Fiskardo holidays

How to reach Fiskardo

Flight time: Flights to Kefalonia from London and other major UK airports typically take around 3 hours 40 minutes.

Transfer time: Taxiing from Kefalonia Airport (EFL) to Fiskardo takes about 1 hour. The journey by bus (with a change at Argostoli) takes about 3 hours 20 minutes (excluding transfer time).

Price: Expect to pay €50–€85 for a taxi; bus tickets should cost under €10 all in.

Best time to visit Fiskardo

The best time for your Fiskardo holidays depends on your weather and crowd preferences, as well as what activities you plan to do: hiking or swimming, exploring ancient ruins or people-watching (and possibly celebrity spotting) at the harbour.

• April to June brings temperatures ranging from 20 to 29°C, 8 to 12 hours of sunshine daily, minimal rainfall and minimal tourists before June. It's an excellent time to explore, but likely too cold for swimming before June (hardcore swimmers may brave a dip from April, but at around 17°C, the sea will be bracing).

• July to August guarantees hot (31–32°C), dry, sunny days but also droves of tourists. It’s a lively time to check out the late-night bar scene.

• September to October sees temperatures drop to a more comfortable range of 28 to 24°C, 9 to 7 hours of sunshine daily, but an uptick in rain, 52 to 100mm. Crowds begin to thin out, providing a more relaxed environment.

• November to March are mild (temperatures fall from 19°C in November to 14°C in January, climbing to 17°C in March) but wet (158 to 65mm). On average, expect 5 hours of sunshine daily. While many tourist facilities may be closed, the low season provides a unique, tranquil experience of Fiskardo’s natural and historical sights.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Greek is the official language, but English and Italian are widely spoken.

• Currency: Greece uses the euro (€).

• Getting around: Fiskardo is served by inexpensive KTEL Kelfalonias buses (you can purchase tickets online), but services are pretty limited. As a rule, taxis are a better bet (there’s a rank to the side of the main square). During summer, there are regular ferry services between Fiskardo and Vassiliki. For more flexible exploring, renting a car or a boat may be more convenient.

• Electricity and plug types: Greece uses the standard European two-pin plug (Type C and F) with 230V.

• Time zone: Greece operates on Eastern European Time, 2 hours ahead of GMT (3 hours ahead during Daylight Saving Time).

Best things to do in Fiskardo

If natural beauty spots, good restaurants, small boutique shops, lively (but not wild) nightlife, and rubbing shoulders with mega-yacht owners sounds like your idea of fun, then holidays to Fiskardo should be right up your alley.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Lighthouse of Fiskardo: A shady pine-scented walk from the village, this Venetian lighthouse offers stunning views over the channel between Kefalonia and Ithaca.

The best districts

• Fiskardo Harbour: The heart of Fiskardo is its beautiful harbour, flanked by pastel-coloured Venetian houses, chic boutiques, waterfront tavernas, and bobbing fishing boats and yachts.

Museums

• Fiskardo Divers: Technically, this is a dive centre, but there is also a small on-site museum/educational centre. The focus is on local marine life, but there is an exhibit on the British Bristol Beaufighter, which was shot down by the Germans in 1944 and crashed just off the bay at Kimilia (a popular dive site).

Historical monuments

• Roman Cemetery of Fiskardo: What it says on the tin: a well-preserved Roman-era cemetery. It’s worth a look-see – the sarcophagi with intact reliefs at the end of the lower section are the most interesting – but temper your expectations; this is a small archeological site with little other than a weather-beaten information board (in Greek and English) to explain what you’re looking at.

• Basilica of Fiskardo: Located near the Venetian lighthouse, there’s just enough left standing (two towers and some outlying walls) to give you an idea of what it must have looked like in its heyday.

Day trips in the area

• Myrtos Beach: A 40-minute drive from Fiskardo, nestled at the feet of the Agia Dynati and Kalon Ores mountains, white pebbly Myrtos Beach with its aquamarine sea is routinely named one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece – worth the hype.

• Melissani Cave: If natural beauty and unrequited love float your boat, Melissani Cave is a must-see. Located just outside Sami, it's hauntingly beautiful with a sunlight-spotted (via a hole in the cave roof) underground lake and a poignant backstory (spurned by the god Pan, the nymph Melissani is said to have drowned herself here).

Activities for families in Fiskardo

Fiskardo tends to attract yachties and couples, but the area has plenty to offer outdoorsy families.

• Playgrounds: There’s a small playground near the church in the village (use the clock/bell tower as a waymark).

• Family-friendly beaches: Emblisi Beach, just outside Fiskardo, is likely the best option for families. It has flat white pebbles and clear, calm waters, but note that it gets deep quickly. There’s also a small kiosk for snacks.

