How to Get to Kefalonia: Flying, Ferries and the Best Way for a First Trip

Most visitors reach Kefalonia in one of two ways: they fly into Kefalonia Airport (EFL), or they cross by ferry from the western Peloponnese or western Greece. Flying is the easiest choice for a first trip. The ferry from Kyllini to Poros is the best way to arrive if you want your own car on the island.

How do you get to Kefalonia from Athens?

You have three realistic routes: fly, drive to a port and take the ferry, or take a bus to a port and then the ferry. Don't look for a boat from Piraeus. Ferries to Kefalonia leave from ports in western Greece such as Kyllini, Patra and Astakos, so plan to reach one of them first.

Flying from Athens

Both Aegean Airlines and Sky Express link Athens and Kefalonia, with two flights a day between them. Connections through Athens run year-round. If you're routing through another European hub, direct flights to Kefalonia operate in summer from cities such as London, Amsterdam, Rome, Vienna and Paris.

Driving or taking the bus to a port, then the ferry

By car or public bus, Kyllini is roughly 3 to 4.5 hours from Athens, and Patra is similarly close. Buses to Patras leave from the Leoforou Kifisou KTEL station in Athens. The ferry is cheaper than flying, but the trip takes most of a day, and you have to line up the drive or bus with a ferry departure.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Kefalonia?

Fly if you value time and simplicity. Take the ferry if you want to bring a car, you're traveling on a tighter budget, or you like the idea of arriving by sea.

Families with luggage should fly too, unless they need wheels of their own. In that case, drive to Kyllini and put the car on the boat. On a tight budget, the bus and ferry combination wins on price, but you pay for it in hours.

Either way, build in some slack. Transportation strikes in Greece can interrupt traffic, taxis, seaports and airports, and a buffer day at either end protects you from a missed connection.

How long is the ferry to Kefalonia?

The crossing time depends on the port you leave from:

• Kyllini to Poros: about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Astakos to Sami: 2 hours and 12 minutes.
• Patra to Sami: about 3 hours 15 minutes.
• Ithaca (Pisaetos) to Sami: about 25 minutes.

Kyllini to Poros

If you're driving from Athens, this is the crossing to pick. Summer brings four departures each way, from early morning to late evening, and the rest of the year has fewer, with a few extra sailings on some weekdays and no boats on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Times shift through the season, so check the timetable for your date before you plan a drive around it.

A one-way adult ticket costs €14.50 (2026). Children from 5 to 10 pay 8 euros, kids under 5 ride free, and taking a car costs 45 euros.

Patra to Sami

Patra means a longer day at sea, but it's easy to reach by bus from Athens. The one-way fare is €15.40 (2026) for adults and 7.70 euros for children from 5 to 10, with cars at 52.90 euros. This Levante Ferries line continues from Sami to Ithaca.

How do you get to Kefalonia from other islands?

Kefalonia fits easily into an Ionian island trip, with ferries linking it to nearby islands like Ithaca, Lefkada and Zakynthos. Ithaca is the simplest link, with boats from both Sami and Poros. From Sami, boats usually cross to Ithaca twice a day, in the morning and late afternoon, so check the timetable before you go. The Sami to Pisaetos crossing costs €4.50 (2026) for an adult and 17 euros for a car. From Poros, expect to pay 10.40 euros per adult and 18 euros per car.

Connections to Zakynthos and Lefkada are available, and ferry schedules can change with the season, so check current times before you plan around them. The Zakynthos boat sails from Agios Nikolaos to Pessada in 1 hour and 35 minutes, and the Lefkada boat runs from Vasiliki to Fiskardo in 1 hour. Tickets for both are sold locally, so don't count on booking them from home. In summer, a seasonal route also links Sami with Bari in Italy.

How do you book ferries to Kefalonia?

Levante Ferries is the main operator, and Ionion Pelagos runs some routes. Tickets and check-in are electronic, and you can print your ticket or show it on your phone when you board. For route details, call Levante at +30 210 94 99 400. Groups of 15 or more get agreed fares.

If you're taking a car, book at least two months ahead. Foot passengers have more flexibility, but Sami and Poros are small ports that fill up in high season, so it helps to buy your tickets ahead of time rather than counting on a quick stop at a busy agency. Reach the port at least an hour and a half before departure, especially with a vehicle, and earlier still in summer, when the narrow port roads back up.

How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?

Plan to have a car for at least part of your stay. Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Sea, and its beaches, villages and viewpoints are scattered across a wide area. Buses link the ports, the airport and the main towns, but service thins outside summer. Taxis add up fast on long rides, so after a long journey, a pre-booked private transfer is often the better bet.

From the airport

Kefalonia Airport is about 5 miles (8 km) from Argostoli, the island's capital, and taxis, rental cars and buses all serve it. In season, a local bus links the airport with Lassi and Argostoli a few times a day, from a stop on the left side of the main entrance of the departures building. Outside the season, call KTEL Kefalonias at +30 26710 22281 for current times. The airport's operating hours are short and vary by day, so check them before you book a late arrival.

From Sami

Sami is 16 miles (26 km) from Argostoli. Taxis wait at the port. Rental agencies are right there too, and if you book online, you can set Sami as your pickup point.

From Poros

Poros lies farther out, about 25 miles (40 km) from the capital, and buses connect the two up to three times a day in high season. Taxis are easy to find, or you can book one by phone. Rental offices sit at the port, so you can drive off soon after the boat docks.

What should Americans know before they go?

U.S. citizens can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. Your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date, and you should be ready to show proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket if asked. To rent a car, Greek law requires you to carry both a valid U.S. driver's license, and insurance companies may require an international driver’s permit. Get the permit before you leave home, and keep your passport and luggage out of the parked rental car, since thieves in Greece target rental cars.