Katelios Holidays
Holidays to Katelios
Set on the beautiful island of Kefalonia, sleepy Katelios is among the Greek Islands' most relaxed villages. If you want to escape crowded beaches and big resorts, Katelios breaks are the ideal choice.
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, set close to mainland Greece. Katelios sits near the island's southern tip, facing Zakynthos. Once a fishing village, it's now home to a growing number of villas and small hotels, set back from a narrow beach towards the mountains. When it comes to peace, quiet and tranquility, Katelios holidays are one of Greece's best-kept secrets.
Nature in Katelios
Kefalonia is not only one of the biggest Ionian Islands, but one of the archipelago's most unspoiled. Wildlife flourishes in both the rocky interior and its wild, romantic coves. Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles nest on its beaches near Katelios, while inland the National Park of Mount Ainos protects wild horses, vultures and falcons.
Why book Katelios holidays
Discover the best beaches
You'll enjoy the sand and shingle Agia Vavara Beach in Katelios
Perfect for watersports
Enjoy a more thrilling time at the beach with a variety of fun watersports
Sample the local food
As a fishing village, Katelios has a lot of tasty seafood dishes to devour
Your guide to Katelios holidays
Top 5 things to do in Katelios
Relaxation reigns supreme on Katelios breaks, where days can centre on little more than strolling between your bed and the beach.
The Ionian Sea stays around a balmy 20oC from June to October. Katelios beach is well set up for sunbathing, with loungers for hire, a beach shower and plenty of space to spread out a towel.
Katelios's gently sloping shallows are calm enough for kids to swim in year-round. Pack snorkels and masks to explore beyond the sea grass offshore.
Nightlife in Katelios is low-key, with a handful of good tavernas and bars near the beach. Many package holidays to Katelios only include breakfast, so you'll be free to explore local spots in the evenings.
You can learn more about the loggerhead turtles that nest on Kefalonia's beaches with the help of community organisations such the Katelios Group, who lead sustainable development in and around the village.
If you're staying longer than a week, hire a car in Katelios and set off to discover more of the island. It'll take you around an hour and a half to reach Kefalonia's north coast.
Outdoor adventures in Katelios
If you're in search of a more active holiday to Katelios, you'll find adventures nearby on land and sea.
Although adrenaline-fuelled watersports aren't on offer on Katelios Beach itself, your hotel will be able to recommend nearby operators. Jet skiing and water-donut rides are a few of the activities available from nearby Skala.
More laidback ocean adventures along Kefalonia's southern coast include sea kayaking and sailing trips. You'll explore little-visited bays and get the chance to pick up some new skills along the way.
For hiking, make tracks for Kefalonia's forested interior. Easy trails start from Katelios itself while longer day-hikes can even take you to Megas Soros, the highest peak in the Ionian islands.
If you prefer your adventures to be petrol-powered, hire a quad bike and zip along the island's quiet back roads as you please.
Fishing boats still moor up in Katelios's harbour, and some offer organised trips for visitors. You'll sail along the coast, help the team haul in the day's catch and lunch on freshly prepared, just-caught fish on board.
Beaches near Katelios
With a scooter, or even via taxi, you can easily explore beaches along Kefalonia's south coast.
Wide, sandy and protected Kaminia Beach is just to the east of Katelios and particularly popular with families. There are a few bars and cafés here, but it's rarely overcrowded.
Mounda Beach is Kaminia Beach's eastern extension. It's wilder and less developed, and popular among naturists.
The beauty of Katelios holidays is their tranquility, but if you're in search of action head to Skala, the largest beach resort in the south of the island. Numerous bars and restaurants back the beach here.
You can lose the crowds completely on Kanali Beach. It has both sandy and pebbly stretches, and turtles are known to nest here in season.
It's nearly a 40-minute drive to Avithos Beach from Katelios – but the schlep is well worth it. Kids will love playing in the deep golden sand, while for grown ups there are a couple of excellent tavernas.
Best beaches for day trips
Hire a car or hop aboard an all-day sailing tour to explore Kefalonia's harder-to-reach beaches.
The turquoise waters of Shipwreck Beach, also known as Navagio beach, grace thousands of postcards and paintings. This small cove on Kefalonia's north coast is among Greece's most famous.
If you don't arrive by boat, it's a tricky scramble over the rocks to reach pebbly Kako Lagadi Beach, but the snorkelling here is superb. It's a welcome contrast to the sandy strands where you're likely to spend most of your time on holidays in Katelios.
A scenic strip of sand backed by scrub-covered ciffs, Lefka Beach is relatively remote but undeniably beautiful. It's most easily reached by boat rather than by land.
There are photo opportunities aplenty on Xi Beach, marked by its unique red-brown sand. The clay that makes up the cliffs here is said to have healing properties, so don't be surprised if you see regulars giving themselves DIY treatments.
Myrtos beach, a wide, semi-circular sweep of sand, regularly scoops international awards for its cleanliness and beauty. Come to swim during the day, but don't leave before sunset.
