Question 1

Where does my host deliver the car in Kefalonia?

Accepted Answer

Most Sync hosts deliver to your accommodation in Argostoli or to Kefalonia Airport (EFL), which is 9km south of Argostoli. If you're arriving by ferry at Sami or Poros, your host can meet you at the port: agree on the location when you book since Sami and Poros are on different sides of the island from Argostoli. Confirm the exact time and pickup point before arrival. Your host will be in touch to confirm.

Question 2

Is Myrtos Beach as impressive as the photos suggest?

Accepted Answer

Myrtos sits at the base of sheer white limestone cliffs on the northwest coast, about 28km from Argostoli. The beach itself is white pebbles and coarse gravel, not sand, backed by walls of pale rock that rise almost vertically to 300m. The water color in sunlight is an intense turquoise-to-deep-blue gradient that photographs almost exactly as it looks in person.

What photos don't show: there is almost no shade on the beach. The cliffs block morning sun from the east and afternoon sun eventually disappears behind them, but the midday period is fully exposed. Bring an umbrella if you're planning more than a quick swim. The water can be choppy when there's a northwest wind, and the pebble entry is steeper than a sandy beach, so water shoes help.

The best photographs of Myrtos are taken from the viewpoint above, not from the beach itself. The viewpoint is on the road before the descent, with a pulloff on the right as you come from Argostoli. Stop here first. The view down from 300m gives you the full picture: the white strip of beach, the turquoise water, the cliff walls, all together. From the beach looking up, you mostly see cliffs and sky.

Arrive before 9am or after 5pm in July-August if you want a parking space and some room on the beach.

Question 3

What is Melissani Lake and when should I go?

Accepted Answer

Melissani is an underground lake inside a cave near the village of Karavomylos, 2km from Sami on the east coast. The cave ceiling partially collapsed thousands of years ago, leaving an oval opening to the sky above the lake. The famous shot, the one on every postcard, is the view looking into the cave chamber from a boat, with sunlight pouring through the ceiling hole and turning the water an impossible shade of blue.

The timing matters: the sunlight hits the water directly only around noon, when the sun is directly overhead. Before 11am or after 2pm, the light is indirect and the water appears darker. If you want the full effect, plan your visit for 11:30am-1:30pm. This is also when the cave is at its busiest. If you'd rather have it quieter and don't mind less dramatic water color, go in the morning.

Entrance includes a short boat tour (10-15 minutes) on the lake. The cave also has an inner chamber further back, darker and without the opening, where the stalactites and rock formations are more typical cave scenery. The full experience takes about 30-40 minutes including the wait for a boat.

Melissani is 25km from Argostoli, about 30 minutes. The site has a large free car park. Combine it with the nearby Drogarati Cave (4km away, a large stalactite cave with extraordinary acoustics, occasionally used for concerts), and Sami town for a meal on the waterfront. That circuit covers a comfortable half-day from Argostoli.

Question 4

Why did the 1953 earthquake change so much of the island, and what survived?

Accepted Answer

The August 12, 1953 earthquake (magnitude 7.2, followed by powerful aftershocks over several days) was one of the most destructive seismic events in 20th century Europe. It struck the Ionian islands directly, devastating Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Ithaca. On Kefalonia, roughly 85% of the island's buildings were destroyed. The death toll across the Ionians was around 800 people; many more were injured, and nearly the entire population was left homeless. International aid efforts, including from the British and American navies, organized mass evacuations.

The practical result for visitors: almost nothing of traditional Kefalonian architecture survived in the main towns. Argostoli, Lixouri, and Sami were entirely rebuilt from the 1950s onward in a functional but undistinguished postwar style. What looks "old" in these towns is, at most, 70 years old.

Fiskardo in the far north survived almost intact because it sits on different, more stable geology. The village retains its Venetian-era stone buildings, narrow lanes, and colored shutters. It's the only place on the island where you can see what Kefalonian towns looked like before 1953. The combination of intact architecture and a working fishing harbor with restaurants on the water makes it the most atmospheric stop on the island, though also the most expensive and the most crowded in summer.

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Frequently asked questions about car rental in Kefalonia

Where does my host deliver the car in Kefalonia?

Is Myrtos Beach as impressive as the photos suggest?

What is Melissani Lake and when should I go?

Why did the 1953 earthquake change so much of the island, and what survived?

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