Destination Kefalonia

This trail connects three of the best things near Sami: the ancient acropolis above town, the pine-covered hills behind it, and Antisamos beach at the end. If you only do one walk on Kefalonia, this is a strong candidate.

Start from Sami harbour. Walk through town toward the hill — you'll see a rough path going up behind the last houses. The ancient acropolis of Same sits up here, not much left standing but the cyclopean walls are impressive. Massive limestone blocks fitted together without mortar, probably 3rd century BC. Take a minute up top. The view covers the whole bay and you can see across to Ithaca.

From the acropolis, follow the trail northeast through the forest. It's mostly pine and cypress, and the shade is welcome. The path is marked with occasional red dots on rocks — not always obvious, so pay attention at junctions. After about forty minutes of walking through the hills, the trail drops down to Antisamos.

And then you're on what might be the best beach on this side of the island. White pebbles, water so clear it looks fake in photos. The beach got famous after they filmed Captain Corelli's Mandolin here, but it was good before that. There's a canteen for drinks and a bus back to Sami in the afternoon, or you can walk back the road way (flatter, about 3 km).

Distance: 5 km one way
Difficulty: Moderate — the acropolis climb is steep, the rest is rolling
Time: 2-3 hours one way, depending on how long you linger at the acropolis
Don't forget: Swimsuit. You'll want to jump in when you arrive at Antisamos.