ROADTRIP to island KEFALONIA, Greece
PREVIOUS TRAVELOGUE FOR LEFKADA – Read HERE
MORE ABOUT THE ITINERARY FOR THE TOUR OF THE IONIAN ISLANDS AND HOW MUCH IT COST US IN TOTAL—CHECK IT OUT HERE.
We had already explored Corfu and Lefkada, and now we were about to see the island of Kefalonia. The ferry was departing from Nydri (Lefkada) to Fiskardo (Kefalonia).
Fiscardo town was the most wonderful place out of all of Kefalonia that we visited. One of the most picturesque towns in Greece we've ever been to. Fiscardo is recognizable by its brightly painted houses, its small, charming harbor, and the multitude of little shops. Very beautiful architecture and colors.
From there we continued past Foki and Myrtos beaches, which you will read about a bit further down, and reached Pessada, where our hotel – Lygies Studios – was located. On the way, we saw Lidl and, like fools, went back there three times to shop. It turned out that the prices at Lidl Greece and the one in Bulgaria are completely identical. For example, some jeans that cost 10 euros in Greece cost 20 leva in Bulgaria, and everything was like that, except for food products. This is super unfair, because in BG we don't get a 680 E minimum wage per month!
–> Browse and book a budget hotel in Kefalonia with a discount. See HERE!
One of the main attractions on the island of Kefalonia is Melissani Cave, located just 2 km from the town of Sami. It is a unique rock formation with a lake whose depth reaches 39 meters! The cave is 160 m long and 40 m wide. The stalactites inside date back to about 20,000 years ago. Also, statues of the god Pan and various Nymphs were found inside. Visitors can take a boat to enjoy the fairy-tale colors of the water, which constantly change depending on the Sun's position in the sky. The entrance, when we were there, cost €7/adult and €4/child over 5 years old. The cave is open for visits from 9 AM to late afternoon. There is free parking on site. The dog is free! 🙂
We all got into the boat, along with the dog, and the boatman took us out into the lake, where the water had already acquired a beautiful turquoise color. Then he took us inside the cave, which was also very interesting – lots of stalactites and stalagmites everywhere.
Meanwhile, there is another famous cave on the island – Drogarati, which is also located close to Sami.
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During our short 4-day stay in Kefalonia, we also managed to take a trip to the capital Argostoli – the largest town on the island. There we found an interesting pedestrian bridge connecting one end of the lagoon to the other, and right in the lagoon from the bridge we saw as many as four Loggerhead sea turtles. This was the first place we saw these sea turtles alive.
Two things impressed us in Kefalonia – the huge mountains and the lack of people. Not that they were particularly high, but the mountains somehow looked huge with their deep ravines and steep roads. And as for the people – well, there weren't any. About 60 years ago, there was a strong earthquake that destroyed almost all the houses on the island. As a result, a large part of the people moved away from the island to other places in Greece. And now, when we were in Kefalonia, everywhere seemed quite empty and abandoned.
The beaches in Kefalonia that we managed to visit were:
Foki Beach
It is located in the northern part of the island, just a few kilometers from Fiskardo. Free parking. The beach was nestled among a small olive grove, which made it a very interesting spot for swimming. The shore was covered with large rocks that were difficult to walk on, and the water was very clear and clean—though there were those nasty brown seaweeds… The beach turned out to be very peaceful and suitable for families with small children.
Myrtos Beach
This is one of the most popular beaches in Greece and not just one beach, but a destination for a summer vacation. Because it has a lot of beautiful beaches, coves, and rocky shores, as well as a lot of hotels and rooms to let, and a lot of taverns and restaurants. There is a paid parking lot in the area. The beach is designated with a blue flag, which means that the water is clean and the beach is well maintained. Strangers, water, white pebbles. Many beautiful beaches, but this one is not suitable for young children.
Beaches of Poros and Scala
We just passed through them—beautiful beaches with lots of huge resorts all around. This is clearly where the liveliest resorts on the island are located. And since “a hungry bear doesn’t dance,” we decided to have a picnic on the beach right after the one at Skala. To our great delight, we found a nest with Caretta-Caretta turtle eggs there.
MORE ABOUT KASTURIBA KARETA-KARETA – READ HERE
Petani Beach
A wonderful beach for children, a mix of white stones, sand, and sloping shore. Crystal blue water and the presence of a coral reef. Petani Beach was the best place for snorkeling from our entire Tour: Ionian Islands.
Xy Beach
The beach is famous for its red sand and the fact that it is a nudist beach. But it is not suitable for families with children, because the access is difficult and the water is deep and not suitable for swimming. Free parking.
