Cruise Port Guide
Argostoli Cruise Port
Quick answerArgostoli has one cruise berth beside the town, and the main square and shops are 5–10 minutes' walk away; if a second ship calls, it anchors and tenders to the old harbour. Melissani, Myrtos and Assos are 40–60 minutes away by car, so use a tour or a pre-booked driver. Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard, or in the tender queue 90 minutes before if your ship is at anchor.
Checked October 2026 · Sources
At a glance
Terminal to centre
On foot
5–10 min to the main square · Free
Walkable to centre
Yes
About 10 min · null km
Tender
No
Dock port
Typical time ashore
~9h
Check your own itinerary
Buffer before all-aboard
90 min
PortTrip planning default
Currency
EUR
Greek
Transport and cost figures are estimates — always confirm current fares at the terminal.
Plan your Argostoli day
Tell us two things and we'll build the whole day around your ship's schedule.
Free preview · no account needed
Know your ship? See which other ships are in Argostoli with you →Leave-by calculator
When to head back to the ship in Argostoli
Argostoli centre (ship docked)
Walk to the pier, 5–10 min
Leave by
16:30
Argostoli centre (ship at anchor)
Walk to the old harbour, then the tender queue
Leave by
16:00
Lassi beaches (ship docked)
KTEL local bus or taxi, about 10 min
Leave by
16:20
Melissani Cave
Car or coach, about 40–45 min
Leave by
15:15
Myrtos
Car or coach, 45–60 min on mountain roads
Leave by
15:00
Assos
Car or coach, about 1 hour
Leave by
15:00
Where to leave from, and when
on foot bus, train, boat taxiPins show when to leave each place. Lines: route back to your ship.
Where people get it wrong: Trying to do Melissani, Myrtos and Assos by public bus or leaving the north of the island too late.
Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins.
Open my full Argostoli day, timed to 17:30 Get this for every port on your cruise, with alerts on the day Write about Argostoli? Put these leave-by times on your blog, freeFees and limits in Argostoli
Every cruise passenger visiting a Greek port pays a per-port fee that varies by season.
€5 (1 Jun–30 Sep); €3 (1 Apr–31 May and October); €1 (1 Nov–31 Mar), per person per port
Status and sources
Transport: Port of Argostoli (cruise pier) to Argostoli town centre
Argostoli is the capital of Kefalonia, largely rebuilt after the 1953 earthquake, so it is a working Greek town rather than an old-town showpiece. The cruise pier sits on the edge of the centre, and loggerhead sea turtles are often seen near the fishing boats on the promenade. The island's best-known sights are over the mountains: the cave lake of Melissani near Sami, the cliff-backed bay of Myrtos and the village of Assos. They make a good day out, but each involves a winding road and a fixed return time.
Walkable? Yes · about 10 min
The main square, shops and cafés are 5–10 minutes' walk from the pier. The Saint Theodore lighthouse is a 25–30 minute walk. The Lassi beaches are better reached by bus or taxi; Melissani, Myrtos and Assos are not walkable.
Where your ship docks
- Argostoli cruise pier — One berth, reached along a 171.5 m access corridor, with the terminal building ashore. A tourist information office at the end of the pier has maps and bus timetables, and taxis usually wait near the terminal.
- Old harbour tender landing — Used only when a second ship anchors in the bay. Lands passengers in the town.
On foot
Free5–10 min to the main square
Walk along the waterfront into the centre, past the fishing boats where turtles are often seen.
KTEL local bus to Lassi
Pay on the bus or at the KTEL officeAbout 10 min
In summer the Argostoli–Lassi–Svoronata route runs daily from 08:30 to 21:00, roughly every 30 minutes, from a stop just outside the port. Get off at Makris Gialos or Platis Gialos.
Tourist train
Pay on boardAbout 40 min round trip
Leaves about 5 minutes' walk from the pier and stops briefly at the De Bosset Bridge.
