Argostolion

Argostoli is the capital of Kefalonia and by far its largest town, spread around a wide, sheltered bay on the island's west coast. It has served as the administrative centre of the island since 1757, when the seat of government moved here from the older town of Agios Georgios, and the 2021 census recorded 13,666 residents in the municipal unit alone.

The move proved decisive for the island's economy: Argostoli's deep, protected bay made it one of the busiest ports in Greece during the 19th century, a role that shaped the town's layout around its waterfront and harbour rather than any inland centre.

Its best-known landmark, the De Bosset Bridge, was first built in wood in 1813 by the Swiss engineer Charles Philip de Bosset before being rebuilt in stone and used continuously until 2005, and it still spans the lagoon just north of the harbour. Today the bay remains a working anchorage as well as a ferry hub to Kyllini, Zakynthos and Lixouri, and the town is worth a visit if you're chartering a gulet in Greece, offering easy provisioning and a proper town atmosphere between quieter island stops.