Kefallonia travel guide
Kefallonia is the largest island within the Ionian chain of Greek islands to the west of Greece and has affordable holiday accommodation. The Ionian chain comprises the seven Greek islands of Kefallonia, Corfu, Lefkada, Zakynthos, Ithaka, Paxi and Kythera.
A green landscape of pine forests and wildflowers carpets Kefallonia, which boasts a variety of excellent beaches you can enjoy during your holiday travel.
Ferries provide daily transport so you can travel from seven different Kefallonia ports to and from the mainland, surrounding countries and other Greek islands.
Kefallonia also has an airport south of Argostoli offering daily flights from Athens and charter flights from other countries such as the UK. A flight to or from Athens takes about 30 minutes.
There are no buses from the airport so expect to catch a taxi when you leave your flight at Kefallonia.
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Kefallonia holiday travel guide
Daily ferries provide numerous connecting voyages to and from travel destinations such as Corfu, Igoumounitsa, Ithaki, Kilini, Lefkada, Patras, Sami and Zakynthos.
You’ll need to research the latest schedules for ferry arrivals and departures, and figure out exactly which Kefallonia port has an appropriate ferry connection to fit in with your holiday travel.
Because of the size of Kefallonia, it’s wise to rent a car rather than rely on public transport, particularly if you only have a limited amount of time for holiday travel on this Greek island. Kefallonia has a good road network.
Argostoli is the island’s capital and the nearby bay is also called Argostoli. Much of Argostoli has been rebuilt after the town was flattened by an earthquake in 1953.
Buses travel four times a day from Argostoli to Sami and twice a day from Argostoli to Fiskardo.
The Kefallonia coastline comprises mostly small bays, steep cliffs overlooking the Ionion Sea, or gulfs with sweeping, wind-protected swimming beaches.
The island’s interior offers many rugged and secluded ridges and valleys that are well worth visiting during your holiday travel to Kefallonia.
Annual rainfall isn’t as heavy as in the Greek island of Corfu to the north but Kefallonia is nevertheless a garden of plant life and grows numerous herbs.
The island flora is renowned for the cephalonian fir, a unique, tall black fir only found on Mt Enos, the highest mountain on the island at 1,628 metres.
The eastern slopes of Kefallonia are carpeted with pine forests while the island farms produce and export olive oil, wines and fruits.
Kefallonia holiday guide
Kefallonia is famed for the novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin written by Louis de Bernieres, a book well worth reading before you buy your flight tickets or begin your holiday travel through the Greek islands.
A rare geological feature can be seen at Lassi, about 1.5 kilometres from Argostoli, where the sea pours endlessly into spectacular swallow-holes that drain through subterranean tunnels and eventually emerge all the way across the island at Lake Melissani, an awesome semi-underground body of clear water near the village of Karavomilos opposite Sami.
Two of the most popular beaches near Argostoli are Makris Gialos and Platis Gialos.
Other popular beaches for holiday tourists around Kefallonia are Lourdas, Skala, Assos and Fiskardo. Probably the most beautiful and famous beach is Myrtos, set against a backdrop of craggy limestone cliffs and about an hour by bus from Argostoli.
Lixouri on Palliki peninsula is the second largest town on the island and is opposite Argostoli.
Kefallonia is also spelt “Cephalonia”.
Because of its typical Greek history of war and occupation, the island has ruins from different eras such as Roman, Venetian and Byzantine.
The Krani tombs are regarded by many to be the best examples of Mycenean tombs in Greece.
Kefallonia holiday travel tips
Kefallonia is linked to the ancient kingdom of Odysseus and the words of Homer, and the island was named after the ancient hero Kefallos.
The colourful old Venetian town of Fiskardo is the most northerly harbour on Kefallonia and is worth visiting during your holiday travel.
Fiscardo is one of the most beautiful villages in Greece and a prominent natural feature is the underground seawater lake called the Mellisani Cave.
Drogoratl Cave is known for its unusual stalactites.
On the east side of the island are the villages of Poros, Sami and Aghia Efimia, which has a pebbled beach.
Kefallonia holiday accommodation
You can choose all sorts of holiday accommodation including five star Kefalonia hotels, modern villas or even rustic Greek farmhouses.
Kefallonia holiday accommodation can be booked through numerous tour operators. Most Kefallonia holiday accommodation has sea views and many hotels and other establishments have swimming pools overlooking the turquoise bays of Kefalonia.
In 2011, it’s easy to find Kefallonia studio or apartment accommodation for as little 10 euros per night.Kefallonia hotel accommodation is mostly priced between 30 and 40 euros per night.
A scan of Kefallonia hostel and hotel holiday accommodation suggests there are about 140 establishments on the island where tourists can rent a bed.
Beware : it can be a nightmare trying to find a hotel room or other holiday accommodation on Kefallonia during the peak tourist season.