Kefalonia is the Ionian Island that stole our heart. Boasting dramatic scenery, pastel-coloured Venetian villages, Caribbean-esque waters, plus a laid-back dining scene focusing on local specialities, it’s an underrated Greek Island that those in the know return to time and time again.
One of the reasons it appeals to us so much is because it feels relaxed but there’s plenty to see and do. Although the largest of the Ionian Islands, you can easily focus on different areas of the island each day and see and do a variety of things across the course of a week.
How to get to Kefalonia
Kefalonia is the largest of the 7 main Ionian Islands, which consists of Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos and Kythira.
(We’ve been to 4 out of 7 – read more here!)
You can fly to Kefalonia direct from the UK with a number of airlines including British Airways and RyanAir. We flew with Easyjet but Jet2 have also just launched flights and packages for summer 2026.
Best things to do in Kefalonia
Most families visiting Kefalonia tend to stay in Lassi, Skala or Lourdas where you’ll find calm beaches and family-friendly tavernas that are perfect for a fly-and-flop holiday.
We like to travel a bit more independently so split our time between 2 beautiful properties – one luxury villa near Sami and a boutique hotel near Argostoli. More on both below.
We hired a car for the week through Discover Cars and explored hidden beaches, mesmerizing caves and charming candy-coloured villages.
These are our highlights:
Fiskardo
In the far north of the island you’ll find Fiskardo, a colourful cosmopolitan harbour with original Venetian architecture. In 1953 a series of earthquakes flattened most of Kefalonia but Fiskardo remained largely untouched, so it’s the only village on the island that still boasts beautiful original buildings.
Today, the waterfront is lined with chic restaurants, boutiques, ice cream shops and a number of fancy yachts so it feels a little bit bougie but still retains lots of natural beauty – I mean, just look at that bougainvillaea!
It was quite busy when we arrived in the middle of the day but soon quietened out once the day tripper ferries had left. We had a really pleasant lunch and wander in the late afternoon when the pastel-coloured buildings appeared to be glowing.
Assos
A beautiful place to stop on route to Fiskardo is Assos village, which has pastel-coloured houses on a distinctive promontory and a small sheltered beach that’s good for families.
You get amazing postcard-worthy views of Assos as you head down from the main road. It’s a bit of a twisty drive (watch out for coaches!) but is definitely worth it and there’s lots of free parking just outside the village.
Assos is a great spot for families as the calm bay is perfect for little swimmers and cafes and tavernas line the waterfront, so parents can sip a coffee while keeping an eye on the little ones.
If you’re up for exploration you can do a short but steep walk up to Assos Castle, a sprawling Venetian fortress that is one of the largest in Greece.
Myrtos Beach Viewpoint
Myrtos Beach is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece, and the viewpoint on the side of the main road above it is a must‑stop. (Although take care with little ones as it is right next to the busy road and there are only low barriers between the viewpoint and the cliff edge.)
The beach itself is also stunning but we didn’t personally do the drive down there as we read that the water gets deep quickly and the current can be strong so its not very family-friendly.
Platis Gialos
A beach we did love spending the whole day at was sandy Platis Gialos in the south of the island. This is a really beautiful spot with clear, calm waters, reasonably priced sunloungers for hire and a kiosk where you can buy snacks, ice cream and freddo cappuccinos.
If you’d like more facilities and a bit more of a buzzing atmosphere, Costa Costa Beach Club on Makris Gialos – the next beach along – ticks all these boxes.
Fteri Beach
The most spell-binding beach we visited in Kefalonia was Fteri Beach on the north-west coast of Kefalonia.
Although tucked away in a secluded area, you can easily reach this incredible beach with ink blue waters, steep white cliffs and forest all around it by taking a 10-minute water taxi from Zola Harbour.
You can also reach Fteri Beach by taking a private tour, hiring a self-drive boat or hiking, but the water taxi from Zola Harbour is the quickest and easiest route for families.
A couple of water taxi companies operate out of Zola Harbour and you can just turn up and buy tickets on the day. (As far as we could tell they all charge the same prices.) We travelled with Fteris Luxury Water Taxi as they had availability at the time we wanted and we thought they were excellent.
The price is 20 Euros per adult and 10 Euros per child for a return ticket. You book your return journey when buying the outbound ticket so if you want the most flexibility arrive early when more time slots are available.
There are no facilities on Fteri Beach so bring your own snacks and water and take all rubbish away with you. I would also recommend a beach umbrella (the water taxi company lent us one!) as well as sea shoes because the beach is veryyy stony.
