26 Best Sights in Kefalonia, Greece

Fortifications have stood atop this hill since the Byzantine era, though the ruins of this castle date from the early 16th century. When the Venetians finally prized it from Turkish control in 1500, after a wearying three-month siege, they levelled the building in the process. Reconstruction took some 40 years, whereupon it became the administrative center for the island until the mid-1800s. By then, the rise of Argostolion had made the port town a better option. Shortly after, the castle was abandoned entirely when earthquakes tore the region apart. Little was done to rebuild it and subsequent historic tremors have all contributed to its current state. While the sprawling grounds offer incredible views over the island, there is little to explain what you're seeing, leaving visitors to pick over its bones largely unguided. A tiny village filled with a cluster of good tavernas lies at the foot of the hill.

Some 280 steps were carved into the cliff face to enable access to this beach, which had previously only been reachable by boat. But in 2014 a tremor caused those steps to crumble. They're now very dangerous and should not be attempted, so sea access has once again become the only way to reach this magical shore. It's worth the trip. A semi-circular amphitheater of cliffs and sand mirrors that of Myrtos and Petani Bay, only without any vestiges of tourist interference. There are no facilities, just nature and you, so caution is advised, especially since the water deepens very quicky. Boat trips to the beach may be organized in Lixiouri and Argostoli. Amenities: none. Best for: empty shores; adventure; Robinson Crusoe--style Instagam shots.

Construction of Assos Castle began in 1593. At the time the island's fortified center, Agios Georgios, was deemed too central by its Venetian rulers, so this was built to provide back-up against pirate raids to the north. Sadly, very little survives today of the original structure except 2 km of outer walls, remnants of the old barracks, and two of its original gates. Earthquakes have destroyed much of it. The clamber up to the ruins is best done in the morning. It's a steep climb with a choice of two routes: a shorter stony path that wraps the northern coast of the peninsula, and a winding paved trail that faces back toward the village. The former has the better views but is less shaded, so is best done on the way up if setting off early. Set aside at least two hours for the whole endeavor. If you want to explore farther, follow the path to the peninsula's northernmost tip, passing an old prison farm that was built in the 1920s and was still in use until 1953. Part of it was renovated into a conference center in the early 2000s and, baffingly, hasn't been used since, its courtyards quickly overtaken by foliage. The exhibition hall is still scattered with leaflets for its 2005 event. Just as amazingly, a small village also used to exist within the castle walls up until the 1960s, cultivating olive trees and living off the land. The last resident was said to have left in 1968.

As the setting for the only national park on a Greek island (founded in 1962), Mount Ainos doesn't disappoint. Huge swathes of endemic Abies Cephalonica firs wrap the upper reaches of the mountain where tiny wild ponies can be spied on its south-eastern slopes. Five trails wind through the forests and around the mountain top, with a pair of easy 1½-hour hikes circling out from the Environmental Center of Ainos, where information can also be found. A pair of more tricky 4½-hour hikes can be found to Megas Soros, the highest summit, via the circular Kissos trail and from the village of Digaleto, outside the park. If you're coming to walk, do so early in the morning or pick one of the cooler seasons, such as late spring or autumn. May is the perfect month to spy another of the mountain's natural beauties, the native viola Kefallonica flowers that carpet the forest floor in a sea of purple. If you prefers views to hiking, a road stops close to the summit, where you can park and walk ten minutes to the top.

Little in modern Sami points to the power this area once held. Its exploits during the Trojan War (1260–1180 BC) were once sung of by Homer, and by the 5th century BC it had become an independent state, controling the entire east coast of the island. It only lost its autonomy when the Romans invaded in 188 BC but thereafter flourished for three centuries as a trading link between Greece and Rome, before the twin threats of pirates and earthquakes quickened its demise. What few relics of its heyday remain are found today at the end of a pleasant 2 km walk uphill from the town. Here, past the ruined monastery of St. Fanentes and sloping pine forests, you'll eventually reach the skeleton of the old acropolis (Kyatis), where anonymous clusters of fallen stone only hint at its past. If you don't fancy the walk, you can also drive there.

