Most of the leading destinations on the mountainous island of Kefalonia are natural, like the mythic Melissani Cave or the greatest peak, Mount Aenos. Kefalonia's coastline is as rugged as its hinterland and this contributes to the stunning appeal of beaches like Myrtos and Petani.

Both are coves at the bottom of magnificent cliffs with deep plant on top that comes down in columns down the rock face. You might not find 2 much better beaches in all of Greece fiskardo than this set.

But on Kefalonia they're accompanied by a bounty of other choices, from sandy bays where loggerhead turtles lay their eggs, to the idyllic cove at Assos Village, where the sea is as tranquil as a swimming pool.

Let's explore the best things to do in Kefalonia:

Assos Town

On a natural harbour and an isthmus that fixes the Assos Peninsula to the Errisos Peninsula, Assos is an achingly quite village in a cauldron of towering hills.

Just like much of Kefalonia there's plant all around, in the palms by the water or the pines, firs and cypress trees in the hills.

Assos has a brief quay moored with fishing boats and lined with tavernas and coffee shops, and this gives way to a pebble beach where homes have steps leading right down to the calm, pool-like waters.

On a crag 170 metres over Assos Bay is a Venetian castle, raised in 1593. The journey up a stone path is by no ways easy however at the entrance you'll be welcomed by the stone lion of St Mark.

Through the gate you can choose your way through the ruins of your home of the Venetian High Commissioner.

Petani Beach

To come down to this beach on the eastern Paliki Peninsula you need to brave a white-knuckle ride of eight hairpin turns.

However you'll understand you made the right choice as quickly as you step onto the beach and witness the impressive limestone cliffs surrounding it.

These are coated with dark green garrigue, which comes down to the beach in columns developing a magnificent stripe impact.

The surface of the beach is white sand and gravel, giving the sea a luminescent quality by the coast.

When the surf is choppy it's much better to avoid the water as the sea drops off https://agreekadventure.com/greece/greek-islands/eptanese-ionian-islands/kefalonia/ a couple of metres from the shore.

But on calm days the sea resembles a sparkling pool and you can go snorkelling around the rocks on the south end.

Myrtos Beach

Equally remarkable and likewise at the end of a winding road, Myrtos Beach is often ranked as the very best in Greece and is a sight you might already understand from images.

The beach lies in between the vertiginous lower slopes of 2 mountains, the 900-metre Kalon Oros and Agia Dynati, in the north of the island.

With tufts of green greenery the slopes plunge to this marble pebble beach, which is practically a kilometre long and with rows of sun loungers to rent.

The beach racks quite steeply, and when the light captures the marble sediment churned up in the water it shines in a mesmerising shade of blue.

Mount Aenos

The highest mountain on Kefalonia crests at 1,628 metres and is inside a National forest.

At an elevation of 700 to 1,200 metres the mountain has a mantle of black pine and Greek fir forest occupied by semi-wild ponies.

There are 5 signposted A to B and circular hiking tracks in this wonderful environment, 2 of which integrate Megas Soros, the greatest top.

The road most travelled is the 6.5-kilometre Digaleto-- Megas Soros path, which starts a kilometre outside the village of Digaleto and needs around 4.5 hours to reach the top.

At the peak you'll come a long ridge of bare rock, where you can relax and pick out the Ionian Islands and the Peloponnese peninsula.

Agios Gerasimos Abbey

St Gerasimos is the patron saint of Kefalonia and lived during the 16th century.

His mummified body is kept in a gleaming silver reliquary in things to do in kefalonia greece this pink-brick church, and is occasionally displayed at services.

On his feast days on 16 August and 20 October his sarcophagus is rollovered ailing worshippers.

Gerasimos founded the abbey in the 16th century on the site of an older one dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

In the yard is a venerable plane tree and a well, declared to have been planted and sunk by the saint himself.

The church's walls have radiant frescoes portraying bible scenes, saints, prophets and the apostles.

To the back of the church is a trap door leading down to a cavern where Gerasimos is thought to have actually lived before the monastery was constructed.

Antisamos Beach

Ten minutes east of Sami, Antisamos is another in Kefalonia's collection of beautiful beaches.

Antisamos remains in a cove with a backdrop of high hills densely covered in dark green pines and brush.

Granted the Blue Flag every year, the beach has a satisfying horseshoe shape and white pebbles rather of sand.

Bring a snorkel because the water is perfectly clear and you'll see a lot of colourful fish.

Antisamos shot to popularity in 2001 when it appeared in Captain Corelli's Mandolin with Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz.

Where it was deserted before there are now 3 bars and tavernas and sun loungers for included convenience on the pebbly shore.

Rush approximately the 18th-century Abbey of Argilion above the beach's west flank for a marvellous viewpoint of Antisamos and its dark hills.

Melissani Cave

One of those natural marvels that no photo can do justice, Melissani Cave is a gleaming blue underground lake, lit from above by a cavity in the rock.

In Greek mythology Melissani was the Cavern of the Nymphs, where the nymph Melissani drowned after being rejected by the god Pan.

Throughout an archaeological study in 1962 oil lights and plates were found illustrating Pan.

