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

A gift for you: 2021 Kefalonia Calendar - FREE DOWNLOAD

 As holidays almost knock on our doors I thought to make them even sweeter. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you already know about the love that I have for Kefalonia, Greece. I've spent 7 summers there working, making new friends, traveling and indulging myself into the local experiences.

So I've gathered some of my favorite pics from last summer in order to create this 2021 Kefalonia Calendar for you. Did I mention you can download it for free?! You heard it right. 12 pictures of beautiful places worth exploring, plus front and back covers, that you can print and have as your own 2021 Calendar or give as a present to your friends and loved ones.

Let's break them down for you.

For the cover photo I chose Kato Lagadi, a remote splendid cove situated close to Poros. How to get there and much more, read all the details HERE.

For January I chose Kimilia beach, a beautiful hidden gem in the northern part of the island. With its crystal clear water and lush greenery it is one of the ideal spots for snorkeling. Read all about it HERE.

February comes with a picture of this wild, pristine beach, situated between Kounopetra and Xi, Koutala. Discover it and many other ones in THIS ARTICLE.

Dafnoudi is the place I chose to represent March. This lovely beach is another beautiful spot where you can cool off the summer heat while exploring Erissos. More details HERE.

For April I chose Galini, one of my favorite gems in Lassi. Put it on your bucket list together with all these other not so well known places that you can visit next summer.

May, June and July present you 3 of the most well known places on Kefalonia: Antisamos beach with its wonderful panoramic views, the picturesque village of Assos and the most praised Myrtos beach. Need more reasons to visit Kefalonia?! READ all about it!

For August and September I chose Agia Eleni and Petani, two of the most magical beaches on the western coast of Paliki. Spoil yourself with unforgettable moments on these places.

The last 3 months of the year bring you a bunch of brilliant places one must see while exploring the south coast of Paliki. Lagadakia is known for its crystal clear water and rock formations.

Platia Ammos is the wildest, not so easy accessible yet magnificent point of view, especially for sunsets. Vrachinari with its sandy golden arms invite you to indulge yourself into local cuisine while watching the sun going down in the Ionian Sea.

These being said you can DOWNLOAD FOR FREE your 2021 KEFALONIA CALENDAR and print it in your own terms. I hope this makes your holidays a bit better. I can't wait to be back on my favorite greek island. 

'till then, take care.

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

End of the summer: Castle of Saint George, Argostoli, Ai Helis beach

The end of summer 2020 got me to places that I enjoy when I want to combine history, shopping and relaxation while on Kefalonia, Greece.

On my first stop on this one day trip I drove with my friends all the way from Kounopetra to the Castle of Saint George, next to Argostoli.

The road around the bay from Lixouri to Argostoli is up and down, left and right, with plenty of dangerous curves and steep portions, but the extraordinary views make all of these forgettable.

The Venetian Castle of Saint George in Kefalonia is located 7 km southeast of Argostoli, above the village Peratata. This Castle was originally built in the 12th century by the Byzantines but it was mostly the Venetians who gave it its present form.

The castle is ruined today, mostly because of the earthquake that hit Kefalonia in 1956, and only a few buildings survive. This Castle was the capital of Kefalonia before Argostoli was made the new capital in 1757. Close to a small square in the castle, you will also see the ruins of the Catholic Church of Saint Nicholas.

If you don't feel like visiting the ruins and pay the entrance(3€), which, honestly are not a big deal, you can get to the view point, on the left side of the main gate and enjoy the view. I recommend you to walk around the small streets and discover hidden gems, churches, ruins, souvenir shops and wonderful newly restaurated restaurants.

On the 2nd stop we drove to the capital city of Kefalonia Is., Argostoli. It is located next to a natural bay surrounded by mountains and verdant forests. Its beautiful Venetian buildings were destroyed along with other villages of the island during the major earthquake of 1953. The town has been rebuilt since then, yet no efforts have been made to maintain the traditional architecture and the local color.

A stone bridge of 650 m long called the Drapano Bridge stands at the entrance of the capital. At the center is a small pyramid dedicated from Charles de Bosset, who built the bridge, to the British Empire.

"Argostoli is quite busy during the summer season offering a plethora of interesting features and activities. The beautifully paved coastal road promenade is boarded by palm trees and colorful pebbles from the sea. The road ends at the small ferry quay where boats connect to the town of Lixouri every half an hour and fishing boats moor. 

The central square of the town called Plateia Valianou (Vallianos Square) is a large and pleasant square lined by many restaurants, cafes and bars. During the evenings, the square gets really crowded with locals who are really warm and friendly. In Argostoli, one can notice the traditional way of life.

The pedestrian Lithostroto Street (Cobbled Street) is the main street of the capital filled with all kinds of shops. There one can admire the beautiful church of Saint Spyridon and the interesting clock tower of Campana Square. Around its outskirts are a range of restaurants that cover all tastes and budgets. Right above the square is one of the town's nicest sights, the lush Botanical Garden.

The Lighthouse of Saint Theodore is located a couple of km from Argostoli and was built by the British Governor Napier. A small round building with white Doric columns locally known as Fanari. This beautiful lighthouse it is one of the trademarks of Kefalonia." (greeka.com)

This time around we came just to see the famous Caretta Caretta turtles in the bay and to do some fast shopping. It is past 2pm and the heat is unbearable. Soon we jump back in the car, already sweaty, and we drive towards the airport. Our plan is to cool down on the beach. And that takes us to the 3rd stop of this journey which is Ai Helis beach.

Ai Helis is located in the southwest part of Kefalonia, 11 km from Argostoli and close to the village of Svoronata. It is a wide and long sandy beach with a nice beach bar, sunbeds, umbrellas, showers and two volley courts. The water is crystalline and shallow as you go in which makes it an ideal environment for children.

Ai Helis is surrounded on both sides by rocks and lush greenery that create a beautiful atmosphere. You can observe the rock of Zeus on the left side and the airplanes landing on your right side. During the summers there are great beach parties here, like in 2019. Unfortunately this summer all we can do is become best friends with the DJ in the bar, have some shots and ask him to play some of our favorite songs.

The day comes to an end after having a pita gyros at Ladokolla in Argostoli and a long drive around the bay all the way to Kounopetra. 

In case you want to explore more on Kefalonia, here are some of the most popular places to visit. 

While you are here be sure to check the best sunset spots on the island.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi