Xi Kefalonia resort report and satellite view of Xi

Xi Kefalonia

Xi is one of the best known resorts on the lesser known Pali peninsula of Kefalonia. Xi is often pronounced by the English 'zee', but the Greek pronunciation is more like Ksi. It is a long, flat and somewhat scruffy looking beach of sand and shingle that is dominated by the Cephalonia Palace Hotel. The hotel, though big, is not completely unattractive and is surrounded by gardens and usually hidden by greenery and flowers. As well as the hotel there are plenty of apartments dotted around the flat area behind the beach.
The resort also have several shops, tavernas and bars. It's pretty much at a dead end road so there is little in the way of traffic. Xi is noted for its red sand beach and the grey alluvial deposits that make up the landscape around the Pali peninsula. It is very long at around 4km and relatively quiet.
Xi has the advantage of being well away from the usual tourist trail. It has a pleasant uncommercial atmosphere and attracts a more sophisticated tourist. The downside is you are quite cut off from the rest of the island and its a long drive to get anywhere. With a car you have the Pali peninsula in easy reach or you can take the ferry across the bay to Argostoli.
From Xi beach you can take a boat to Vardiani island which only 500m offshore. Where Xi beach ends, the beach of Mega Lakkos begins and turning back towards Mantzavinata the road goes to Kounopetra next to Akrotiri and the fishing village if Vatsa Bay. The area around Xi is very flat so walking and cycling are no problem and the area to the north west at Krokidata is very attractive.