Your check out will be brief however unforgettable as you row out onto the lake with a guide to see the stalactites and shafts of light spotting through the hole in the ceiling, brightening the water.

Make certain you come at midday when the sun is straight above that opening.

Argostoli Harbour

If you're a really early riser try to come to Argostoli's harbour promenade very first thing to watch the sun rise on the other side of the bay.

A couple of metres from the quayside is a continuous line of palm trees, while the boardwalk has been paved with monochrome wavelike patterns and is lit in the evening by old-fashioned gaslights.

You might visit for a corrective stroll after a night meal.

The harbour bustles with maritime activity in summertime, especially in the early mornings when the fishing boats can be found in.

This is prime time to see loggerhead sea turtles in the water.

If you do not desire your walk to end you can continue up past the marina to Katavothres at the end of the peninsula.

Makris Gialos Beach

The beaches we've covered so far have been wild and beautiful, however in some cases luxury and comfort are a priority.

And there's great deals of both at Makris Gialos Beach, a ribbon of golden sand served by beach bars.

It's the type of place where you will not need to raise a finger to get beverages and food at your sun lounger, however there's also area to the west for people who choose to rest on their towels.

And despite being a touristy beach, there are just a few separated buildings on the coast in between the rocks and pine trees.

Makris Gialos has actually a designated location for beach games, in addition to a watersports centre to get the adrenaline pumping.

Fiscardo Harbour

Kefalonia's northern most port is a pleasure, with paved quaysides where you can amble and enjoy the anglers and amateur sailors tending their vessels.

There are old-fashioned gaslights en route, and fronting the water in summertime are tavernas, coffee shops and bakeshops, sprinkled by the odd shop and art shop.

The harbour is entirely protected and has glassy water with barely a ripple.

Just across the channel are the mighty northwestern hills of Ithaca, while behind Fiscardo you can go walking in the fir-decked hills for a much better viewpoint for Ithaca and the deep blue Ionian Sea.

Kaminia Beach

Kefalonia's southernmost beach is a nesting website for the loggerhead turtle, and there are a couple of indications to hearken and markers explaining the nests.

Apart from that you're totally free to discover an area for yourself on one of the longest sandy beaches on the island.

Kaminia Beach is two kilometres long and has 3 tavernas so you do not need to go far if you're peckish.

There's a long double row of sun loungers and sun shades, but they're not a need on the comfy sand.

Being open to the wind and sea currents the beach has low, rolling waves, but unlike the deep Myrtos and Petani it has a mild gradient so smaller sized kids and non-swimmers can still take pleasure in the water.

Agios Georgios Castle

Crowning a hill to the southeast of Argostoli are the romantic ruins of a Venetian stronghold.

At 300 metres above water level, Agios Georgios was established by the Byzantines in the 12th century, while nearly all the staying architecture is from the start of the 16th century when the Ottoman Empire's quick rule was ended by the Venetians.

They built an external wall 620 metres in length, a castle (kastro) and a roadway leading from Argostoli that twisted around the hill out of sight of approaching pirate vessels.

On a few of the structures you can analyze coats of arms for Venetian nobility, and you can check out the ruins of the castle's houses and seek out 2 Medieval churches in different states of repair work.

In the east is the brooding Mount Aenos, while south and west is beyond vineyards and olive groves is the deep blue Ionian Sea.

Drogorati Cave

Not far from Sami, Drogorati Cave was found at the turn of the 18th century when an earthquake made this system visible to the surface area for the first time.

In 1963 it opened as a show cave and there's a lot to love once total the long descent.

In July and August you may be relieved to be out of the heat since the temperature down here is a continuous 18 ° C and there's 90% humidity.

The strange stalagmites and stalactites have been formed over countless years, but unfortunately a couple of were lost when they were utilized as target practice in the 2nd World War.

The biggest chamber is the extraordinary Chamber of Exaltation at 900 square metres, and with acoustics so good that concerts have been held down here.

De Bosset (Drapano) Bridge

Simply over 200 years ago the stunning Koutavos Lagoon beside the capital Argostoli was a foetid overload and a breeding ground for malaria.

In 1813 the Swiss engineer Charles de Bosset was commissioned by the British Army to build a bridge over the swamp to improve access to the villages around the bay.

The very first variation was a wood building, however by the middle of the 19th century the entire structure was made of stone.

The bridge has actually reopened over the last few years as a pedestrian-only crossing after falling under disrepair in 2005. As you cross, get a breeze of the obelisk put up when the bridge was finished in 1839, while you might likewise spot loggerhead turtles in the water, which concern the lagoon to feed.

Ithaca, Greece

At Sami you there's an automobile ferryboat making the short crossing to the island of Ithaca, home of the mythological hero, Odysseus.

Taking a look at Ithaca from Kefalonia the island seems impenetrable, with almost vertiginous slopes climbing up from its shore on two peninsulas joined by a slim isthmus.

In the spirit of Odysseus, Ithaca is an island to find from the water, and at the charming main port of Vathy you can hire a low-powered motorboat without requiring an authorization and can go on your own trip in search of coves that can only be approached by water.

On land you triggered on stimulating walkings up to the Pernarakia and Kathara Monasteries, both of which have epic panoramas of Ithaca and the Ionian Islands.