Villas in Kefalonia

A picturesque fishing village in the Pyllaros Valley, Agia Efimia is a great base from which to explore the north of Kefalonia. The laid-back feel in Agia Efimia means you can unwind and watch the world go by from this Ionian oasis. With plenty of great tavernas and cafes on the waterfront, an award winning beach and pretty architecture throughout, this resort is a slice of paradise. 

Fiskardo is an incredibly attractive village on the northern tip of Kefalonia, set among rugged hills, cypress trees and olive groves. Centred around the charming Venetian harbour, you can enjoy wonderful views across the water to the neighbouring islands of Ithaka and Lefkas.

Katelios is a great choice if you want a bit of peace! This tiny fishing village on the south west coast of Kefalonia between Skala and Lourdas was not much more than an overgrown hamlet until relatively recently. Even now the 2 sand and shingle beaches, Agia Varvara and Agia Barbara are rarely crowded and ideal for relaxation.

Like many villages on the island, the main part of this resort is slightly inland, built to resist coastal raids by marauding pirates. Lourdas is the part further down, home to one of the best beaches on the island. If you are travelling on the main road towards Kefalonia’s capital, Argostoli, you take a sharp left down a winding road down a steep hill. The village is halfway down and the beach and seaside part of the resort is a further trek down the hill after that.

Old Skala is a most unusual village with new life growing from the ruins of the original village. There has been a village on the site for centuries, built on a hillside slightly inland as protection against pirate raids. It was called ‘Skala’, the Greek word for stairs because there are rather a lot of them.

A pretty town and harbour on the east coast of Kefalonia, Sami is an ideal resort for a relaxing holiday. The charming harbour is lined with a great choice of traditional tavernas overlooking the Ionian sea, with a small shingle beach at one end. Backed by lush pine tree forests, Sami is a top choice for scenery lovers. Nearby Antisamos Beach is one of Greece's most exquisite gems and a filming location for Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

Skala is an interesting tale of two halves on the south east tip of Kefalonia. At the top of the hill you have the old part and at the bottom of the hill you have a modern Greek seaside town with an excellent Blue Flag beach in a lovely setting. There are lots of hotels and self-catering holiday apartments and plenty of shops, restaurants and bars.

Spartia, on the south coast of the island between the airport and St Thomas, is an old-school traditional Kefalonian village. Not yet very developed for tourists and so almost unspoiled, it has a slow pace and the natural rhythms of a small farming and fishing community.

Situated on the south coast of the island, Svoronata is an expansive village which has slowly developed into a popular resort due to its proximity to 3 lovely sandy beaches. Set on a gentle hillside which slopes down towards the sea, the area is largely flat making it ideal to explore on foot.

Trapezaki is relatively new as a holiday destination. Still under the radar of most travel companies, it remains a quiet, largely unspoiled rural area well off the beaten track. From the foothills of the mountain there are superb views across to the nearby island of Zante. The fine sandy beach here is lined with palm trees offering some shade, and there is usually a gentle breeze that keeps the shore at a comfortable temperature.

The best way to fully appreciate this gorgeous coastline with its small secluded bays and beaches, coves and caves is from the water. Why not pack a picnic and be the skipper of your own boat? It can be huge fun, great exercise and gives you a marvellous sense of freedom. You can drop anchor and swim with the fishes in the wonderfully clear waters. Many of the hidden little beaches along the coast can only be reached from the sea. If you arrive byboat, you might have a secret beach all to yourself. You don’t need a driving licence, and will be given all the help you need even if you have no boating experience. This is a brilliant way to explore and escape the crowds.

Mount Ainos, which is higher than Ben Nevis, dominates the whole island. The Forest of Ainos has been a National Park since 1962 and is protected by the Greek state. The mountain is covered in a type of fir tree unique to Greece. In the days when the Venetians ruled, this place was called Monte Nero or the black mountain because the Kefalonian Fir trees were so thick and dark. You can actually get right to the top of Mount Ainos by car although the road is very rough and you might be taking a few risks with the suspension if you don’t have a 4-wheel drive. As you can imagine, the view from the top is amazing on a clear day. You can see the whole of Kefalonia, most of Ithaka and parts of Zante, Meganissi and Lefkas as well as Kyllini and the mainland coast.

Many of the sandy beaches of Southern Kefalonia were untouched by human development until recently, which suited the Loggerhead Sea Turtles perfectly, giving them a safe place to nest, secluded from the outside world. Not far along the coast is Kaminia Beach, another haven for this increasingly rare creature. It has now been declared a conservation area.

Just outside Scala are the interesting ruins of a 3rd century Roman villa which was excavated in 1957 to reveal 3 magnificent, remarkably well preserved mosaic floors. Part of the villa was covered by a church in in the early Christian times. Once the home of a wealthy Roman, it was discovered by accident in 1944 by the owner of the land. You can visit this site free of charge, which you must admit makes a refreshing change! If you are interested in ancient history, you might also like to visit the site of a 7th century temple dedicated to the god Apollo, with the foundation stones and parts of 3 Doric columns clearly visible. You will find the temple 2 miles along the beach road towards Poros.