The best hotels in Kefalonia, Greece
Kefalonia is one of the few Greek islands you can fly to directly. And with its rugged, romantic landscape and holistic approach to hospitality, it’s an unmissable summer destination.
The first time I went to Kefalonia was on a family holiday. We spent a week in Fiskardo, ordering flaky, still-warm spinach and feta pastries from the bakery and taking them out on a boat, which we’d snorkel off all morning, collecting mother of pearl shells from the seabed, and then kip on all afternoon. We returned two years later, and one of the restaurant owners remembered us, plying us with pudding on the house every other night – handfuls of watermelon that we dribbled down our chins and creme caramel that we fed to the stray cats under our table. I often still fantasise about returning, to stay in a blue-shuttered apartment overlooking the jetty and rent a boat for the day from Dionysus at the harbour.
So you can do more than just fantasise, we’ve rounded up the top places to stay on the island, from the best hotels in Kefalonia to our favourite villas with views.
Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa Kefalonia
A world away from the bustling streets of Argostoli and the resort towns of northern Kefalonia, Eliamos sits pretty in the south, with 12 villas facing the varied blues of the Ionian Sea. Interiors designed by Maike Gruna Interiors abide by the winning Greek island boho-chic formula; white walls, high ceilings with exposed beams, and Bali-esque wicker furniture. Each villa has its own private saltwater pool or hot tub, perfect for lazy pool days – opt for a spot at the front to avoid being overlooked. Spend afternoons propped up against the infinity pool’s edge and watch time fly by, captivated by the sweeping views and buzz of honeybees dancing among the wildflowers. Few amenities are within easy reach, but that’s why people come here. E-bikes are available (prepare yourself), and the team will happily arrange taxis – but in-villa dining options and Mediterranean specialities in the restaurant mean there’s little reason to leave. Connor Sturges
F Zeen
Hidden in the shadows of pine-forested Mount Ainos, F Zeen melts into sandy, sheltered Lourdas bay. Spread out across the sloping sun-drenched coastline, golden buildings are dotted between winding paths, each with unobstructed sea views. Exercise classes, wellness activities and excursions are scribbled onto a giant blackboard by reception at the beginning of each week, ranging from personal training sessions and yoga and meditation classes to snorkelling, paddle boarding and mountain hikes. There is a spa, plus three separate swimming pools to choose from each day – not including the glittering ocean, just steps from the hotel, with private sunbeds and views of Zakynthos in the distance.
Owner Christof Koumoudos and his family are from Kefalonia and have always loved the island's ethos. They connected with the core values held by those who had been living on the island for generations; a sense of connecting with nature and promoting a healthy, wellness-oriented lifestyle. The name F Zeen (ευ ζην) means “the good life” in ancient Greek, and the retreat is centred around promoting the island’s calming, nature-focused ethos. Read our full F Zeen hotel review. Olivia Morelli
Emelisse Nature Resort
Bone-white kotounto-inspired walls, a floor-to-ceiling lobby-come-library, an adults-only pool with panoramic views of the Ionian sea: Emelisse Nature Resort is a cool, uncomplicated hotel for those that want a cool, uncomplicated holiday. By day, take some leisurely lengths in the infinity pool overlooking Emblisi Bay or schedule a treatment at the Elemis Spa. Flag down a hotel buggy for a lift to the beach, or grab one of the cliffside stripy deck chairs (friendly staff will even bring you snacks and wine from the restaurant, should you wish). By night, rhythmic cicadas and the subtle fragrance of cypress and cedar trees set the mood: book a table at fairy-lit Vetsalo with views over the ocean, and enjoy a nightcap by the firepit.
Address: Fiskardo 280 84, Greece
Kefalonia Grand Hotel
Yacht-spotting over Argostoli’s harbour is a popular past-time with guests at the Kefalonia Grand, whose fly-and-flop location just 15 minutes from the airport makes it a hit with families, couples and time-poor travellers. The elegant, uncluttered design is all beachy blues and whites, textured rope and rattan accents. Book a Superior Double with Sea View to watch turtles breach the surface in the bay as you have breakfast on your balcony, or check into the Master Suite for a little extra romance and privacy. Brunch is a highlight, with home-made bread, pancakes and ice-cold freddos.
Sea Lily
Unlike the Greek islands of Kos or Mykonos, Kefalonia isn’t known for its nightlife, but that doesn’t mean entertaining is off the cards. Sea Lily sleeps six, but the outdoor living design means there’s space for friends, too. Stock the freezer with ice, pick up produce at one of Metaxata’s mini-markets and invite guests over to grill some fresh fish on the barbecue after poolside cocktails. Don your darkest shades and take up the recovery position the morning after on one of the sun loungers overlooking the blue horizon. Alternatively, hydrotherapy at Avithos beach is just 10 minutes away by car, so pile in and take the plunge.
Villa Gaia
If you stop to listen, you can sometimes hear the hypnotic chime of goat bells at Villa Gaia, which is in a shallow valley near Vlachata Village in the south. The hosts take hospitality very seriously, and provide guests with fresh fruit and bread, or even a bottle of Greek wine, to make the arrival part of the experience. Due to its location, there’s little signal here, so the hosts act like your very own search engine, happily helping with restaurant reservations, maps, booking taxis and local suggestions.
Wilderness Whisperings
Complimentary breakfast and a two minute drive from the beach? Count us in. And if we weren’t already swooning, the light-filled, communal design at Victor’s timber-framed rental property on Kefalonia’s east coast is a dreamy departure from the all-inclusive tourist traps of mainland Greece. Views of the mountainside and the Mediterranean from the wide-open pool terrace give the slick kitchen a seamless indoor-outdoor feel, making entertaining even more enjoyable, while a sunken sofa pit has got our name on it for afternoon naps under the pergola.
White Blossoms
Simple, spotless, spacious. White Blossoms started checking in guests in the summer of 2021, so it still feels like a brand-new base from which to explore the south of the island. With views of the Trapezaki gulf and the port of Pessada, one of the first things you’ll want to do is pack up a beach bag and head to Lourdas to snorkel the crystal clear waters. Take a picnic, or have lunch at an al-fresco taverna on Platia Vallianou in the capital, Argostoli, and head back to this bright, white chill-out pad with armfuls of watermelon and iced tea.