6 Best Sights in Paliki Peninsula, Kefalonia

Some 280 steps were carved into the cliff face to enable access to this beach, which had previously only been reachable by boat. But in 2014 a tremor caused those steps to crumble. They're now very dangerous and should not be attempted, so sea access has once again become the only way to reach this magical shore. It's worth the trip. A semi-circular amphitheater of cliffs and sand mirrors that of Myrtos and Petani Bay, only without any vestiges of tourist interference. There are no facilities, just nature and you, so caution is advised, especially since the water deepens very quicky. Boat trips to the beach may be organized in Lixiouri and Argostoli. Amenities: none. Best for: empty shores; adventure; Robinson Crusoe--style Instagam shots.

Perched on the far west coast and famed for its clifftop views, this 18th-century monastery is home to just a solitary monk, named Efsevios. He took it upon himself to restore the entire building in the 1990s, after only the church had been rebuilt following the 1953 earthquakes. It wasn't the first time the monastery had been razed. In 1915, during some bad weather, a passing French destroyer was said to have mistaken the smoke from its chimney for an enemy ship; the hail of its canonfire leveled the outer walls. Today, the many empty cells recall how busy it once must have been. Contained within its church are the skulls of its three founders as well as a piece of the "Holy Wood" donated by a Russian prince in the mid-19th century. Its resident monk offically welcomes visitors on March 25 and September 14, though he's not shy and you can usually find him here. A short trail nearby the monastery leads to some fine views over the cliffs.

Kefalonia's second-largest town is less businesslike than Argostoli, and its post-quake rebuilding more in line with the old Venetian style, but there's little here to hold the imagination. One of a few buildings in the city to have survived 1953 intact is the Lakovatios library, a grand neoclassical affair that hosts a small free museum. Otherwise, it's a colorful enough port town, mostly used as a jumping off point by tourists en-route to the southern beaches of Xi and Lepeda, or for picking up a boat tour.

For many this is the best beach on the island. Its setting is Caribbean-esque: a semi-circular ring of lush, green-stubbled cliffs wrapping a white pebble-sand shore that gives way to waters that veer from emerald to cobalt blue. Umbrellas and sundecks fill only part of the beach, so there's room in the corners just to spread out. Its remoteness ensures this remains one of few big shorelines yet to be overwhelmed on the island. Access is impossible without your own transport, so it's worth getting there early as parking is limited. Facilities do exist, however, in the form of a beach bar and a few restaurants. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: quiet, beautiful views; swimming.

This T-shaped isle is easily glimpsed from the mainland but may only be visited by boat. A lighthouse, built to replace the old 19th-century tower that was destroyed by Italian bombing in 1942, still stands here along with the ruins of two monasteries dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Trips usually stop to snorkle in the surrounding waters, where the odd turtle can sometimes be spotted, while a rough path on the island also makes for a fine walk. Boats here can be found in Lixiouri and Argostoli.

Kilometer-long Mars-red sands sheltered by bright-white cliffs make this one of the most distinctive shores on the island. It's also the most popular, in part due to shallow waters that make it especially good for familes. Its popularity also means that it's well catered for, with a number of excellent restaurants and bars having sprouted on its fringes. Umbrellas and sun beds dot the shore. Good access and a mix of watersports and plenty of families ensure this is one of the noisier shores on the island. It can even be reached by bus from Lixiouri. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: families; after-bathing drinks.