Kefalonia is one of the most beautiful Greek islands

and the biggest one  in the Ionian sea.

 

Unfortunately the public transportation in Kefalonia is not adequate to experience the island to its full.

Renting a car in Kefalonia would be the ideal option to enjoy your holiday

to the fullest

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IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DRIVING IN KEFALONIA

Roundabouts

Please note: In Greece traffic entering the roundabout has right of way, the exact  opposite of the UK. The exception is when the road coming onto the roundaboåf has a stop sign!! Please treat.roundabouts with extreme care

 

Information About Kefalonia Airport

Kefalonia Airport is a very small Greek Island Airport and does not have the facilities that you would normally find in larger airports, this is just a brief summary of what you can expect and what you need to do when you arrive at the airport for your return flight.

Parking inside the airport except in the designated parking areas is prohibited. Return your hire car according to the instructions that we gave you on your arrival.

Check in desks normally open 3 hours prior to the flight departure time. The arrivals and departures boards are there as a guide but are not always updated and so the information may not be correct. Please speak to your Representative for the most recent information.

All members of your party must be present for check-in where they will check passports and tickets and allocate seats. If you have any special requests or upgrades, please let the check in staff know. Your suitcases will be weighed, please note excess baggage charges will apply should you be over your allowance. Pushchairs will be tagged at the desk and you can keep them until the aircraft steps. You then need to take your suitcases and put them through the x-ray scanner where they will then go to the aircraft. The departure lounge is very Small and only has 250 seats so you will normally not be called through passport control until: approximately 1.5 hours before you are due to depart,

In the main part of the airport there is a snack bar and a couple of gift shops. You are more than welcome to go outside and sit on the grass or the various benches scattered around where you will still be able to hear the announcements. There are also two tavernas just outside the. airport entrance gates, although please note you will not be able to hear any announcements from here, but they do have flight information boards.

 

Passport control is next to the check in desks. The same regulations apply here as in the UK as far as what you are permitted to take through in your hand luggage and will be x-rayed.

In the departure lounge there is a small snack bar, a couple of gift shops and a tax free shop. About 30 minutes before the plane is due to depart they will call you for boarding, •they will need-to see your passports and boarding cards at this point. You •ban then make your way out to where your plane ‘is waiting

Speedlimits

 

As a general rule the speed limit on Kefalonia is 60km/hr. In residential areas it can go down as low as 20km/hr, but is well signed

PARKING

Parking should be a subject on its own  ή και όχι θα δούμε

 

Finding a place to park across the island of Kefalonia shouldn’t be difficult .

Parking in Kefalonia is mostly free and is either on the side of the road or in a dedicated car park.

However in some areas it’s a little more complicated . Here are the main

things you should know about parking and getting around to the different towns of Kefalonia

 

Argostoli is the busiest place on the island and more than likely the only time you will see anything remotely resembling a traffic jam. The locals tend to double park all over the place with their hazard lights on!!

Make sure you do not park in taxi ranks as you will get a parking ticket, but they are very well signed.

The main square and the surrounding streets are closed to traffic after 7pm, so make sure you remove your car before that time or you will not be able to get it out and will get a ticket. There is a public car park close to the main bus station as well as car parks close to the port. Aside from these you can just park on the side of the road or in the side streets.

 

LASSI

Lassi operates a system where one month you park on the right and the next month on the left. There are signs but it’s easier to just see which side everyone else parks and follow suit. Take care on the 1^st  of the month when nobody is sure which side to park!!

 

SKALA

The main street is pedestrianized in the evenings. So please park outside this area or you .will be unable to get your car out and will receive a parking ticket.

 

SAMI

The harbor front is pedestrianized in the evenings. So please park outside this area or you will be unable to get your ear out and will receive a parking ticket.

FISKARDO

The center of Fiskardo is pedestrianized at all times, but there is-a free car park just above the harbor front and plenty of parking on the main road into the car park where the coaches park.

 

 

THE EAST

Sami

The third largest town and harbor on Cephalonia. It is a fairly busy port with daily ferries to the nearby island of Ithaka and the Greek mainland, but without the Hussle and bustle of a  large town. There are many tavernas along the harbor front, selling a variety of typical Greek cuisine. Despite its present uninspiring architecture, built with British assistance immediately after the earthquake of 1953, there are 400 BC walls remaining above the town and 3rd Century AD Roman bath.

Sami, also offers a variety of gift and tourist shops selling a wide range of handicrafts, including hand woven tablecloths, pottery, gold and silver jewelry and icons. For those of you who fancy trying your hand at snorkeling whilst you are here, there are also a few shops selling a wide range of snorkeling and diving equipment.

Drogarati Caves

These Mell-lit caves are located near Sami and are the home to an impressive collection of stalagmites and stalactites. There are over 100 Steps down to the cave, which opens out into a huge cavern with a roof covered in stalactites, some of which have been broken off, a result (so the story goes) of the Germans using them for target practice during the occupation of the island in the 2^nd World war.’ The cave is a constant 18 degrees celsius and so in the hot summer months is a very pleasant change from being outside. In years gone by the Cave was the venue for concerts as the acoustics are excellent, in fact Maria Callas sang at one such event.