• Boat trips: Take the family on a full-day marine adventure with Ionian Discoveries. Kids can experience local sea life firsthand (in the most literal sense, various species are brought on board for show-and-tell). There are also opportunities for swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing.

Free things to do in Fiskardo

You can enjoy Fiskardo’s cultural and natural side without spending a cent.

• Annual festivals: The Feast of Our Lady is celebrated on the 8th September with traditional music.

• Beaches: Zavalanta, Foki, Emplisi, Kimilia and Dafnoudi beaches are within 5km of the village. There are no sunlounger rentals to tempt you to splash out (somewhat ironically, as all five beaches are pebbly).

• Historical monuments: Fiskardo’s ancient ruins can be visited free of charge.

Wellness in Fiskardo

• Spas and thermal baths: The luxurious Emelisse Nature Resort offers a full-service spa, providing treatments such as aromatherapy, deep tissue massages and rejuvenating facials.

• Traditional body care: Embrace the island's traditions with treatments that utilise locally sourced ingredients like olive oil and sea salt. These natural elements are often incorporated into body scrubs and massages, providing therapeutic and beautifying benefits.

• Yoga and meditation centres: Emelisse Nature Resort runs yoga sessions, allowing guests to practise in a peaceful, natural setting with the Ionian Sea as a backdrop.

Nature and outdoor activities

• Hiking: The circular Cypress Trail (approximately 5km) is a moderate option. From Fiskardo, it ascends through wooded hills to Katsarata, where you’ll get fantastic views of the islands of Ithaca, Lefkada, Meganissi and the mainland. The return leg passes through the pretty traditional village of Tselentata. But there are plenty of other well-signed posted trails to choose from.

• Kayaking: Rent a single or tandem kayak from Fiskardo Kayaks (based near Zavalata Beach) for half a day or a day and explore the picturesque coastline. Kayaks can be taken out independently or with a guide. Folki, Emblissi and Kimilia are all within paddling distance.

• Scuba diving: Fiskardo Divers offers PADI courses, wreck diving and trial dives for first-timers. Dive sites around Fiskardo are renowned for high visibility, biodiversity and intriguing underwater landscapes.

• Snorkelling: Local beaches like Emblisi and Foki are great starting points for underwater exploration. Snorkellers can expect to see a variety of fish species and possibly even octopuses hiding among the rocks.

• Cycling: Ionian eBike, based in the neighbouring village of Antipata, rents e-bikes (roughly with an 80km range). These can be delivered free of charge to your hotel or villa, or you can opt for guided excursions.

Local dishes in Fiskardo

Renowned for its fresh seafood and traditional Greek dishes, Fiskardo's eateries cater to various tastes and preferences.

Some typical dishes

• Bourbourelia: Seasoned with lemon and olive oil, this filling bean soup combines broad beans, chickpeas and lentils.

• Tsigaridia: Wild greens are the star ingredients in this rustic Kefallonian vegetarian casserole.

Meze dishes

• Riganada: Greek rusks (or bread) drizzled with olive oil and vinegar and topped with diced tomatoes and (sometimes) crumbly feta sprinkled with salt and oregano.

• Saganaki: Saganaki consists of cheese-wrapped pan-fried or seared vegetables or seafood (or just the cheese itself). It’s sometimes flambéed with ouzo (or other Greek spirits) for added oomph – Opa!

Meat dishes

• Stifado: A hearty stew made with beef or rabbit, slow-cooked with onions, tomatoes and red wine, often flavoured with cinnamon and cloves.

• Giouvetsi: This tomatoey pasta meat (traditionally veal) casserole is a comfort food classic.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Chtapodi Sti Schara: Grilled fresh octopus brushed with a marinade of red wine vinegar, olive oil and oregano.

• Kakavia: Made with whole (typically bony) fish and vegetables, this rustic fisherman’s soup can be best described as a pared-back bouillabaisse.

Street food

• Gyros: Pitta loaded with strips of rotisserie-cooked meat, tomatoes, onions, (sometimes) chips and tzatziki – possibly the ultimate sandwich.

• Souvlaki: A Greek classic, these grilled meat skewers are usually served with pitta bread, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki.

Sweets and desserts

• Amygdalopita: Variations of this lemon-syrup-drenched almond cake can be found throughout Greece, but the original comes from Kefalonia.

• Galaktoboureko: Semolina custard baked in layers of filo pastry and soaked in light lemon syrup. Sweet and creamy, with just the right amount of crunch.

Local drinks

• Robola Wine: Kefalonia is known for its Robola wine, a crisp white that pairs beautifully with seafood.

• Ouzo: Strong with an aniseed flavour, ouzo is typically drunk mixed with water or ice (which is just as well: shots are a recipe for disaster).

• Tsipouro: The perfect accompaniment to meze, this strong distilled spirit is best enjoyed well-chilled and neat.