Cephalonia, or Kefalonia as it is known in Greek, is the largest of the Ionian Islands. Beyond its obvious ties with Ancient Greece, the island's size and strategic position have rendered it enviable destination throughout history, with the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Sicily, Venice, France and Britain all claiming ownership of Cephalonia at some point. All of these have left their mark on the face of the island today, with Italy making the biggest impact. In Argostoli, the capital of the island, you will find an Archaeological Museum featuring important exhibits, mainly of the Mycenaean era.

Well known throughout Greece for its beaches, Cephalonia attracts many locals who during early spring and late autumn, even outnumber the tourists. Myrtos Beach with its crystal clear blue waters has become the poster boy of the island, but beaches like Skala, Petani, Makris Gyalos and Emplisi are just as beautiful and deserve a visit. The community of Fiskardo, on the north side of the island, has a distinct Italian feel to it and with the town of Lixouri featuring many restaurants, you should be prepared for a unique culinary experience with a fusion of Greek & Italian cuisines always on the menu. There you will also find Xi, a beach laid with a mixture of clay and red sand.
The best time to visit is in late spring, when the sea has warmed up to feasible swimming temperatures and locals outnumber tourists, as well as early autumn, when most of the tourists have departed and the sea is at its warmest. Getting to the island won't be an issue, as daily flights from Athens can get you to Cephalonia within an hour.