Kefalonia Beaches by Car Quick comparison: which beaches suit which car? Easy-Access Beaches for Any Rental Car Scenic but Challenging Roads (Standard Car OK, Careful Driving) Beaches Requiring 4×4 or High Clearance Boat-Only Beaches (No Car Access) Beach Cluster Planning Tips FAQ { return ( {" "} / Beaches by Car Kefalonia Beaches by Car Kefalonia's beaches are easiest to plan by route, road surface, and parking. A rental car from Argostoli or Kefalonia Airport (EFL) gives access to most of the island's coastline within 15–60 minutes. This guide covers which beaches suit which car — from a Fiat Panda to a Suzuki Vitara. Quick comparison: which beaches suit which car? Beach / area Best car type Drive time from Argostoli Road condition Typical note Myrtos Beach Compact car or smaller SUV 30 km, about 40 min Paved descent with switchbacks Around 100 spaces Sunbeds typically €7–€10, busy by 10:00 in Jul–Aug Antisamos Beach Any standard rental car 31 km, about 40 min via Sami Fully paved Large free lot Captain Corelli filming location Xi Beach Any standard rental car 7 km from Lixouri Flat and paved Free parking behind beach Red sand, family-friendly Lourdas Beach Compact car 16 km, about 25 min Paved but steep in places Free roadside parking Long south-coast beach with tavernas Skala Beach Any standard rental car 37 km, about 50 min Flat main-road access Free street parking Resort beach with watersports Petani Beach Small car or SUV 13–15 km from Lixouri Paved but narrow hairpins Limited free, tavernas €10/day Steep final descent on Paliki peninsula Easy-Access Beaches for Any Rental Car Myrtos Beach: Paved 2 km cliff road from Divarata. About 100 free parking spaces at sea level. Fills by 10:00 in July–August. Sunbeds €7–€10, showers and café in season. Antisamos Beach: Fully paved 4 km from Sami. Large free parking area. Captain Corelli's Mandolin filming location. Xi Beach: Flat, paved approach near Lixouri. Free parking behind the 3.3 km red-sand shoreline. One of the easiest beaches on Kefalonia. Lourdas Beach: Paved road from Lourdata area. Free parking behind the beach. Long south-coast stretch with tavernas. Skala Beach: Flat main-road access with free street parking. Organised beach with watersports. Makris Gialos and Platis Gialos: Near Lassi/Argostoli, ~10 minutes drive. Dedicated parking areas and full summer facilities. Lepeda Beach: 2 km south of Lixouri, short paved drive. Free parking near the reddish sand. Ammes, Fanari, and Svoronata beaches: Near the airport. Easy with any car, informal free parking. Scenic but Challenging Roads (Standard Car OK, Careful Driving) Petani Beach: 13–15 km from Lixouri. Fully asphalted BUT final descent has hairpins narrowing to single-car width. Taverna parking ~€10/day, some free spots. Fold mirrors during busy periods. Reach the Paliki peninsula quickly via the Lixouri ferry Assos Village and Beach: One of Kefalonia's narrowest village approaches — often one-car wide. Compact car strongly recommended. Small free public lot at bottom of village. Myrtos Viewpoints: Roadside pull-offs along the cliff road above Divarata. Stop only where shoulder is wide enough. Not formal car parks. Beaches Requiring 4×4 or High Clearance Insurance warning: Driving on unpaved roads can void CDW, SCDW, FDW, and zero-excess cover. Tyre, wheel, glass, and underbody damage may be charged as excess/deductible. Get written confirmation before leaving EFL. See our insurance FAQ for details. Koroni Beach: Tarmac then steep dirt track. High-clearance vehicle strongly recommended. Mount Ainos Southern Approaches: Dirt roads from Vlachata, Lourdata, Skala side — 4×4 only. East Coast Coves (Horgota, Agia Sofia): Rough turn-offs near Agia Efimia–Fiskardo road. Small SUV better than hatchback. Boat-Only Beaches (No Car Access) Fteri Beach: No road access. Water taxi from Zola harbour ~€20–€25/person return, 10 minutes. Or demanding 2.9-mile hike (AllTrails rates "hard"). Dafnoudi Beach: Park at Antipata village (~5 km from Fiskardo), 15–20 min walk through cypress forest. Kimilia Beach: Park near Fiskardo, 10 min walk through cypresses and olives. Platia Ammos: 2014 earthquake destroyed the cliff staircase — boat access only since then.