Separated by a narrow strait from the island of Ithaca, Odysseus’s legendary homeland, Cephalonia, is perhaps the most diverse and rewarding of all the Ionian islands.
Made famous by Louis de Bernières’ bestselling novel, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Cephalonia is surprisingly big, spanning about 45km from north to south, and 40km from west to east. Although there are a number of developed areas, especially around the coast, its sheer size means the island feels much more unspoilt than many islands in Greece.
There’s a wide range of villas to choose from, but it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll need a car to explore. The island’s airport and its capital, Argostoli, are located in the southwest, while the pretty town of Fiskardo — once just a sleepy fishing village, now a popular tourist town — is at the northern tip. The south coast is a popular area, with many beaches and resort towns including Spartia, Lourdas and Skala. Ferries to neighbouring Ithaca depart from Sami on the east coast.
The isolated Paliki Peninsula, on the far west side of the island, is home to the town of Lixouri as well as some of Cephalonia’s quietest beaches, but it’s also the most isolated area — allow at least an hour to reach it by car from the airport, or cut time by catching the regular ferry to Argostoli.
Main photo: Assos Helen, near Assos
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1. Villa Erin, Spartia
Pack your bags for this strikingly modern villa on Cephalonia’s south coast, near Spartia village and 1.5km from its secluded beach. From the open-plan kitchen, expansive glass doors glide open onto the timber-decked terrace, where an infinity pool offers views of cypresses, pines and hills. There are three bedrooms, and the finish is Grand Designs worthy — all gleaming tiles, industrial render and steam-bent wooden mirrors. It’s around a 10km drive to Argostoli.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 6
Price ££
2. Ideales Resort, Trapezaki
Prepare for a village of villas, all simply decorated and refreshingly unpretentious, with a lovely location at the foot of Mt Ainos. The exterior design is boxy, but the interiors are sweet, with colourful furniture, tiled floors, green shutters and open-plan layouts. The configuration depends on which villa you choose — the larger three bedroom ones are good value, and all have their own private pools. Villa Telina has a pine-shaded garden with a wraparound verandah and outdoor barbecue; Villa Mataki has arguably the best sea views. The nearest beach is Trapezaki, 1.5km away.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 2-8
Price ££
3. Zeus Temple, Lourdas
There’s a real wow factor here. With its classical columns and quasi-Olympian mountain backdrop, this is a villa with divine pretensions. There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms, all opening off a central atrium, where the shared dining room looks over the magnificent infinity pool and the coast. Rooms are luxurious with soft grey sofas and metallic fixtures, and the garden is delightful, with mature Mediterranean plants and a shady side gazebo for outdoor cooking. Its location, Lourdas, is ideal for exploring the south coast.
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Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 8
Price £££
4. Villa Isicos, Katsarata
This charming country house has an authentic Ionian atmosphere. It’s in an out-of-the-way spot, near the hill village of Katsarata — a great area for walking. The name means “the quiet one” in Greek, and it’s fitting: the house sits on a wooded slope, surrounded by fragrant shrubs, old olive trees and pines, which gives a sense of seclusion and privacy. Inside, stone, beams, wooden floors and local knick-knacks give the house a homely, very Grecian atmosphere. Outside, there’s a curving patio, and steps leading down to a dreamy, sheltered garden pool. The main bedroom has a balcony with a view of forested hills. Fiskardo lies 4km north, and pretty Foki Beach 4km east.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 6
Price ££
5. Villa Paradiso, Spartia
No sea view here: instead, three acres of glorious gardens and a wonderfully private location. The detached house is classic in style, with a red-tiled roof, peach render and pistachio green balconies. There are three bedrooms and a comfy lounge opening onto the veranda, where you can sit and peer out across the wooded garden, lush green lawns and pool. There’s another bedroom on the lower ground floor with its own kitchen, which means it can serve as a self-contained apartment — great for two families holidaying together. It’s about 1.3km to Spartia Beach, and 8km to the airport.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 7
Price ££
6. Villa Philoxenia, Lakithra
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A keen eye for interior design lifts this villa into the luxurious category: abstract art, brushed metal effect surfaces, exposed rafters and rich colour schemes of chocolate, almond and slate give the house a feeling of serious sophistication — there’s even a private gym in the basement. The detached house sits in an elevated position, about 8km from Argostoli and 3km from the airport (so expect some plane noise). One bedroom is in a separate annexe, making this the perfect villa for a multi-family break. The icing on the cake is the huge 11.5m pool, offering views over the sea as far as Zakynthos.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 8
Price ££
• Best hotels in Cephalonia
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7. Katelios Bay View, Katelios
Rustic simplicity awaits at this quiet country cottage, tucked away in the southeast of the island near the beach village of Katelios, known for its excellent seafood tavernas. Built from solid stone, tiles and timber, the house is typically Cephalonian. On the ground floor there’s a double-height kitchen with a big stone fireplace. The first of the two bedrooms leads off the main room; the other bedroom is upstairs, under the eaves and accessed via an attractive timber staircase. The L-shaped pool is a highlight, looking over treetops all the way to distant Mounda Beach.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 4
Price ££
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8. Kalou Cottage, Lourdas
You’ll fall quickly for this romantic cottage on the woody hillside above Lourdas Beach, where you can sit in the courtyard or bathe in the pool and look directly down onto the sands. Though small, the house has enormous charm: exposed stone walls, wooden furniture, local artworks on the walls and exposed beams in the bedrooms give it more character than many of the island’s fancier properties. There’s a side courtyard with a stone barbecue and outdoor sofas for lounging on — and the beach is within easy reach.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 4
Price ££
9. Villa Mythos, Myrtos
This villa has perhaps the most dramatic location on the island. Perched on a narrow headland jutting out over Myrtos Beach, Cephalonia’s dreamiest crescent of sand, this is island luxury with a capital L: bohemian-styled rooms, futuristic fireplaces, an industrial stainless steel kitchen, brushed concrete bathrooms, hammocks strung over the sea. But it’s the incredible semi-circular terrace that steals the show: steps lead down to a theatrically positioned plunge pool that makes it feel as though you’re floating above the Ionian Sea. Needless to say, the drops all around make it entirely unsuitable for children.
