Located 7km north of the town of Sami on the east coast of Kefalonia, and about 30km from Argostoli, Agia Efimia is a beautiful fishing village with a small port.
Agia Efimia is a very popular stop for yachts cruising the Ionian Sea. It is full of modern cafes and taverns that are concentrated in the port itself. Many boats depart from the port for various excursions around the island.
There are many pebble beaches in this region, while the famous Mirtos beach is about 20 minutes away by car. The place itself is built around a picturesque harbor and has a beautiful beach. Across the street is the island of Ithaca, which you can view from the benches lined up behind the harbor. The largest and most visited beach is Agia Paraskevi, which is located near a cafe where you can rent sunbeds. There are also numerous small coves here, which are mostly pebbly, and after a short walk you will come across the Paradiso beach, which you can go down to by stairs.
Agia Efimia was once a very important trade center with beautiful villas and houses. The village was destroyed in 1953 in a strong earthquake, and was completely rebuilt by the French. Agia Efimia is surrounded by two mountains, Agia Dinati (1131 meters above sea level) in the south and Kalon Oros (about 900 meters above sea level) in the north.
The Greek shipping magnate Gerassimos Agoudimos owns a very elegant house here in the center of Agia Efimia, which he uses for vacations. Agoudimos Lines is a famous ferry line that connects Albania, Italy and Greece, as well as local lines between Sami and Patras in Greece.
If you head towards the Pilarinos gorge, you can enjoy about 20 small villages scattered on the slopes of Agia Dinati and Kalon Oros. Here is the famous monastery “Panagia sta Temata” on the mountain of Agia Dinati, where a traditional festival is held every August 15. The village festival of the place itself is held on July 11, where a procession with traditional dances is organized.
Agia Efimia exudes the atmosphere of traditional Greek hospitality, where every visitor is always welcome. Here you will find excellent local cuisine from local taverns, as well as bread made in the traditional way in old ovens. The place itself is well supplied with three supermarkets near the port, a butcher, a pharmacy, a post office, a bakery, a tourist center, souvenir shops, restaurants, taverns, cafes… For younger visitors who are eager for a night out, it should be noted that this place belongs to quieter destinations where the time is reduced to evening walks and drinks in quieter cafes. We recommend the place for a family vacation and for all those who want to escape from big crowds.
