Kefalonia is the largest of the
Ionian Islands and is a popular destination for
discerning travellers - those looking for Greece the
way it used to be.
Kefalonia is located on the West coast of Greece,
and has a mild climate along with excellent
beaches. The island has escaped mass tourism and
recently was used to film Captain Corelli's
Mandolin, set in war-time Kefalonia. The film, with
Nikolas Cage, was a huge success and it put
Kefalonia firmly on the 'must visit' list of destinations.
Planning to Visit Kefalonia - Greece?
The
Kefalonia Travel Guide, is an independent guide to
Kefalonia for the independent traveller and offers a refreshing selection of articles on
Kefalonia and ideas on ways to enhance your stay on
Kefalonia. The Agni team, along with the help of
Francesca - who lives in Argostoli - has used their
experience and visits to create this informative and
accurate guide of Kefalonia.
Kefalonia Exploring
Kefalonia is a large island with diverse and
dramatic scenery. The island has many wonderful bays
and inlets which help to form its unusual shape. The
northern rocky coastline has small and clean, pebble
beaches whilst those on the southern shores are long
and sandy.
Kefalonia is just waiting to be explored and with a
good road network the island is ideal for driving.
For those who prefer a slower pace, Kefalonia is a
great island for walking, cycling and horse-riding.
With the Greek islands of Lefkas, Zante and Ithaca
close by, you can take a ferry, motor-boat,
or yacht to explore the Ionian
shores. Or maybe you just want to unwind? Kefalonia’s stunning beaches await.
Kefalonia Weather
The Kefalonia weather is currently: Partly Cloudy
Current Temperature in Kefalonia at: 7:00
AM
(The Tempcam is located outside of the Kefalonia Agni Travel office, in Argostoli.)
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
During World War II, Kefalonia was under Italian and German occupation,
and inspired the writer Loius de Bernieres to write the famous book Captain Corellis Mandolin, which later became a movie and was filmed on Kefalonia. The island suddenly became more famous.
During the summer of 2000 the town of Sami received a Hollywood facelift, as filming took place for Captain Corelli's Mandolin, set in war-time Kefalonia. Anyone who has read the book
or enjoyed the movie will delight in visiting some of the places in Kefalonia mentioned.
Getting to Kefalonia
In the aviation world the airport is known as Kefallinia. The airport is situated in the area of Svoronata, 9km from Argostoli. The airport was founded in 1971 when tourism was introduced to Kefalonia. It's a fairly small airport in the south of the island near Svoronata.
You can fly to Kefalonia from most of
the major airports in the UK and depart
on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or
Sunday and the flight time is
approximately 3 hours and 15 mins.
TRANSFER TIMES FROM
KEFALONIA AIRPORT Argostoli 25 minutes
Sami 1hr 15 mins
Aghia Efhemia 1hr 45 mins
Lourdas 45 minutes
Fiscardo one hour 30 mins
Assos 1hour 15 mins
Kefalonia Villas, Houses and Apartments to Rent
The Kefalonia Travel Guide offers 'unpackaged' rental properties, including luxury villas with swimming pools, Typical Greek houses and apartments - all individually hand-picked by us.
Kefalonia Villas and Apartments
Have You Recently Returned from Kefalonia or Greece?
If you have just returned from Kefalonia, another
Ionian island or anywhere in Greece why not add your
comments to our popular message boards, you are sure
to find some new places to visit and some new
Kefalonia travel ideas:
Kefalonia Forum
Kefalonia - Statistics
Kefalonia Population: 36,312 Location: Ionian Islands, North-West Greek
Coast (38°15′N 20°30′E) Capital of Kefalonia:
Argostoli Island Size: 907km˛ (Aprox 53km Long and 38km
Wide) Highest Mountain: Megas Soros (1,627m) Kefalonia Coastline: 237 km Number of Beaches: 39 (Sandy and Shingle) Language: Greek (English commonly spoken)
Kefalonia is the largest of the
Ionian islands and dramatically different from the
rest. Once voted 10th in a world scenic beauty
league, Kefalonia boasts some of the best beaches of
the Greek islands. It's an island to be explored.
First on the list must be the
Kefalonia Caves. The caves have stayed cool over
the thousands of years it has taken to form the
multi-coloured stalactites and stalagmites that fill
the caverns.
Kefalonia is more mountainous than
any other Ionian island with Mount Ainos in the
south with its tallest peak - Megalos Soros - which
reaches up to 1626 metres. Mount Ainos is covered by
a very rare species of fir tree (Abies Cephalonensis).
Read more in the
Kefalonia Flora and Fauna section.
Kefalonia has many wonderful bays and inlets to form
its unusual shape and the rocky coastline has small
and clean, pebble and sandy beaches. On the
north-east coast of the island lies Myrtos Bay with
its stunning white sand and pebble beach and
incredibly deep aquamarine sea. From here the
village of
Assos is visible - a tiny hamlet nestling at the
base of a peninsula crowned by an imposing Venetian
fortress. Further north the village of
Fiscardo retains its Venetian style with a
pretty harbour lined with fishing caiques, luxury
yachts and daily cruisers. The south coast boasts
some more wonderful beaches favoured by marine
turtles which are closely monitored by a local
turtle protection group.
