Myrtos Beach (Paralía Mirtos)
Cephalonia, Cephalonia Island
A regular on lists of the world’s best beaches, Myrtos Beach (Paralía Mirtos) is a 0.5-mile (700-meter) expanse of gleaming white sand curving between two high promontories on Cephalonia’s north coast. While the stunning color comes from rounded pebbles and coarse sand, not fine powder, the view from the blue Ionian Sea is spectacular.
The Basics
Myrtos Beach comes equipped with the basics: a beach bar with simple snacks, bathrooms, a shower, changing areas, and some sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. The view from the road above the beach, near the village of Divarata, is stunning, and cliff top lookout spots are popular with photographers and tourists. Many Cephalonia Island tours visit Myrtos Beach, and you can also book a half-day tour to the beach that includes transportation.
Things to Know Before You Go
During the summer season, lifeguards keep an eye on the beach and operate a flag system—don’t even think about swimming when the flags are red.
Bring swim shoes; the beach’s pebbles can be hard on the feet.
The water gets deep quickly close to shore, and waves can be strong, so Myrtos Beach may not be the best choice for children.
There’s no shade on the beach, so bring plenty of sunscreen, and consider bringing your own beach umbrella or beach tent in case rental umbrellas are booked up.
An access road comes right down to the beach, but there are no wheelchair-friendly bathrooms.
How to Get There
Myrtos Beach sits on Myrtos Gulf on Cephalonia’s north coast, about an 18-mile (29-kilometer) drive north of Argostoli. The closest bus stop is a 3-mile (5-kilometer) walk from the beach, so almost all travelers drive to the beach or join a tour.
When to Get There
The beach is very busy during the summer high season (July and August), so arrive early if you want to grab a sunbed, an umbrella, or a parking space. The waves tend to get stronger in the afternoon, making swimming more challenging, but sunsets can be dazzling.
Cephalonia’s Best Instagram Spots
With sparkling water, dramatic beaches, and picture-perfect villages, Cephalonia is popular with shutterbugs and Instagrammers. For the best photos, head to historic Fiskardo village, where the buildings are painted in a variety of bright colors; then visit the Melissani Cave, which houses an underground lake that is lit by sunlight that comes through its collapsed roof. Lastly, see one of the island’s best sunsets at Petani Beach.
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