4 Best Sights in Kefalonia, Greece

For many this is the best beach on the island. Its setting is Caribbean-esque: a semicircular ring of lush green-stubbled cliffs wrapping a white pebble-sand shore that gives way to waters that veer from emerald to cobalt blue. Umbrellas and sundecks fill only part of the beach, so there's room in the corners just to spread out. Its remoteness ensures this remains one of the few big shorelines yet to be overwhelmed on the island. Access is impossible without your own transport, so it's worth getting there early as parking is limited. Facilities do exist, however, in the form of a beach bar and a few restaurants. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

There's little to see within the village of Assos, yet it's still a dazzling sight. It is largely made up of a single steep road that plummets down to the harbor and then up past pebble shores to a parking lot, for those wanting to continue on to the castle. En route, pinkish-purple bougainvillea blooms from every crevice; vinelike roots wrap the ruins of hollowed-out buildings; pretty town houses painted vibrant pastels glimmer in the sunlight; and the view from on high over the turquoise waters below is magnificent. By the village square, which bears a plaque commemorating the "Parisiens" whose money rebuilt Assos after its destruction in 1953, are a string of cafés and tavernas swarming the edges of a pebble beach. Here, visitors swap dips in the knee-deep water of the bay for cooling drinks. It's worth resting a while here after climbing to the castle, which can be a sweaty task.

Squirreled away to the right of stairs leading to the city library, what this small museum lacks in explanation it makes up for in diversity. Life-size dioramas of 17th- and 18th-century island life, religious art, wood carvings rescued from derelict churches, embroidery, lithographs, furniture, and some rather excellent photographic studies of Argostoli pre- and post-earthquake make a visit worthwhile experience.

Kilometer-long Mars-red sands sheltered by bright-white cliffs make this one of the most distinctive shores on the island. It's also the most popular, in part due to shallow waters that make it especially good for families. Its popularity also means that it's well catered for, with a number of excellent restaurants and bars having sprouted on its fringes. Umbrellas and sun beds dot the shore. Good access and a mix of water sports and plenty of children ensure this is one of the noisier shores on the island. It can be reached by bus from Lixouri. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: swimming.