The top things to do in Kefalonia are a boat ride on Melissani lake, the Myrtos viewpoint, Assos castle, Fiskardo, Mount Ainos and turtle spotting in Argostoli. Add Robola tasting, Drogarati cave and a ferry to Ithaca.
The best things to do in Kefalonia are rowing across the underground lake of Melissani, looking down on Myrtos beach from the cliff road, exploring Assos and Fiskardo, driving into the fir forest of Mount Ainos and watching loggerhead turtles in Argostoli harbour. Beyond those headline sights, the island rewards slower days: a Robola tasting in the Omala valley, a red-sand beach on the Paliki peninsula, or a ferry hop to Ithaca. Here are twenty ideas, grouped by area so you can plan days without criss-crossing this large island.
Quick facts
- Time needed: a week to fit most of this list in comfortably.
- Getting around: a hire car is close to essential; buses are infrequent.
- Best time: June and September for swimming, May and October for walks and sightseeing.
- Rainy-day options: Drogarati cave, Melissani, wineries, Argostoli’s museums and cafés.
- Good for: couples, families, walkers and road trippers.
New to the island? Start with our Kefalonia travel guide for bases and getting around, then come back to this list.
Around Sami and the east coast
1. Take a boat across Melissani lake
Melissani is a cave whose roof collapsed, leaving an underground lake open to the sky. Boatmen row you across water so clear that the boats seem to float in mid-air, especially around midday when sunlight falls straight in. In ancient times the cave was a sanctuary of Pan and the nymphs. Our Melissani and Drogarati visiting tips explain timing, tickets and queues.
2. Go underground at Drogarati
A few kilometres south of Sami, Drogarati is a stalactite cave reached down a staircase into a great chamber that holds hundreds of people and has been used for concerts thanks to its acoustics. The temperature stays around 18 degrees all year, which makes it a welcome escape on a hot afternoon or a good choice on a wet one.
3. Swim at Antisamos
Over the hill from Sami, Antisamos is a white pebble beach in a bay ringed by green slopes. Parts of the film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin were shot here. The drive down is a series of hairpins with good views, and the water is usually calm.
4. Hop over to Ithaca
Ferries from Sami cross to Ithaca, the island of Odysseus, in a short trip. A day is enough to see Vathy, the main town, and the village of Kioni, though you will need to arrange transport on the other side. In summer, boat excursions from Agia Efimia and Fiskardo also visit Ithaca’s coves.
5. Spend an evening in Agia Efimia
This small harbour village north of Sami is quieter than Fiskardo, with tavernas along the quay, small beaches nearby and boat hire for exploring the coast towards Ithaca.
The northwest coast and the north
6. See Myrtos from above, then go down
The view of Myrtos from the road above, a long white beach between cliffs and blue water, is the island’s signature image. Stop at the viewpoint first, ideally in the afternoon light, then drive down if you want to swim. The beach shelves steeply and can be wavy, so take care with children.
7. Climb to Assos castle
Assos is a tiny village on a neck of land below a large Venetian fortress built in the 1590s. Walk up the old path to the walls for views back over the red roofs and the bay. Swim from the small pebble beach in the village afterwards.
8. Walk the northwest coast
The country between Assos and Myrtos is laced with paths and quiet lanes high above the sea. Our guide to walks from Assos to Myrtos describes routes for different fitness levels.
9. Dine in Fiskardo
Fiskardo was spared by the 1953 earthquakes and kept its 18th and 19th-century houses around a sheltered harbour. It is the most elegant village on the island, best in the early evening once day boats have left.
10. Snorkel at Emplisi and Foki
Just outside Fiskardo, Emplisi is a small pebble cove with clear water, and Foki is a narrow inlet with shade from olive trees. Both are good snorkelling spots. Kayak tours from Fiskardo also explore the coves along this northern shore.
11. Visit the villages that survived 1953
Inland from Fiskardo, villages such as Antipata, Vasilikiades and Magganos still have traditional houses and churches that escaped the earthquake. A slow drive through them gives a rare picture of what the whole island once looked like.
Argostoli and the southwest
12. Watch the turtles in Argostoli harbour
Loggerhead turtles feed in Argostoli harbour and in the Koutavos lagoon, and in the morning they often surface near the fishing boats along the quay. Watch quietly from the waterfront without feeding them. Children love this, and our guide to Kefalonia with kids has more ideas for families.
13. Walk or cycle round the Lassi peninsula
From the town centre, a coastal road loops round the headland past the Katavothres, sinkholes where seawater disappears underground and resurfaces about two weeks later near Sami, and on to the lighthouse of Agioi Theodoroi, a round Doric-style building first erected in 1829 and rebuilt after the earthquake. It is a good place for sunset.
14. Climb to the castle of Agios Georgios
On a hill above the village of Peratata, south of Argostoli, the castle of Agios Georgios was the island’s capital in Byzantine and Venetian times. The walls are partly ruined but the views across the south of the island are wide.
15. Take the ferry to Lixouri
A short car ferry runs across the bay from Argostoli to Lixouri, the island’s second town, which feels relaxed and local. Use it as a starting point for the Paliki peninsula.
16. Swim at Xi and Petani on Paliki
Xi, south of Lixouri, is a long beach of reddish clay sand with shallow water. Petani, on the west side of the peninsula, is a dramatic bay of pebbles below green hills. Finish the day at the Kipoureon monastery on the cliffs for sunset over the Ionian.
The centre and the south
17. Drive up Mount Ainos
At 1,628 metres, Mount Ainos is the highest mountain in the Ionian and a national park covered in the Kefalonian fir, a tree found almost nowhere else. A road climbs close to the summit, and marked trails lead through the forest. Wild horses graze on its slopes. See our Mount Ainos National Park guide before you go.
18. Taste Robola in the Omala valley
The high Omala valley below Mount Ainos is the heart of Robola country, the crisp white wine that is the island’s pride. Several wineries in the area offer tastings, and the harvest takes place in autumn. Our guide to Kefalonia food and wine covers what else to try, including the famous meat pie.
19. Visit the monastery of Agios Gerasimos
Also in the Omala valley, this monastery is dedicated to the patron saint of Kefalonia, whose relics are kept here. If you are on the island on 16 August or 20 October, the processions and village festivities around it are among the biggest events of the year. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
20. See the Roman mosaics at Skala
On the edge of Skala, near the beach, a Roman villa of the 2nd or 3rd century AD was found by a landowner and excavated from 1957. Its floor mosaics include a scene of a man preparing to sacrifice a bull. Combine it with a swim on Skala’s long sandy beach, one of the best on the island for families.
Practical tips
- Group sights by area. Sami, Melissani, Drogarati and Antisamos fit into one day; Myrtos, Assos and Fiskardo into another; Argostoli, Lassi and Agios Georgios into a third.
- Start early in summer. The caves and Myrtos car park get busy from late morning, and coach tours arrive at Melissani around midday.
- Check opening times. Caves, museums and archaeological sites often have shorter hours outside the summer season.
- Plan your ferries. Crossings to Ithaca, Lefkada and Zakynthos change by season; from Fiskardo you can continue to Lefkada in about an hour in summer.
- Carry cash and water. Some beaches have no facilities, and small canteens may not take cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kefalonia best known for?
Kefalonia is best known for Myrtos beach, the underground lake of Melissani, the villages of Assos and Fiskardo, Mount Ainos and Robola wine. It is also known as the setting of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
What can you do in Kefalonia on a rainy day?
Visit Drogarati cave, which stays around 18 degrees all year, and Melissani lake near Sami. Wineries in the Omala valley, the monastery of Agios Gerasimos and the cafés and shops of Argostoli are also good options.
Where can you see turtles in Kefalonia?
Argostoli harbour is the most reliable place, especially in the morning near the fishing boats on the quay. Loggerhead turtles also feed in the nearby Koutavos lagoon. Watch from a distance and never feed them.
Can you visit Ithaca from Kefalonia?
Yes. Ferries cross from Sami, and in summer there are links from Fiskardo and boat excursions from Agia Efimia. A day trip is enough to see Vathy and Kioni if you arrange transport on Ithaca.
Is one week enough for Kefalonia?
A week is enough to cover the highlights in this list at a relaxed pace, provided you have a car and group sights by area. With less time, focus on Sami and the caves, Myrtos, Assos and Fiskardo.
