Ionian
Kefalonia
Wild, mountainous, and heartbreakingly beautiful — the Ionian's best-kept secret.
Getting around
Car recommended
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Moderate
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
Flight or ferry
In pictures
Kefalonia
Myrtos Beach — a crescent of white pebbles and water of a fierce, mineral turquoise hemmed in by towering limestone cliffs — is one of the most genuinely spectacular beaches in Greece. But Kefalonia offers far more than this single famous image. The Melissani Cave, a subterranean lake where sunlight filters through a collapsed roof to turn the water an electric blue-green, is extraordinary. Assos, a tiny village on a wooded peninsula with a Venetian castle, might be the most picturesque in the Ionians. Local Robola white wine — crisp and mineral, grown on the island's limestone slopes — is excellent and largely unknown outside Greece. Captain Corelli's Mandolin was set here, and the island's combination of beauty, substance, and romantic melancholy justifies the comparison. A car is absolutely essential; there is no other way to reach most of what makes this island exceptional.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Large distances and winding mountain roads mean a car is absolutely essential. Some areas feel isolated.
Hidden gem
Assos village at the end of the day — most tour buses leave by 5pm and the harbour empties into pure gold.
Where it sits
Ionian, Greece
Kefalonia — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Kefalonia? +
- The best months to visit Kefalonia are May to October. It's busy but manageable in peak season, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Kefalonia from Athens? +
- Kefalonia has an airport, so you can fly direct from Athens in under an hour or take the ferry.
- Is Kefalonia good for couples? +
- Kefalonia is one of the most romantic Greek islands — sunsets, candlelit tavernas, sea-view rooms.
- Is Kefalonia good for families with kids? +
- Kefalonia is a great choice for families — calm swims, walkable towns, and short transfers.
- Is Kefalonia expensive? +
- Kefalonia is affordable by Greek-island standards — value-for-money is on the weaker side, so set expectations.
- Do you need a car on Kefalonia? +
- You'll want a rental car on Kefalonia — distances are longer and the best beaches are spread out.
- What's the catch with Kefalonia? +
- Large distances and winding mountain roads mean a car is absolutely essential. Some areas feel isolated.