Useful Info & FAQs about Kefalonia

During the tourist season, generally April-October, the weather is usually sunny with temperatures rising to their peak in July and August. In the low season months, it can be sometimes rainy so be prepared to bring your raincoats with you. The temperatures can vary from 20-38 degrees C between the season months. 

You can find out more details about average hours of sunshine, average amounts of rainfall, and average daily temperatures here

You can also see a forecast of the weather in Kefalonia for the next few days here.

Direct international flights to the island start from April until the end of October/early November. The high season occurs from mid-July to the end of August, during this period the island is very busy and beaches, tavernas and other places get very crowded. I would suggest coming before, or after the high season to make the most of the island, it’s more relaxed and peaceful, and sometimes you can have a beach to yourself! Though at that period it can be rainy at times. The prices as well for tickets and accommodation can be 1/3 of the high season prices if you come during the low season April, May, and October.

The accommodation that I have on my website is personally visited and the owner’s carefully selected so I can feel confident in recommending them to you – contact me with a short description of the number of guests, dates and what you are wishing to find as a property so I can send you choices according to your needs.

Generally, the beaches on the south coast of the island are sandy, many with shallow waters. From the centre to the north the beaches become pebbly with extremely clear waters,  I would suggest buying some sea shoes if you have sensitive feet as it is worth exploring them too.

I am not a sand lover so I prefer the beaches of the centre and north of the island but is you travel with kids or have mobility problems you will definately appreciate the sandy beaches more, some of my favourites include, Ai Helis, Xi beach and St. Thomas

Take a look at our regional Travel Guides, they contain lots of information about attractions and things to do whilst you are here!

Travel Guide to Kefalonia
Travel Guide to Argostoli Region (central)
Travel Guide to Paliki (west)
Travel Guide to Livathos (south)
Travel Guide to Pylaros (north-central)
Travel Guide to Sami (east) 
Travel Guide to Ainos & Omala (central)
Travel Guide to Elios-Pronnoi (south-east)
Travel Guide to Erissos (north)

Keep checking my website for added tours, unique local experiences and new guides or just send me your hobbies and needs to create for you a personal itinerary!

Kefalonia has a very safe and friendly environment, children especially are welcomed everywhere! We still leave our cars and houses unlocked and I have never heard of any bad incidents during my stay here. Normal precautions should be taken, particularly in reference to swimming and hitchhiking. Have a look at how Emily found it, travelling solo on her scooter.

Most of the islanders speak fluent English, especially those who work in tourist areas. Some of the older residents may not speak English very well but will try to talk to you anyway! Feel free to ask questions and there will be always someone available to answer, and if you can learn some simple greetings in Greek before you arrived it is always welcome. Other languages wildly spoken here include Italian.

Have you ever wondered why Kefalonia has so many modern buildings? Well, Greece is amongst the most earthquake prone countries in Europe, and since Kefalonia lies just to the east of a major tectonic fault (European and Aegean plates) it experiences many of them.

Any visitor to our beautiful island has no doubt heard about the devastating earthquake that rocked Kefalonia in 1953. The majority of the island suffered irreparable damage to its buildings, and whole areas were destroyed affecting home and work life. For example, the sea mills at Katovothres became redundant as the ground was raised by approximately 60cm at the southern tip of the island.

The phrase “pre-earthquake” is frequently used to describe areas that retain the Venetian style traditional stone buildings, such as the village of Fiskardo and Assos. You can also see many ghosts of pre-earthquake architecture around the island – in some areas substantial remains exist giving the visitor a glimpse into the past.

Earthquakes occur frequently on the island but most are over before you’ve even noticed them. There have been several notable earthquakes since 1953 but because of strict regulations on buildings the damage caused by them has had less impact and with no serious injuries reported.

You can be assured that all modern building work carried out is legally bound to adhere to strict guidelines to withstand major seismic activity – all buildings must have concrete foundations and be reinforced with steelwork in their structures.

It is indeed impossible to predict earthquakes but planning for them is key. As all new buildings have these strict regulations you can be sure that you are in safe hands on the island. Remember that the new guidelines suggest that it is safer to  stay inside if you experience one during your trip!

In a word, No! The average age of the tourist used to be very relatively high but slowly the last years has dropped significantly meaning there are more businesses opening slowly offering fun and activities for younger people. Still, Kefalonia is mainly a family and quiet destination.

There are a few nightclubs on the island usually situated in the capital of Argostoli around Lassi and Skala area and a lot of beach bars on the most popular beaches. Most of the towns and villages have cafes and bars that stay open late with low key atmosphere. It is as easy to find non-alcoholic drinks as it is to find alcoholic ones.

Greek nightlife tends to centre on eating out, having a coffee or a beer, ouzo or tsipouro and meze with friends. Very often though families join the local music and dance festivals that take place around the island all year round but mainly in the summer season (Robola wine, moustalevria, gastronomic, music and many art festivals).  Don’t miss the chance to participate in one of them and mingle and dance with the locals (check our events page to find one during your stay). 

The majority of the accommodation offered in Kefalonia will provide free WiFi access with your stay. Cafes, bars, restaurants and tavernas usually offer free access but make sure to buy something from them. Some areas have poor access due to mountainous terrain and you should expect a slower connection than what you are used to! Still the last few years the networks have been updated and the speeds have raised but we cannot say that it is always stable and can be expected everywhere. A cellular network is always a good alternative and there is coverage in most areas but not everywhere so when hiking or driving through the mountains be prepared to lose the signal from time to time.