Melissani Cave
One of my son’s favourite experiences was visiting the mesmerising Melissani Cave just outside Sami. The cave features an underground lake that gets lit up an electric blue colour by sunlight that streams through a hole in the collapsed roof.
Your entrance ticket to the cave includes a short boat ride across the lake, along with some insight into its formation and history by a local guide.
The queues can get a bit long here, especially if there is a cruise ship in town, so it might be worth double-checking the ship schedules before visiting. I also recommend coming between 11am and midday when the sun hits the water just right and it looks its bluest.
Drogarati Cave
Just a short drive from Mellissani, Drogarati Cave is a completely different experience — vast, echoing, and filled with stalactites and stalagmites that look like something from a fantasy film.
We didn’t have time to visit here as we queued for quite a while at Mellissani, but if you’re visiting during the off-season, pairing Mellissani and Drogarati makes for a perfect half‑day outing.
Argostoli
The wonderful thing about Argostoli, Kefalonia’s lively yet relaxed capital, is that you can spot turtles in the harbour while enjoying a stroll along the waterfront. A few turtle watching spots are saved to Google Maps and they are a handy starting point. It’s worth noting that you’re more likely to spot them in the morning as they follow the fishing boats into the harbour.
Argostoli really comes into its own of an evening though when you can wander the lively but relaxed Lithostroto Street, which is filled with pavement cafes and souvenir shops. If you’re a fan of gyros you can’t miss Hidden Garden – more on that below.
Best restaurants in Kefalonia
Our most memorable meals in Kefalonia were:
Sea Salt Ai Helis – Thanks to a recommendation from a follower we had the most magical evening meal at Sea Salt, a rustic chic taverna that’s perched on the cliffs above Ai Helis Beach. The seafood, wine and service was fantastic and I’ll never forget that view either.
Osteria del Borgo – We spent our first night in Kefalonia at this contemporary Greek-Italian Restaurant purely because it was across the road from our hotel but it turned out to be a great choice. The pizza and tiramisu were delicious, the sunset views were stunning and the fact that every table was full all evening proves it’s not just us that rates it.
Il Borgo – Sister restaurant to the above, Il Borgo has equally good modern Mediterranean food and more enviable sunset views, close to St George’s Castle.
We also heard great things about the Olive Lounge – another restaurant with fantastic views near the castle.
Hidden Garden – Quite literally tucked away in a courtyard garden in Argostoli, Hidden Garden Kefalonia is an Aussie/Greek family-run restaurant known for their charcoal spit-roasted meats. They are walk in only and quite often sell out during peak season so don’t arrive too late in the evening if you want the best gyros in Argostoli!
Where to stay in Kefalonia
Poesia Suites
For the first half of our week in Kefalonia we stayed in the most relaxing boutique hotel that’s perfect for families who are seeking affordable luxury.
Poesia Suites is a hidden gem in Lakithra village that consists of just 5 stylish studios and a peaceful shared pool. Each room has its own private patio facing the pool and a secret garden room off the bedroom with an outdoor shower shaded by huge banana trees.
Sleeping up to 2 adults and 2 children, the suite’s living area has a generous kitchen including an oven and cooktop, and the bedroom is accessed via a walk-through closet and bathroom.
Located just 7 mins from the airport, 10 mins to Argostoli and under 10 mins to some of the best sandy beaches on the island (eg Platis Gialos & Ai Helis), Poesia is the perfect base for a stress-free holiday with young children.
The owners are very welcoming and helpful, sending through a fantastic list of recommendations for the local area and offering a breakfast delivery service if you don’t fancy self-catering.
Conveniently, there are a handful of restaurants, a playground and a mini market within walking distance. Just across the road from the hotel is, Osteria del Borgo (mention above), which serves delicious pizzas and tiramisu with sunset (and runway) views. There is also an amazing grillhouse called Obelix and a pastry shop called Antonis a short walk away.
If you don’t mind a short drive to the beach I really think this is a wonderful place to stay in Kefalonia and for £130/night for a family of 3 the price is hard to beat!
Homer Luxury Villas
For larger families or groups seeking a stylish stay I highly recommend Homer Luxury Villas near Sami. These 2 sister properties offer 3 generous double rooms, private heated infinity pools and sweeping views of the Ionian Sea all the way to Ithaca.
Read all about our stay at Homer Luxury Villas here.
*Disclosure: Our stay at Homer Luxury Villas was hosted in order to create content but we paid for all other expenses. All opinions are my own.
For more of our Greek holiday recommendations check out:
Best places in Greece for families
Paros family holiday: What to do & where to stay
Staying at a cave house in Santorini
Family holiday in Mani, Greece
