Argostoli, Kelafonia, Greece

...at the time we went. At nearly a kilometre in length, the arched bridge is beautiful and quite a feat of engineering, built at the beginning of the 19th century with no cement to hold its stones together.

The earthquake of 1953 destroyed most of the buildings in Argostoli, so many don't date further back that this but they are still beautiful and keep the feel of the originals. In some places Mulberry trees can be found to line the ...
...but the wait is long!

Argostoli is a great place to visit, especially if you're staying in another area of Cephalonia. It makes a nice change, mixing up the holiday a bit and a visit will show you the more cosmopolitan side of the island. Great for shopping and for going out in the evening. A lively, tasteful, beautiful place to visit.  ... more

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I visited Cephalonia a few years ago, we stayed in Sami on the East side but travelled around in a hire care in order to see more of the island. I fell in love with Cephalonia and vowed to go back at some point, which I haven't managed...but reviewing on here is close enough for now!

The island itself, just to give you a quick overview, is the largest of all the Ionian islands. It has a rich history and plenty of sites. If you want to relax you can visit one of the many beaches, or enjoy a meal in one of many of the great restaurants. Cephalonia is surprisingly uncommercialised and doesn't even have a whiff of Club 18-30...it's beautiful and as unspoilt as it can be, now that it's (albeit low key, small and relaxed) a holiday spot.

Only 32,000 people live on Cephalonia and as far as I experienced, they were all lovely. Really welcoming and friendly.

Argostoli

Argostoli has been the administrative capital of Cephalonia since at least 1757 but really thrived in the 19th Century due to the port being one of the most important in Greece. Since then it has seen war, disaster and reconstruction as is now a beautiful capital and a must see if you're in Cephalonia.

It's still a port town and enjoys gorgeous views of the sea and the waters in the harbour. Simply stunning. What's nice about it is that it's quite modern in the sense that it's well developed and you see things that you'd see anywhere else, such as places to play sports or certain areas that people congregate in, but it's surrounded by beauty.

It's a nice place to wander around, as there's no main shopping area in particular so walking round you get to see more of the town and what it offers. There is a street which is well known for having many shops, this is Livostroto. There are some great shops here, some selling popular brand name clothing and others that are more unique. The Belltower cafe on Livostroto is great spot to sit and have coffee. It also provides employment for locals with learning difficulties - it's recommended by Friends of Cephalonia. You can't miss it, it is based in the old bell tower (as the name would suggest) about half way down Livostroto. The town has a fair few people but never feels crowded, so shopping is a pleasant experience. Don't forget that the shops close at 2.00pm until around 5.00pm

Popular with the locals in the evening is Vallianou Square where most go for a drink. The prices are steep though, so have a look before you buy anything! But you can sit and watch the world go by from here. It's a really great place to relax with the people you're holidaying with.

As for food, there are plenty of restaurants and bars to chose from. Kalafatis, Cephalonias oldest restaurant, is a particularly good place to eat on the water's edge which I'd recommend. Moussaka and Kleftiko are amazing dishes in most restaurants. Also you must must must try Cephalonian Meat Pie because it's sooo delicious. Another good place to eat is Tsifras Brothers restaurant which is near the quayside - it's frequented by the locals, which is always a good sign.

The fish market is thriving, most of the fish bought on the island is purchased here. It's got a great atmopshere. Obviously a lot of the restaurant owners come early in the morning for the fish, but later on in the day fish in boxes can be bought (smaller quantity) from other vendors.

You'll find fishing boats of all sizes in the water, as well as luxury yachts. They quay is lined with interesting foliage, such as palm trees. Also, glass boat trips are available from the quayside.
There are plenty of fruit and veg stalls and bakeries selling goods along the waterfront too.

There's a large obelisk midway across the Koutavos lagoon, and Dropano bridge is still the main route out of Argostoli to the north of Kefalonia, although I think it might have been pedestrianised by now as that was the plan at the time we went. At nearly a kilometre in length, the arched bridge is beautiful and quite a feat of engineering, built at the beginning of the 19th century with no cement to hold its stones together.

The earthquake of 1953 destroyed most of the buildings in Argostoli, so many don't date further back that this but they are still beautiful and keep the feel of the originals. In some places Mulberry trees can be found to line the streets and this just looks lovely.

Napier's gardens are a little green oasis, just up the hill from Valiano square. Napier was a British governor of Kefalonia in the 19th Century. The gardens were recently renovated, along with the rotunda. It's a nice spot to visit and relax.

One of my favourite museums in Argostoli was the Korgialenio Folklore museum where you can see traditional clothes and embroidery as well as many pre-earthquake photographs of Cephalonia. Also there's the Kosmetatos Foundation, which holds a collection of Edward Lear and Cartwright prints of Cephalonia which were taken at the time of British rule in the early 19th Century.

You can leave Argostoli by car or by bus which you can catch from near the Drapano causeway, from here you can catch busses to Sami, Skala and Katelios and Fiskardo, the price is good, but the wait is long!

Argostoli is a great place to visit, especially if you're staying in another area of Cephalonia. It makes a nice change, mixing up the holiday a bit and a visit will show you the more cosmopolitan side of the island. Great for shopping and for going out in the evening. A lively, tasteful, beautiful place to visit. 

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