Food and drink in Katelios
Culinary highlights on holidays to Katelios range from tasting local products to sunset dinners looking out to sea.
Start your Katelios break with dinner practically on the beach at one of the village's seafront tavernas, where tables are set on wooden decks over the sand.
In the island's capital, Argostoli, a 35-minute drive from Katelios, you'll find the pick of Kefalonia's fanciest restaurants as well as fantastic fresh food markets.
Stop by the Kefalonia Olive Mill to see local organic olive oil being produced. Smaller bottles are the perfect souvenir to pack in your suitcase.
Kefalonia is dotted with vineyards and winemaking is mostly still a family business. Gentilini Winery & Vineyards, Melissinos-Petrakopoulos Winery, Divino Wines and Haritatos Vineyard are among those offering tours and tastings.
Even craft beer is making inroads on Kefalonia. The Kefalonian and Ithaka Microbrewery makes entrepreneurs a premium lager and a red ale.
Traditional dishes to try in Katelios
With a handful of excellent local tavernas to choose from on Katelios breaks, you'll have plenty of opportunities to sample traditional Greek cooking.
Of all the classic Greek mezze, tzatziki is perhaps the most tempting after a day on the beach. There are few spreads that aren't improved by this garlic, yogurt and cucumber dip.
You can accompany a selection of mezze with riganada, sometimes dubbed Greek bruschetta. This garlic-rubbed toast is topped with tomatoes, oregano and feta.
Kreatopita is one of the most filling dishes you'll spot on Katelios menus, a meat pie made with beef and pork in a herby tomato and wine sauce.
The recipe for chicken tserepa is said to have come for the neighbouring island of Ithaca. It's a potato and meat stew, slowly simmered in a tserepa, a clay cooking pot, and flavoured with oregano and garlic.
Mandola, sugary caramelised almonds, are unique to the Ionian Islands. They're often coloured a ruby red using a dye extracted from local seaweed.
Katelios family holidays
If you're after a laidback family base, hotels in Katelios are the perfect choice.
Kids will love the beach while you'll also find family-friendly outings across the island. Kids as young as five can try their hand at being a beekeeper for a few hours at DIAS. Visitors are kitted up in suits before visiting the apiary and experiences end with a honey tasting.
Get curious minds engaged in Greek history on a boat tour to neighbouring Ithaca, an island steeped in history and the mythical home of the ancient hero, Odysseus.
Back on the Kefalonian mainland, the fascinating Mycenaean tombs at Tzanata offer a shorter introduction to the island's history. They were only excavated in the early 1990s, making them a reasonably recent discovery in Greek terms.
Museums aren't the focus of sun-drenched summer days in Katelios, but a trip to the Nautical Museum of Sami is worthwhile for budding sailors. It preserves the port's rich naval history through miniature replicas of famous ships.
For watersports, Skala Beach should be your first port of call. You can hire pedalos or even take wakeboard lessons here, depending how adventurous you're feeling.
Katelios couples holidays
Katelios breaks are a great choice for seclusion and relaxation, whether you choose to stay by the beach or explore Kefalonia's most romantic spots.
If you don't like the idea of organised tours, you can rent a private speedboat in Skala, with or without a captain, and set off to explore different beaches at your own pace.
With its Venetian architecture and picture-perfect harbour, Fiskardo is sometimes known as St Tropez of Greece. There's nowhere better to journey for a romantic meal.
Legend says Melissani Lake Cave, on Kefalonia's north coast, was named for a heartbroken nymph. Whether or not you believe the ancient tales, gliding across the glassy lake beneath 20,000 year-old-stalactites is magical.
The pretty village of Assos is also worth a trip north from Katelios. As well as admiring its colourful houses, you can trek up to the castle overlooking the bay.
For an interesting afternoon of sightseeing, make a pilgrimage to Agios Gerasimos Monastery, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Kefalonia.
Most popular Katelios hotels
Efrosini Village
Katelios
Notos Luxury Studios & Apartments
Anastasia Studios
Villa dei Sogni
Alkioni Hotel
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Katelios weather
Your Katelios questions answered
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Even winters on Kefalonia are mild, but the best time to visit Katelios is between June and October, when average temperatures range between 22°C and 28°C. Even in May, the first warm days can be a delight – although you'll find Katelios to be quiet out of season.
You'll find the best Katelios holiday deals in September, when the weather's still warm. There's a slightly higher chance of rain in the autumn, but beach days are unlikely to be rained off.
Kefalonia's airport is in the southwest of the island, around a forty-minute drive from Katelios. If you don't pick up a hire car or take a taxi, you can choose between private and shared shuttles.
Although new hotels and guesthouses are opening year after year, Katelios is still a small village. Wherever you stay, you'll be no more than fifteen minutes' walk from the beach.
If your kids are big on beach days and day trips, Katelios is a great choice for a family break.
Top Katelios hotels