In a nutshell
- This guide covers everything you need to know about getting to Kefalonia — so you can plan your trip to this stunning Greek island without any headaches.
- The quickest option is by plane — direct flights are available from several European cities, especially in summer.
- Arriving by ferry is a great choice if you’re combining Kefalonia with Athens or want to go island hopping — Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Ithaca are all within easy reach.
Options for Getting to Kefalonia at a Glance
There are two ways to get to Kefalonia:
- By plane
- By ferry
If you’re planning to spend your vacation exclusively on Kefalonia, your best bet is to fly.
That said, you can also combine the island with a city trip to Athens or another Greek island — in which case, arriving by ferry makes a lot of sense.
For more inspiration, check out our articles on the top sights on Kefalonia and the most beautiful beaches on Kefalonia.
Getting to Kefalonia by Plane
Kefalonia’s airport is called Anna Pollatou (EFL).
During the summer months, there are direct flights to Kefalonia from a handful of European airports — though the number of direct connections is fairly limited. If you can’t find a direct route, flying via Athens opens up a lot more options.
For finding flights to Kefalonia, we always use Skyscanner — it’s the easiest way to compare routes and prices.
Search for flights on Skyscanner
Flight time to Kefalonia from most Western European cities is around 2.5 hours.
How to get from the airport to your accommodation
Kefalonia’s airport is just eight kilometers from the capital, Argostoli. It’s a small airport, so you’ll usually be through arrivals pretty quickly.
You have four options for getting from the airport to your accommodation on Kefalonia:
- Pick up your rental car at the airport
- Take a taxi
- Book a private transfer
- Take the bus
Option 1: Pick up a rental car at the airport
Honestly, we’d recommend renting a car for your time on Kefalonia — it’s by far the most flexible way to explore the island. You can pick it up right at the airport on arrival, just make sure to book in advance to get the best deal.
Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
Option 2: By taxi
If you want zero hassle after landing, just grab a taxi straight to your accommodation. Simple and stress-free.
Option 3: By private transfer
The most relaxed option of all is to pre-book an airport transfer before you travel. Everything’s arranged in advance, so you can just walk out of arrivals and go. You can often add this when booking your accommodation.
Option 4: By bus
Public buses are the cheapest way to get from the airport — but they only run to Lassi and Argostoli. If you’re staying anywhere else on the island, you’ll need to transfer in Argostoli.
The bus stop is right at the airport entrance, and you pay the fare in cash directly to the driver.
Getting to Kefalonia by Ferry
You can reach Kefalonia by ferry from many parts of Greece and even from Italy. Most of these are car ferries, so you can bring a rental car or travel by bus.
Note: We’re covering the most common ferry routes to Kefalonia here. A few additional routes exist (e.g., from Corfu), but these run very infrequently.
#1 Getting to Kefalonia from the Greek mainland
Already in Greece? Taking a ferry to Kefalonia is a seriously good option.
Routes from the mainland to Kefalonia
- Patras – Sami (Kefalonia) (3.5-hour journey)
- Kyllini – Poros (Kefalonia) (1.5-hour journey)
- Astakos – Sami (Kefalonia) (2.5-hour journey)
All three routes run year-round and are car ferries.
Book ferry tickets to Kefalonia
#2 Getting to Kefalonia from Athens
Kefalonia pairs really well with a few days of sightseeing in Athens. From the capital, you can travel to Kefalonia by car or bus via ferry.
The fastest route from Athens is the ferry from Kyllini.
By car, it’s just over three hours from Athens to Kyllini, then another 1.5 hours on the ferry — so you’re looking at roughly five hours total. Make sure to book your ferry tickets (including the car) ahead of time to guarantee your spot.
Book ferry tickets to Kefalonia
#3 Getting to Kefalonia from other Greek islands
Kefalonia sits right in the middle of some of Greece’s most popular vacation islands — specifically between Ithaca, Lefkada, and Zakynthos.
That makes it a perfect hub for island hopping.
- Zakynthos – Pessada (Kefalonia) (1.5-hour journey)
- Lefkada – Fiskardo (Kefalonia) (1-hour journey)
- Ithaca – Sami (Kefalonia) (30-minute journey)
- Ithaca – Fiskardo (Kefalonia) (45-minute journey)
These are all car ferries, so you can bring your vehicle. One thing to keep in mind: most of these routes only operate in summer. The only year-round connection is Ithaca – Sami.
Book ferry tickets to Kefalonia
#4 Getting to Kefalonia from Italy
You can even sail to Kefalonia directly from Italy. There’s currently one direct connection, running from July through early September.
- Bari – Sami (Kefalonia) (18-hour journey)
For more ferry connections between Italy and Greece, it’s also worth looking at routes to Patras — reachable from Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, and even Venice.
