Myrtos
Seen from the cliff road above, Myrtos is pure drama — a mile of dazzling white pebbles pinched between two mountains, meeting a sea of electric blue.
- Best forBeach lovers · Couples · Photographers
- In August29°C · 2 rainy days · sea 28°C
- Ideal stayA week on Kefalonia
- Approx. flying time~13h 35m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageGreek
- Local time13:112h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+30
Why go
The approach does half the work here. A cliff road curls down the north-west coast and the beach appears far below, a long crescent of white pebbles pinched between two headlands, with water that shifts from milk to sapphire depending on the depth. Down at sea level it is spare and unfussy: sunbeds, a canteen, a lifeguard and the sound of shingle dragging back with each wave.
Nobody stays at the beach itself, so pick a base at Assos, Fiskardo or Agia Efimia and drive over for a morning or a late afternoon. Kefalonia is a big island with slow roads, so allow a week to do it justice. May, June and September give warm sea and space on the sand. The steep shelf and pebbles make it awkward with small children.
- Ideal stay
- A week on Kefalonia
- The vibe
- Blinding white, deep blue, cinematic
From our guides
Down at beach level it's simpler: sunbeds, one canteen and serious swimming. The pebbles shelve steeply, so it suits confident swimmers more than paddling toddlers. Stay for sunset from the viewpoint; it's one of the great views of Greece.
Featured in Ten European beaches for your next summer escape
Things to do
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The cliff-road viewpoints
Two laybys on the descent give the view everyone comes for. Late afternoon light is the kindest, and sunset from up here is the local ritual.
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Swimming off the shelf
The beach drops away sharply within a few metres, so you are in deep, clear water almost immediately. Excellent for confident swimmers.
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Assos
A tiny painted village on an isthmus below a ruined Venetian fortress, twenty minutes north. Walk up to the castle walls for the view back down.
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Fiskardo
The only harbour village to survive the 1953 earthquake intact, with Venetian houses, yachts and a pleasantly smug air about it.
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Melissani cave
A collapsed cavern where you are rowed across an underground lake. Around midday the sun drops through the hole in the roof and the water turns luminous.
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Mount Ainos
The island's high point, forested with a rare native fir and home to a population of semi-wild horses. A cool escape on a hot afternoon.
Getting there
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Fly to
Kefallinia Island (EFL)
Nearest airport to Myrtos, about 22km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Assos
About 45 minutes to an hour by car from Kefalonia airport (EFL), north up the west coast towards Divarata and Assos.
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On the ground
Getting around
Myrtos is reached by a steep switchback road down from the Divarata junction, a few minutes' drive, with a car park at beach level; the clifftop viewpoint above is a separate stop.
Public transport: Sparse: a limited bus service runs the Argostoli to Fiskardo road and drops you at the top of the descent, not at the beach.
Flights
Los Angeles Myrtos, Kefalonia, Greece
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Roughly 13h 35m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 29°C in August. Driest in June and July; wettest in December, with rain on about 15 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 28°C, coolest at 16°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
August29° · rain 2 days · sea 28°Warm and dry.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — May to September. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small hotels, studios and apartments in the villages, plus villas with pools in the hills. Nothing large or all-inclusive on this stretch of the coast.
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Best base overall
Assos
A tiny harbour village under a Venetian fortress, twenty minutes north of the beach, with waterside tavernas and swimming off the rocks. Very few rooms and a steep, narrow access road.
Find stays in Assos -
Best for couples
Fiskardo
The prettiest and priciest village on the island, with yachts, restaurants and boat hire. It is around forty minutes from Myrtos and books up long in advance.
Find stays in Fiskardo -
Best value
Agia Efimia and Sami
East-coast towns with more rooms, supermarkets and the ferry to Ithaca, at noticeably lower prices. The drive over the ridge to Myrtos takes half an hour of bends.
Find stays in Agia Efimia and Sami -
Best with children
Lourdas and Skala
South-coast resorts with sandy, shallow beaches that suit small children far better than Myrtos itself. You will be treating Myrtos as a day trip, which is how most families use it.
Find stays in Lourdas and Skala
Worth knowing before you book: Most of Kefalonia closes from late October to April, and villas in the north run Saturday changeovers with a week minimum through the summer.
Search everything else in Assos by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Swimming
- The shelf is steep and the undertow can be strong when there is any swell. Watch the flag and stay within your depth if the sea is moving.
- Pack this
- Water shoes make the pebbles bearable, and a proper towel is no use as a mat. Bring more water than you think you need.
- Shade
- There is very little natural shade and the cliffs reflect the heat. Take an umbrella or hire a bed with one, and avoid the middle of the day.
- Driving
- The access road is steep with tight hairpins and the car park fills by late morning in August. Go early or go after four.
- Timing
- Facilities run from roughly May to early October. Outside those months you get the beach to yourself and nothing else at all.
Similar places
Dalmatia: Hvar
Vis and Korčula, CroatiaAlso for beach lovers and couples · 27°C in August (29°C here)
Sveti Stefan
MontenegroAlso for beach lovers and couples · 29°C in August, as here · cheaper to stay
Praia da Marinha
Algarve, PortugalAlso for beach lovers and couples · 32°C in August (29°C here)
Nearby destinations
Navagio Beach
Zakynthos, Greece · 49km away →
Loggerhead turtles
Zakynthos, Greece · 59km away →
Voutoumi
Antipaxos, Greece · 100km away →
Paleokastritsa
Corfu, Greece · 171km away →
The Blue Eye
Albania · 184km away →
The Peloponnese
Greece · 208km away →Elsewhere in Greece
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Myrtos?
For warm, mostly dry days, May to September. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 29°C in August. Driest in June and July; wettest in December, with rain on about 15 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 28°C, coolest at 16°C.
How long should I spend in Myrtos?
Our suggestion: a week on Kefalonia.
How do I get to Myrtos?
About 45 minutes to an hour by car from Kefalonia airport (EFL), north up the west coast towards Divarata and Assos.
Do I need a car in Myrtos?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Sparse: a limited bus service runs the Argostoli to Fiskardo road and drops you at the top of the descent, not at the beach.
What currency and language are used in Myrtos?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Greek. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Myrtos best for?
Best for beach lovers, couples and photographers. In a phrase: blinding white, deep blue, cinematic.