Agia Efimia

West of the port town of Sami, on the eastern coast of Kefalonia, sits the small harbour village of Agia Efimia, its houses climbing gently above a narrow bay on the Ionian Sea and looking out toward the neighbouring island of Ithaca. The village functions mainly as a base for exploring the surrounding coastline rather than a destination full of sights in itself, and it keeps a slower pace than the larger resorts further south.

The stretch of coast between Agia Efimia and Sami holds one of the area's better-known pebble beaches, Agia Paraskevi, roughly midway between the two settlements and reachable by a short walk or drive along the coast road. Its clear water and modest size make it a natural stop for anyone exploring the shoreline on foot, by car or by tender from a boat moored offshore.

From the water, the same coastline is easiest to appreciate by boat, and many gulet cruises in Greece call in here on the way between Sami and the northern anchorages of Fiskardo and Assos. The harbour itself offers simple moorings, a line of waterfront tavernas and enough shelter from the prevailing summer winds to make it a comfortable overnight stop before continuing north.