A few kilometers' walk or drive from Sami lies one of the island's more famous beaches: a forested bay wrapping narrow white-pebble shores and glistening emerald-blue waters. It got a boost in popularity after featuring in the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, though it's a tad more active than the usual beauty spots, with a range of watersports on offer. Toward the end of the bay, a rock provides enough seclusion that naturism is generally considered acceptable. How that goes down with those who run the 18th-century-built Agrillion Monastery, atop a nearby hill, is anyone's guess. Amenities: canoes and paddleboats for rent; food and drink; sun beds and umbrellas; parking (free). Best for: watersports; nudists; swimming; families.

There's little to see within the village of Assos, yet it's still a dazzling sight. It is largely made up of a single steep road that plummets down to the harbor and then up past pebble shores to a parking lot, for those wanting to continue on to the castle. En route, pinkish-purple bougainvillea bloom from every crevice; vine-like roots wrap the ruins of hollowed out buildings; pretty townhouses painted vibrant pastels glimmer in the sunlight; and the view from on-high over the turquoise waters below is magnificent. By the village square, which bears a plaque commemorating the "Parisiens" whose money rebuilt Assos after its destruction in 1953, are a string of cafés and tavernas swarming the edges of a pebble beach. Here, visitors swap dips in the knee-deep water of the bay for cooling drinks. It's worth resting a while here after climbing to the castle, which can be a sweaty task.

Created by the Focas-Cosmetatos Foundation, the Cephalonica Botanica lies a couple of kilometers south of the city center and offers a peaceful opportunity to study the island’s rarer flora, which is at constant risk from forest fires and development. Like all attractions in town, it shuts early (2 pm).

Set on a hill above the nearby village of Lassi, this small chapel hides a narrow cave that is filled with offerings. This is said to be where Saint Gerasimos, patron saint of the island, lived in the mid-16th century before traveling to the nearby valley of Omala to rebuild its monastery.

While most sun worshippers head to Emblisi Beach, the real find of this area lies a short stroll from the village of Antipata, just a few kilometers from Fiskardo. From there, park your car and follow the signs 800 m to the shore, strolling through sun-dappled cypress forests. This leads to a tiny white-pebbled inlet crested by trees. In the corner lies a small cave in which monk seals have been known to rest, and you'll only ever see a few other people here at most. There aren't any facilities, but that's the point: a wild beach escape away from the masses. Savor it. Facilities: none. Best for: peace and quiet; a great forest walk; swimming.

The British occupation (1809–64) of Kefalonia transformed Argostolion, rebuilding its streets and beefing up the island's infrastructure. The crowning achievement of this is the bridge built in 1813 by Charles Philip De Bosset, a Swiss engineer in the employ of the British Army. Created to connect Argostoli to the village of Drapano, it reaches out across what was the Kouvatos Lagoon, a swampy area of land once rife with mosquitoes and malaria, that separates the Fanari Peninsula from the mainland. Its original wooden structure was recreated in stone in 1842 and has been reinforced over the years due to earthquake damage, yet it remains in service today. Part way across, look out for the "Kolona" obelisk rising out of the water, a gesture of thanks to the British erected in 1813 by the Kefalonian Parliament. Its inscription, "To the glory of the British Empire," was symbolically erased when the Greeks took back control of the island in 1865 and has repeatedly changed over the years according to who controls the island. The walk makes for a bracing, and now record-breaking, stroll since this was named the world's longest (690 m) stone sea bridge in 2018.

A 4-km drive from Sami, this 150-million-year-old cave was only discovered after a land collapse revealed its entrance. Earthquakes and trophy-seeking tourists have since damaged its more impressive stalactites but it remains a compelling sight, especially its 900-square-meter Chamber of Exaltation, which has also been known to double as a concert venue on occasion.

