Aghia Efimia (Kefalonia, Greece)

Aghia Efimia Reviews

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Overview

Things to do

Country Info (Greece)

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This is a quiet and quaint picteresque town which is very popular with the yachting flotillas that appear religously throughout the summer months.

Measuring roughly ½ ml by ¼ ml, Aghia Efimia is a sleepy traditional Greek fishing village which has developed into a resort without losing its charm. It has a small, attractive harbour lined with cafes, bars and restaurants, and an appealing winding promenade. Captivating views of the island of Ithaki and watching the sun go down is one of the reasons most of the action is stituated along the quay side, so if want some where to relax and unwind while you watch the world go by this is the place. As well as a mini market and gift shops there are also a few good late night music bars to while away the evening in however that's about it most of the people just take it slow and enjoy the evening with a stroll after a good meal at one of the local restaurants. The harbour acts as a focal point for the growing number of visitors, particularly in high season when day-tripping coach parties and an influx of "yachties" bring the village to life.

Locality:

Aghia Efimia is spread around a small bay, at the NW corner of wider Sami Bay, surrounded by greenery. It is backed by an arid, stony mountain and facing a pine-covered mountain, with superb views across the bay to Sami and the island of Ithaca. It is positioned near the centre of the E coast, 6 mls N of Sami, 21 mls NE of Argostoli and the airport.

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Generally Aghia Efimia is best suited to couples, singles and older visitors. Not ideal for families with young children or anyone looking for energetic nightlife.

The area is a popular lunching spot for coach parties; also popular with "yachties" in high season, who berth their yachts in the small harbour.

The beaches here are small, optimistically named Paradise Beach, set in a rocky cove at the NE end of the promenade, is pebbly, has no facilities and is reached by steep steps; the beach in the village is similar, with no shade, situated below the main road. There are a number of easily accessible small coves to the S, on the road to Sami, as well as a larger, popular beach at Karavomilos, 2½ mls away, which is stony and has no facilities, although it is backed by a small, pleasant park. Spectacular Myrtos Beach on the W coast is about 4 mls NW of Aghia Efimia, accessible via a white-knuckle road.

Entertainment consists mainly of the beaches and water based activities, including diving (PADI dive centre), sailing and snorkelling; exploring the island by car. By night there are choice of cafes, bars (some with music) and tavernas; an isolated disco (seasonal), 2½ mls S at Karavomilos.

Excursions include:

Full day: island tour including Drogarati Cave and Melissani lake grotto; pretty harbour village of Fiskardo; marine wildlife tour by boat; boat trip to Ithaca; boat and coach trip to classical site and museum of Olympia on the mainland; various sailing, swimming and snorkelling trips.

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Population: 10.668.400
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Greece - Athens

Country Dialling Code: +30
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

2 parallel circular prongs with an earth connector

2 parallel circular prongs with a female earth connector

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Greece appeals to different types of tourist, and very few could fail to find somewhere to suit their taste. From bustling Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to have fun. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a perfect place to relax. Whether you're supping in a beachside taverna , sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn.

The Olympic Games were spawned in ancient classical Greece, along with democracy and the fundamentals of philosophy, science and mathematics. Modern Greece is better known as a great place to vacation rather than a centre of learning and culture. Today the country attracts by offering simple pleasures: delicious food at reasonable prices, local wine, beautiful beaches, sunshine, quaint villages, a seemingly endless lacework of coastline and little islands full of scenic surprises.

The country exudes traditional charm, particularly on its ever-popular islands, which cling to their stereotypical architecture and way of life despite being often over-run by tourists. Black-clad women still deliver vegetables to island tavernas on panniered donkeys, while bronzed, lined fishermen sit in the sun, drink thick coffee, and play dominoes or dice. The tourist infrastructure has intruded in many respects, but the timeless aspect of whitewashed buildings clustered on hillsides around narrow pebbled alleys has been retained. The myriad islands in the Aegean Sea are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic harbour of Greece's mainland capital, Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil, offering a unique chance for 'island-hopping'. Many of the larger islands also have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with major European cities.

On the mainland the city of Athens in the south is sprawling, overcrowded and polluted but nevertheless enthralls visitors, while Thessaloniki in the north is vibrant and modern with a Byzantine flavour. Athens is dominated by its major landmark, the Parthenon: the remains of other wonders of the ancient Greek classical world are to be found mainly on the Peloponnese Peninsula, south of Corinth, the gateway to a veritable treasure trove of history.

Greece and Greeks welcome with open arms the thousands of visitors that flock to admire their national assets every year - no-one leaves without having been warmed, both by the sun and the hospitality.