There is nothing quite like being on an island for me – and if that island is Kefalonia, a charming Greek paradise in the Ionian Sea, then so much the better! We visited Kefalonia in late June and stayed in Skala, which is on the south-east coast. While Kefalonia is a well known destination, it’s still one of the less developed of the Greek islands and hasn’t struggled with overtourism in the same way as some of the others. Skala is one of the most popular resorts in Kefalonia, with a long stretch of beach offering plenty of space for sunbathing, plenty of restaurants and bars, and easy access to booking other excursions. Kefalonia isn’t the place to come for banging nightlife – but if you like laid back drinks with picturesque views, then it’ll fit the bill.
What to do in Skala (apart from the beach)
There are several historic sites and churches to visit in Skala, but as it’s one of the major tourist destinations of the island, it’s also a great location for booking boat trips and other excursions from.
Roman Villa of Skala (south of Skala village centre, down a path to the side of Kaliva restaurant, by Greekstones car rental)
A small archaeological site made up of six rooms with mosaic floors. The villa was discovered in 1957 and dates from the second century AD – the condition of the mosaic floors is remarkable considering they’re almost two thousand years old. With your entrance fee, you receive a printed information sheet which also tells you a bit about the Archaic Temple.
Price: adults 3 EUR / children free (cash only)
Archaic Temple of Skala (north of Skala, by Porto Skala Beach)
I struggle to relate to history prior to the Early Modern period, so ancient Greece is not my comfort zone. However, standing in this field, looking at the view, I could relate to the decision to build a temple on the spot – it’s gorgeous.
The temple is a ruin, with only foundations visible, and when we visited, the grass was quite high, so we were unable to make out even those. Helpfully, there is an information board to help you visualise what the spot might have looked like.
The temple was discovered in 1812, with excavations from 1960 to 2001. The original building dates back to the early 6th century BC, which is mind-bogglingly old.
Price: free
Saint George’s Church (next to Archaic Temple of Skala)
This dinky church is not short on charm. Located right next to the Archaic Temple, it’s worth popping in to admire the frescos and light a candle.
Price: free
Church of Saint Gerasimos (Skala’s main road)
Confession time – we never made it inside this church, but the ceiling looks incredible!
Price: free
Take a boat trip with Captain Vangelis
We took a day cruise with Captain Vangelis, stopping at Gidaki Beach, Vathi and Kioni in Ithaka, and Mini Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia. At 55 EUR each, this was our treat day, and I’m so glad we did it. Even though there were a lot of guests, the crew kept us all safe and organised.
Price: Adults 55 EUR / Children 30 EUR
You can find all my posts about Kefalonia here, including my planned detailed post about the boat trip. There will also be ideas for things to do outside of Skala. I’ll be adding new posts over the next couple of months, so do check back if there’s not much to see!
Where to eat in Skala
Skala is packed full of restaurants and bars. They all looked busy when we were there, so you can’t go too far wrong. I’ve just picked four favourites which were either outside of the main area in Skala or offered something out of the ordinary.
Sugaro Pastry Shop (next to Tesoro Blu) for delicious take away ice creams and cakes.
Waves Beach Bar (next to Sugaro Pastry Shop) for chatty staff and tasty lunches.
Ammos Beach Bar (between Tesoro Blu and Skala) for dinners with exquisite boho vibes and local lofi DJs.
The Old Village (opposite the Church of Saint Gerasimos on Skala’s main road) for an excellent range of vegan (and non-vegan) meals.
Where we stayed in Skala
We stayed at the Tesoro Blu hotel, about 20 minutes’ walk along the beach to the village of Skala. There is a restaurant at the hotel, andplenty more options along the beach, so you don’t have to walk into Skala for every meal! You will still get your steps in though. The hotel stretches back from the sea (and the reception, restaurant and pool) up a hill, so you may have a longish walk to your room (see picture below for the distance from our room to the sea).
I really loved the modern design of the hotel, and the pool was really lovely and big. It’s an adults-only hotel, so you won’t have to share the pool with kids! As well as the pool, there is a spa and gym (full disclosure – I didn’t set foot in either).
All the staff were friendly and efficient, and everything we tried on the lunchtime menu was delicious. In comparison, I found breakfast (with the exception of the omelette station) and dinner a bit underwhelming in comparison. I prefer staying in smaller, boutique hotels, and I think that breakfast tends to suffer the larger a hotel is.
Have you decided what the first thing you’re going to do in Skala is?
