Kefalonia boat trips reach the beaches and coves that roads cannot: white-pebble bays under the cliffs, the islets off Paliki and the coast of Ithaca. This guide explains which harbour suits which trip, what a day cruise usually includes, the official rules for hiring a boat without a licence and how the wind shapes the day.
A relaxed day at sea for travellers who prefer a traditional boat to a big ferry. The outing lasts about seven hours and includes lunch on the way.
from €65 per person
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An evening boat trip for those who want swimming and snorkelling plus a sunset meal. It calls at the Vardiani islands, then Xi or Livadi beach depending on the weather.
from €45 per person
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A full day on the water for those who like to combine sea views with a meal and a glass of wine. The trip lasts around seven and a half hours.
from €65 per person
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A relaxed evening on a wooden boat, suited to couples, friends and families who like a social atmosphere. Includes a Greek buffet, a swim stop and a bar on board for extra drinks.
from €55 per person
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A short, easy outing on the water for families and anyone staying near Argostoli. Lasts around 3.5 hours and includes stops to swim.
from €50 per person
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A full day on a traditional boat with three swim stops, each of roughly one to two hours. Suits families and groups wanting beach time without driving; Greek food and wine are served on board.
from €65 per person
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Suits swimmers and snorkellers who want secluded coves. Reaches White Rocks beach, which is accessible only by sea, then the Vardiani islands and Xi or Livadi beach, with lunch included.
from €65 per person
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A relaxed coastal day for swimmers and nature lovers, with three stops at hard-to-reach beaches and islands. Free time for swimming and sunbathing, back in Argostoli around 5 pm.
from €76 per person
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Argostoli is the base for day cruises on traditional wooden boats and sunset trips with dinner on board. The usual route takes in a sea-only beach such as White Rocks, the Vardiani islet off the tip of Paliki and the red sand of Xi or Livadi, depending on the wind. If you are on a cruise ship, Argostoli boat tours leave from the same waterfront, a short walk from the quay.
Agia Efimia and Fiskardo are the places for boat hire and for sailing trips to Ithaca: the coast between them is lined with coves you cannot reach by road, and Ithaca is just across the strait. Boat hire in Fiskardo is ideal for Foki, Emblisi and the north coast, while Agia Efimia puts you closest to Ithaca's west coast. Sami and Karavomylos also have motorboats for hire, as do smaller harbours in the south such as Poros and Katelios, and in season boats can be hired on the beach at Skala.
Most day cruises leave in the morning and return in the late afternoon, with two or three swim stops of an hour or so, snorkelling masks and a lunch of Greek dishes; wine or soft drinks are often included. Sailing yachts to Ithaca take smaller groups and often add paddleboards. Sunset cruises are shorter, starting in the early evening.
Read what is not included before you book: hotel transfers, drinks beyond those listed, and sometimes lunch. Captains change the route on the day if the wind is wrong, which is a good sign rather than a bad one. For the Ithaca options by ferry or coach, see our Ithaca day trip guide.
Rental boats in Greece are regulated by the Hellenic Coast Guard's General Port Regulation no. 38. A hired boat counts as a speedboat, which only a licensed operator may drive, once its engine passes set limits: more than 30 hp for a conventional outboard, and as little as 15 hp for inflatables and some hull types. Below those limits the hirer can take the helm without a licence. The person hiring must be at least 18, signs a contract naming who will drive, and takes on the legal responsibilities of a skipper.
The same rules require every hire boat to carry a spare engine (or have two engines) and spare fuel, and the hire company must hand over the boat's papers and the rules in Greek and English. The local port authority can stop rentals, for example in bad weather. Jet skis cannot be rented out under these rules.
In practice, the hire company shows you the boat, the area you may use and the time to be back. Fuel is usually extra. Ask for the forecast, wear the life jackets and keep well clear of swimmers, divers' flags and the ferry lanes.
In summer the Ionian's prevailing wind is the maistro (maistros), a north-westerly that is usually light in the morning, builds from around midday and drops towards sunset. The high ground of Kefalonia and Lefkada can funnel it into stronger gusts in the channels. Plan the longer crossings for the morning, head back early, and if the water gets choppy, turn for the harbour rather than pushing on to the next cove.
The east coast, facing Ithaca, is usually more sheltered than the west, which takes the full force of the wind and swell. Boats run from roughly May to October; outside the summer, more days are lost to weather. Check the seasons in Kefalonia weather and the best time to visit.
Loggerhead turtles feed in the Gulf of Argostoli, and Mediterranean monk seals are sometimes seen along the northern coast. Do not approach, feed or touch them, and slow right down if you see one: the conservation group Wildlife Sense names high-speed boats and propellers among the causes of injury and death. Avoid trips that lure turtles with fish. More in our guide to the loggerhead turtles of Argostoli.
For all our Kefalonia tours and excursions, we favour licensed boats with life jackets for everyone on board and clear itineraries. Start from Fiskardo or Argostoli and see the beaches guide for the coves worth the trip.
Yes. Under Greek rules, rental boats below the speedboat limits, typically a conventional outboard of up to 30 hp, can be driven without a licence by a hirer aged at least 18.
Fiskardo and Agia Efimia, where the coast between them is full of coves reachable only by sea and the strait towards Ithaca is usually sheltered.
The morning. The summer north-westerly wind usually builds from midday and drops towards sunset, so the sea is often calmest before lunch.
Many Argostoli day cruises stop at Xi or nearby Livadi beach on the Paliki peninsula, often with the Vardiani islet, depending on the wind.
