ARGOSTOLI
Area: Kefalonia
Country: Greece


Location:
On a tiny peninsula jutting N from the SW coast of island, 19 miles SW of Sami. 9 miles N of the airport.

Telephone code from UK:
30 26710

Position:
Leeward side of natural harbour.

Description:
Argostoli is the capital of Kefalonia and the largest town on the island. In its rebuilding after a 1953 earthquake, it lost the colour and romance of its former Venetian style. It is not a tourist resort but an authentic Greek town with a main square surrounded by cafes. The square is quiet by day but at night comes alive with locals taking their evening stroll. Most of the town is flat, but many steep paths lead up a hill towards the road into Lassi.

Suitability:
Authenticity seekers; this is a working town which welcomes visitors.

Accommodation:
Hotels, studios, apartments, pensions and rooms.

Shopping:
Local specialities include wild thyme honey, wine, leather bags, jewellery, ceramics and locally made perfume. There is a large and lively fruit and vegetable market and the "Russian Bazaar".

Beach:
Unimpressive beaches beyond the harbour. However, the many small coves at Lassi and the lovely sandy beaches of Makris Yialos and Platis Yialos are only about 2» miles away.

Entertainments:
Daytime: impressive archaeological museum; small cultural museum. Nightlife: plenty of tasteful bars and a few tacky ones; two bouzouki clubs; occasional performances by the local music school or traditional dancers. Discos in the town and slightly out of town, but serious disco-goers are on the wrong island.

Eating:
Plenty of choice of eating places ranging from local tavernas to restaurants with international cuisine and credit card facilities. Local speciality is the Kefalonian meat pie.

Public-transport:
Buses go to all parts of the island, and there is an Athens bus service including ferry from Poros. Taxis are plentiful and cheap and nearly always available from the main square. There is a local ferry service every hour over to Lixouri on the opposite peninsula and a daily ferry from the harbour to the Greek mainland.

Local-excursions:
Island tour, including Drogorati cave, Melissani lake and Fiskardo; cultural tour including winery, church of Saint Gerassimos (island's patron) and monastery of St Andreas; "Greek night" excursion to the local bouzouki club; barbecue boat trips daily to the red sand beach of Xi on the Lixouri peninsula. Coach and ferry excursion to Ithaca or to classical site and museum of Olympia. Lefkas; Zante; two-day trip to Athens by coach and ferry via Poros; turtle-spotting at the lagoon, which is a local breeding ground for loggerheads.