Fiskardo derives its name from a Norman Duke and adventurer, Robert Guiscard, who attempted to occupy Kefalonia in 1084. He failed, yet the town rather passively took his name anyway. Today, invaders still arrive in Fiskardo by ship, only these days they're called yachts. Summer sees their ilk far outnumber the traditional fishing boats in the harbor, lending an air of boho chic to the little village and its bustling waterfront of eateries and café-bars. Still, it deserves the attention. Fiskardo remains one of the prettiest stays on the island, with its narrow streets winding past colorful Venetian houses. There's little in the way of museums here, but history surrounds the village. As recently as 2006, a Roman cemetery of 27 tombs was discovered on the edge of the harbor, with its open-air site now easily visited and well-signed. Hiking trails into the hills and forests reveal even more historic relics worth exploring. The town is also a useful port, with ferries to the island of Lefkhada leaving daily during the summer months.

Established by three wealthy brothers in 1984, who turned their family home into a museum to display their personal collections of art, lithographs, coins, and furniture, this tiny museum is as eclectic as any hoarder’s pile. Subjects veer from landscapes of the island by 19th-century British painters to an exhibition of photos documenting the effects of the 1953 earthquake. It's a worthy modern history of the island.

Perched on the far west coast and famed for its clifftop views, this 18th-century monastery is home to just a solitary monk, named Efsevios. He took it upon himself to restore the entire building in the 1990s, after only the church had been rebuilt following the 1953 earthquakes. It wasn't the first time the monastery had been razed. In 1915, during some bad weather, a passing French destroyer was said to have mistaken the smoke from its chimney for an enemy ship; the hail of its canonfire leveled the outer walls. Today, the many empty cells recall how busy it once must have been. Contained within its church are the skulls of its three founders as well as a piece of the "Holy Wood" donated by a Russian prince in the mid-19th century. Its resident monk offically welcomes visitors on March 25 and September 14, though he's not shy and you can usually find him here. A short trail nearby the monastery leads to some fine views over the cliffs.

Squirrelled away to the right of stairs leading to the city library, what this small museum lacks in explanation it makes up for in diversity. Life-sized dioramas of 17th- and 18th-century island life, religious art, wood carvings rescued from derelict churches, embroidery, lithographs, furniture, and some rather excellent photographic studies of Argostolion pre- and post-earthquake make a visit worthwhile experience.

Kefalonia's second-largest town is less businesslike than Argostoli, and its post-quake rebuilding more in line with the old Venetian style, but there's little here to hold the imagination. One of a few buildings in the city to have survived 1953 intact is the Lakovatios library, a grand neoclassical affair that hosts a small free museum. Otherwise, it's a colorful enough port town, mostly used as a jumping off point by tourists en-route to the southern beaches of Xi and Lepeda, or for picking up a boat tour.

The golden-sand beaches surrounding Lassi can be notoriously busy. Access is easy and buses even run here from nearby Argostoli. It's the reason most of the island's resorts are clustered along this stretch of coast, meaning there will always be crowds. Makris Gialos is undeniably beautiful: a rocky collar of tall pine trees encloses the shore, which fades into pale, shallow azure waters ideal for families. Near its southern end, only a few rocks separates the near-identical adjacent beach of Platis Gialos, so you also get two for one. The facilities here are among the best on the island, and phalanxes of sun beds cover most areas not taken up by a volleyball court or bar. It can be quite noisy, though, and when the sun goes down a party atmosphere takes over. Amenities: sun beds and umbrellas; food and drink; lifeguard; showers; toilets; volleyball. Best for: families; watersports; parties; beach cocktails.

