Must-see places and restaurant recommendations for a first trip to Kefalonia

[oatymabuse]

Going to Kefalonia for the first time in a couple of months, what are the must sees? And would love any taverna or restaurant recommendations please! We will be hiring a car. Thank you

Ooh, me too. Sorry, can’t help with recommendations but blatantly hanging about in hope of others!

Where are you staying? Kefalonia is beautiful.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/AttractionProductReview-g189457-d26821113-QueenBee_Full_Day_Boat_Trip_with_Lunch-Kefalonia_Ionian_Islands.html

We enjoyed the Queen B boat trip.
The trip to Ithaca was lovely too.
We loved visiting the turtles in Argostoli harbour.
Fiscardo was really nice.
There were some Caves and a lagoon which were nice to cool off if the weather is too hot. They were really busy and I remember queuing ages.

Thank you @Useyourfork! @Wonderknicks Lassi. Can't wait, haven't had a holiday for ages and life has been rubbish lately!

Came on to say Queen B too. What a fantastic day we had. Jumping off into the water.

We loved Antisamos beach

The caves/lake too.

Lassi to Fiskardo, from recollection is about a 2 hour drive but worth it.

Me too we went several times. Make sure you pack a snorkel OP. I spent so many happy hours just pootling around in the water watching the fish. Water shoes a must also.

You’re making me want to go back but I hated the toilet situation.

Getting excited! Would you recommend booking ahead for excursions or doing when we're there?

@Autumnlover24 oh no - the non flushing of paper?

Have you watched ‘Captain Corelli’s mandolin’?
There’s the memorial to all the people who lost their lives just off the road between Lassi and Argostoli.

Yea! I’m a real silly prude when it comes to the toilet and it just really did affect my holiday. Going to restaurants and not knowing what state the bin would be in.

Definitely book in advance for peace of mind.

I think it was near Lassi, we had a day out with a family who fished for lobsters. It was interesting but I think many of us felt a bit sea sick as we were stationary for a while when they were bringing up the nets😊
They cooked the lobsters for and made loads of other food for us.

Fiskardo - stunning 🤩

Food - Oskars used to be great, lots of plate smashing and dancing. Near Lassi & Argostoli.
Beaches - You can take a ferry to Lixouri/Xi Beach. Anti Samos beach just outside Sami is beautiful. Hairy drive down to the beach!
Trips - Melissani lake and Drogarati caves are fab.
Fiskado for a posh day out.
Definitely hire a car and visit some different places.

Myrtos beach was nice. I didn’t like Argostoli much, but Beverinos restaurant was nice. The restaurants in Lassi near where we stayed were nice but I don’t recall the names. a day trip to Zante was nice.

We loved Assos, very cute, fiskardo for gazing at the gin palaces, and we went into the middle of the island to visit the monastery and see the embalmed figure of saint yerasimos! We stayed on the SW of the island and trapezaki beach was lovely too

It says Myrtos beach is dangerous to swim at but we swam there and it seemed safe.

Forgot, Fiskardo is lovely.

If you go to Argostoli harbour in the morning (before 11am) loads of sea turtles come in - the fishermen throw the dregs of yesterday's catch back in the sea before they head out again, and the turtles have cottoned on, they flock in for an easy brunch! Argostoli itself was a bit busy and built up for my liking, but worth a visit to see the turtles 🐢

We went last September and have rebooked for September 2026

picnic in Maganos is great for breakfasts and lunches

visit Assos, it’s beautiful

melissani cave/ lake at Sami

hire a small self drive boat from Regina’s at Fiskardo

dinner st Chrysafis. You need to book. Check which day there is Greek dancing and music. It’s a lot of fun

I didn’t see this but happens in August, people bring snakes into churches:-

https://www.vintagetravel.co.uk/blog/the-snake-festival-of-kefalonia/

So jealous!! Kefalonia is gorgeous.

Def second the poster who suggested a snorkel. I poo-pooed this as I mostly hate swimming but my DC bullied me into having a go. OMG. Life changingly wonderful..

Fiskardo is lovely for a wander.

Have an amazing time!!

Xi Beach was in sorry state 2 years ago because of the medicane (hurricane) in 2020. It’s very narrow now. The couple of bars there were quite scruffy. It’s about 5-6km from the ferry at Lixouri but the beach in Lixouri is much nicer.
There's always a long queue at Melissani Lake, though it’s less busy on days with no cruise ships in port. Worth checking the schedule.
Myrtos Beach is great for photos. It’s a steep drive down, pebbly and often the sea is fierce.
Sami is a lovely little town.
Argostoli is a good place to go for an evening.
Skala we thought was a bit like a small Blackpool.

When I went to Argostoli we found the restaurant I mentioned but afterwards a local club (in main square). Typical club and we didn’t stay long. I wasn’t that enamoured with it (concrete jungle?) so probably didn’t explore as much as we could’ve done. Plus was back in 2001 (9/11 happened whilst we were there) so prob changed since then. I don’t recall the steep part of Myrtos Beach at all, just that either tour rep or locals said it was worth the drive.