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City guide

Kefalonia (Cephalonia)

Kefalonia or Cephalonia, formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia (Κεφαλληνία), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece and the sixth-largest island in Greece after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region.

Type Island

Why go

  • Largest of the Ionian Islands, Greece.
  • Served by Kefallinia Airport (EFL).

History

Kefalonia or Cephalonia, formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia (Κεφαλληνία), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece and the sixth-largest island in Greece after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region. It was a former Latin Catholic diocese Kefalonia–Zakynthos (Cefalonia–Zante) and short-lived titular see as just Kefalonia. The largest cities of Cephalonia are Argostoli and Lixouri.

Restaurants & places to go

Pizza, Coffee Shop, Burger, Sandwich, Ice Cream, Hot Dog, Salad, Chocolate, Dessert, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00 Features: delivery, vegan… · coffee-break-kefalonia.business.site
Indoor
Regional, Greek, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-01:00 · Trapezaki · deniskefalonia.gr
Indoor
Greek, Mediterranean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00 - 15:30, 19:00 - 23:00 Features: takeaway · facebook.com
Indoor
Seafood, Greek, Mediterranean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 13:00-22:30 · Ai Helis, Svoronata, 28100 · seasalt-aihelis.com
Indoor
Ice Cream · Opening hours: Tu-Su 15:00-22:30 · 17 Ιωσήφ Μομφεράτου · gelatogaliatsatos.com
Indoor
Greek, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · ilborgo.gr
Indoor
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-18:00 · 2 Αγνής Μεταξά · paliaplaka.gr
Indoor
Restaurant · restaurant · oskars.gr
Indoor

127 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Kefallinia Airport (EFL) 9.2 km to the centre
Kefallinia Island, F, GR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 6 airlines (Aegean Airlines, Big Sky Airlines, easyJet, Olympic Airlines…) · direct flights to 5 destinations incl. Athens, Amsterdam, London, London, Preveza (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 6 airlines, 5 direct destinations
  • Aegean Airlines A3 (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Athens
  • Big Sky Airlines GQ (J41) · 1 route: Preveza
  • easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 1 route: London
  • Olympic Airlines OA (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Athens*
  • Ryanair FR (737-800) · 1 route: London
  • Transavia Holland HV (737-800) · 1 route: Amsterdam

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Pessada
Ferry terminal · 7.6 km from the centre · Ionion P. Lines
Outdoor
Argostoli
Ferry terminal · 7.9 km from the centre
Outdoor
Sámi
Ferry terminal · 10 km from the centre
Outdoor
Lixouri
Ferry terminal · 13 km from the centre
Outdoor
Poros
Ferry terminal · 18 km from the centre
Outdoor
Levante Ferries Ticket Booth
Ferry terminal · 18 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kefaloniá (Lixoúri) - Kefaloniá (Argostóli)
Ferry route · IONIAN SEA FERRIES ΚΟΙΝΟΠΡΑΞΙΑ
Outdoor
Cephalonia (Poros) - Cephalonia (Sami)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Ithaca (Pisaetos) - Cephalonia (Poros)
Ferry route · Levante Ferries
Outdoor
Cephalonia (Sami) - Ithaca (Pisaetos)
Ferry route · Levante Ferries
Outdoor
Cephalonia (Pesada) - Zante (Agios Nikolaos)
Ferry route · IONIAN SEA FERRIES ΚΟΙΝΟΠΡΑΞΙΑ
Outdoor
Ithaca (Kioni) - Cephalonia (Sami)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Ithaca (Frikes) - Cephalonia (Sami)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Kyllini - Cephalonia (Poros) - Ithaca (Pisaetos) - Cephalonia (Sami)
Ferry route · Levante Ferries
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Kefallinia Airport (EFL). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: EFL has direct flights to 5 destinations on 6 airlines (incl. Athens, Amsterdam, London, London, Preveza). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Pessada, 7.6 km); routes include Kefaloniá (Lixoúri) - Kefaloniá (Argostóli), Cephalonia (Poros) - Cephalonia (Sami), Ithaca (Pisaetos) - Cephalonia (Poros).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Kefalonia (Cephalonia). Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.