Great Things to Do Near Dafni
Spend the afternoon at Myrtos Beach
We say afternoon, because this is when the sun is shining fully on the beach, and you’ll enjoy the amazing experience of bathing in one of the most glorious beaches in all of Europe. Myrtos has regularly been voted amongst the top 5 beaches in Europe over the past few years, we are sure that you’ll be endorsing this bold claim.
Local “Gentilini” winery
Visit the Gentilini winery near to the airport. Here you can find out all about the local Robola wine, as well as sample the only Greek wine to hit the top 100 fine wines of the world.
The monastery of Saint Gerasimos
The patron saint of Kefalonia. When his body was exhumed 2 years after his death in 1579, it was found not to have decomposed. Since his death, many miracles took place in the village around the monastery, which was when he was declared a saint.
If weather is too wet or too hot for you,
then hide in the caves of Drogarati. These wonderful caves can be found a couple of kilometres south of Sami, and the stalagmites & stalactites here are truly amazing. The cave is actually quite big, and makes for some wonderful photographs – remember your cardy though, as it can be quite cool down there.
Spend the day down in Assos
What a delightful little village. It has a terrific Venetian castle to explore (be warned, it’s a bit of a hike up to it, but the views are worth it), a beautiful little harbour and bay with some lovely waterfront tavernas serving freshly caught fish. Remember your camera, as this is a very tiny traditional Greek village – it will make for some lovely holiday snaps.
Find the seafarer in you by hiring a boat
Ideal for finding your own secluded cove or even crossing the narrow channel to explore the neighbouring island of Ithaca. There are countless bays and coves not accessible by car so it is possible to find your own secluded beach and relax in privacy, away from the crowds. There are plenty of small coves within easy reach of Fiscardo. The more adventurous seafarers might like to cross the channel to Ithaca, tie up in the miniature harbour of Ancient Polis and perhaps walk up to the village of Stavros for lunch or a coffee.
Take a trip to the Onassis Islands
This is a great day out, take the organised excursion from Fiscardo harbour, so as you can just sit back and enjoy it. Before arriving at the Islands of Skorpios and Meganisi, where the Onassis family spent much of their time, you are more than likely to be accompanied by a few dolphins and/or porpoises along the way – if you are lucky enough to see them then this will certainly make your day.
Soak up history high above at St George’s Castle
8km south of Argostoli, the Venetian castle of St George sits high on a hillside. Though Byzantines built the bulk of the castle in the 13th century, the earliest traces of the edifice date back to 394 AD when Kefalonia was still part of the Roman Empire and its main purpose was to shelter the villagers from attacks by marauding pirates. Venetians added the finishing touches, giving the castle its clean, elegant lines. Thanks to a recent EU grant that paid for some preservation works, the edifice is safe to explore, so you can meander among the ancient rooms at will. Although there are few displays to tell you about the castle's history, the panoramic views and the castle's beauty make it worth a visit, especially at sunset as the island below turns golden in the fading light.
Take a trip to the aqua marine waters of Melissani cave and lake
We should entitle this “not to be missed”. Melissani cave and lake is simply stunning. Please don’t leave it out of your holiday plans. It is truly amazing – the colours & the eerie atmosphere is something you will never forget, and it’s something you are unlikely to experience in many other places throughout the world.
Try Kefalonia meat pie
The Greeks love their pies, and the Kefalonians have taken it one step further in producing this nourishing dish. Everyone has their own “secret” recipe, so we are unable to tell you exactly what’s in it, but it is filo pastry stuffed with minced pork meat and rice – along with the secret recipe of spices and sauce. It is delicious.
Lixouri
Famous for its wonderful and varied beaches and some superb locally produced wines, “Orgia” in particular. You can reach this sandy peninsular by driving about 45 minutes from Vassilikades. You can also go on the ferryboat for a mini-cruise, which takes about 20 minutes from Argostoli.
Spend some time exploring Fiscardo
Fiscardo has something for everyone in the group. Roman ruins, an extremely pretty harbour front, great tavernas and restaurants, excellent boutiques and a couple of delightful small bays for an afternoon dip nearby. It is great for dinner on the harbour front in the evening, admiring the twinkling lights.
Also in Fiscardo, walk to the old lighthouse
at the far left of the harbour, it is also possible to have a quick dip along the way, off one of the rocks. The views back to Fiscardo from here are brilliant.
Snorkelling
The Ionian Sea is one of the cleanest in Europe so get your snorkel and fins out and head off down to the sea. We recommend Alaties, as not only is it quiet, beautiful, clean and mesmerising, it also has a wonderful taverna nearby for a delightful light lunch.
Go for a drive in the countryside and soak up the views.
Stop when you feel like it, wander around a village, have a leisurely lunch somewhere.
