Travel Eye on Sami (Kefalonia)

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Overview:

The former capital of Kefalonia, Sami is now a large ferry port and fast-growing holiday centre. The town was wrecked by the by the 1953 earthquake and has been rebuilt with wide streets and prefab cement homes.

Despite its obvious potential as a tourist resort, the town has a shabby and dirty feel but is still a pretty good base for a holiday, being near the spectacular Anti Samos beach and the Drogarati and Mellisani caves.

A small, modern working ferry port with a compact grid layout boasting unremarkable, low-rise buildings and a long, attractive waterfront lined with cafes and tavernas. There is a ferry from here to the island of Ithaca, rising impressively across the bay to the N.

Accommodation is generally small, intimate hotels, guesthouses and apartments, usually family run which attracts those preferring greenery and scenery, good potential for walking and small-town charm, Ithaca's accessibility and beautiful nearby beaches are additional attractions. Entirely unsuited to a beach-and-nightlife holiday.

Locality:

Sami is located on the NE coast, 16 mls NE of Argostoli, 18 mls NE of the airport by adequate, though mountainous roads. On a broad bay with green hills rising steeply inland.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

The pebbly town beach holds little appeal and offers no facilities. Karavomilos, 1 ml NW, has a better option or there is an outstanding beach at Antisamos, a steep, hard-going 3 mls NE. Antisamos Beach is long, white and pebbly, with quite large stones extending into the sea which is shallow and then shelves, there are sunbeds and parasols, a basic taverna and snack kiosk (high season only); no water sports. A number of tiny, stony coves off the road to Aghia Efimia.

During the daytime time can be spent watching the world go by at a waterfront cafe, scuba diving at Aghia Efimia, cycling, horse riding.

The nightlife is limited to tavernas and bars, some with late-night opening.

There is a good selection of tavernas offering mainly Greek/British tourist fare, several of them enticingly sited within the sound of the harbour's lapping waters. Fresh fish is a speciality.

Half day excursions such as exploring surrounding area, including ruins of ancient city E of Sami, Agrilion monastery and views from Cape Dichalia.

Full dayexcursions such as island tour including Drogarati Cave and Melissani lake grotto; pretty resort of Fiskardo; boat trips to Patras, Lefkas and Ithaca; sailing trips to small coves for swimming/snorkelling; boat and coach trip to classical site and museum of Olympia on the mainland.