Myrtos, Assos, Antisamos - A day to remember on Kefalonia

Myrtos, Assos and Antisamos are 3 of the most popular and beautiful places on the island of Kefalonia, Greece. I've been many times to these places and now, after 7 summers on Kefalonia, I can honestly say I will never get enough of them.

I remember first time I've seen Myrtos back in 2013, I was on an island tour with the clients from the hotel where I was working. The first gaze upon the marvelous beach was from above, window seat in the bus. I was so impressed by the blue shades of the sea and the steep mountain cliffs around it.

This summer I arrived on the white pebble beach in the middle of July. Despite the pandemic it was quite busy. The bar was open, many cars parked near by and couple of touristic busses coming and going.

The water was as light blue as I remember it. The waves were pretty small compared to other days. Many youngsters were having a cold beer or a snack in the shade provided by the cave at the far left side of Myrtos.

After spending couple of hours in the sun I left the impressive Myrtos behing and decided to head to the picturesque village of Assos. The coastal road offers incredible views of the island and the Ionian Sea.

20 minutes later I was already walking on the beautiful streets of Assos. Colorful houses on the left and right, souvenir and coffee shops, green trees and blue sea, this is Assos in a shell. I took a short walk to the northern part of the village climbing between the private villas, to enjoy a moment of solitude.

Hopefully next summer this wonderful village and for that matter also Myrtos would have fully recovered after Ianos Medicane hit in the middle of September destroying roads and houses.

Next up on the list was Antisamos beach. Situated on the opposite side of Myrtos, this amazing place is surrounded by green hills. The beach itself is a white pebble one with crystal clear water, ideal for snorkeling and diving.

Antisamos is situated near Sami village. On the hills near by one can find remains of The Ancient Acropolis of Sami, a powerful fortified town inhabited from the Paleolithic Times. Several references of Ancient Sami are found in Homer's poems (Heliad, Odyssey) when Sami fought in the Trojan War.

In the recent years Antisamos became very popular especially among youngsters. Various bars and restaurants were established along the beach with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas. 

Unfortunately just like the other 2 places that I was telling you about before Antisamos took a big hit during the big storm. Only time will tell if the bar owners will have the budget to fix and reopen their establishments during the summer of 2021.

In conclusion you can visit these 3 gems in one day and enjoy the sun, the views and the fresh air. They are some of the most popular places on the island, so in case you are looking for secluded beaches, peace and quiet, I recommend you Agia Eleni, Kato Lagadi , Dafnoudi or Kimilia.

Be sure to have a look at my FREE DOWNLOADABLE 2021 Kefalonia Calendar.

'till next time, take care, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Beldi

Kalamia, Galini and the hidden beaches of Lassi, Kefalonia

 When it comes to beaches, Kefalonia has such a wide variety for the curios traveler. From white and golden to red sand, pebbles or rocks, surrounded by lush vegetation or spectacular mountain drops, the beaches on this beautiful island never stop to surprise you.

Today I will tell you couple of details about the beaches situated in Lassi area, between Argostoli and the airport. We are going to leave aside the crowded, more commercial ones, such as Costa Costa/ Makris Gialos, Ammes or Ai Helis and we are going to focus on the hidden gems.

One of the best ways to enjoy the coast line is to walk towards Katavothres and Fanari. Between the two there is a sandy strip called the Fanari beach from where you can watch the ferries going to and from Argostoli to Lixouri.

Continue your walk and you will encounter plenty of small coves surrounded by greenery and/or rock formations. Near Galaxy hotel, Kormoranon and Limanaki are some of them(use Google Maps).

The first more notable one is Kalamia beach. Once organized with a beach bar, sunbeds and umbrellas, Kalamia beach is sandy and the water is shallow for a good 100m from the shore. Last year I've visited it for the first time and I was impressed by the rock formations on its left side. It is ideal for snorkeling as plenty of fish can be seen in the water. Take snacks and refreshments with you.

Continuing on the coast you'll get to the hidden Galini and so called Crocodile Beach FKK. From Dolphin supermarket go down towards the sea and before reaching the shore turn right. Galini is quite hidden and ideal for nudism. It is located down from the villa with the same name. It has a beautiful white rocks background, resembling White Rocks beach. On its right side there is another small cove, ideal for snorkeling, sunbathing and nudism.

On the left side of Kamaroules tavern you will find a very beautiful small beach with plenty of water caves. 2 minutes away there is Gradakia beach, an organized place with bar, plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas, quite busy in the summer months.

Next there is Hotel Mediterranee Beach, close to Pirate Divers Club and Lassi Rent A Boat, a place I haven't explored yet. We continue with Paliostafida Beach, in the near proximity. And afterwards we will arrive to the famous Makris Gialos and Platis Gialos, two of the most crowded beaches on Kefalonia. There are plenty of bars, taverns, water sports, sunbeds and umbrellas to chose from while enjoying the golden sand beach, the turquoise Ionian Sea and the greek sun.

I'd like to mention White Rocks beach one more time for its breath taking contrast between the white, rocky, stiff background and clear blue water, ideal for an one day boat trip. (accessible only by boat)

Before reaching Ammes and Ai Helis, which are both well organized, with golden sand and they are the ideal spots for watching the airplanes ascending or descending from the airport, there are also another two beaches worth mentioning.

📸Filippos Mantas

Minies and Spasmata, near Sunset Beach Appartments are prefered by the locals. The gray sand and shallow water are perfect especially for kids or eldery people. The sunsets are incredible here. While we are talking about sunsets, make sure to check the best places where to enjoy one while on Kefalonia.

In conclusion, there are plenty of hidden gems in Lassi where one can indulge himself into snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing and even nudism. Go explore and enjoy every moment. Honestly last summer, with all this pandemic going on, there were fewer people out in the sun. Sometimes I had the whole beach for myself. Also make sure to have your camera charged and ready to snap some beautiful pics and don't forget to take with you food and plenty of refreshments.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi