Kefalonia Beaches: Myrtos, Antisamos and Lourdas
Kefalonia has many large beaches, and the most famous is Myrtos, a turquoise bay of fine golden sand below steep cliffs north of Argostoli, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Ionian islands. Most beaches on Kefalonia are big, and there are many more than the ones below. This guide covers the best known, from Myrtos and Antisamos to Lourdas and the beaches near Argostoli. Where to stay is covered in the Kefalonia hotels guide. Hire a car to explore Kefalonia at your own pace, covered in our Kefalonia car hire guide.
- Sea
- Ionian
- Most famous
- Myrtos
- Near Sami
- Antisamos
- Near Argostoli
- Makris Gialos
Myrtos beach
Myrtos is the calling card of Kefalonia and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in all the Ionian islands. It lies north of the capital Argostoli, with fine gold-coloured sand and turquoise water, as if someone had thrown bleach into the blue sea, and it is surrounded by impressive steep rocks. Myrtos is one of the most photographed spots in Greece and draws thousands of visitors every summer; you can eat and drink on the beach, and sunbeds and umbrellas are for hire.
Antisamos and the beaches of the north
Antisamos is one of the best beaches on Kefalonia, near the village of Sami, 22 kilometres from the capital in the east of the island; it is an attractive pebble beach surrounded by hills, with a monastery above it that gives a fine view over the beach and Sami. Emblisi and Foki lie near the village of Fiskardo in the north, small pebble beaches with beautiful rocks that can get quite crowded; Foki has many trees for shade.
Lourdas and the south
Lourdas is a long beach of sand and pebbles and one of the loveliest on Kefalonia, with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, tavernas and shops, and Mount Ainos rising behind it. Many hotels, apartments and studios stand in this area, and a very hard wind often blows across the beach.
Beaches near Argostoli
Makris Gialos is a beach near the capital Argostoli and one of the better-known on the island - a great beach, and a busy one. Platis Gialos is also close to Argostoli, in the west of the island; it is much smaller than Makris Gialos and less developed, with fewer sunbeds and parasols, some caves in the sandstone rocks and a quieter feel.
Where to stay near the beaches
Accommodation on Kefalonia follows the beaches, with many hotels, apartments and studios around Lourdas in the south and near Argostoli in the west. For a full choice of places to stay across the island, see the Kefalonia hotels, studios and apartments guide.
