Car Rental Kefalonia

Introduction

Kefalonia is one of the Ionian Islands off the Greek coast. The island offers much variety: beautiful beaches with clear blue water, especially Myrtos Beach and Sami Beach. These beaches can get crowded, but on Kefalonia you can also find smaller and quieter beaches such as Xi, Fiskardo, Assos and Petani. The island is mountainous and therefore you can enjoy nice walks and spectacular views. The highest peak on Kefalonia is the Megas Soros (1627 m). The spectacular Melissani Cave (actually an underground lake, formed by an earthquake) is centrally located on the island.

Population

Kefalonia has a population of about 45,000, one third of which live in the capital Argostoli and another third in the second town of Lixouri.

Location

Kefalonia lies off the west coast of Greece, in between the other Ionian Islands Lefkas (north) and Zakynthos (south). The island is situated in an earthquake zone. In 1953 most of the buildings were destroyed in an earthquake.

Economy

Only a small part of Kefalonia is suitable for agriculture. There are many olive groves and grains and vegetables are grown on a modest scale. Tourism is becoming more important for the local economy. The European Union has made money available to improve Kefalonia's infrastructure. This money is not only being used to improve the roads, but also to upgrade accommodations and other tourist facilities.

Airports

The island's airport lies ten kilometers south of the capital Argostoli. Especially in summer there are charters to many European cities, but in the rest of the year it is easier to fly to Kefalonia via Athens. Kefalonia Island International Airport is easily accessible by rental car via the Lassis Aerodromiou.

Public Transport

Kefalonia has bus services, but a very irregular one. It is much easier to explore the island with a rental car.

Traffic and Parking

In the major cities and tourist resorts it can be difficult to find a parking space for your rental car. When there is a solid yellow line, it is prohibited to park there. Along some busy streets you can park on one side of the road during even months and on the other side in odd months. Read the instructions! On country roads you should drive carefully. The roads are narrow and curvy and you could encounter herds of sheep or goats.

Hotels

There are (still) relatively few hotels on Kefalonia, most accommodations are apartments or villas (often with a private pool). The most popular (and busiest) holiday resorts can be found in Lassi and Skala. Quieter resorts are located in the north of the island, near the picturesque towns Fiskardo and Assos. If you would like to visit Kefalonia in summer, we recommend booking your accommodation well in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Kefalonia we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Kefalonia
• Official website Kefalonia (Greek)
• Tourist Information Kefalonia