Pool Y
Family-friendly N
Sleeps 4
Price £££
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10. Olive Mill Villa, near Periata
There’s space galore at this enormous five-room villa, which belongs to one of the island’s oldest olive farms (guests get a guided tour of the olive farm and museum next door courtesy of the owner, Lysander). The house is on three levels, furnished in a traditional country style — plenty of wood, stone and floral patterns — and the gardens are beautiful, with lawns and sun-loungers arranged beneath cypress, pines and bougainvillea. Yolanda the chef is on hand to provide meals and cooking lessons, and for a spoil you can arrange a day-trip in the estate’s private motor yacht. The villa is near the village of Periata, and not too far from Trapezaki.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 10
Price £££
11. Assos Helen, near Assos
The location here is postcard-worthy. You’re on the edge of the old town of Assos and its sparkling, sheltered blue bay, much favoured by yachtsmen: steep steps lead directly down into the cove from the villa. Assos Helen is one of a small complex of villas, and has arguably the best position, with a corner aspect that gives the pool a tremendous, uninterrupted view of the bay. There are three attractive bedrooms, including a romantic master up in the attic. Gorgeous Myrtos Beach is nearby — and don’t miss a hike up to the ruined castle on the headland.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 4
Price ££
12. Villa Paliki Sunset, near Chavriata
If you really want to escape everyone — and everything — this vast beach house out on the isolated Paliki Peninsula is the place. Designed along eco-friendly lines (ceiling fans rather than air conditioning, power from solar panels and a wind turbine), the house stands in glorious isolation on its own 20-acre estate. There are four huge bedrooms, all with their own en suites and patios, and a communal kitchen-diner that has a bigger footprint than most hotel rooms. The facilities for kids are fantastic — there’s a pool room, table tennis, kayaks and bikes to borrow, and a gigantic 98 square metre seawater pool. Unusually for Cephalonia, the pool (and one of the bedrooms) is wheelchair accessible. The peninsula’s beaches are there to be explored: Lagadakia is closest.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 12
Price £££
13. North Point Houses, near Fiskardo
Situated on the promontory north of the port town of Fiskardo, this collection of three luxury villas (Fauna, Merope and Odele) is ideal if you want to be within walking distance of town. The houses are similar in design: set over two levels, with plastered facades, green shutters and red-tiled roofs, each has a pretty little garden stocked with island shrubs, olive trees and wildflowers, arranged around a rectangular pool. The interior design is chic — high timber ceilings, marble bathrooms, wood stoves, artworks — and the view over Fiskardo’s rooftops will feature heavily on your Instagram feed.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 5
Price ££
14. Villa Ifandis, near Skala
This renovated stone cottage sits at the end of a private drive in the hills of Skala. Its name means weaver in Greek, which gives a clue to its original occupants. Unlike the many bland concrete boxes that have sprung up all over Cephalonia, this house has heritage. It’s been sensitively restored, with chunky tiles, original A-frame beams and rustic stone walls retained, and a super terrace outside offering a wonderful vista over treetops to the town and coast. The privacy is the main draw here — but it’s worth bearing in mind that it’s 3.5km to the nearest beach.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 4
Price ££
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15. Boursis Farmhouse, near Psilithirias
It’s hard to think of a prettier — or more authentic — place to stay than this handsome farmhouse; it’s just ten minutes’ drive from Fiskardo, but feels like another world entirely. Set in a walled garden, the old house has been given a thoroughly modern makeover. Scandi-style furniture, polished wooden floors, poster art and upcycled furniture make the interior feel luxurious and light, and the house is full of interesting architectural features, including an original bread oven and wine press (which has cleverly been converted into a daybed). It’s in the off-the-radar village of Psilithirias — the nearest shop and taverna is in Antipata, a 15-minute stroll through dreamy countryside, and quiet beaches like Foki, Daphnudi and Emlisi are within easy reach.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 4
Price ££
prettygreekvillas.com
16. Villa Stafili
On a private estate owned by an artist, this is an oasis. The highlight is the garden, with a pool, lawns and hammocks shaded by pines and palms. Inside, the house brims with character — from the bright orange kitchen worktop and wicker baskets to the mosaic-tiled bathrooms. One bedroom is on the ground floor with access to the pergola-covered terrace; the other is on the first floor and has its own little veranda. A little-known sandy beach is nearby.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 4
Price ££
prettygreekvillas.com
17. Fisherman’s Cottage, near Fiskardo
The clue’s in the name: once a fisherman’s storehouse, this low-slung cottage now makes a characterful, rustic bolt hole. As much of the original building as possible has been retained — hefty stone walls, solid flagstones, wonky rafters, shutters — with local tiles and reclaimed furniture adding extra authenticity. There are two bedrooms, one with a gorgeous vaulted, beamed ceiling and the other with exposed patches of rock. The pièce de la résistance is, without a doubt, the magical Mediterranean garden, set around a giant, gnarled, 600 year-old olive tree.
Pool Y
Family-friendly Y
Sleeps 4
Price ££
prettygreekvillas.com
Take me there
Inspired to visit Greece but yet to book your trip? Here are the best villas to stay from CV Villas and Oliver’s Travels.
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