The 11 essential things to do in Cephalonia

Are you going to visit Greece, its islands and its charms? Here are the 11 things to do in Cephalonia.

The sixth largest of the Greek islands, Cephalonia is located in the Ionian Sea, off West Greece and Elide. It is also the largest of the Ionian Islands. Only 35,590 inhabitants live on a territory of 935 km2. The most mountainous island of the Ionian Islands, its relief is ciseled, steeped, with slopes plunging into the sea, leaving a narrow sand cord as a coastline.

Tourist destination attracting beach lovers, you also go there to hike on its backbone, the national park of Mount Ainos, whose highest point rises to 1,628 meters above sea level. Renowned for its caves and swells, Céphalonie is located on a major tectonic flaw and regularly undergoes earthquakes of varying intensity and the scurvy are regular. Occupied from the Paleolithic, Cephalonia has a rich historical and cultural heritage as often in Greece.

Between the fortress of Saint-Georges, Assos, the caves of Melissani, the beautiful beaches, the cities – Argostoli, Lixouri, Sami -, the mount Ainos, the gulfs or picturesque villages, the traveller is not bored by visiting Cephalonia.

If you are wondering what to do in Céphalonie, here is our selection of the 11 essential activities to do on this island.

1. Argostoli

The capital of the island, clean and modern, Argostoli houses about 13,000 souls, is located southwest of the island. A former city under Venetian domination, it became the capital of the island in 1757. Not far from the airport, it is an ideal drop point to start visiting Cephalonia. Several beaches allow you to set foot in the water – a turquoise lagoon – and to recover or enjoy a good drink at the seafront. The Focas-Commetatos Foundation has installed a botanical garden not far from the city centre, in an olive grove. The city is rather built on the east of the peninsula while the beaches are west of the peninsula.

2. The beach of Petani

What to do in Cephalonia? On an island, we go swimming obviously! Petani Beach is one of the must-sees. Located on the west coast of the island – a peninsula named Paliki – it is surrounded by mountains. It is a 600-metre long sand cord.

3. The beach of Xi

No, it is not a beach in China, but south of the Paliki Peninsula, on Cephalonia and not far from the city of Lixouri. It is a 4-kilometre band of red-ochre sand, with many bars, restaurants and hotels where to stay. Because of its reputation, it is a very crowded beach that will nevertheless depict the lovers of deserted beaches surrounded by a wild nature.

4. The beach of Myrtos

Located on the northwest coast of Céphalonie, this beach is emblematic of the island and is one of the most frequented, and for cause: it has a white sand melting in the radiating whiteness of karstic rock, plunging its dizzy sales in a turquoise sea that contrasts with the immaculate white of the whole. This is the Scala dei Turchi Sicilian Greek version, plus majestic. A winding road down to the beach allows you to access it.

5. The beach of Antisamos

Located in the east of the anise of Samos, the beach of Antisamos, surrounded by green mountains, is worth a visit. It’s a pebble beach – which can hurt sensitive feet – but the color of its water when it’s beautiful is just sumptuous. Unfortunately, this beach is also very popular.

6. The beaches of Kimilia and Dafnoudi

Visiting Cephalonia away from mass tourism is possible. By rallying the roads of the north of the island, and the village of Germenata, a road leaves to the north, from which it will be necessary to continue to reach the beach of Kimilia. Coming from Fiskardo or Germenata, continue to Antipata: a road leaves to lose in the northwest end of the island: a walk will lead you to the beach of Dafnoudi. These two beaches, far from the road, offer you the advantage of being little frequented, except by the bworkshops that go there.

7. A boat ride

Once you’ve made a tour of the beaches of Cephalonia, you might want a new adventure? No problem, another must for you: the boat ride! Goodbye the sand, and hello the coastline!

Indeed, with the boat rental in Céphalonie , you offer the possibility of a swim in the Mediterranean sea! Above all, you can take the tour of the island to admire the majesty of its coasts, and enjoy the little corner of paradise on which you find yourself! Enjoy it, to discover the many small fishing villages on the island.

8. Visit Fiskardo

The fishing village of Fiskardo was not destroyed by the earthquake of 1953. Visiting Fiskardo is a must, especially for its restaurants, its seafront, its small fishing and pleasure harbour, its Byzantine church and the ruins of the Venetian lighthouse, accessible on foot.

9. Assos

Assos is a small fishing village built on a peninsula, whose summit leads to a Venetian citadel: Assos Castle, overlooking the sea. The village, between sea, mountains and fragrant pines, is often cited as one of the most charming in Cephalonia.

10. Melissani Underground Lake

2 km from Sami, the caves of Melissani are an obligatory passage for anyone visiting Cephalonia. Located near Karavomilos, this cave would have been that of the nymphs in Greek mythology. This place is very visited because of its exceptional situation: an underground lake with a depth of 20 to 30 meters, in which the rays of the sun have penetrated since the roof of the cave collapsed in 1953.

11. Mount Ainos

Do you know what to do in Cephalonia? Go on to "vivid"! The highest point of the island is in the National Park of Mount Ainos, a unique landmark in Greece for nature lovers. Many trails cross large forests through 1,973 hectares of Cephalonia fir (island endemic). The park is 11 kilometres long, spans 2,862 hectares and ranges from 600 metres to 1,628 metres.

How do I get to Cephalonia?

Unfortunately, there is no direct flight to France/Céphalonie. To get to the Greek island, it is necessary to take a plane to Athens (count 2h30 from Paris): you can find a cheap flight from France on the site of our partner Ulysses . Once in Athens, several choices are available to you to reach Cephalonia: the plane (1h) and the bus (about 7h). If you choose the bus, it will take you to Killinis to board a ferry to the port of Poros before you drop to Argostóli, terminus (for your destination) and capital of Cephalonia.

Where to stay in Cephalonia?

Hotels, houses, shared rooms... A multitude of choices are available to you next to accommodation. Everything depends on tastes and colors, but also on budgets. You can find a cheap hotel by doing a search on our website Compare hotels or find a more authentic ground foot on Airbnb . Poros, Argostoli, Sami, Fiskardo and Assos remain the most valued places by visitors.

How to move to Cephalonia?

Visiting Cephalonia is also worth 781 km2 and 254 km of coast! For the most athletic, choose the bike that will allow you to discover the island with a certain... relief. If you prefer motor toes, know that the most popular means of transport is obviously the car or scooter. The rates are reasonable and the rental agents renowned for their sympathy: you can compare the prices of car rentals in Cephalonia on the site Rentalcars .