Kefalonia Beaches and Water Sports

(Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece)

Home to some of the most beautiful Greek beaches imaginable, many of the beaches on Kefalonia are surrounding by steep cliff faces and gorgeous crystal-clear waters. Local coastal resorts have even been awarded the RU Blue Flag, for their good facilities and overall cleanliness, both the sands and water quality.

Myrtos Beach lies directly north of Argostoli and boasts fine white sandy, turquoise water and a backdrop of rocky cliffs. With snack bars, sun loungers and gorgeous views, Myrtos should be at the top of everyone's itinerary and for holiday makers on Kefalonia, really is simply one not to miss. Other exceptional beaches on Kefalonia include Kaminia, Pessada and also Xi Beach, the latter of which is known for its water sports.


Many tourists holidaying on the island choose to hire a boat for the day and cruise around the coastline of Kefalonia. If you have the time, do consider doing this, since it is often the only way to reach some of the most secluded of beaches, which often remain virtually deserted, even in the height of the busy summer season.

List of the most notable beaches and resorts

• Agios Thomas Beach - comprising no less than two adjoining sandy beaches, on the southern side of Kefalonia and near to both Karavados and Lourdata. Snack bars are close by, along with a car park, superb bay views and some attractive, yellowish cliffs
• Ai Helis Beach - sharing many similarities with Avithos and home to some rather unusual rocks, which are littered with small holes. Ai Helis Beach sits near to the village of Svoronata and Kefalonia Airport, and offers plenty of sun loungers if required
• Ammes Beach - in the Svoronata and on Kefalonia's southern coast. Ammes Beach features a rather distinctive orange-coloured sand and good facilities, being surrounded by hotels, cafes and shops. The clear, shallow waterfront is ideal if you fancy a paddle or a swim
• Antisamos Beach - located around 22 km / 14 miles from Kefalonia's main town. Antisamos Beach really is a very beautiful expanse of pebbles and is close to the village of Sami. Huge crowds of tourists flock here in the summer, to sunbathe, paddle and enjoy the sheer natural beauty
• Avithos Beach - on Kefalonia's southerly coast and just a stone's throw from the airport, in the Svoronata area. A couple of recommended Greek tavernas are near to the golden sand and soon fill up at lunchtime
• Eglina Beach - a small and secluded cove, easily reached from Svoronata and good for snorkelling
• Emblisi Beach - alongside the village of Fiskardo and known on Kefalonia for its small, white pebbles. Emblisi is fairly small and rarely crowded, making it a good alternative to the more 'touristy' beaches. The square bay, gorgeous views and interesting rock formations make this a favourite with families holidaying on the island
• Foki Beach - just a stone's throw from the village of Fiskardo and due to its location and easy access, remains very popular. Even on the sunniest of days, shade is provided by a number of overhanging, beachfront trees
• Horgota Beach - famous with sightseers, since the jetty featured in the film, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, where the character of Palagia is thrown into the sea by Mandras
• Kaminia Beach - a scenic southerly bay next to Ratzakli and always popular with Kefalonia holiday makers, although much quieter than the beaches around Lassi. Each year, the loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta) come here to lay their eggs. The Kaminia Beach remains fairly undeveloped and features just a small shack, serving hot toasted sandwiches and ice creams
• Katelios Beach - known for its relaxed atmosphere and gaining popularity year on year. Next to Kato Katelios village, the Katelios Beach is rarely busy and facilities here are quite basic, although the beaches of Skala and Kaminia are close by
• Koroni Beach - situated at Thiramonas and next to the villages of Kato Katelios and Skala. Koroni Beach offers golden sand and azure blue waters, and is often frequented by the loggerhead sea turtle
• Kounopetra Beach - famed for its enormous rock and distant views. Kounopetra Beach resides on the south-westerly coast of Kefalonia and next to Lixouri




• Lourdas Beach - a pleasant and rather undeveloped natural beach close to the village of Lourdata, complete with pale sands and a number of onlooking hotels. Various shops and eateries also line with picturesque beachfront, while the background is rather dominated by the distance Mount Ainos
• Lagadakia Beach - a rather tiny and characterful pebbly cove, which comes highly recommended. The pebbles are smooth and a mixture of sizes. Located on the western side of Kefalonia and near to both Kaminarata and Kounopetra. The landscape is rather barren with exposed rocky outcrops, while the water is good for snorkelling
• Lepeda Beach - a short expanse of fine reddish sand with some interesting surrounding rock formations, next to the village of Lixouri. Lepeda Beach can be reached by both car and ferry, which links Lixouri with Argostoli
• Limenia Beach - near to the village of Poros and known for its impressive rock formations, which stand proudly in the seafront
• Makris Gialos Beach - near to Kefalonia's bustling port town of Argostoli and lying alongside Lassi. The Makris Gialos Beach is amongst the island's most noteworthy beaches when it comes to sunbathing and even features a separate area devoted solely to sun loungers, for those wishing to worship the sun in comfort
• Megas Lakos Beach - close to the island's villages of Mantzavinita and Lixouri, and offering red sand which is soft beneath your feet
• Minia Beach - enjoying a scenic, southerly position on Kefalonia and near to both the capital of Argostoli and the village of Platis Gialos
• Myrtos Beach - widely believed to be amongst the most spectacular of all the beaches on Kefalonia and throughout the Ionian Islands
• Paliolinos Beach - on the south-western part of Cephalonia, near to Spartia and Ai Hellis, and in the Cape Liakas area. Paliolinos is one of Kefalonia's lesser-known beaches and therefore is never crowded. However, an up-and-coming tourist resort is close by and the waters are excellent for scuba diving. Look out for the views of the island of Zeus (Dias)
• Paliostafida Beach - enjoying a very tranquil spot, located within Lassi and one of the island's quietest and most overlooked stretches. If you are passing, do take a look at these two sandy beaches, which are connected by a wooden walkway over the rocks
• Pessada Beach - one of the most scenic and popular of Kefalonia's southern beaches, Pessada is next to a small harbour and connect to Zakynthos by daily ferries. A car park is close by, as is the Church of Estravromenos, should you wish to sightsee after you've finished sunbathing
• Platis Gialos Beach - a small bay, but worth a look if you're in the Lassi area. Platis Gialos is famous in Kefalonia for its fascinating sandstone caves and remains very natural in its appearance. The Makris Gialos Beach is in close proximity and often much busier
• Poros Beach - sited on the south-western side of Kefalonia and alongside the village of Poros. This is a pretty, pebbly expanse with shallow water
• Petani Beach - on the western coast of Kefalonia's Lixouri peninsula, similar in its appearance to Myrtos
• Skala Beach - an award-winning beach on the island's south-eastern shore. Skala Beach is ideal for families and has superb facilities lining the beachfront. The sand is fine, white and soft, and stretches for many kilometres, with the best section being based around the village of Skala itself
• Spartia Beach - a matter of minutes from Kefalonia Airport and known for its pretty hillside houses, which overlooked the coast and create an interesting backdrop
• Trapezaki Beach - enjoying a sunny, southerly setting on Kefalonia, next to the village of Mousata. Trapezaki Beach provides visitors with coarse, golden sand and views of both the harbour and Mount Enos
• Xi Beach - an appealing Kefalonian beach on the island's south-western peninsula, the Xi Beach features orangey-red sand, plenty of sun loungers and parasols, and a good choice of fun water sports. Next to the village of Mantavinza, beachfront accommodation and eateries complete the main attractions here