Valentina in Shorts

Top beaches and highlights of Kefalonia. Kefalonia (or Cephalonia) is the largest Greek island of the Ionian sea. Mostly famous for its beaches, it is also well known for being chosen for filming the Hollywood movie “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin“.
It is a pretty big and mountainous island! For that reason, since I visited it twice, I think it could be useful to share you my personal opinions and favourite places.
Apart from swimming&beaches, Kefalonia has also picturesque villages, as for example Argostoli (the main town), Assos and my favourite, Fiskardo.
Fiskardo is the cutest village, in the northeast area. It has such small beautiful and colorful buildings, inspired by the Venetian style; a quite big port with many yachts and nice restaurants in front of it. That makes it the most cosmopolitan village in Kefalonia! If I may suggest you a place where to stay, I high recommended Fiskardo, also for  discovering the gorgeous beaches in its surroundings. On the contrary, I don’t recommend the south/southeast part of the island: beaches as well as villages are not so special.
As I wrote, in Fiskardo there are many restaurants and bistros. Two of these where I recommend a visit are a bakery, called Melina Patisserie and a cozy taverna, the Roulas Restaurant. Food was fresh and very tasting!!

What about the best beaches of Kefalonia? Well, you probably know or have already seen in picture the most famous Myrtos beach, in the northwest part. (Just half hour away from Fiskardo) It remembers me, the Shipwreck in Zakynthos because of its white high cliffs, white thin pebbles and bright turquoise water. So Beautiful! However Myrtos beach is bigger and easier to reach with a car. (To rent a car is essential for moving in the island!)
This year, when I was there in June, Myrtos beach was not equipped: no bars, no sun umbrellas, no dining service; just wild! Though it has serviceable showers and toilette. So, please, keep in mind to have the necessary stuff for enjoying your journey.

Another beautiful beach is Antisamos beach. Here many scenes of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin were filmed. It is a big and well equipped gulf in the middle-east part of Kefalonia, near the villages of Sami and Agias Efimia. (By car from Fiskardo it takes around 45 minutes) You can really enjoy a whole day in Antisamos beach, thanks to a dining service, lounge & cocktails bars (with wi-fi connections), beds and sun umbrellas for free if you order something at their beach bars. The sea is quite, warm and transparent. Also Antisamos beach has pebbles. Actually all beaches I love have pebbles. You have to consider this. Then for a nice dinner after the beach, I really recommend to stop in Agias Efimia: a small village with a nice port and many restaurants.

Also nearby Fiskardo you can enjoy other beautiful but quite smaller beaches. They also have pebbles, clear sea and gorgeous Mediterranean greenery. The most relaxed is called Dafnoudi beach (5 km north of Fiskardo +10 minutes by walk) whereas the most famous and easiest to reach are Foki beach (2 km south of Fiscardo) and Emblisi Beach (2 km north of Fiskardo).
What I like most about Dafnoudi beach is the calmness. It is a very small wild bay, not so visited.
Foki beach is a small picturesque beach with large stones, crystal green water and surrounded by beautiful cypresses and old olives trees. Most probably is my favourite one nearby Fiskardo.
Emblisi Beach is probably the most visited and, for sure, the biggest nearby Fiskardo. The sea is wonderful: warm, bright blue and clear! Above its cliff there is also a gorgeous five stars hotel, The Emelisse Hotel, with a cozy restaurant and pool-bar with a stunning sea view. High recommend!

What a great vacation! Sure I will be back again!
Valentina ♥

Photography: Valentina Burigo

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