The 8 best things to do in Lixouri, Kefalonia (in 2026/27)

Lixouri is a small coastal town on the Paliki Peninsula, on the western side of Kefalonia. It doesn't get the same attention as Argostoli or Fiskardo, but for us, it's the best part of the island. Our family has been here for generations, growing olives and now producing Ionian Gold extra virgin olive oil.

The coastline around Lixouri is stunning. Fteri was recently named the second best beach in the world, and the restaurants in town serve some of the best food on Kefalonia. There's no shortage of things to do in Lixouri, and we wanted to put our favourite recommendations in a guide.

The best things to do in Lixouri, Kefalonia, at a glance

If you'd prefer to see them all at a glance, we put together this table with our favourite things to do in Lixouri. We've included distances and costs to help you plan your days out.

1. Swim at Petani beach

Petani beach is on the northwest coast of the Paliki Peninsula, about 20 minutes by car from Lixouri. It often gets compared to Myrtos, but Petani is quieter, less crowded, and just as beautiful. The water is cold and very clear, and the seabed drops off quickly, which makes it one of the best swimming beaches in the area.

The beach itself is pebbles, and we would recommend bringing water shoes with you. If you're travelling with young children, Lepeda beach is a better option as the water there is much shallower and calmer.

There are two excellent places to eat nearby. Taverna Ksouras sits above the beach with tables looking straight across the bay. The seafood is very fresh and the stuffed peppers are excellent. Further up the hill near Vovikes, Taverna Petanoi is run by Mariola and her family, with homestyle Kefalonian cooking and a wood-fired pizza oven.

If you can, visit Petani in the evening. The sun sets directly over the water, and watching it from Ksouras is one of the best evenings you can have on Kefalonia.

2. Spend a day at Lagkadakia beach

Lagkadakia is a small pebble cove about 15 minutes by car from Lixouri, and it has some of the clearest water on the island. The snorkelling here is excellent, with plenty of fish around the rocks and along the base of the cliffs. If you don't have your own gear, Captain's Store in Lixouri town sells snorkelling sets. You can also paddle board to the right of the beach where there's a cave (though the sea gets rougher the further out you go).

The beach is small and popular with locals. There's a beach bar with coffee, sandwiches, and snacks, plus changing rooms and free WiFi. Sunbeds with an umbrella are €10 for the day. If you climb over the rocks to the right, there's a second quieter cove with caves you can swim into. Parking is free but limited, and we'd recommend arriving before 10am.

3. Taste local olive oil at Ionian Gold's farm shop

If you're interested in food, an olive oil tasting is one of the best things you can do in Lixouri. The Ionian Gold farm shop and tasting bar is on Antiochou Evangelatou in the centre of town, about five minutes from the ferry quay.

We grow Koroneiki olives on the Paliki Peninsula and produce extra virgin olive oil on our family estate. Our oils are high in polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants that give the oil a peppery kick. Tastings are free every day and you don't need to book. We'll walk you through how the harvest timing, pressing method, and olive variety affect the taste, and you can compare the oils side by side.

The Ionian Gold farm shop is open Monday to Saturday, 08:30 to 13:30 and 18:00 to 21:00. We also stock local honey, Robola wine, dried mountain herbs, and handmade pasteli from producers across Kefalonia.

4. Take a boat along the Paliki coast

Renting a boat for the day is one of the best ways to see the coastline around Lixouri. Some of the most beautiful beaches on the Paliki Peninsula, including Fteri (which was recently named the second best beach in the world), Amidi, and Platia Ammos, can only be reached by boat. Barcarolla Boat Rental is based on Andrea Laskaratou in Lixouri and they offer boats with or without a skipper. You don't need any experience or a licence to take one out.

From Lixouri, you can head north along the coast towards Fteri and Amidi, or south past Xi towards the quieter coves around Kounopetra. You can anchor wherever you like, swim, snorkel, and if you're lucky you'll spot loggerhead turtles. Renting a boat is one of the most popular things to do in Lixouri, so we recommend booking ahead in the summer months.

5. Watch the sunset at Kipoureon Monastery

Kipoureon Monastery is built on the edge of a cliff on the western coast of the Paliki Peninsula, about 12 kilometres from Lixouri. It was founded in the 17th century, damaged in the 1953 earthquake, and has since been rebuilt by a single monk who still lives there today.

Inside, there's a small chapel with post-Byzantine frescoes and icons. But the reason to visit Kipoureon is the courtyard, which sits nearly a hundred metres above the Ionian Sea with an uninterrupted view west across open water. If you visit in the late afternoon, the sunset from the courtyard is one of the best on Kefalonia.

The drive from Lixouri takes about 20 minutes and the road is well-maintained, with parking right outside. Below the monastery, Platia Ammos beach is visible from the clifftop, though it can currently only be reached by boat. Remember to cover your shoulders and knees before entering.

6. Have a long lunch in Lixouri town

Lixouri has no shortage of excellent restaurants, and eating out in town is one of the highlights of visiting. In our opinion, Avli is the best restaurant in Lixouri. The moussaka is made with pulled beef and cinnamon, the Hünkâr is slow-cooked veal with aubergine purée, and the ingredients come from the family's own land. It's no more expensive than anywhere else in town.

Cafe Ouzeri H Gefira, near the ferry quay, is a family-run ouzeri where the mother serves and the son cooks. The fried anchovies and pan-seared shrimp are both excellent, and you eat on a terrace by a small river while locals play tavli at the next table.

Mparaka Mezedopoleio sits on Platia Ethnikis Antistaseos under a large rubber tree, and serves meze-style small plates. The vinegar-marinated octopus and homemade fries with garlic and lemon juice are must-eats here. We recommend going in the evening when the square is busy and ordering a few plates to share.

7. Visit Lepeda, Lixouri's nearest beach

If you don't feel like driving, Lepeda beach is walkable from Lixouri in about 30 minutes. It's a small, sandy beach with orange-tinted sand and very shallow water, which makes it good for families with young children. There's a natural rock pool at one end where toddlers can paddle safely. It's a quieter beach than Petani or Lagkadakia, and you'll see mostly Greek families here.

If you'd rather drive, there's parking right at the beach. Sunbeds with an umbrella are available to rent, and cost €10/day as of summer 2026. On the beach, there's a small taverna serving simple Greek food at fair prices. The meatballs, grilled seabream, and cod with garlic and mashed potato are highly recommended.

8. Collect sea salt at Gero Gombos

Collecting your own sea salt is one of the more unusual things to do in Lixouri, and it's a bit of a local secret. Every summer, the rock pools below the Gero Gombos lighthouse fill with seawater and slowly dry out in the sun. What's left behind is a thin crust of white sea salt, and anyone can collect it. The lighthouse sits on the southern tip of the Paliki Peninsula, about a 20-minute drive from Lixouri, and our family has been coming here to gather salt for as long as we can remember.

You don't need anything special. A spoon and a small jar will suffice, and the best crystals are usually in the shallow pools that have had a few days of sun. You also go home with a souvenir you collected yourself. We use ours on almost everything, but our favourite way is on warm bread with a good pour of Ionian Gold olive oil. There's no shade or facilities out on the headland, and the rocks get hot. Take water with you and wear shoes you can scramble in!