Melissani Cave: A Must do Activity in Kefalonia, Greece

Is the tourist hot spot still worth it? My experience with the mystical Melissani Caves during my trip to Kefalonia, one of the beautiful Ionian Islands of Greece.

Melissani Caves used to be a hidden gem on the outskirts of the village Sami in Kefalonia. The spot has grown in popularity over the years, but despite this, the cave is still a wonderful addition to your itinerary.

I visited Kefalonia during the winter, so there were minimal tourists, and when arriving at the cave at 10am, it had just opened. This meant that I waited for around 5 minutes before getting on one of the boats. The boat trip takes around 15 minutes in total, which gives you just enough time to marvel at the incredible rock structures as the wooden oars glide through the gorgeous crystal blue water. If you're lucky, you might even spot a few eels! I suppose the word 'lucky' depends if you like eels or not. While I was entranced with my surroundings and my new eel friends, I could definitely understand why this is a 'must do' activity for anyone visiting the island.

Nevertheless, the boat ride will set you back €10 per person. A short but sweet ride, and definitely something you should do if you visit Sami village. However, I can understand people's frustations with the price and time you actually get on the boat, especially during peak times. The boat ride did feel a little short, but the cave is generally quite small once you're inside so there's not too much room to drift around, especially with the 2 boats sailing through the cave at once.

Cave Opening Times

In the summer time (May-October), the cave is open daily 9am-7pm. However, during the Winter, the cave is open from 10am-4pm on Thursdays and weekends. Sometimes the cave may not be operating at the normal opening hours due to a range of factors, so it's important to do some research beforehand so you're not left staring disgruntled at a "CLOSED" sign .

A Good Tip!

Most cruisers get there just after 10:00am, so if you don't want to wait in a queue, I would suggest arriving early. However, the light from the sun is not at optimal 'beauty' until the early afternoon, so it is up to you to make your choice! No crowds, or prettier pictures...which will win?!

What happened to the Viewpoint?

If you are wanting to see the unique geoloigcal phenomenon from above, I'm afraid there is none! Previously, visitors could peer over the top of the cave to see the waters from above and although there is a rusting look-out, it has now been shrouded with a wired fence and a large "NO ENTRY" sign. It seems that tourists have previously taken advantage of the viewpoint, leading it to be fenced off for everyone else. The barbed wired has definitely taken a beating, with large slashes, it almost looked big enough to fit a human! how strange, ay?

Melissani caves from above

Although I was disappointed with the lack of viewpoint, it didn't spoil the trip to Melissani Caves for me. I left feeling satisfied, but I do wish there was a little bit more time to enjoy the boat ride. It was a fun little activity to participate in while making our way into Sami. Unfortunately, with the excursion I booked, the time i had in Sami was quite short. We had an hour in the fishing village before moving on to Asos, another beautiful village but this one was full of pastel coloured houses and pebbled beaches.

I visited Greece in the off-season, so the towns were quiet and virtually empty which makes it great for photography purposes! Have you ever visited Melissani cave, if so let me know your opinion on them. Is it the best activity to do in Kefalonia?

The village of Asos