Travel Guide
This Beautiful Greek Island Is Home To The Most Beautiful Beaches In Europe
Mar
When you consider Greek islands, the primary picture your mind conjures might be Santorini’s blue church domes and caldera views, or possibly Mykonos’ iconic string of windmills on a hill and colourful harborside homes.
The powerhouse duo could also be Greece’s prime two hottest locations, however if you happen to’re asking us, they’re removed from being essentially the most rewarding, particularly on the subject of seashores.
Between Santorini’s rugged volcanic coast, largely made up of craggy descents and pebbly stretches, and Mykonos’ windswept, club-heavy shorelines, they don’t seem to be someplace you go for swimming and lounging by the ocean, essentially.
Now, if it is Greece’s postcard-ready sandy seashores and clear turquoise seas you are after, this lesser-known island hideaway has simply been featured within the World’s 50 Best Beaches:
Is Kefalonia The Best Island In Greece For Beaches?
Located on the Ionian facet of Greece—the facet that faces Italy—Kefalonia is an island paradise finest identified for its indented shoreline, interspersed with cliff-backed bays, limestone sea partitions, and brief strips of combined white pebble and sand.
Fteri Beach, considered one of these hard-to-access, small pebbly coves backed by towering cliffs, was simply ranked the second finest seashore on the planet by the specialists behind World’s 50 Best Beaches, carefully behind Sardinia‘s Cala Goloritzé.
In Greece, it beats out different heavyweights like Voutoumi, Porto Katsiki, and even Crete’s iconic Elafonissi Beach, which chart at Nos. 3, 5, and 15, respectively.
At this level, you are in all probability questioning why this seashore is so particular. Well, aside from the powdery white sands and crystalline seas, after all, its difficult entry is key to understanding its attraction with beachgoers.
How To Get To Fteri Beach On Kefalonia
You can solely get there mountain climbing down from the small village of Zola, on the northwest coast, and that takes about 40 minutes, or by taking a water taxi. If you are strolling, sneakers are extremely really helpful because the route can get a bit tough in components, and you will want good footwear to stroll throughout Fteri’s white pebbles.
Naturally, taking the taxi is quite a bit quicker and extra handy: a 5–10 minute glide from the harbor to the seashore.
There’s a Fteri Water Taxi operating from Zola Harbor within the excessive season, providing pickups and drop-offs at Fteri, and even different close by seashores like Amidi and Kamari.
According to vacationers who’ve been, the very best time to go to is the morning, earlier than the taxi boats arrive, because the seashore is normally almost empty.
Once the taxis are operational, they begin dropping folks off each half-hour (or extra steadily, even).
As for the water, they’ve that pool-like translucent shade nearer to shore, that steadily turns that beautiful gatorade-blue so typical of the Ionian Sea.
Oh, a chunk of recommendation? Kefalonia is a correct wild seashore, with no facilities like on a lot of Kefalonia’s mainline seashores, so be sure to deliver your individual sunscreen, bottle of water, snacks, and seashore apparel, as you will not be capable of buy them from a kiosk.
Kefalonia Is Full Of Turquoise-Water Bays
Fteri Beach often is the star of the present immediately, however it’s removed from being Kefalonia’s solely paradisiacal cove with surreal waters.
In reality, the preferred seashore on the island is Myrtos, just like Fteri in some ways, besides it is simpler to drive to with a automobile. White pebbles, neon-blue seas, and imposing cliffs.
Petani is the family-friendly, amenity-packed various: you park on the prime of the cliffs, then you definately stroll the brief manner down. It has sunbeds and umbrellas to lease, and a few seashore bars and eating places close by.
You’ve in all probability heard of Crete’s pinkish Elafonissi Beach, however did you might have any thought Kefalonia hosts its very personal pink-sanded strip?
With gentle, clay-like sands, Xi Beach straddles the southern coast of the island, within the Paliki peninsula, and it has a full setup of sunbed leases, seasonal cafés, and water sports activities. It will get busier than most, certain, however the deep-ocher sands and the azure waters are distinctive in Greece.
Where To Stay On Kefalonia
If you are searching for a spot to remain, Argostoli, the quaint Kefalonian capital nestled on a coastal hill overlooking the Ionian Sea, might be your prime decide.
A full of life harbor city, it is stuffed with outlets, eating places, and even the nightlife is not all that unhealthy, due to a bar-lined central promenade, straightforward to stroll to at night time for after-dinner drinks.
For a quieter island expertise and simpler entry to Paliki peninsula seashores (like Xi), Lixouri is a well-liked various.
Kefalonia’s second-largest settlement, it is nonetheless large and well-equipped for tourism, but serene sufficient to really feel worlds away from the principle hub.
A brief ferry hop away from the beautiful Melissani Cave, considered one of Kefalonia’s prime pure wonders, Sami is a superb base for exploring, and naturally, in case your main purpose is to be a brief 5 min water taxi trip from the dreamy Fteri Beach, Zola is the place you must crash for the lengthy weekend.
This spring, you’ll find lodging on Kefalonia Island from as low-cost as $46-a-night, although a modest lodge room in one of many fundamental cities would common $65–$90.
