Kefalonia Airport (EFL): What to Know Before You Land

Kefalonia Airport, also called Anna Pollatou, sits about 5 miles (8 km) from Argostoli, the island's capital. It is small and easy to find your way around, but it keeps short official hours and closes every night. Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Sea, and its bus service is limited, so a rental car picked up on arrival makes the rest of the trip much simpler.

Where is Kefalonia Airport, and what is it like?

The airport (code EFL) was built in 1971 and renovated in 2019. Kefalonia Airport has one main passenger terminal, and the Arrivals hall for both national and international flights is on the ground floor.

Free Wi-Fi covers the building, and you can charge your phone at designated stations. There's also an information point and a first aid station. You won't find lounges, luggage lockers or rest areas. If your bag doesn't arrive, go to your airline: each carrier and its ground handling agents deal with lost luggage.

The airport sits close to some lovely stretches of coast. Ammes beach is about a 5-minute drive away, and Eglina and Megali Ammos beaches are each about 10 minutes. Gentilini Winery and Vineyards is roughly 2 miles (3 km) off, an easy first stop if you have a car.

Which airlines fly to Kefalonia, and from where?

Summer is when holiday flights arrive from the UK, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Jet2.com, easyJet and Sky Express are the main carriers.

Direct flights from major European cities run in the summer months. Connections through Athens run year-round on Olympic Air/Aegean Airlines and Sky Express, and the flight takes about 50 minutes. Winter is very quiet, with few flights beyond the Athens route, so check schedules carefully for an off-season trip. If EFL doesn't fit your plans, the alternative airports are ATH (Athens) and GPA.

What are the airport hours, and can you sleep there?

Official airport operating hours:

• Monday: 11:00 to 17:00
• Tuesday: 10:00 to 16:00
• Wednesday: 10:30 to 18:30
• Thursday: 12:30 to 18:30
• Friday: 10:00 to 17:00
• Saturday: 10:00 to 16:00
• Sunday: 10:00 to 16:00

The terminal opens earlier on most days. It runs 09:00 to 17:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00 on Tuesday and 10:30 to 18:30 on Thursday. Check both lists for the day you fly.

Sleeping at the airport isn't possible. If a late arrival or early departure leaves a gap, several hotels are a short drive away. Electra Kefalonia Hotel and Spa is about 0.6 miles from the terminal, Mouikis Sun Village about 0.7 miles and Astra Village Hotel Suites about 0.8 miles. Avithos Resort Apartments Hotel is about 1.5 miles out.

How do you get from the airport to Argostoli?

You can take the bus, a taxi or a rental car to reach Argostoli.

Kefalonian Buses (KTEL) runs a daily route between Argostoli and the airport by way of Lassi. The stop is on the left side of the main entrance, and luggage rides in the hold at no extra charge. Departures from Argostoli are at 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 and 16:00. Departures from the airport are at 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 and 16:30. The service starts in May and runs into October, so check the current route dates before you plan around it. In the shoulder or low season, call the bus station at +30 26710 22281 before you count on it.

Taxis wait at a rank outside the terminal, and the ride into town takes about 15 minutes. In summer the line can be long, so arranging a pickup ahead with a local driver saves time.

Should you rent a car at the airport?

Yes, for most trips. Kefalonia has about 365 villages and more than 60 beaches spread across a big island, and buses thin out once summer ends. Rental desks sit close together inside the terminal, and booking ahead means you can drive off soon after landing in the car that suits you.

With a car, day trips get easy. Myrtos is around 19 miles (30 km) from town. If you'd rather not drive, the island also has taxis and sea buses.

How do you get from the airport to Sami, Poros and the north?

By bus, ride into Argostoli first and change at the main station. From there, buses run to Sami, Agia Efimia, Poros and Fiskardo, and the network links Argostoli with the two main ferry ports, Sami and Poros. By road, Sami is about 20.5 miles (33 km) from the airport and Poros about 24 miles (38 km), long enough that a rental car or a booked taxi makes the transfer far easier.

If you're continuing by ferry, Levante Ferries' Sami to Patra departure leaves at 08:30, and the crossing takes about 3 hours 15 minutes. 2026 prices: a one-way adult ticket costs €15.40 and a car €52.90. Book a night in Sami and take it the next morning.

What should you know before you fly out?

Parking is free across from the terminal building, which makes drop-offs and returns simple. Food outlets follow the flight schedule, and many travelers bring a full water bottle and a snack along. For anything about your flight day, call the Information Desk at +30 26710 29900.