Island Guide ยท 27 August 2026 ยท 7 min read
Kefalonia by campervan: how to get there from Lefkada
A short ferry crossing turns Kefalonia into an easy add-on to a Lefkada trip โ here's how the crossing works and what to do once you're on the island.
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands and, unlike Lefkada, you can't drive onto it โ but the ferry crossing from Lefkada is short, simple, and takes your campervan with you. That makes Kefalonia a genuinely easy add-on to a Western Greece trip rather than a separate expedition.
Why bother with the crossing
Kefalonia has a different character to Lefkada: bigger mountains, longer drives between villages, and a small handful of sights โ Myrtos Beach, Melissani Cave, the village of Assos โ that regularly show up on "most beautiful in Greece" lists for good reason. Because the ferry only takes just over an hour, it works well as a two- or three-day loop rather than committing your whole trip to it.
The ferry: Lefkada to Kefalonia
The crossing runs from Nydri or Vassiliki on Lefkada's east and south coast to Fiskardo, Kefalonia's pretty harbour village at the island's northern tip. It's operated by Ionion Pelagos, with multiple daily departures in summer and a reduced schedule outside the season.
| Route | Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Nydri โ Fiskardo | About 1h | Several times daily in high season, fewer in shoulder/winter months |
| Vassiliki โ Fiskardo | About 1h 10 min | Fewer departures than Nydri; check the current timetable |
Campervans are charged per metre of vehicle length rather than a flat fee, so the exact fare depends on your van's size โ check the operator's current tariff before you travel. Book ahead in July and August; sailings fill up.
Driving in Kefalonia
Fiskardo itself is easy โ a small harbour village with straightforward parking on the outskirts. The roads that need more care are the ones to the island's most photographed spots: the descent to Myrtos Beach viewpoint and the road out to Assos both involve narrow, winding stretches with hairpin turns and steep drops. They're fine in a compact van taken slowly; a large motorhome will have a harder time and should budget extra time.
Distances on Kefalonia are longer than they look on the map โ the island is mountainous, and a return trip from Fiskardo to Myrtos and back is a half-day outing, not a quick detour.
What to see and do
Myrtos Beach
A dramatic white-pebble beach beneath steep cliffs, regularly ranked among the most photogenic in Greece. There's a viewpoint on the descent road worth stopping for even if you don't go all the way down.
Assos
A small village on a narrow isthmus connecting to a forested peninsula topped by a Venetian fortress. Quiet, picturesque, and a good lunch stop.
Melissani Cave
A collapsed cave system near Karavomylos, close to Sami, with an underground lake lit by sunlight through the open roof. A short boat ride takes you across it.
Fiskardo
The village where your ferry arrives โ worth a wander in its own right, with pastel-coloured Venetian-era buildings that survived the 1953 earthquake that flattened much of the rest of the island.
Where to stay overnight
Camping Argostoli, near the island's capital, is well set up for campervans and motorhomes and makes a central base for exploring the south of the island. Camping Karavomilos Beach, near Sami and close to Melissani Cave, sits right on the water and suits a stop in the island's north-east.
As with Lefkada, setting up chairs or an awning outside your van outside a proper campsite crosses into camping rather than parking โ see our full guide on where you can stay for the legal details.
Combining Kefalonia with Lefkada
The natural shape of the trip: spend the first part of your time based on Lefkada, then take the ferry across for two or three nights on Kefalonia before returning the same way. Because both crossing points โ Nydri and Vassiliki โ sit on Lefkada's south-east side, it fits neatly onto the end of a Lefkada loop rather than requiring a detour to catch it.
Planning an island-hopping route from PVK?
Browse our fleet, or check our Lefkada guide for where to base yourself before the crossing.
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