A Guide to the Best Beaches in Northern Kefalonia

The Greek Islands are a wonderful place – calm, turquoise waters, stunning landscapes, magical sunsets… However, not every islands was created equal. My favourite piece of the Greek paradise? Kefalonia.

Overshadowed by the more popular islands like Santorini and Crete, Kefalonia, with its lush green hills, crystal clear water and stunning, almost untouched beaches remains a quiet, unspoilt oasis waiting to be discovered.

In Kefalonia, the time slows down, interrupted only by the sounds of the waves, lazily washing over the pebbled shores. The Northern part of the island, where I stayed for over a week, is less popular amongst the tourists than the South and hence more authentically Kefalonian. Here, you won’t find any touristic resorts, instead, you can stay at one of the charming fisherman villages   and take in the local culture.

With the tiny and welcoming village of Agia Effimia as my base, I’ve traveled to nearby towns, discovered local beaches (some of them accessible only by boat) and went on a cruise to Ithaka  to enjoy more stunning views and natural beauty.

What stroke me the most about Kefalonia, aside from its incredibly friendly and welcoming locals, were the beaches – while the other Greek islands I visited were all beautiful in their own way, their beaches just didn’t quite compare to what Kefalonia had to offer.

Myrtos, Kefalonia’s most famous beach, was closed for renovation during my stay (yes – apparently it is possible for an entire beach to be closed!). Luckily for me, Kefalonia isn’t short of other beautiful places…

Agia Effimia beach

Photo credits: Four Seasons of Travel

This tiny beach is only a few minute walk from Agia Effimia’s town centre. Tucked in between the rocks, it has crystal clear, practically see-through water and, like most beaches in the North of the island, it’s covered with smooth, colourful pebbles. Go for a refreshing dip and sunk up the sun while a shoal of tiny fish swims around your feet!

Secluded Beaches between Agia Effimia and Fiscardo

My favourite beaches were the ones  I had to get to by boat. You can easily rent a motor boat at Agia Effimia’s harbour (€60-65 for the smallest boat + the cost of petrol) and spend a couple of hours sailing from one beach to another – just turn left from the harbour and follow the coastline. Surrounded by greenery and calm blue waters, with practically no one in sight but an occasional ship or a boat, these tiny beaches are simply stunning and very peaceful . Unless, of course, your boat’s engine decides to break in the middle of a bay swamped with wasps, where you’re stuck for an hour until you get saved by a random Russian couple. Yup, it happened to me!

Antisamos Beach

Antisamos beach is just a quick taxi ride away from Agia Effimia and Sami. While it is the most touristy beach that I saw in this part of the island, it’s still quite peaceful and quiet-  even in July it wasn’t overly filled with tourists. Since the beach is lined up with bars, it’s a perfect spot to spend a lazy summer day!

Agias Paraskevi Beach

Photo credits: Four Seasons of Travel

Antisamos beach is just a quick taxi ride away from Agia Effimia and Sami. While it is the most touristy beach that I saw in this part of the island, it’s still quite peaceful and quiet-  even in July it wasn’t overly filled with tourists. Since the beach is lined up with bars, it’s a perfect spot to spend a lazy summer day!

Have you ever visited Kefalonia? Which beach was your favourite? Share your thoughts in the comments below!