There are so many different ways of
spelling Kefalonia: Cephalonia, Cephallonia,
Kefallonia, Kefallinia. Some believe that the island
of Kefalonia was named after the mythological figure
Cephalus while others say it is derived from the
Greek work for head,'kephalos' as the island is the
biggest of the Ionians and is thier natural head or
leader.
Many local families of Kefalonia have surnames
ending in "atos" and almost every community in
Kefalonia has a name ending in "ata"
Kefalonia Villas and Rental Accommodation
Anthy Beach Apartments, Fiscardo, Kefalonia
Sleeps 2-4, Shared Pool, Apartment
In high demand due to their proximity to the beach which is just 20 metres away, Anthy's Beach Apartments are modern and comfortable with private balconies and panoramic sea views.
The Fiscardo centre is just a short stroll away:
Apartment in Fiscardo Kefalonia
Assos Beach, Assos, Kefalonia
Sleeps 2-4, Apartment
Four brand new apartments in Assos, sleeping 2 to 4 persons. Each apartment has a kitchenette and balcony with sea view:
Apartment to rent in Assos, Kefalonia
Archontiko, Fiscardo, Kefalonia
Sleeps 2, Perfect for a Honeymoon
Luxury accommodation at Archontiko with four-poster
bed, luxury bathroom and the best people-watching
balcony in Fiscardo:
Kefalonia Honeymoon accommodation
Kanakis, Assos, Kefalonia
Sleeps 2-4, Shared Pool, Apartment
Sea view apartments with swimming pool are so rare in Assos we recommend booking a year in advance to secure one:
Apartment with Pool, Kefalonia
Villa Artemis Stone Mansion, Evreti, Kefalonia
Sleeps 4-10, Villa with Pool
This beautifully renovated late 19th century house
has three floors and sleeps 4 persons with adjacent
guest house sleeping a further 6, in two separate
apartments. The property is set in extensive
gardens, with swimming pool and lovely sea views:
Private Villa Rental Kefalonia
Villa Maistro, Katsarata Village near Fiscardo
Two bedroom villa private pool
Ideal honeymoon villa with wonderful views from the
double bedroom! Two bedroomed villa in local stone
with swimming pool near
Fiscardo: Villa with Pool, Fiscardo
Villa Helios, Evreti, Kefalonia
Sleeps 6, Private Pool
A luxurious 3-bedroom villa with private pool and uninterrupted sea views across to the island of Ithaca, less than ten minutes' drive from Cosmopolitan Fiscardo:
Kefalonia Villa to Rent
Dionisos Cottage, Assos,
Kefalonia
Sleeps 2-5
A unique fully renovated two-bedroom family house
with spacious balcony offering special panoramic sea
and castle views of Assos:
Cottage to Rent on Kefalonia
Amigdalo Spito, Vassilikades, Near Fiscardo,
Kefalonia
Sleeps 2-13, Private Pool, Villa
The Amigdalo Spito is a beautifully restored, stone
built Venetian mansion with cottage and private
pool, which has retained many original features such
as the old wine press. A combination of antique and
modern fixtures combine to provide luxury
accommodation for up to 13 people:
Private Villa, Kefalonia
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands with an area of 750 sq km. It is the 6th largest of the Greek Islands with a population of about 42,000. Mount Ainos is one of the highest muntains of the Ionian Islands, rising to 1640 feet.
The Agni Team have visited the island of Kefalonia many times in an effort to give all the information needed before your visit.
Our Kefalonia office is in Argostoli and we offer a selection of properties which include: villas with private pools, traditional Greek houses and cottages, water-front apartments and small family-run hotels. We focus on the villages of Fiscardo, Assos and Aghia Efimia. Click here for Agni Travel properties on Kefalonia.
Use our Kefalonia Resort Guide to view detailed reports for each location on Kefalonia to help you to decide where to stay or visit. The north of the island is completely different from the south and is made up of scenic coastal villages such as Assos and Fiscardo whereas the southern part of the island offers larger tourist complexes geared to beach holidays.
For Kefalonia holiday accommodation, not generally found in the mass market holiday package brochures, from simple village rooms to luxury villas with private swimming pools, see our Kefalonia Accommodation Guide.
Kefalonia boasts some of the best beaches in Greece, so whether you prefer a long sandy beach with water-sports or a tiny secluded cove, use our Kefalonia Beach Guide which describes the wonderful beaches on offer in Kefalonia.
If beauty is from within, then Kefalonia is a fine example with its well documented and strange geological phenomena which are manifested in its vast underground water network, subterranean lakes and stalactite encrusted caverns. Wherever you stay on Kefalonia, it is easy to visit the centrally located caves of Drogarati and the underground lake of Melisani.