 

Melissani Lake

The spectacular cave and lake of Melissani, is located between Sami and Aghia Efimia. The lake, previously underground, was discovered hundreds years ago after an earthquake, which resulted in part of the roof collapsing. From Katovothres near Argostoli, seawater travels beneath the island’s central mountain range, merges with other underground freshwater streams and re-enters the sea at Karavomilos near Sami, via the lake of Melissani.

Reached by a sloping subterranean passage-way, three little boats are waiting for you where you will be rowed around the lake and into the cave of Pan, where there are many stalactites.

Sunlight pours through the hole in the roof turning the water into a brilliant turquoise colour. The Lake is open until sunset but the Lake is at its best when the sun is high.

Agia Efimia

This attractive little horse-shoe bay is located north of Sami. The mountain range behind Agia Efimia has wild rabbits with golden teeth on account of bromide found in the natural springs.

In Agia Efimia shops will stay open most of the day everyday. There is a butchers, two bakeries, a cheese shop and minimarket which are all situated along the sea front. The supermarket is just back from the seafront on a corner as you enter Agia Efimia from Myrtos beach direction.

THE NORTH

The village of Assos

A pretty little sleepy village set on it’s own little peninsular. The village is set in the dip around a small harbor, with a scattering of café bars and tavernas to choose from. The white and colour-washed houses run up a fertile- valley shaded by silver poplars and cypress treee The facades of several 19th Century houses are still in evidence. A Venetian fortress is perched high up on the hillside over looking the village and was built between 1593 and 1595. It was originally used as a refuge for the population Of the area, but in later years was used as a prison. The fortress is in ruins however extensive plans are in place to renovate and.restore it to its former glory. The track up to it is fairly steep in places but well worth the effort for the views from the top.

Fiskardo

• This peaceful village is the only village on the island that survived the 1953 earthquake relatively unscathed. Less than 200 people live here-in the winter, but in the summer the hatböui is full of yachts ‘with some lovely waterfront restaurants and tavernas offering some of the bést fish on the island.

In Fiskardo the shops will, usually be open from 8am until 10.30pm for most of the season. Fiskardo has an interesting, variety of gift and tourist shops offering a wide range of gifts from designer labels to local pottery, jewelry and icons.

Here in Fiskardo you will also find some of the finest examples of 18th Century Greek architecture. At present there is an excavation of Roman ground, bodies have been found, they say, about five of them. Jewelry has also been found, which is now in the museum in Patras. Dates and exact details have not yet been disclosed.

The Roman Remains

The name of the Original Roman settlement in Fiskardo has yet to be discovered. It is thought to have been a bustling and thriving community, as it’s geographical position made it a crossroads in the broad and busy net of sea routes. It was also one of the last safe ports of call before the long voyage to Italy.

The Roman Graveyard

Proceeding out of Fiskardo towards Tselendata, just beyond Panormos taverna and facing Ithaca are the remains of an ancient roman graveyard. This was discovered accidentally during work carried out by the Greek Telephone Company in 1993.

The excavations following this discovery  have revealed parts of the large graveyard dating from the 2^nd to 4^th centuries AD. So far a total of 27 graves have been discovered.

 

The Roman Baths

More recently the remains of some Roman baths were discovered and were extensively excavated in the summer of 2004. These remains can be clearly seen on the beach in Zavalata Bay; just slightly further on than the roman graveyard. These baths are thought to be one of the most important finds in the whole of Greece in recent years. However it has led to speculation that the village of Fiskardo has in fact been built on top of the original roman settlement.

The West
Lixouri Peninsulla

 

The second largest town on Kefalonia, Lixouri lies across the bay from Argostoli and Napier considered it as a better location than Argostoli during the British protectorate. During the 2^nd World War the German army used Lixouri as its base on the island. The main square in Lixöuti, which is situated just off the harbour front and has views across the sea to Argostoli and Lassi, has many gift shops and café bars, ideal for wiling away a few hours,

The peninsula has a completely different feel to the rest of Cephalonia as the area is not as mountainous. The sunset over Lixouri is breathtaking and is best seen from Petani in the north or from the cliff tops close to Kipoureon Monastery. Regular car ferries run to and from Lixouri to Argostoli.

 

 

The majority of the beaches in the south of Kefalonia are sandy and shelve gently into the sea.

Makris and Platis Yialos (Broad and Long Beach)

Both of these beaches are situated in the resort of Lassi and are amongst the most popular on the island. They are both sandy beaches, extremely safe for children. They have a number of beach bars selling drinks, ice creams and snacks. There are plenty of sun beds and umbrellas for hire. Makris Yialos also has e selection of water sports available and a volleyball pitch.

