Kefalonia has a large expanse of mountainous terrain meaning that many of the beaches and resorts can be a bit isolated. Kefalonia transport can therefore be very infrequent and unreliable. Private transport like a moped or a hired car is advisable, and having easy mobility will help you explore all the popular attractions at your own pace. Taxis are also an option for those who don't want to drive, and going by European standards, these are not very expensive.
Our Kefalonia transportation guide below provides some useful transportation tips to help you easily get to and around the picturesque island of Kefalonia. If you're looking for a hassle free way to explore the island check out our Kefalonia tours, which offer a range of exciting activities for you to see the local sites.
Kefalonia Transportation Guide
Getting To Kefalonia
By Air
The airport in Kefalonia is known in the aviation world as Kefallinia. It is located in Svoronata which is a 9 km ride from Argostoli. The airport was built in 1971 when tourism was introduced in Kefalonia. Kefallinia is a fairly small airport situated in the south of an island near Svoronata.
There are flights to Kefalonia from most major airports in the UK and these flights are scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays. The trip takes 3 hours and 5 minutes.
The airport of Kefalonia is around 9 km to the south of the island capital at Argostoli. Daily flights on Olympic Airways from Kefalonia to Athens are available all year round. They also have several flights in a day during high summer. International charters ply 400,000 and more passengers annually. Public transport from the airport is not available and taxis are not cheap. Some hotels, however, have private minibuses for transport between the hotel and the airport. Since there are only 110 parking spaces, the airport can get quite crowded at peak hours. The Kefalonia airport has a single terminal for both incoming and outgoing flights. The passenger services are also limited, given the annual amount of traffic. Long delays are inevitable thanks to the three inadequate check-in desks and two baggage belts. Left luggage facility and banks are not available. However, there is a post office, a first aid centre, some shops, a gift shop, a cafe and a bar.
By Bus
There are daily buses from Athens to Astakos, Aetoloakarnania. The trip takes five and a half hours and covers a distance of 297 km. Buses ply between Astakos and Agia Evfimia all through the year. This trip which covers a distance of 28 km takes two hours and fifteen minutes.
By Train
Athens and Kavassila in the prefecture of Helia (16 km from Kylini) are connected by a daily railway service. A taxi or a local train (available only in the summer) can take you to the port of Kylini. Ferry boats transport travellers to the island Kefalonia from the port of Kylini. The journey from Athens to Kefalonia lasts nearly 6.5 hours.
Getting Around Kefalonia
By Bus
Bus services in Kefalonia are very infrequent, and can be one of the more trying modes of transportation in Kefalonia. The buses that do run on the routes between the western port of Argostoli and the eastern one of Sami offer spectacular views. However, passengers must be ready to withstand the screaming noise from the engine and the spinning lurches when the buses negotiate bends, especially the sharp hairpin bends. A trip along the west coast road brings stunning views with the mountain on one side and the sea on the other.
Buses ply between Argostoli and Lassi (Platys Yialos), Fiskardo, Sami and Poros. The South coast villages are also covered on the bus route. Sami, Agia Effimia and Divarata are connected with Fiskardo.
By Car
It is best to hire a car to see, explore and appreciate the scenic landscapes, attractions and the diversity of Kefalonia. Hiring a car is the only mode of transport in Kefalonia that will offer sheer freedom and convenience, allowing you to explore the furthest reaches at your own pace, and with ease.
The island of Kefalonia was once placed 10th in a world scenic beauty league. Kefalonia is a fairly large island, so tourists who prefer spending their holidays exploring the island are advised to hire a car or a jeep. Seat belts are an absolute must as the EU has made it compulsory. It is also necessary to remember that you will be driving on the right here.
In Greece, the speed limits are 50 kmph in built up areas, 70 kmph on main roads, and 90 kmph on highways. Any exceptions to these rules will be stated.
In case you want to drive to any other island using a car ferry, the car hire company needs to be informed. In some cases the insurance may not extend beyond Kefalonia or the breakdown services may only be available in Kefalonia.
Kefalonia has several petrol stations scattered across the island. Very few of them are self service and only a few of them are open seven days a week.
To help you begin your sight seeing, the island is easily and conveniently divided into five regions. The roads leading to the most popular Kefalonia tourist resorts are precipitous mountain roads. There are many sharp hairpin bends and sheer vertical drops. Snakes crossing the road and meandering goats are part of the local scene. If you are not cut out for this kind of action it would be best to hire a driver.
By Taxi
Taxis in Kefalonia are cheap by UK standards. Roughly, most of them charge about 1 Euro per kilometre. It is however advisable to agree on the fare with the driver before setting off on the journey. For reference, there is a wall chart at the airport that lists all the agreed fares to most places on the island. The drivers must adhere to these fares.
Most drivers in Kefalonia are very honest and are quite safe drivers though they do tend to speed up a bit and are not very courteous to other road users. They can all speak a smattering of English at the very least.
By Boat/Ferry
Exploring rock formations, sun bathing in perfect seclusion or looking for sea cucumber- whatever it is that you want to do a motor boat is the perfect solution for you. Almost always, boats for hire can be found near your hotel in Kefalonia. The boats available here are small fibreglass boats with an outboard engine and will cost you anywhere between 50 to 80 Euro per day. Usually, you will need to pay extra for the petrol that you use. Some boats in Kefalonia can also be hired by the hour, with the petrol cost included in the hourly hire charge.
Kefalonia has several reliable ferry links thanks to the islands three ports and its properous relationship with the Italians. For ferries to other Ionian islands such as Zakynthos, Corfu and Lefkas, Sami is the main port. You can also take boats to Italy from here. Ferries from Argostoli and Agia Efemia link the island of Kefalonia to mainland Greece. The fastest and best way to reach Lixouri is to take a ferry from Argostoli. Tour trips and boats to the neighbouring offshore island of Ithaca are available in plenty every day. Hiring a boat is definitely one of the most relaxing and rewarding forms of transport in Kefalonia, offering travellers the opportunity to traverse neighbouring islands, or simply laze away the days under the beautiful Mediterranean sky.
