Kefalonia is the largest Greek island on the coast of the Ionian Sea. It is located at the exit of the Patraikos bay, between Zakynthos and Lefkada. Adjacent to it is the Paliki peninsula on the western side, and it also includes the island of Ithaca, which is located along the eastern coast of Kefalonia.

What is the nature of Kefalonia like?

The island has a mountainous terrain, and the highest peak called Mega Soros is located on Mount Enos, with a summit at 1628m above sea level.

Kefalonia is renowned for the production of

• olives,
• grapes, and
• currants.
• Approximately 50% of the island’s surface is covered by olive trees.

The coastline of Kefalonia stretches an incredible 250km.

• The island covers about 781km2, with approximately 36,000 inhabitants.

In Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia, one-third of the island’s population resides. The town of Lixouri is the second largest settlement and is located on the Paliki peninsula, accessible by ferry from Argostoli or by the surrounding road, with two-thirds of the prefecture’s population living in both towns combined.

The island boasts a rich biodiversity and a significant number of endemic and rare species.

• Some areas are part of the European Natura 2000 network, a network of protected areas for nature conservation and biodiversity in the European Union.
• Mount Ainos was declared a National Park in 1962 and also teems with rich flora and fauna.

Important natural attractions particularly attractive to tourists include

• Melissani Lake,
• Drogarati Cave, and
• Koutavos Lagoon in Argostoli.

Kefalonia is known for its endangered population of Loggerhead turtles that lay their eggs on many beaches along the southern coast of the island.

• Near Argostoli are the remains of the walls of the ancient city of Krani and the Venetian castle of St. George (Agios Georgios).
• Also, several Mycenaean tombs are located in the villages of Mazarakata and Metaxata, about 5km east of Argostoli.

How to get to Kefalonia?

Kefalonia is located on the western coast of Greece and can be reached by sea and air - by boat or plane.

• The island has an international airport named “Anna Pollatou” with daily flights from Athens and other major airports across Europe.

There are several options for arriving on the island by ferry.

• From the port of Kyllini on the western Peloponnese, the company Kefalonian Lines operates to the town of Poros on the east of Kefalonia.
• From Nidri on Lefkada to Fiskardo in the north of the island, the company West Ferry operates with a duration of 1hr 45min.
• And from Astakos to Sami, the company Ionian Pelagos operates.

If you are coming to Kefalonia from Zakynthos, you can rely on a ferry to the town of Pessada in southern Kefalonia operated by Ionian Pelagos.

Ticket prices for West Ferry

• for adults are around 11e,
• for children over 10 years old 5.50e,
• while children aged 6-10 pay 50% of the price,
• children under 6 years old do not pay for transportation.
• The cost of transporting a passenger car is around 40e and a motorcycle up to 250 cc is about 17e.

Driving on Kefalonia - what are the roads like?

If you are arriving on Kefalonia by your own vehicle, expect fairly good roads and signage. The main road runs from Fiskardo-Sami-Argostoli, while in the south, an excellent road connects the towns of Argostoli and Skala. To reach the Paliki peninsula and its capital Lixouri, it is easiest to take a ferry from Argostoli. The approximate prices are:

• around 3e per person,
• around 5e for a passenger car (driver free), and
• 3e for a motorcycle.

The ferry journey takes about 20 minutes and operates every hour.

For getting around the island and visiting beaches and numerous sites, you can also use a well-organized local transport, and you can view and download the schedule and routes on the KTEL Kefalonia website in the routes section.

What to visit and explore when vacationing in Kefalonia?

A vacation in Kefalonia can provide wonderful moments on the beach and long walks in nature. Besides swimming, Kefalonia offers areas to explore, from picturesque villages to medieval castles and beautiful monasteries.

Museum in Argostoli

The Archaeological Museum of Kefalonia has three halls displaying exhibits from different historical periods, from the Paleolithic to the Roman era. The excavations in the museum were collected from various parts of the island: Sami, Fiskardo, Drakaina Cave in Poros, Skala, cemeteries in Kokolata and Metakata, Diakata Cave, and others.

• The exhibition includes various objects, tools from the Paleolithic era, pottery from the Middle Ancient period, gold coins from the Minoan era, bronze swords, remains of the Egyptian civilization, and artifacts that testify to the flourishing of the Kefalonia federation called tetrapolis in the 5th century BC, consisting of four city-states: Pali, Krani, Proni, and Sami, named after the sons of King Kefalos.

The museum’s working hours are:

• Winter period (November - May): from 8 am to 3 pm, closed on Mondays.
• Summer period (June - October) from 9 am to 4 pm, closed on Mondays.
• The ticket price is around 5e.

Earthquakes

Kefalonia is located in a high-risk seismic zone and, together with the island of Zakynthos, represents the island with the highest risk of this kind on the Ionian coast.

• In 1953, Kefalonia was nearly completely destroyed by an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale. From August 9 to 12, when the earthquakes occurred, 455 people died.
• The same area was also hit by a strong earthquake measuring seven degrees in 1983, and earthquakes of slightly lower intensity continued to occur several times until today.

Due to frequent destruction, Kefalonia is forced to constantly invest in the complete or partial reconstruction of the island, making it one of the few islands where traditional houses and remnants of past life cannot be seen.

Rich and very long history of Kefalonia

The settlement of the island began in the 10th century BC. According to Greek mythology, Kefalonia was named after King Kefalos, the first king of the area during the Paleolithic era, the son of the god Hermes and his lover Herse.

From the Minoan civilization to Roman conquests

During the Bronze Age, the island was a center of the Minoan civilization. In the Peloponnesian War, Kefalonia was on the side of Athens and later became part of the Aetolian League, whose goal at the time was to fight against Macedonian hegemony, which was dissolved after being conquered by Rome in 189 BC, and Macedonia was defeated.

Middle Ages and Venetian rule

In the Middle Ages, the island was conquered by the Norman leader Norman Robert Guiscard, who died there during a rebellion in 1085. Until the conquest by the Turks (1479-99), the island was ruled by Neapolitan and Venetian families.

French, British protectorate, and final unification with Greece

In 1797, Kefalonia briefly belonged to France, but by 1809, the British took over, establishing a protectorate over the Ionian Islands according to the terms of the Paris Treaty in 1815. The island finally became part of Greece in 1864.

World War II and the tragic story of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

During World War II, Kefalonia was occupied by German allies the Italians in 1941, whose troops on the island numbered around 12,000 soldiers. Just two years later, Italy capitulated, and before the departure of the troops, the Germans demanded disarmament from the Italians at home, which the Italians refused, fearing they would be exposed to the mercy and ruthlessness afterward. The Germans then sent additional troops to Kefalonia to take control of the island, which they succeeded in, and in that endeavor, they killed about 5000 Italian soldiers, as described in the famous book and movie Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.