Kefallonia
Beaches, cave lakes and harbor villages on Greece's largest Ionian island, best seen by car at a slow pace.
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Kefallonia, also spelled Kefalonia, is the largest island in the Ionian group, off the west coast of mainland Greece. Its best-known sights are Myrtos Beach, a bay of white pebbles under high cliffs on the west coast, Melissani, a cave lake where daylight enters through an opening in the roof, and Fiskardo, a harbor village in the north.
The island suits travelers who want beaches, walks, local food and a road trip more than a city break. Buses are limited and most sights sit far apart, so a rental car gives the most freedom, though the roads are narrow and winding. Pick your base before you book. Argostoli, the island's capital, is the easiest place to find shops and transport, while Fiskardo and Assos suit travelers who want quieter villages. The sea is warmest from June to September.
Kefallonia in five
- Rent a small car and book it early for summerBuses are thin outside Argostoli, and beaches, caves and northern villages sit 30 to 60 minutes apart on steep roads. A compact car copes best with narrow village lanes.Getting around Greece
- Reach Myrtos in the morning or late afternoonMyrtos lies below a steep switchback road with limited parking. Midday in summer is crowded, and rough sea can make swimming unsafe, so check conditions at the viewpoint first.
- Check season and hours for Melissani and DrogaratiMelissani is a cave lake reached by small boat, and Drogarati has a large chamber used for concerts. Opening days change with season and weather, so confirm with the operator before you drive.
- Pick a base before you book anything elseArgostoli suits a first visit, Fiskardo and Assos suit quiet villages, Skala suits a beach week and Sami suits ferries and caves.Where to stay in Kefallonia
- Book ferries and the car together in July and AugustFerries run from Kyllini to Poros and from Patras to Sami, and a short crossing links Argostoli and Lixouri. Summer vehicle space sells out and wind can delay sailings.Peloponnese
Need to know
- Airport
- Kefalonia (EFL), about 9 km south of Argostoli; flights from Athens and Europe
- Getting there
- Flights, or ferries from Kyllini (to Poros) and Patras (to Sami)
- Getting around
- Rental car; limited buses beyond Argostoli
- Best base
- Argostoli for services; Fiskardo or Assos for villages; Skala for beaches
- Time needed
- 4–6 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 195 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Rain, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Spring flowersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring flowers
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Easter, quietAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, quiet
- MayClear9 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Warm, calm seaMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm sea
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm, quieterJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low24°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Hot, peakAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, peak
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh26°Low22°Warm sea, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calm
- OctoberClear10 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Rain, closingNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 252 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, closing
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Mild, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 191 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Argostoli, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kefallonia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 28 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Kefallonia
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°11°100%Monday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue15°13°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed16°11°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu16°11°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri15°9°18%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sat14°8°34%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sun12°9°59%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 59%.
Updated 07:42 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Ithacaabout 30 min by ferry from SamiA quieter island with a small harbor town and coves, easy for a day.
- Zakynthosabout 1.5 hours by seasonal ferry from PessadaTurtle beaches and the Navagio viewpoint on the next island south.Read the guide
- Lefkadaseasonal ferry from Fiskardo or Vasiliki; check operatorsBeaches such as Porto Katsiki, reached by sea instead of the long road.Read the guide
Before you go to Kefallonia
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Rules for Kefallonia, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors are fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check current EES guidance from the European Commission before you travel.
- Buses on Kefallonia are limited and most sights are far apart. If you hire a car, check your licence rules and whether you need an International Driving Permit with your national authority.
- Do not take stones or pottery from archaeological sites. Greek law protects antiquities, and officials can check your bags when you leave.
Kefallonia FAQ
How many days do you need in Kefallonia?
Four to five days covers Myrtos, Melissani, Fiskardo and Assos at an easy pace. Add a day for Ithaca or the Ainos mountain, and a base change if you want both the north and the south coast.
Where should you stay in Kefallonia?
Argostoli for a first visit and services, Fiskardo or Assos for villages, Skala for a beach week. Pick the coast where you will spend your days, because crossing the island takes time.
Do you need a car in Kefallonia?
Yes for most trips. Buses link Argostoli with a few towns, but Myrtos, Assos, Melissani and the northern villages are hard to reach without a car or a tour. Compact cars suit the narrow roads.
Is Kefallonia or Corfu better?
Kefallonia is larger, more mountainous and spread out, with big beaches and caves. Corfu has a UNESCO old town and a busier tourist scene. Pick Kefallonia for scenery and driving, Corfu for a town and easier flights.
Is it Kefallonia or Kefalonia?
Both are used for the same island. Kefallonia is a common English transliteration, Kefalonia is the other, and Cephalonia is an older form. Airport and ferry sites may use any of them, so search with all three.