Lourdas and Trapezaki

These are both long sandy beaches on the south coast with excellent views inland to Mount Ainos and over the Seas to the nearby island of Zakynthos. You can walk from one end of Trapezaki beach to the other end of Lourdas beach (getting your feet wet in places!), so ‘it’s nice for a long walk on the seashore. Both beaches have sun beds and umbrellas for rent and tavernas for food and drinks. Lourdas tends to be slightly busier as there is more accommodafion for rent than in Trapezaki. The far end of Lourdas beach is quieter, mainly because it’s shingle as opposed to sand but also because there are no tavernas at that end.

Kaminia

Kaminia or Mounda Bay is on the south coast, as far east as you can go before you go around the corner to Skala. The beach is a protected nesting site for loggerhead turtle sand so is not built up with hotels and apartments. This long stretch of sand barely gets busy, and there are some sun beds and umbrellas for rent and a handful of places to eat and drink, It is extremely safe for children as the beach shelves very gently into the sea.

Skala

Up there with Makris Yialos for popularity. The town is a bustling tourist resort with a lively beach to match. The beach boasts beach bars, sun beds and umbrellas and water sports to keep you entertained.

EAST KEFALONIA

As you make your way northwards the beaches are generally shingle or pebble beaches.

Antisamos

This picturesque pebble beach set just outside Sami was the setting for some of the scenes in Captain Corelli’s mandolin. There are sun beds and umbrellas for rent and a taverna. Snorkeling is excellent on this beach and there is a watersports center.S ‘In peak season the beach •is popular with visiting Italians.

Agia Paraskevi (St Friday)

You will find this pretty beach on the road from Sami to Agia Efimia. This shingle/pebbly beach is very picturesque. There is a taverna there and they have a grassy area under the trees with sunbeds for hire.

NORTH KEFALONIA

In the North of the Island there are no sandy beaches and in general there are no sun beds or umbrellas for rent. You will not find any beach bars or tavernas on the beaches due to Greek law. Please be aware though, a lot of the beaches have crystal clear waters, which are a haven for sea, urchins. It is therefore advisable to wear something on your feet when exploring these beaches.

Foki Bay

This pretty little pebble beach with its Olive trees is set in it’s own cove. A taverna cheats the Greek law by siting itself on the other side of the road. The crystal clear waters are ideal for snorkeling and at the far end of the bay is a cave, which you can swim into and then explore on foot.

 

Zavalata Bay

The home of the recently excavated Archeological digs which uncovered the remains of

• some roman baths. This is a pretty little beach in the heart of Fiscardo.

Emblissi

On the outskirts of Fiscardo on route to Antipata you will find Emblissi. The beach nestles in amongst olive trees and is very sheltered from the Maistros wind, which picks up every afternoon.

Myrtos Beach

-This stunning and famous beach and was recently voted in the top 10 best beaches in the World. It was also the setting for many of the scenes in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Please be aware though, the beach shelves quite steeply into the sea and there are often currents which can be quite dangerous. Ensure that you check the flag system before venturing into the sea.

WEST KEFALONIA

The west is a mixture of different sceneries and types of beaches.

Aghia Kyriaki

Nestling in the cove formed where the peninsula of Lixouri joins the mainland of Cephalonia. This long sandy beach is quiet and sheltered, with a fish taverna at one end. There are no sun beds and umbrellas to hire and as a result the beach is never crowded. However, although the beach is sandy, as you enter the sea it becomes pebbly so footwear makes it a much easier swim.

Petani

This stunning beach is 2^nd only to Myrtos for its beauty. On the north coast of the Lixouri peninsula a very windy and steep road reaches it. The sand is coarse, with a few pebble patches, but quiet comfortable to walk on. There are a couple of tavernas on the beach and in peak season you can hire sun beds and umbrellas whilst sharing the beach with the visiting Italians that it is popular with. Unfortunately as with Myrtos it suffers from currents dependent on the weather, so please take care when swimming.

Xi Beach

On .the south coat of the Lixouri peninsula this red sandy beach has something for everyone. At one end there are beach bars, sun beds, umbrellas, water sports and of course many people, whereas at the other end it is quiet with no facilities. The beach shelves very gently •into the sea making it ideal for children. The cliffs are made up of Clay with skin purifying qualities, soften the clay in water and then covet yourself in the clay, allow to dry and then wash off in the sea!!

Vatsa Bay

This lovely sheltered sandy bay set on the south west corner of the Lixouri Peninsula is reminiscent of the Caribbean. One of the only rivers on the island flows into the sea alongside the beach where small fishing boats are moored. The beach taverna set right on the sand serves the fresh fish straight off the boats, onto the BBQ and then onto your plates. Run by the colourful Spiros who prides himself on his customer service and excellent cuisine.

 

 

 

Shall I write about the history of Kefalonia ?

 

Sha ll I write about earthquakes ? Foster fires ?

 

The reasons you should rent a car in Kefalonia

Place to visit with your car to take advantage of your holiday in Kefalonia