Planning on buying an Island near Kefalonia? You may be surprised to learn that there are still some islands for sale! Not Kefalonia, but if you are related to the Onassis family or have similar wealth, these pages are for you! For the rest of us with smaller pockets, you will also find all you need.
Getting married in Kefalonia Greece combines the advantages of a wonderful climate and a wedding organised at a greatly reduced cost - all just a few hours' flight away. Couples combining their wedding and honeymoon in Kefalonia Greece can not only reduce the cost of the wedding but the more relaxed atmosphere may help in reducing the stress that is so often associated with getting married! Why not choose Kefalonia for your wedding?
The 400 year old patron saint of Kefalonia now lies in his silver sarcophagus at the monastery of Saint Gerassimos. Visit the old monasteries and modern day churches from Greek Orthodox to Catholic on Kefalonia.
There are 2 impressive castles on Kefalonia in strategic positions which are famous island landmarks and were built to protect the islanders from marauding pirates. Do not miss out on visiting the castle at Assos - a Kefalonia treat.
Eating out in a local taverna is one of the joys of a holiday in Greece and in Kefalonia there are many local specialities including the famous dry white wine made from the Robolla grape. Kefalonia food and wine, awaits!
Once voted 10th in a world scenic beauty league, Kefalonia is an island to be explored. Read our handy hints and advice so that you do not miss a thing on Kefalonia to visit! From Driving selected routes around Kefalonia, walking trails and goat paths, by horse or underwater diving. Discover the natural beauties otherwise unseen on Kefalonia.
There's no doubt the coast is clear for some wonderful cruising, sailing and water sports. The crystal clear Ionian waters await your arrival. Take a traditional wooden caique to visit Ithaca or cruise on a luxury motor cruiser to other Ionian islands. Maybe you would like to learn to sail or hire a skippered yacht. You can take a relaxed pace with a motor-boat for the day to find secluded bays. For the faster pace you can opt for a speed-boat, power RIB hire, water-skiing or just whiz round the bay on a donut!
There are 7 Ionian Islands: Kefalonia. Zante(Zakynthos), Lefkas (Lefkada), Ithaka (Ithaki), Corfu (Kerkyra), Paxos and Kythira.
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands with Zante (Zakynthos) to the south, Lefkas (Lefkada) in the north and its sister island, Ithaca (Ithaki) a few miles off its eastern coast. North of Kefalonia, near Lefkas, there are many smaller islands, such as Meganissi, Madouri, Skorpios, Skorpidi, Thilia, Tsokari, Sparti, Heloni. Wherever you go on Kefalonia you should be able to see another island in the distance whether it is one of the tiny islets such as Dias near Avithos and Vardiani near Lassi, in the south of the island or scenic vistas across the Ionian sea to the Ionian islands beyond. The larger islands are connected by ferry-boat or sea plane and some by water-taxi. Others are only reached by cruiser, yacht or motor-boat.
If you prefer a holiday that is not centered round a Greek beach, then take a look at some of the activity holidays available on Kefalonia: walking, painting, sailing and horse-riding holidays which can be booked through a tour operator or with the local operator on Kefalonia.
During the summer of 2000 the town of Sami received a Hollywood facelift, as filming took place for Captain Corelli's Mandolin, set in war-time Kefalonia. Anyone who has read the book will delight in visiting some of the places in Kefalonia mentioned. For news on Kefalonia and suggested books, click here.
Mount Ainos is Greece's third largest mountain. It is one of Kefalonia's national parks and its stunning dark pine forests are home to wild ponies, golden eagles, osprey and other protected species. Marine wildlife on Kefalonia's shores includes dolphins, rare monk-seals and the loggerhead turtle "Caretta-caretta".
Unique to Kefalonia is the religious feast of Saint Gerasimos who is the patron saint of the island and Kefalonia is also famous for its Robolla wine festival.
Rich Roman tombs in Fiscardo - Archaeologists have recently uncovered more Roman tombs in Fiscardo with rich findings of jewelery and coins overlooked by grave-robbers. The dig continues revealing an ancient theatre and sea-faring links between Greece and Italy. Kefalonia doe not just offer a beach holiday, there is plenty to see and do.
This is a short course of five lessons, which will teach you a few useful conversational Greek phrases and words. We are also working on a printable version so that you can bring it to Corfu on holiday with you. The locals will not know what has hit them!
There is more to Kefalonia than its beautiful beaches. If castle and fortresses, churches, monasteries, caves and lakes sound interesting, Kefalonia offers a wealth of history and interesting places to visit.
You can fly to Kefalonia from most of the major airports in the UK and depart on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday and the flight time is approximately 3 hours and 15 mins.
An A-Z of services to be found on Kefalonia. The list is endless and ever-changing and open to everybody who wishes to list their specialist service on this website.
Whether you are seeking an unusual souvenir or present from Kefalonia, or just want to know where to stock up for your holiday provisions, Kefalonia has lots to offer with it's variety of shops
