This Beautiful Greek Island Is Home To The Most Beautiful Beaches In Europe
Whenever you consider Greek islands, the primary picture your mind conjures might be Santorini’s blue church domes and caldera views, or perhaps Mykonos’ iconic string of windmills on a hill and colourful harborside homes.
The powerhouse duo could also be Greece’s prime two hottest locations, however when you’re asking us, they’re removed from being essentially the most rewarding, particularly relating to seashores.
Between Santorini’s rugged volcanic coast, largely made up of craggy descents and pebbly stretches, and Mykonos’ windswept, club-heavy shorelines, they are not someplace you go for swimming and lounging by the ocean, essentially.
Now, if it is Greece’s postcard-ready sandy seashores and clear turquoise seas you are after, this lesser-known island hideaway has simply been featured within the World’s 50 Best Beaches:
Is Kefalonia The Greatest Island In Greece For Seashores?
Positioned on the Ionian aspect of Greece—the aspect that faces Italy—Kefalonia is an island paradise finest identified for its indented shoreline, interspersed with cliff-backed bays, limestone sea partitions, and quick strips of combined white pebble and sand.
Fteri Seashore, one in every of these hard-to-access, small pebbly coves backed by towering cliffs, was simply ranked the second finest seaside on the earth by the consultants behind World’s 50 Greatest Seashores, intently behind Sardinia‘s Cala Goloritzé.
In Greece, it beats out different heavyweights like Voutoumi, Porto Katsiki, and even Crete’s iconic Elafonissi Seashore, which chart at Nos. 3, 5, and 15, respectively.
At this level, you are in all probability questioning why this seaside is so particular. Effectively, apart from the powdery white sands and crystalline seas, in fact, its difficult entry is key to understanding its attraction with beachgoers.
How To Get To Fteri Seashore On Kefalonia
You may solely get there mountaineering down from the small village of Zola, on the northwest coast, and that takes about 40 minutes, or by taking a water taxi. In the event you’re strolling, sneakers are extremely advisable because the route can get a bit tough in elements, and you may want good sneakers to stroll throughout Fteri’s white pebbles.
Naturally, taking the taxi is so much quicker and extra handy: a 5–10 minute glide from the harbor to the seaside.
There is a Fteri Water Taxi operating from Zola Harbor within the excessive season, providing pickups and drop-offs at Fteri, and even different close by seashores like Amidi and Kamari.
In keeping with vacationers who’ve been, one of the best time to go to is the morning, earlier than the taxi boats arrive, because the seaside is normally almost empty.
As soon as the taxis are operational, they begin dropping individuals off each half-hour (or extra incessantly, even).
As for the water, they’ve that pool-like translucent shade nearer to shore, that steadily turns that beautiful gatorade-blue so typical of the Ionian Sea.
Oh, a bit of recommendation? Kefalonia is a correct wild seaside, with no facilities like on a lot of Kefalonia’s mainline seashores, so ensure you convey your personal sunscreen, bottle of water, snacks, and seaside apparel, as you will not be capable to buy them from a kiosk.
Kefalonia Is Full Of Turquoise-Water Bays
Fteri Seashore often is the star of the present in the present day, however it’s removed from being Kefalonia’s solely paradisiacal cove with surreal waters.
In reality, the most well-liked seaside on the island is Myrtos, just like Fteri in some ways, besides it is simpler to drive to with a automobile. White pebbles, neon-blue seas, and imposing cliffs.
Petani is the family-friendly, amenity-packed various: you park on the prime of the cliffs, you then stroll the quick manner down. It has sunbeds and umbrellas to hire, and a few seaside bars and eating places close by.
You’ve got in all probability heard of Crete’s pinkish Elafonissi Beach, however did you may have any thought Kefalonia hosts its very personal pink-sanded strip?
With smooth, clay-like sands, Xi Seashore straddles the southern coast of the island, within the Paliki peninsula, and it has a full setup of sunbed leases, seasonal cafés, and water sports activities. It will get busier than most, positive, however the deep-ocher sands and the azure waters are distinctive in Greece.
The place To Keep On Kefalonia
In the event you’re searching for a spot to remain, Argostoli, the quaint Kefalonian capital nestled on a coastal hill overlooking the Ionian Sea, might be your prime choose.
A vigorous harbor city, it is crammed with retailers, eating places, and even the nightlife is not all that dangerous, because of a bar-lined central promenade, simple to stroll to at night time for after-dinner drinks.
For a quieter island expertise and simpler entry to Paliki peninsula seashores (like Xi), Lixouri is a well-liked various.
Kefalonia’s second-largest settlement, it is nonetheless massive and well-equipped for tourism, but serene sufficient to really feel worlds away from the primary hub.
A brief ferry hop away from the beautiful Melissani Cave, one in every of Kefalonia’s prime pure wonders, Sami is a good base for exploring, and naturally, in case your major aim is to be a brief 5 min water taxi experience from the dreamy Fteri Seashore, Zola is the place you must crash for the lengthy weekend.
This spring, you could find lodging on Kefalonia Island from as low cost as $46-a-night, although a modest resort room in one of many most important cities would common $65–$90.