Kefalonia walking tour & city guide

Argostoli

Argostoli was largely rebuilt after the 1953 earthquake, and today it is a lively town centred on Vallianou Square, with the pedestrian street of Lithostroto leading off it lined with shops and cafés. The long waterfront looks across the bay, and loggerhead sea turtles often swim right up to the quay where the fishing boats land their catch in the morning.

At the southern end of the town, the stone De Bosset Bridge crosses the shallow Koutavos lagoon. It was built in the early 19th century and is a pleasant walk with views back over the town.

Fiskardo and Assos

Fiskardo, at the northern tip, was barely touched by the earthquake, so its harbour is still lined with colourful Venetian-era houses, and yachts moor right in front of the tavernas. Assos, on the west coast, is a tiny village on a narrow isthmus beneath a ruined Venetian castle on its headland.

Beaches and caves

Myrtos Beach, a curve of white pebbles beneath tall cliffs, is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece, best seen from the road above. Near Sami, the Melissani Cave is an underground lake whose roof has collapsed, so the sun lights the water a vivid blue; visitors are rowed across it by boat. The nearby Drogarati Cave is full of stalactites.

Visiting tips

Kefalonia has an airport near Argostoli and ferries from Kyllini and Patras on the mainland and to neighbouring islands. The island is big and hilly, so a car is the easiest way to explore. The Robola wine of the island's mountain vineyards is worth trying, and the island became widely known through the novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin.