Cephalonia Travel Guide

With its windless beaches, verdant mountainsides and shadowy forests, Cephalonia is easily one of Greece's most enchanting islands. Melissani Cave is Cephalonia's best-known natural attraction, and is renowned for its subterranean lake, whose turquoise waters reflect a kaleidoscope of gorgeous colours that occurs through an interplay of water clarity, light, mineral content and depth variation. Other favourites are the enormous caverns of Dragostoli, and the 'swallow holes'. At the latter, visitors can marvel at the phenomenon of seawater literally disappearing through the rock.

The beautiful city of Argostoli has been the island's capital since ancient times. Though largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1953, it has some fascinating archaeological remains and folk art museums. The island's main town, Lixouri, is peaceful and picturesque, and is situated close to the south coast, where the best beaches are found. Cephalonia's quaint villages, traditional fishing harbours, Roman ruins, architecturally marvellous churches and castles, and magnificent views are also part of the experience.