one of the most underrated islands in Greece, full of sandy dramatic coves and beaches and beautiful pine trees and hills! We visited this beautiful island for a week in October 2020, we were so surprised at how much we loved this island, it has so much to offer and we could of spent so much longer then a week here. This is our guide to the top 10 things to do in Kefalonia.

Our Top 10 Things to do in Kefalonia

Fiskardo Bay

In 1953 an earthquake ruined most of Kefalonia’s Venetian architecture was ruined. Fiskardo still has some of its Venetian architecture making it a special and unique part of the island.

The most beautiful bay with colourful perfect houses and boats swaying in the harbour. Surrounded with beautiful tall pine trees in a sloping valley this bay was our favourite place in Kefalonia.

Fiskardo Bay itself is one of the most popular ports across the Ionian islands for Yachts. The waterfront is full of mega yachts and upscale restaurants to match. This bay is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the whole of Greece. With its pastel-coloured houses and cosy streets, it’s clear why so many people flock to this bay. It has a glamorous and cosy feel to it.

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Perhaps best of all, this town is home to lots of cats! The locals provide food for all of them, and they are friendly. We brought some cat biscuits to feed the local cats if you want to you can do the same.

Places to eat in Fiskardo Bay

We stayed near Fiskardo and ate dinner in the harbour most nights. With so many options and a beautiful setting it makes for the perfect date night.

Nicolas Taverna

This Taverna offers the best views over Fiskardo bay itself as is known for its impeccable service and great local food.

Check out there trip advisor.

Irida Café Bar restaurant

We loved this little restaurant. They have outdoor seating right by the water’s edge and it makes for a perfect romantic setting.

Check out there trip advisor.

Milos/Windmill

One of the few places open for breakfast. There is nothing more perfect than a cup of coffee with the sound of boats in the harbour sitting right by the sea. Heading to the bay early for breakfast gives you a chance to enjoy Fiskardo before the rush of tourists later in the day.

Check out our complete guide to Fiskardo for more.

Mytros Beach

Mytros beach is the most beautiful beach on the whole island! Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and golden sand with bright blue crystal clear sea. This beach rests in between mount Agia Dynati and Kalon Oros. These two mountains hugging the beach is what creates such a dramatic coastline for this iconic beach. This is one of the very best things to do on the island of Kefalonia.

Waves pick up the finest bits of marble, making the sea a beautiful shade of turquoise. The colour is so brilliant this beach is considered one of the best beaches in the world! At the end of the beach there is an awesome save cave and loads of rocks to jump off. You could easily spend a whole day relaxing on this beach and swimming in the sea.

If you are planning to spend the day here, it is defiantly worthwhile bringing some food. You can always head up to Divarata the town just before Mytros, to eat in the cafés and tavernas.

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Fooki Beach

Despite its a odd name, this beach is stunning! It’s very different from your typical Greek beach as it is surrounded by amid oak trees and cypresses. The beach is shaped in a beautiful bay sheltered from winds with crystal clear water to swim in.

Agia Efimia Town

We stumbled across this town accidentally. When we first arrived in Kefalonia we were starving! We drove through this town and decided to stop for lunch, we were so happy with what we discovered.

Incedible food at Paradise beach bar

This restaurant has amazing views of the beach. Out of our week long stay in Kefalonia this was the best place for incredible views and food!

The most secluded beach

To the left of the little restaurant, there are steps down the cliffside to a tiny beach. There is a slightly bigger beach next to this one. Between the two beaches, you should be able to find a good spot to relax!

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Mount Ainos

Mount Ainos is situated on the only National Park situated on a Greek Island. The National park itself is 3,000 hectares and is covered with black pine and Greek fir. If you are lucky, you might be able to see the Semi wild ponies that call this forest home. On the clearest of days, you can see the Peloponnese and Aetolia along with the islands of Ithaca and Zakynthos.

The top of the mountain itself is 1,628 meters high. Park at the telecommunications tower and get ready to hike up. The hike provides amazing views and the incredible views at the top are worth the climb.

Melissani Cave

You cannot miss this awesome cave! We are apprehensive with caves, as they nearly always seem to disappoint… but this one is the exception! At certain times of the day, the sun is at the correct point it completely illuminates the water to brilliant bright blue! One thing to bear in mind is if you visit at peak time it will be incredibly busy.

You can jump in the 15-degree water as long as you don’t mind sharing with meter-long eels. We read online that you are not allowed to swim in the lake, however, once we got there we were told otherwise. We were lucky to experience this place completely empty. It is worthwhile taking your swim stuff in case you have the option to swim. Despite the fact this cave can be busy, it is still certainly one of the best things to do in Kefalonia.

Melissani cave opening times and prices

From May until October the caves are open from 9am until 7pm in the evening.

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Argostoli Kefalonia’s Capital

Kefalonia’s capital and main port! It’s a busy town on the waters edge.

Famous for its turtles that frequently visit. When we visited here there was group of researches looking out for the turtles. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any turtles, but it was great to talk to the researches about protecting the turtles and local marine life.

Argostoli town is great if you are craving somewhere lively with many restaurants bars and cafés. There are some lovely cafés and restaurants that are right by the waterfront and make a great setting for lunch or a coffee. The town itself is busy and full of charming small streets, open squares and boutique shops.

Makrys Gialos Beach

We stumbled across this beach when our flight got delayed, and we wanted to soak up some extra sun.

The only thing we would say about this beach is that it was busy and it was not peak season. The sand was beautiful, after spending a week on pebbly beaches, it was a welcome change. The only downside to this beach is that it is surrounded by large hotels. Certainly worth a trip if you want to enjoy the beach and if you are staying in Argostoli.

Places to eat in Argostoli

• El Greco, locally recommended to us amazing for Greek food and really friendly staff.
• Ampelaki, great for more traditional Greek food and caters well for vegetarians.
• Libretto, this cosy café serves incredible Waffles with all the trimmings.

Looking for an incredible villa? Check out our guide to the best Villas and Airbnbs here.

Assos Town 

This beautiful town with perfect colourful houses makes this little Town look like a dolls house. It’s gorgeous and has its own beach. We spent some time walking around and taking in the stunning views! Unfortunately, at the time, we visited the island had been hit by a terrible storm. This meant Assos town was very quiet and the places were closed. Visiting this town is the most popular of all the things to do in Kefalonia.

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What to see in Assos

The Castle of Assos

A beautiful example of Venetian Architecture. A stunning castle that was built in the 16th Century by the Venetians to protect the village. Forts used to be so profound throughout the entire village but today not much of the castle remains. Fortunately the beautiful arched entrance gate remains well-preserved.

Assos beach

Assos has two pebble beaches. A small one, and a larger one that has loungers. We only visited the Large beach but heard the small one is just as lovely. The larger beach has taverns and shops running next to it. Because of Assos’ popularity for a day trip to the island, prices are more pricey than other places on the island. Assos is truly picturesque and although it’s popular, its beautiful scenery and tranquil atmosphere more than make up for it.

Travelling to Kefalonia? Check out our Ultimate Travel Guide to Kefalonia.

Drive the Coastal Road

The coastal road from Argostoli to Assos has some INCREDIBLE viewpoints! The road is never busy and there are many spots to pull over and admire the views. With beaches revealing themselves only from certain spots on the coastal road, there is so much beauty to take in from this road. There are plenty of goats that walk along the road so be careful! Chances are you will hear them before you see them. If you plan to explore the island of Kefalonia you will most likely be driving along this road at some point.

Here are a few spots to make sure you dont miss:

• Viewpoint over Myrtos Beach, find it here.
• Viewpoint to Assos with hidden cove.
• Awesome viewpoint over Assos.

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Things to do in Kefalonia, try the local Cuisine

The food in Greece was just mouth wateringly good. We loved everything we tried and stuck to traditional Greek food the whole time we visited.

Here are our top recommendations for dishes to order:

• Kolokithokeftedes– Fried Zucchini/Courgette Balls.
• Skordalia– Calling all garlic lovers, this is for you! A Greek garlic dip or spread made by combining crushed garlic with a thick base such as day-old bread or pureed potatoes. A tun of olive oil and citrus. We ate this every day, we loved it. We ordered it with bread and fried courgette and aubergine. Trust us, it’s amazing.
• Tomatokeftedes– Fried Tomato Balls.
• Fava – very similar to hummus but with fava instead of chickpeas.
• Gigantes – broad beans in the most beautiful tomato and herb sauce (you can find this in most shops in tins and it is incredible).

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Tips for Visiting Kefalonia

Transfer from Kefalonia Airport

One important thing to note is that there are no bus transfers from the airport. Make sure you have a plan of what you are going to do upon arrival.

Car Hire

Typically, we will hire a moped to travel around our destination of choice. However, whilst visiting Kefalonia you will need a car to get around. We hired one from the airport from Hertz. Before we left for Kefalonia we read online that outside the airport is cheaper for hiring a car. We found the differences in price to be small and wanted to go with a brand we knew. In the airport, there are many to choose from!

The best area to stay in Kefalonia

We decided to stay near Fiskardo bay. Mainly because it was the most beautiful part of the island, and we could visit for dinner each night. We knew we wanted good views and an incredible villa. Our Airbnb was in the town of Agrilias. It was only a 15-minute drive to Fiskardo and its beaches. We also experienced incredible sunsets and our own pool.

Waking up every day surrounded by Pines and the sea in front of us was truly memorable. Our personal recommendation would be to stay near Fiskardo town. Other areas further south like Sami we found to be very touristy.

It all depends on what you are looking to get from your stay. If you want to walk to the beach it would be worth looking near to Argosoli. If you have a fairly generous budget stay in Fiskardo itself! To see which town is right for you read our guide to the best towns and villages in Kefalonia.

Accomodation

There are many beautiful hotels in Kefalonia, we decided to go for a villa on Airbnb. This allowed us to have our own pool and amazing views all to ourselves.

Hotel Options in Kefalonia

Emelisse Nature Resort, Fiskardo.

• This resort is so beautiful! Enclosed with cypress and cedar trees and panoramic views of the mountains and sea, this resort is simply stunning. Perfect for couples and only a 10-minute walk to Fiskardo bay. An ideal location for those looking to have a peaceful getaway, only a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Fiskardo Bay.
• Nearby Beaches: Emblisi Beach, Fiskardo Beach and Zavalata Beach.
• Rooms: All rooms have a balcony and some rooms have a terrace.
• Kefalonia Airport: 24.2 miles.

F Zeen

• A beautiful hotel near the incredible Loutro beach. This is the perfect combination of luxury and nature and is ideal for couples. F Zeen has a large focus on wellbeing with an outdoor gym, yoga studio and spa. F Zeen also has various retreats throughout the year check them out here.
• Nearby Beaches: Lourda Beach, Kanali beach and Stella Beach.
• Rooms: Options vary from classic garden retreats to 3 bedroom villas with a private pool. They are all stunning and crafted with earth tones and elegant design.
• Kefalonia Airport: 7.3 miles.

Tourist Boutique Hotel Argostoli

• if you are wishing to stay in the heart of Argostoli this is the perfect place. Right on the waters edge and modern rooms. This hotel is near to eh beach famous for nesting turtles and near to the famous Lithostroto. A historic pedestrian walkway lined with cafes and shops.
• Nearby Beaches: Kalamia Beach, Crocodile Beach and Galaxy Beach.
• Rooms: Bright rooms with a modern feel. Most rooms have a stunning sea view.
• Kefalonia Airport: 4.1 miles.

Villas in Kefalonia

Aelia Villa

Check out the Airbnb we stayed in here. This Airbnb was incredible for sunset, and we loved sitting outside for dinner each night. Double doors open up from the master bedroom right onto the beautiful terrace. It was truly romantic. It is where we got engaged in 2020, so we can guarantee this place is special.

For more information on where to stay in Kefalonia, check out our guide to the best Kefalonia towns and villages.

The Best Time to go to Kefalonia

We visited in October, right at the end of the season, and it was perfect. With no crowds, we felt like we had the whole island to ourselves. If you’re looking to spend your time sunbathing you would have to go a little earlier in the year.

Summary

We hope you enjoyed our list of the top 10 things to do in Kefalonia. With its beautiful beaches, glamorous bays, bright blue sea, and dense forests. Kefalonia is so versatile. Greece has so many beautiful islands and we feel Kefalonia is one of them that should be on your bucket list. This island is incredible and is a lot less busy than other islands in Greece, we know you will love it.

Whats Next?

• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Kefalonia, a stunning Greek Island
• Stunning Kefalonia Towns and Villages to Discover
• Fiskardo: Discover the most beautiful place in Kefalonia
• Assos Kefalonia A Guide to this Charming Village
• 12 of the Best Kefalonia Beaches
• Where to stay in Kefalonia, The Best Towns, Hotels & Villas
• Beautiful Hotels in Kefalonia
• A Complete Guide to Discover Sami Kefalonia