Myrtos Kefalonia beach report and satellite view of Myrtos

Myrtos Kefalonia

Myrtos is probably the most famous beach on Kefalonia and regularly voted one of Europe's most beautiful. The beach isn't actually all that great, just a sweep of white limestone pebbles but the setting is one of the most spectacular beneath sheer limestone cliffs. It is more a beach to look at and photograph than to actually visit.
You will need a car to get down to Myrtos which lies a scary 1km below the main road. The descent was once a nightmare of rough track but at least has now been tarmaced. Nevertheless there are many unfenced hairpin bends to negotiate, so it's not for the nervous or the foolhardy. There is plenty of room to park at the bottom.
Myrtos beach is made up of round limestone grit and pebbles of all sizes. Footwear is essential as the stones are banked up like waves and walking barefoot on the hot stones is both difficult and painful. There is a very sharp drop into the sea and waves crash mightily onto the shore, turning the waters edge a milky turquoise.
This is not a beach for none swimmers and even strong swimmers should stay close to the coast. Large and slippy stones on the shoreline make it very difficult to get back on shore once in the water and this is also not the place to fall asleep on a lilo; winds can carry you out quickly and strong undercurrents can be dangerous.
There is no natural shade on the beach and it's very exposed though the steep cliffs behind will provide some shade in the morning. At noon the beach is like a slow bake oven as the sun's rays reflect off the stones and the white limestone cliffs. There is a small cave at the end of the beach worth exploring.
There are expensive sun beds and portable toilets, though the toilets are just a hole in the floor and visitors report them as invariably disgusting. There is a small shop at the top of the hill and a very basic cantina on the beach in the summer. The cantina owner thinks everyone on Myrtos wants to hear pop music blaring out all day. Someone give it to him with a beach brolly.