The first time I heard of Kefalonia was when I saw a photo of the mesmerising Melissani cave. When I looked into it I saw that there was also great beaches and towns to visit across the whole island. I would recommend hiring a car as there aren’t the best transport links. It is cheap (about €20 per day) and parking is very easy and usually free. We went at end of October and still enjoyed lovely sunshine and clear skies.
Melissani cave
Melissani cave was my favourite experience in Kefalonia, it is cave lake with an opening in the top that is surrounded by trees. The only way to see the lake is on a row boat tour as swimming is not allowed, there were 7 people in total on our boat and the tour lasts for about 15 minutes. We were lucky as we were the only tour on the water but usually there are 2 or 3 going simultaneously.
The boat ride starts off by circling the open section of the cave while the guide explains some of it’s history. It then goes into the covered section which is much darker and full of stalactites and stalagmites. The part connecting the two chambers is very narrow and at some points the ores cannot be used and the boat has to pulled along by the guide using ropes on the side. The boat loops around inside the covered section and the way back is when you get the best view of the cave. This is where I took the photo shown above.
Photo tip: if possible try to sit at the front of the boat for an unobstructed view.
The best time to visit is between 11:30 and 14:00 on a sunny day. This is when the light shines through the opening at the top and creates a beam. This highlights the bright blue colour of the water and makes the cave look even more mesmerising. We got there at about 11:45, I would recommend this because tour groups start arriving from 12:00. When we left there were about 30 people waiting in line. If you are going during high season you may have to allow a little extra for queuing time.
It is hard to put into words the tranquillity and beauty of this place, Melissani cave is something you have to experience for yourself.
Entrance price : €7
Myrtos Beach
This is one of the most popular beaches in Kefalonia. It boasts crystal clear water, picturesque cliffsides and caves to explore. We tried to stay away from the edges of the cliff as small stones kept falling because of the goats walking above. In my opinion it looks even better from above and there are a few different viewpoints to stop at.
Vouti Beach
This was our favourite beach in Kefalonia and luckily we had it all to ourselves. The last part of the drive was a dirt road that was blocked off before the beach. We then walked for 10 minutes down to this lovely hidden beach
Asos village
Asos is a 25 minute drive from Myrtos beach, it is a sleepy fishing village with lots of brightly coloured houses. There is also a castle that can be hike to which provides a view of the whole area.
We combined this trip with a night in Zante for more information click here: Things to do on a short trip to Zakynthos (Zante)
