Kefalonia has a rugged, mountainous landscape surrounded by stunning beaches. The main roads are easy to navigate, you just need to be careful on the narrow, hilly roads leading down to the beaches. Drive slowly and the end result will make driving around Kefalonia worth it.
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands, bigger than Corfu and is on the west side of mainland Greece. It is around 780square km and you can drive from the furthest two points in around 2 hours which makes for a perfect place to hire a car and get out and explore the island by car.
Where to stay in Kefalonia
Here is a guide to some of the beaches and towns we visited over 5 days of driving around Kefalonia. We were staying in an Air Bnb in Spartia, a small town on the East Coast with a few restaurants, coffee shops and supermarket which was perfect for us.
Gardenia Villa is a 3-bedroom villa in Spartia which looks amazing and a perfect location. Trapezaki Garden Villas are also close by and look fabulous with great reviews.
Booking.comDay 1 – Myrtos and Asos
Myrtos is the flagship beach of Kefalonia used in many guidebooks and adverts, understandably so. The view from the top is breathtaking; Myrtos is a powdery white sand cove and turquoise sea surrounded by cliffs, trees and mountains. There is ample parking along the road and then follow the steps down to the beach – you need to be mobile to access it. Like all the beaches in Kefalonia, expect pebbles and small stones not just sand.
Continue to drive North up the coast will take you to the pretty seaside village of Asos, looking like something straight out of the Amalfi coast. It has Venetian ruins, cobbled streets, colourful houses and cute restaurants on the sea. Stop here for lunch and a walk around. Asos is a small village, park where you can as parking in the car park is limited. Don’t miss this place when driving around Kefalonia.
Check out our post on why you need to visit Assos Kefalonia.
Day 2 – Petani
Petani beach has another picturesque view from above; bright blue sea and a pebbly beach. The sea can be rough and not ideal for young kids, wear beach shoes too as the stones can be sharp. A really beautiful beach with beds if you want to pay to hire them, a beach shack with drinks and stunning views. There is a car park with a 5EUR fee.
Day 3 – Lassi and St Thomas
Lassi is an area with a few beaches along the coast and has more sand than a lot of the other beaches in Kefalonia. We managed to find parking close to Makris Gialos which was ideal with nice soft sand to build sandcastles and the lovely Costa Costa beach bar close by.
St Thomas has a small strip of sand, a small cafe overlooking the bay and a nice little path to walk around and take in the view. Further along the coast is a little harbour with small boats which are worth admiring. A nice stop when driving around Kefalonia.
Day 4 – Skala
Skala is the tourist hotspot full of busy souvenir shops, noisy cafes and popular hotels. It is not an area we like to base ourselves in but one we always like to check out. Skala was as expected; a pleasant stretch of sand surrounded by hotels with some cute churches, watersports, beach bars with music and beach cafes. There is a lot going on here if that is what you are looking for. It’s worth a look when driving around Kefalonia.
Day 5 – Antisamos and Sami
Antisamos is where Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was filmed and it is easy to see why – a perfect banana cove with the bluest water we have ever seen. The views driving down to the beach are also spectacular, stop off and take some pictures on the way. The beach is approached from behind with a car park behind some beach bars. Get there early for some breakfast and claim a beach bed. Like most beaches in Kefalonia it has pebbles and stones so bring footwear.
Sami is a port, the second largest to the capital Argostoli with ferries over to Patra, Ithaca and Italy. There are wide streets, a promenade, bigger supermarkets and lots of restaurants. A perfect place to stock up on provisions, go for a walk and get a coffee when driving around Kefalonia.
Wine Tour (Ditch the car!)
Finally, book a private tour to visit some of the vineyards on the island. The Kefalonia Wine Tour company offer a private mini-van with car seats for kids and will drive you around to different vineyards and wine shops and let you taste the famous Robola wine amongst other local wines. Drive inland through the mountains, visit small houses and receive true Greek hospitality. A perfect way to end your time on the beautiful island of Kefalonia.
Hiring a Car to Drive around Kefalonia
Car hire in Kefalonia is affordable and plentiful, you can pick up and return from the airport. Alternatively just hire for a few days and ask for it to be brought to your hotel or accommodation. Remember to ask for car seats for the children to save you travelling with them.
We always check on Rental Cars for the cheapest options when looking for car rental.
We hope you enjoyed our 5 Day Guide for Driving around Kefalonia. There are lots of other beautiful beaches along the way, let us know if we missed anything special so we can make sure we visit them next time. We love hearing from you so drop us an email here and let us know what you thought.
If you enjoyed this article why not check out Which Greek Islands to Visit with Kids. Also check out the Best Family All Inclusive Hotel in Corfu and Is Corfu Old Town worth visiting? Also why you need to visit Assos Kefalonia.
Albania, just next door to Greece is a beautiful country that we enjoyed. Check out our Guide to Albania and 10-day itinerary to Albania.
If you are looking for another road trip check out our Dubai to Oman road trip. Or go back to our Destinations page and check out our other family travels.
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