Kefalonia Ferry Guide Ferry Routes from Kefalonia Can You Take a Rental Car on the Ferry? Day Trip to Ithaca by Rental Car Kefalonia to Zakynthos Without Rental-Car Problems North to Lefkada from Fiskardo Cruise Ship Day Visitors FAQ { return ( {" "} / Ferry & Island Hopping Kefalonia Ferry Guide Kefalonia connects to Ithaca, Zakynthos, and the mainland by ferry, with crossings as short as 20–30 minutes. But rental-car rules matter: most suppliers require written approval before any ferry boarding, and standard CDW usually does not cover damage while a car is on a vessel. Ferry Routes from Kefalonia Crossing Time Foot Passenger Car Price Guide Sami → Ithaca (Pisaetos) Levante Ferries, Ionion P. Lines 20–30 min Multiple daily, year-round From €15 Pessada → Zakynthos (Agios Nikolaos) Ionian Sea Ferries 1 hr 45 min Seasonal (Jun–Sep), ~2x/week Car + 2 pax ~€57 Argostoli → Lixouri Vikentios Damodos Ferries 30 min Every 30–60 min, year-round Car + passengers ~€8 Poros → Ithaca (Pisaetos) Levante Ferries ~50 min Daily, year-round From €15 Fiskardo → Ithaca (Frikes) Local operators ~1 hr Limited, usually July only Foot passengers only Sami → Patras Levante Ferries ~3.5 hrs Daily, year-round From €55 The Argostoli–Lixouri ferry is essential for reaching Paliki peninsula beaches (Petani, Xi, Lepeda) without the long 40 km drive around the gulf. Can You Take a Rental Car on the Ferry? Short answer: Yes, but with critical restrictions. Kefalonia → Ithaca: Most local companies allow it. Pefanis is relaxed about the route. Greekstones offers a free ferry insurance add-on (tick box at booking). Express and Venus also confirmed. Kefalonia → Zakynthos: Fewer companies allow it — must ask in advance. Enterprise charges €25/trip. The insurance gap: Standard CDW, SCDW, FDW, and even zero excess policies often stop applying while the vehicle is on a ferry. If you take a car without approval and damage occurs, you may be liable for the full vehicle value. Read the insurance details in our FAQ. Economical alternative for Zakynthos: Park on Kefalonia, take foot-passenger ferry (€12/person), rent a separate car on Zakynthos. Saves €80+ in car fare + insurance. Day Trip to Ithaca by Rental Car The Sami–Pisaetos crossing takes 20–30 minutes. Ithaca covers just 96 km² — you can see everything in one day. Drive from Pisaetos to Vathy (capital): 10 minutes. Continue to Kioni: 30 minutes. Stavros (Homer's Ithaca, archaeological museum): scenic inland stop. Before heading to the port, explore the Sami area beaches on the Kefalonia side. Return before last ferry — typically around 17:15 from Pisaetos. Bring cash for fuel on Ithaca — limited stations. Kefalonia to Zakynthos Without Rental-Car Problems The Pessada–Agios Nikolaos crossing costs €12 foot / ~€57 car+2pax. Both ports are remote with no public transport. For a lower-risk plan: park the Kefalonia rental near Pessada, take the foot-passenger ferry, and book a separate car on Zakynthos. This is usually cheaper than ferry fees + insurance surcharges. North to Lefkada from Fiskardo In summer a seasonal ferry runs north from Fiskardo to Vasiliki on Lefkada — a natural extension if you are island-hopping the Ionian. Lefkada is the one neighbour you can also reach by road causeway, so it pairs well with a Kefalonia trip; from Vasiliki the resort hub of Nidri is about 30 minutes up the east coast, and it helps to Cruise Ship Day Visitors Argostoli is a major cruise port: 137 cruise calls in 2024, 186,000+ passengers (+16% YoY). Ships include MSC, Celestyal, Marella (TUI), AIDA, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Oceania, and P&O. Typical schedule: arrive 07:00-12:00, depart 16:00-20:00 (6-10 hours ashore). Suggested cruise day-trip route: Argostoli → Myrtos Beach (40 min) → Fiskardo (30 min from Myrtos) → Melissani Cave (50 min) → return Argostoli (35 min). Total: ~5 hours including stops. Check our driving tips for route conditions. Cruise days increase traffic at Melissani Cave — check schedule and plan accordingly. Can I take a rental car from Kefalonia to Ithaca? Yes, many local companies permit the Sami–Ithaca ferry with preauthorisation. The crossing is 20–30 minutes. Ferry approval does not automatically mean your CDW remains valid at sea. Can I take a rental car from Kefalonia to Zakynthos? Yes, but more restricted. Needs advance approval plus insurance confirmation. Car + passengers costs ~€57 one way.