Getting from Mykonos to Kefalonia

Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands and it has a scale and variety that sets it apart from its neighbours. The interior is mountainous, dominated by Mount Ainos which rises to nearly 1600 metres and is covered in a forest of the endemic Kefalonian fir. The coastline shifts constantly, from the famous turquoise waters of Myrtos beach on the west coast to the sheltered harbour of Fiscardo in the north, which survived the 1953 earthquake that destroyed most of the island and still has its original Venetian architecture intact. It is an island that rewards exploration and one that tends to make people want to come back.

Take the ferry

Kefalonia sits in the Ionian Sea on the western side of Greece while Mykonos is in the Aegean, which means the two ferry networks do not connect directly. Getting there by sea means taking a ferry from Mykonos to Piraeus and then making your way across to Kylini on the western Peloponnese coast, from where ferries run to Argostoli in around 1.5 hours. The drive from Athens to Kylini takes around 3 to 3.5 hours. It is a full day of travel but the arrival into Argostoli by sea is a good one.

What about flying?

Both Mykonos and Kefalonia have airports so flying is the practical choice on this route. The journey goes Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Kefalonia, with total travel time around 3 to 4 hours door to door depending on your connection. Kefalonia Airport is just outside Argostoli and well connected through the summer season. Book ahead as flights fill up quickly in July and August.

Your best option

Fly if time is a factor. If you have the flexibility, the drive across from Athens to Kylini and the ferry into Argostoli is a decent way to arrive and gives you a car on the island from the start, which on Kefalonia makes a real difference. The island is large enough that having your own transport is not just convenient, it is the only way to properly see it.