Sami Kefalonia is the island's main east-coast port and its most practical base for sightseeing: the ferry to Ithaca leaves from the quay, Melissani and Drogarati caves are a few minutes away and Antisamos beach is just over the hill. This guide covers the town, the beaches, the caves, the ferries, eating, staying and parking.
Sami lies at the head of a wide bay on the central east coast, with green hills behind and Ithaca filling the view across the strait. It is a proper small town rather than a resort: a long waterfront with cafés and tavernas, a busy ferry quay, a few shops, banks and a supermarket, and people who live here all year. Like most of the island it was rebuilt after the 1953 earthquake, so the buildings are modern and low.
Sami town had its moment of fame when Captain Corelli's Mandolin, released in 2001, was filmed largely in and around it; a mock waterfront of old Argostoli was built here for the shoot. History goes much further back. Ancient Sami was one of the four city-states of Kefalonia, and the remains of its acropolis walls lie on the hill above the town. A small Archaeological Collection, opened in 2021, displays finds from the area, and the remains of Roman baths with mosaic floors, discovered in 1960, are another reminder of the town's long past.
Sami beach is a long stretch of pebbles and shingle that runs north from the town along the bay towards Karavomylos, with shallow, usually calm water and several hotels and beach bars behind it. It is a good family beach in the sense that it is easy, safe and close, though the water is rarely as clear as on the island's famous beaches. The pebbles get hot, so bring water shoes.
The beach most people come for is Antisamos, about 4–5 km away over the hill on a steep, winding road. Its white pebbles and turquoise water backed by wooded slopes made it the location of the Italian army camp in the Corelli film. It has sunbeds and a beach bar in summer, gets crowded in August and has limited parking, so arrive early. On a hilltop above, the monastery of Panagia Agrilion looks down over the bay; dress respectfully if you go in. More options are in our Kefalonia beaches guide.
Sami is the best base for the island's two show caves. Melissani Cave, the underground lake where boatmen row you across the water under a collapsed roof open to the sky, is near Karavomylos, a few minutes' drive or a pleasant walk along the bay from the town. Drogarati Cave, a large chamber hung with stalactites, is a short drive south-west. Both are seasonal and get queues from late morning in summer: Melissani has its best light around midday, when the sun shines straight into the lake, so either accept the wait or go early for a quieter visit. Check our cave pages for current hours and tickets.
Next to Melissani, Karavomylos lake is a small brackish lake just behind the shore. It is fed by water that disappears into the sinkholes near Argostoli on the other side of the island and travels underground to emerge here. A seaside path links it with Sami.
The quay in the centre of town is Kefalonia's main gateway to Ithaca. Ferries cross to Pisaetos on Ithaca's west coast all year in about 20 to 30 minutes; in 2026 booking platforms list Levante Ferries and Ionion Pelagos on the route, with several sailings a day in summer and fewer in winter. Pisaetos is just a small ferry ramp, so arrange a taxi or a hire car to continue to Vathy. Our Ithaca day trip guide explains how to plan it.
Sami also has seasonal connections with the mainland, which change from year to year; see the Kefalonia ferries guide for the current picture. Buy tickets at the agencies on the waterfront or online, and arrive in good time with a car in July and August.
The waterfront is lined with tavernas, grills and cafés that feed locals and ferry passengers as well as visitors, so prices are reasonable and many places stay open longer into the autumn than in the resorts. Fresh fish and Kefalonian meat pie are the dishes to look for, and a coffee on the quay while the ferries come and go is a pleasure in itself.
Hotels in Sami range from simple rooms in town to beach hotels along the bay towards Karavomylos and villas on the hills. Sami suits travellers who want to see a lot of the island, families who like a calm beach and a town with services, and anyone planning to hop over to Ithaca. It is less of a postcard than Fiskardo or Assos, and the town beach is good rather than spectacular. For a smaller, quieter harbour 9 km north, look at Agia Efimia, and compare the areas in where to stay in Kefalonia.
From Argostoli the drive is about 25 km over the mountain and takes roughly 30 to 35 minutes; from the airport allow about 40 to 45 minutes. From Agia Efimia it is a 15-minute drive south on the coast road. KTEL runs a few buses a day between Argostoli and Sami all year, but you still need a hire car or tours to reach the beaches and villages around.
Parking is easier than in the northern villages, with space along the waterfront and side streets. Near the ferry quay it fills before departures in high season, and Antisamos is the place where you are most likely to struggle in August.
Yes, for sightseeing: Melissani, Drogarati and Antisamos are within a few kilometres, the Ithaca ferry leaves from the town and Argostoli is about 30 minutes away. It is less of a beach resort than the south or Lassi.
About 4–5 km over the hill, on a steep, winding road. In August arrive early, as parking is limited.
About 20 to 30 minutes to Pisaetos on Ithaca's west coast. The route runs all year, with more sailings in summer.
Yes, a long pebble and shingle beach runs north from the town towards Karavomylos, with calm, shallow water and beach bars in summer.
Yes, much of the 2001 film was shot in and around Sami, where a set of old Argostoli was built on the waterfront, and at Antisamos beach.
A compact half-day for visitors who want the island's two best-known caves without planning the route. It starts in Argostoli and takes about four hours.
from €65 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
Designed for cruise passengers with limited time ashore: Melissani's underground lake, free time at Antisamos beach, the town of Sami and the Myrtos viewpoint, all in a private five-hour tour.
from €160 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A straightforward half-day outing covering two of Kefalonia's main natural sights, suited to first-time visitors. Plan on about 5 hours in total.
from €45 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
A private day for groups who want a broad look at the island, from St Gerasimos monastery and the Robola winery to caves, Sami and Fiskardo. Includes a boat ride in Melissani Cave.
from €265 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A full day linking two of the island's best-known natural sights with a beach stop, suited to first-time visitors who want a lot covered in about seven hours.
from €55 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
Prices are indicative and may change. The final price is shown by the booking platform. Prices checked: October 17, 2026.
Argostoli Kefalonia's capital: the Lithostroto, the Drapano bridge, loggerhead turtles in the harbour, museums and Lassi's beaches next door. 
Fiskardo Kefalonia's northern harbour, spared by the 1953 earthquake: Venetian-era houses, yachts, boats to Ithaca and Lefkada and pebble coves. 
Skala Kefalonia's south-east beach resort: a long sand-and-shingle beach, Roman mosaics, nesting turtles and easy family holidays. 
Assos A tiny village on an isthmus below a huge Venetian castle: the walk up, the viewpoint, the pebble beach and the parking. 
Lassi The resort next to Argostoli: Makris Gialos and Platis Gialos beaches, a walk into town, the lighthouse path and the planes overhead. 
Lourdas A long south-coast beach under Mount Ainos, a small resort and the village of Lourdata above, 20–25 minutes from the airport. 