In the Ionian Sea, to the west of mainland Greece is Kefalonia. The largest and arguably the most beautiful Ionian island. The sapphire waters and white sands look like something straight out of a travel brochure. We’ve visited twice now and wouldn’t hesitate to return to this beautiful island. Combining our experience and my knowledge from 17 years as a travel agent I want to help you to get the most out of your trip. Here is the ultimate Kefalonia resorts guide for beginners.
The Kefalonia Resorts guide to getting there
A flight from the UK takes between 3 and 3.5 hours to take you to paradise. Most UK airports now serve Kefalonia with flights departing most days of the week during the summer season. As with the other Greek islands the summer season runs from May to October officially. Due to the island being in the north, you will notice that services get less frequent from mid-September.
Throughout the season temperatures range from around 20°C to 31°C. July and August are by far the hottest and dryest months. The sea temperature is around 23°C from June onwards too. Making this crystal clear water even more inviting.
On Arrival in Kefalonia
If you’ve booked a package holiday you’ll be greeted by your tour rep and shown to the appropriate pre-booked transfer. Most will offer a coach or private transfer. If you haven’t booked a package or didn’t add the transfers, there are many taxis available. We stayed in Lassi which is about a 20-minute transfer from the airport and cost about €25. For us, a taxi transfer was worth it with the short distance. We were happy to just get to our hotel. For the resorts a little further away, it may be more cost-effective to do the coach transfer and enjoy the scenery. Keep reading my Kefalonia Resorts guide to find out about each transfer in each resort.
Argostoli
Where better to start than the capital of the island? Argostoli, as are most of the Greek island’s capital, is built by the water. The harbour is the heart of the town. If you head there in the morning you will see the island’s famous residents. The loggerhead turtles. They come to the harbour in the morning, following in the fishing boats hoping for a good breakfast! There are some lovely bars and restaurants along the harbourfront and more places to eat and drink further into town and lots of shopping. It’s a modern, clean town. I definitely would recommend at least one visit whilst you are on the island.
Lassi
Neighbouring Argostoli is the beach resort of Lassi. The one place in my Kefalonia resorts guide that I have stayed at, twice! Around a 20-minute drive from the airport, costing roughly €25. Home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It’s easy to see why it is one of the most popular resorts and the first in my Kefalonia resorts guide.
There’s a selection of different accommodations. Lots of small and friendly, family-run self-catering or bed & breakfasts. Boutique, adults-only hotels and big beachfront resort-style hotels. Lots of options to suit everyone and the majority are within easy walking distance of the main strip. Lassi is absolutely beautiful, I think the beaches are the star attraction. The sunsets are to die for too, and there’s a big choice of places to eat and drink. What more do you want from your holiday?
Skala
In the southeast of the island is the bustling tourist resort of Skala. Despite being only about 35km from the airport, transfers typically take around 2 hours on the coach. There are lots of winding, mountainous roads on the way with killer views! A taxi transfer would be a quicker route taking around an hour to an hour and a half and costing around €50 – €65. Many operators again will let you pre-book with them, or if you prefer you will find many taxis waiting outside the airport.
Skala is one of the most popular Kefalonia resorts with a good selection of bars and restaurants. Lots of souvenir shops will keep everyone happy and then a gorgeous 3km stretch of sand and shingle beach to top it off. You’ll be able to see the ruins of the old town within the new town and there’s a temple to Apollo here too.
We headed into the town for refreshments, the friendliest bar staff we’ve ever met were here. We had a drink and the kids wanted ice cream, the bar didn’t have any but they went down to the shop and bought them all one! The rest of the day was spent on the gorgeous beach with light refreshments at one of the lovely beach bars.
Lourdas
The next resort in my Kefalonia resorts guide is Lourdas. Lourdas is about an hour from the airport on a coach transfer or as little as 25 minutes in a taxi. The resort sits on the hillside of Mount Ainos so may not be suitable for those who do have walking difficulties. It’s a peaceful, spread-out resort that is as stunning as the rest of the island!
The beach is a 2km stretch of blue flag sand and shingle which gently shelves into the calm sea. Popular with snorkelers, boaters and sea kayakers. The resort has some beautiful tavernas and bars too. Overall, very traditional and the perfect resort to relax.
Fiskardo
If you’re looking for a resort that is both glamourous and traditional, Fiskardo is for you! Back in 1953 the village miraculously survived a huge earthquake. These days it plays host to the rich and famous including the likes of Demi Moore and Bon Jovi! Accommodation-wise, there are more villas than big hotels here. The beach is more pebble than sand. But the stunning scenery and Venetian-style, candy-coloured buildings more than makeup for it. Traditional tavernas and bars are found here along with designer clothes stores. The transfer to the St Tropez of Greece will take you around 90 minutes.
Lixouri
A lot of people are put off visiting Lixouri when they read that the transfer can take up to 2 hours and includes a ferry crossing. It sounds daunting, but the ferry crossing is only 20 minutes from Argostoli. Argostoli is only a 25-minute drive from the airport. The extra time is added to ensure ferry crossing times etc. The actual time on a transfer would only be around an hour.
A very chilled-out resort centred around the square where you’ll find shops, bars and cafés. You’re spoiled for choice with the beaches here, and the crystal clear waters make it ideal for absolutely everyone. There are more hotels here than self-catering apartments which make for a good family holiday if you like to have everything under the same “roof”.
Out and About in Kefalonia
We hired a car for a few days to get around the island, but there are many day trips available to book either with vendors in resorts or with your tour operator. The island is very mountainous and you’ll find lots of the roads are narrow and winding – if you get travel sick remember to take your remedies! Buses run regularly too as well as ferries between Argostoli and Lixouri.
Myrtos Beach
Famous for being shown in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Myrtos beach is a must-see. Right at the top of a lot of people’s Kefalonia bucket lists. This beautiful white sand and pebble beach is the place to be when you look on Instagram. It’s quite secluded so you will need to book a tour or hire a car to get here. It’s stunning to look at but due to where it is, there tends to be a strong tide so may not be suitable for small children and those who aren’t strong swimmers.
Ainos National Park
If you fancy a more active day, and something more than another stunning beach this is for you. There are established walking trails built into the huge Mount Ainos. You can also drive to the top and take in the views. Often you can find yourself driving up into the clouds!
Kefalonia Resorts Guide – The Basics
- Flight time 3-3.5 hours
- Time zone GMT+2
- Language Greek
- Currency Euro
- When to go May – October
- How to get there From the UK there are flights daily
- Who should travel here? Everyone, singles, couples, families… There’s something to suit everyone.
I hope that my Kefalonia Resorts guide has been helpful to you in deciding if Kefalonia is the right island for you. We certainly have had some great holidays on the island and loved exploring as a family. Wonderful memories of the lazy days on the beach and evenings watching the beautiful sunsets.
On our first visit, 5-year-old Owen was mesmerised by the volunteers who were counting the turtles in Argostoli harbour. almost 4 years later he still recalls it and reminds us how long turtles can be out of the water! The stuff you just don’t learn at school can be learnt in Greece!
If you think I’ve missed anything in this Kefalonia Resorts guide, let me know! I certainly wouldn’t say no to visiting for the third time… This time I think I might ask George Clooney if he’s got a place where I can stay though!
If you want to get more in-depth information about Kefalonia or any of the other Greek islands I recommend the Lonely Planet Greek Islands book. I’m a big fan of the Lonely Planet guides, and this one has been well-used!
Becky x