13 June 2019 | Updated 16 August 20247 min read
The bluest seas in Greece (and that's saying a lot) surround the steep white cliffs and sandy beaches that ring Kefalonia's rugged shoreline. But there's more to this fantastic island than beach life.
In fact, some of the best things to do in Kefalonia aren’t by the sea at all. Adventurers head for the highest peak in the Ionian Islands, Mount Ainos, while vast caves that need to be seen to be believed beckon explorers of all ages.
From vineyards that produce some of Greece’s best wines to horse-riding tours and island-hopping day trips, be sure to make time for these top activities and attractions on your Kefalonia holiday.
Kefalonia’s northwest coast is pure, unfiltered drama and Myrtos, beneath towering white cliffs, is the island's must-see beach. Getting to this strip of pure white sand by land is tricky (the narrow switchback road is downright scary) so take a boat from the pretty little resorts of Assos or Fiskardo.
After you’ve ticked off the big hitter, go in search of the full array of watersports like water-skiing and windsurfing at Kefalonia’s other top beaches. Your best bets are Makris Gialos, near Argostoli, and Lourdas and Skala further along the south coast.
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Two things put pretty Assos on the tourist map: its gorgeous pastel houses and the ruins of a Venetian castle on the promontory beyond.
It’s a brilliant little day trip that you can combine with snorkelling in its rocky bay or a boat trip out to Myrtos Beach, which is an easier alternative to the challenging drive down.
Head up to the castle before the midday heat and look back towards Assos to see its twin bays of sparkling azure.
If you thought Greek wine was all about cheap and cheerful retsina, a visit to one of the vineyards that flourish on the lower slopes of Mount Ainos will adjust your attitude. On Kefalonia, you can sample some of the finest red and white wines in the Greek islands.
The biggest and best known of Kefalonia's wineries is Orealios Gaea, 20 minutes from Kefalonia's capital, Argostoli.
Don't miss Gentilini, where the VIP tour includes tastings of fabulous vintages, or Domaine Foivos, where you can sip unique Rhapsody Amphora, aged for two years at the bottom of Lixouri Bay, and a list of luscious dessert wines.
Kefalonia's limestone bedrock is riddled with caves and grottos carved over millennia by flowing water. Many are still being explored, but two amazing caverns can be visited. Small rowing boats take you through the Melissani Cave, a vast limestone grotto where a deep blue pool seems to glow with its own inner light.
The other is Drogarati, a vast space filled with weird rock formations that would make a perfect dragon's den. Buy a combined ticket for both at either entrance to save a few euros.
The view from 1,628m (5,341ft) Mount Ainos, surrounded by 3,000 hectares of serene national park, is awesome. With Kefalonia and its neighbouring islands spread out below you and the mountains of the Peloponnese mainland on the eastern horizon, you’ll definitely feel it was worth the effort.
Waymarked walking trails start from the Ainos Environmental Centre and range from easy-going 90-minute strolls to longer hikes of around five hours. You'll need good footwear, sunscreen and plenty of water.
For the same view without breaking a sweat, cheat: you can drive to within 20 minutes of Megas Soros, the highest point of the mountain.
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If you’re not already staying in Fiskardo (it’s one of Kefalonia’s best resorts), you’ll want to make time to visit – even if it’s for the pictures alone.
Another pastel dream with homes draped in colourful flowers, Fiskardo is decidedly more upmarket than some other places on the island. There are plenty of swish seafood restaurants to splash out on, all with views of the yachts bobbing in the bay.
Its handful of sights include an Ancient Roman cemetery and Venetian lighthouse, both of which you can see on an easy 2km round-trip hike.
Kefalonia's tiny neighbour, Ithaca (home of Trojan War hero Odysseus) lies tantalisingly close. To make the day trip, hop on a ferry from Sami to Pisaetos – it only takes half an hour, so you have plenty of time to wander around pretty towns like Kioni, visit the gorgeous Gidaki Beach and hit up the tiny main village, Vathy.
Set on a narrow fjord-like bay filled with yachts, Vathy is the ideal place to enjoy a late seafood lunch by the harbour before sailing home.
Discover the lush and verdant charms of Kefalonia’s rural hinterland – a patchwork of vineyards, lemon and orange trees, and olive groves – on horseback.
Bavarian Horse Riding Stables in Sami, on the east coast, has well-groomed, well-bred German mounts available for half-day picnic trips. Or if you're feeling more adventurous, a two-day camping trip in the hills or a seven-day trail trip around Kefalonia's wild west.
Alternatively, Donkey Trekking Kefalonia offers trips along old mill and forest trails to visit caves and ruined villages at walking pace. Kids can ride, making this a super family experience, but if you're over 50kg (8 stone) you'll have to walk – though you'll still have a friendly moke to carry all your kit.
Kefalonia's varied terrain makes it a paradise for cyclists. If you're looking for challenging off-road routes through mountain forests where wild ponies roam, you'll find them in the foothills of the Ainos massif.
For less energetic riders or families with kids in tow, there are easier rides through vineyards and olive groves or along beaches where you can stop for a cooling dip and a picnic. Ainos Bicycles rents bikes in Argostoli, while Ionian eBike rents e-bikes from its base in Fiskardo.
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Join a quad buggy convoy or take a Land Rover safari with Outdoor Kefalonia to get off-road on mule tracks and forest trails in the Mount Ainos National Park.
You’ll stop in an abandoned village and local honey farm before bashing your way up the mountain to take in the incredible panoramic views from the top (small hike required). It’s hungry work, so you’ll be thankful for the wine and cheese tasting that rounds out the six-hour safari.
The earthquake that rocked Kefalonia in 1953 destroyed much of Old Vlachata, a hilltop village around 5km (3.2 miles) from Sami on the coast. You can wander through the ruins of this eerie, abandoned village that’s being reclaimed by nature – and goats – imagining what life would’ve been like over 70 years ago.
To see the village in a different light, time your visit with the Saristra Festival, a three-day celebration of music and modern art founded by the grandchildren of those who lived in the village.
Visit the tomb of Saint Gerasimos at the Moni Agiou Gerasimou monastery in the Omala Valley, around 15km (9.3 miles) from Argostoli.
Its centrepiece is the glorious chapel, lavishly encrusted with gilt panels and surrounded by fresco-covered walls.
Gerasimos died in 1579, but his body, said to be miraculously preserved ever since, lies in a velvet-draped glass coffin that sits on his tomb. It's displayed on his feast day (16 August) and on other holy occasions.
The waters around Kefalonia are a scuba dreamworld, with superb underwater visibility (up to 40m/131ft) and incredible dive sites, like wreckage of an RAF Beaufighter shot down in World War II, drawing divers from all over.
You’ll also find shipwrecks, vast seagrass meadows, and multiple wall and cave dives. There are PADI-certified dive centres at most resorts, including Fiskardo Divers and Blue Manta Diving in Skala.
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Take to the air with a tandem paragliding or paramotor flight above Kefalonia's spectacular hinterland and coastline with No Borders Paragliding.
Taking off from the cliffs high above Myrtos, paragliders spiral gently over the sparkling waters of the bay before touching town on the white-sand beach. Tours last between 20 and 30 minutes, and you’ll leave with an SD card filled with GoPro footage of your flight. From €160 (£136).
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