An atmospheric Greek-style cenote, the collapsed roof of this limestone cave lake creates a magical setting, albeit one firmly capitalized on by mass tourism. Discovered in the 1950s, it is thought to have been a place of worship during antiquity. In recent years a tunnel has been burrowed down to reach the water, and now rowboats await at the bottom to drift sets of visitors across its cool, cobalt blue, briney waters, said to originate 31 km away.

Myrtos is the poster child for Kefalonia's shores, and frequently named among the top beaches in Greece. Wrapped in high scrubby cliffs, its semi-circular bowl of white pebbly sand is larger than most others on the island, meaning the huge swathe of umbrellas and deck chairs that dominate its spine still leaves room in the corners for what passes for "isolation" here. Yet, for all its photogenic qualities, with a big reputation comes crowds. There is a canteen on the shore, but queues mean it's often best to pack your own drinks and snacks. The water can also get a little rough, and there is a steep drop off from the shore, so it's not perfect for little ones. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard; showers; umbrellas and sun beds; parking (free). Best for: sunset views; panoramic shots from the clifftop.

For many this is the best beach on the island. Its setting is Caribbean-esque: a semi-circular ring of lush, green-stubbled cliffs wrapping a white pebble-sand shore that gives way to waters that veer from emerald to cobalt blue. Umbrellas and sundecks fill only part of the beach, so there's room in the corners just to spread out. Its remoteness ensures this remains one of few big shorelines yet to be overwhelmed on the island. Access is impossible without your own transport, so it's worth getting there early as parking is limited. Facilities do exist, however, in the form of a beach bar and a few restaurants. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: quiet, beautiful views; swimming.

The Robola Winery is a cooperative that sources grapes from some 300 vineyards across the area to produce, among others, its famously dry namesake white wine. Free guided tours include generous tastings; wine flights start at €4.

This T-shaped isle is easily glimpsed from the mainland but may only be visited by boat. A lighthouse, built to replace the old 19th-century tower that was destroyed by Italian bombing in 1942, still stands here along with the ruins of two monasteries dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Trips usually stop to snorkle in the surrounding waters, where the odd turtle can sometimes be spotted, while a rough path on the island also makes for a fine walk. Boats here can be found in Lixiouri and Argostoli.

In 1941, at the height of the Second World War, Greece was occupied by the Axis Powers. During this period Kefalonia was given over to the Italian Acqui Division to run. Two years later, when Italy surrended to the Allies, German troops moved in to seize control and one of the great atrocities of this era played out. Italian general Antonio Gandin offered his troops a vote on whether to join or fight the Germans; they chose the latter, aided by local resistance, but quickly ran out of ammunition. A recorded 1,315 Italians fell in battle, but the worst was to come. The Italian troops had previously been placed under German command, so all soldiers that had resisted were considered deserters and ordered to be shot on sight. Those that had surrended were ruthlessly executed, killed eight at a time in Argostolion's main square, though some escaped by being hidden by sympathetic islanders. A further 5,155 Italians died in the massacre, and 3,000 later perished when the German ship taking the island's Italian POWs to a concentration camp sank. Yet few outside Italy and Greece had heard of this atrocity until the publishing of Louis de Bernieres' novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin, whose tale touches upon the events—though it is widely disliked on Kefalonia for its portrayal of the Greek partisans. A memorial dedicated to the Italian soldiers that fell lies north of the city, near to the lighthouse. A tiny but moving exhibition-museum run by the Italo-Greco Association can also be found next to the St. Nikolaos Church (free; open 9 am–10:30 pm) in the center.

Kilometer-long Mars-red sands sheltered by bright-white cliffs make this one of the most distinctive shores on the island. It's also the most popular, in part due to shallow waters that make it especially good for familes. Its popularity also means that it's well catered for, with a number of excellent restaurants and bars having sprouted on its fringes. Umbrellas and sun beds dot the shore. Good access and a mix of watersports and plenty of families ensure this is one of the noisier shores on the island. It can even be reached by bus from Lixiouri. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: families; after-bathing drinks.