Getting from Athens to Kefalonia

If you are heading to Kefalonia from Athens you are going to the largest of the Ionian islands and one of the most beautiful. Kefalonia is mountainous, with Mount Ainos rising to nearly 1,700 metres at its centre and a coastline of dramatic cliffs, turquoise bays and some of the finest beaches in Greece. Myrtos Beach on the west coast is one of the most photographed in the Mediterranean. The Melissani Cave, a subterranean lake lit by a hole in the ceiling, is extraordinary. The island was almost entirely destroyed by the earthquake of 1953 and rebuilt from scratch, which gives the main towns a different character from the Venetian architecture of the other Ionian islands. Louis de Bernières set Captain Corelli's Mandolin here and the landscape that inspired it is still entirely recognisable.

Take the ferry

Kefalonia is connected to the mainland by several ferry routes. From Patras, ferries run to Sami on the eastern coast of Kefalonia, taking around 3 to 3.5 hours with daily crossings year-round. From Kylini on the northwestern Peloponnese, ferries run to Poros on the southeastern coast, taking around 1 hour 30 minutes. From Astakos on the western mainland coast, ferries run to Sami taking around 2 to 2.5 hours. Getting to any of these mainland ports from Athens means travelling by road first.

Getting there by air

Kefalonia has an international airport with daily connections from Athens taking around 50 minutes. This is the fastest and most practical approach for most travellers.

Your best option

Fly from Athens. The 50-minute flight is the most straightforward approach. If you are travelling with a car, drive to Kylini and take the ferry across to Poros, which at 1 hour 30 minutes is the shortest mainland to Kefalonia crossing and around 3 hours from Athens by road.