Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Greek mainland, charming Kefalonia is a great choice if you fancy a taste of the gorgeous Greek Islands. Best known for its picture perfect scenery, the island ticks all the right boxes with sandy beaches and friendly tavernas to soothe your soul on your annual break away. Couple this with fascinating sights, traditional villages and perfect weather, you can’t go far wrong! Take a look at this rough guide to Kefalonia to ensure you get the very best from any trip here…
When to visit
One of the very best things about Kefalonia is the unrelenting sunshine! The island enjoys long, hot summers which last from May all the way through to October bringing temperatures anywhere from the low 20s right through to the 30s, with around 12 hours of sunshine each day and practically no rain. This will be welcome news to those who are sick and tired of our lack lustre weather in the UK!
May and October are naturally the least busy months with July and August welcoming the highest temperatures and the biggest crowds. June and September are particularly good months to visit the island, where you can enjoy toasty temperatures and less of hustle and bustle! Travelling off- season is also possible, with mild but wet winters to be expected.
Beaches
Everyone loves the beach and Kefalonia ensures you will be spoilt for choice with hundreds of attractive beaches littering the coastline. There’s a good mix of sand and shingle, wild and resort, so whether you’re a sun worshipper or snorkelling fiend, there’s a beach with your name on it.
Myrtos beach is probably the best known, which for obvious reasons, makes it a very busy choice! The clean golden sands and excellent facilities are hard to ignore however so if you don’t mind sharing your towel space, it’s definitely worth at least one visit. When the day is coming to a close, there’s no better way to enjoy the Grecian sunset than with a walk along this truly beautiful, blue flag beach!
Antisamos, a haze of greens and blues with the vegetation blending into the sea is another fabulous option, while Xi beach is a complete contrast with shallow water and striking, copper sands. Skala is also worth a trip, where the attractive village will compliment your time here perfectly. To uncover a secret cove, hire a car at Kefalonia Airport and track down your own individual slice of heaven.
Things to do
A long history and stunning natural setting ensure that there is always plenty to see and do on Kefalonia should you tire of the beach and water sports.
Attractive towns and small villages litter the landscape on Kefalonia and with their cobbled streets, tempting tavernas and pretty harbours they are a joy to explore. The port town of Sami should be top of your list while Lourdas, Lassi and Skala should also make their way into your itinerary.
Why not hire a boat independently or track down a boat tour company and explore the coastline of Kefalonia from a different perspective. Exploring by water opens up plenty of nooks and crannies that would be otherwise inaccessible, plus with the wind in your hair and the sun on your back, I don’t think there’s a nicer way to spend an afternoon than on a boat. If you fancy an adventure on solid ground instead, look into a horse riding trek into the gorgeous mountains.
Alternatively, inject some culture into your stay and visit one or two of the many monasteries, churches and museums in Kefalonia. The Monastery of Ag Gerasimos is a mere 15km from the popular village of Argostoli and certainly worth a visit if you have an interest in history and architecture.
Festivals and Events
Many of the festivals that happen on Kefalonia are religious feasts, such as the Snake Festival which takes place every August, most notably in the village of Markopoulo. In honour of Virgin Mary, it’s a lively event which sees live snakes taken to the church and left near the icon of icon of Panagia Fidoussa. A long standing tradition, it’s a nice way to immerse yourself in the local culture although anyone with a fear of snakes would naturally be best to avoid it!
There are also a handful of non-religious events too so why not visit one or two and enhance your holiday ten-fold. At the Robola Wine Festival, also held in August, you will be rubbing shoulders with thousands of other visitors whilst you all enjoy free wine, food and dancing late into the night. The International Music Festival is another one to include if you have the time!
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