Taxi or private driver
Agree a fixed or hourly price before you set offMelissani about 40–45 min; Myrtos 45–60 min; Assos about 1 hour; Fiskardo about 1 hour 15 min
Taxis wait near the terminal. For Melissani plus Myrtos or Assos, book a driver for the day with an agreed return time.
KTEL Kefalonia regional bus
Check at the KTEL officeCheck the current timetable
In summer there are three buses a day to Sami from Monday to Saturday (two on Sundays), one a day to Myrtos and buses to Assos only three times a week, so they are too sparse for a cruise day. The Myrtos bus stops at the Divarata junction, 2.5 km above the beach. The KTEL office is at Antoni Tritsi 5, Argostoli (+30 26710 22281).
Know your all-aboard time? Build the whole day around it.
Return timing: getting back to the ship on time
Be back at the gangway 60 minutes before all-aboard (16:30 for a 17:30 all-aboard), or in the tender queue at the old harbour 90 minutes before if your ship is at anchor. Leave Melissani 2 hours 15 minutes before all-aboard, and Myrtos or Assos 2 hours 30 minutes before.
The roads to Myrtos and Assos are narrow and winding. The 2.5 km road down to Myrtos from Divarata is steep with blind hairpins and fills with parked cars in summer. Coach traffic around Melissani peaks from late morning.
If you're running late
If you are running late from the north of the island, call the port agent number on your daily programme straight away and keep your driver's number. In town, any taxi can reach the pier in a few minutes.
The pier has a single berth, usually given to the larger ship. Any second ship anchors in the bay and tenders passengers to the old harbour in the town. Greece charges a cruise passenger fee for each passenger who goes ashore at ports other than Santorini and Mykonos: €5 from June to September, €3 in April, May and October, €1 from November to March (2026). It is charged once per port, to your onboard account, and only if you leave the ship.
A one-day plan for Argostoli (all aboard 17:30)
Assumes the ship docks at 08:00, a 17:30 all-aboard, a summer day and a pre-booked driver.
08:15 Walk off the pier and meet your driver. Drive to Melissani, about 40–45 minutes.
09:15 Melissani boat visit when it opens, before the coach groups and the midday peak.
10:15 Drogarati Cave nearby, if it is open that day.
11:00 Drive north to the Myrtos viewpoint, then on to Assos.
12:00 Assos: walk up to the Venetian castle (30–40 minutes each way; carry water) or stay by Paris Square in the village.
13:30 Lunch at one of the waterfront tavernas by Paris Square in Assos.
15:00 Leave Assos for Argostoli, about an hour.
16:00 Back in Argostoli. Look for turtles by the fishing boats on the promenade.
16:30 Back on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.
What to see in Argostoli on a cruise day
Melissani Cave Lake
An underground lake lit through a 36 m opening in the collapsed cave roof, visited by small boat; the water turns blue when the sun is high.
⏱ 3 hours including travelTicket paid at the entrance; reduced for children
Tip: Open from May to October, from 09:00. The light is best from about 11:00 to 13:00, which is also the busiest time; on a cruise day go early. The boat trip itself is short, 10–15 minutes.
Drogarati Cave
A stalactite cave a short drive from Melissani.
⏱ 30–45 minutesTicket paid at the entrance
Tip: Opening days are cut back outside summer; the Municipality of Sami announces the schedule.
Myrtos Beach
A long white-pebble bay below high cliffs on the north-west coast, the island's best-known view.
⏱ Viewpoint 20 minutes; a swim 2–3 hoursFree; limited sunbeds €10–15 (2026)
Tip: 45–60 minutes' drive. The 2.5 km road down from Divarata is steep with blind hairpins, and the free car park fills by about 09:30 in summer. On a cruise day the viewpoint above is the easier option.
Assos and its Venetian castle
A small fishing village on a narrow isthmus below a Venetian fortress on a wooded headland.
⏱ 2–3 hours plus about an hour's drive each wayFree
Tip: The mostly paved path to the castle takes 30–40 minutes with little shade. Parking in the village is very limited.
Argostoli promenade and the sea turtles
Loggerhead sea turtles are often seen near the fishing boats along the waterfront.
⏱ 30–60 minutesFree
Tip: Watch from the quay; do not feed or touch them.
Argostoli town centre
The main square, pedestrian shopping streets and waterfront cafés of the island's capital.
⏱ 1–2 hoursFree
Tip: 5–10 minutes' walk from the pier; keep it for the end of the day.
De Bosset Bridge and Saint Theodore lighthouse
A stone bridge across the lagoon, and a round lighthouse on the peninsula north of town.
⏱ 1–1.5 hoursFree
Tip: The lighthouse is a 25–30 minute walk from the pier; the tourist train stops at the bridge.
Fiskardo
A harbour village at the northern tip, one of the few places on the island that escaped the 1953 earthquake.
⏱ Most of the dayFree
Tip: About 1 hour 15 minutes each way by car. Only for long docked calls, ideally on a tour.
Beaches near Argostoli cruise port
Makris Gialos (Lassi)
KTEL local bus from outside the port, or taxi · About 10 min · Free; sunbeds and beach clubs extra
The larger Lassi beach, with water sports and beach clubs such as Costa Costa.
Platis Gialos (Lassi)
KTEL local bus or taxi · About 10 min · Free; sunbeds extra
Smaller and quieter, with a simple café, sunbeds and showers.
Myrtos
Tour, taxi or driver · 45–60 min by car · Free; limited sunbeds €10–15 (2026)
No permanent beach bars; bring water. Strong waves can roll into the open bay and the pebbles get very hot.
Antisamos
Tour, taxi or driver, often combined with Melissani · 45–50 min by car · Free
Pebble beach with clear water near Sami.
Assos
Tour, taxi or driver · About 1 hour by car · Free; umbrellas and loungers on the main beach
Small pebble beach in front of the village restaurants.
What to eat in Argostoli
Lunch by the beach
Costa Costa Beach Club restaurant, Makris Gialos
Taverna lunch by the water
Waterfront tavernas around Paris Square, Assos
Greek coffee and pastries
Cafés on the Argostoli waterfront and main square
Local olive oil, honey and wine to take home
Shops in central Argostoli
Snacks and drinks
Kiosk at Melissani Cave; tavernas in Sami and Karavomylos
Ship excursion or do it yourself?
Varies by line
Ship excursion avg, per person
See table
DIY day avg, per person
Depends on line
Saving, per person
Ship tour prices differ by cruise line and change often, so we only show ones we could verify. Check your line's cruise planner.
| Item | Ship tour | On your own | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissani and Drogarati caves | Varies by line; check your cruise planner | Taxi or driver for the morning, plus cave tickets paid at the entrance | Depends on group size and the driver's price |
| Myrtos and Assos | Varies by line; check your cruise planner | Driver for the day; Myrtos and the Assos castle walk are free | Depends on group size and the driver's price |
Stay independent if you only want Argostoli, the lighthouse walk or a beach at Lassi. For Melissani with Myrtos or Assos, a ship tour is the safer choice on a short call or if your ship is at anchor: the roads are slow, parking at Myrtos fills early in summer, and buses are too infrequent to rely on. A pre-booked private driver works well for a small group on a long docked call.
Common mistakes cruise passengers make in Argostoli
Planning Melissani, Myrtos and Assos by public bus.
Instead: Buses to Myrtos run once a day and to Assos three times a week. Use a tour or a driver.
Arriving at Melissani at noon.
Instead: Noon to 13:00 is the busiest hour. On a cruise day go when it opens.
Driving down to Myrtos beach late in the morning.
Instead: The car park fills by about 09:30 in summer and the road has blind hairpins. Stop at the viewpoint instead.
Hiking to Assos castle without water.
Instead: It is 30–40 minutes each way with little shade. Carry water and allow for the hour's drive back.
Assuming every ship docks.
Instead: There is one berth. If your ship anchors, allow 90 minutes for the tender back from the old harbour.
Safety: is Argostoli safe for cruise passengers?
Argostoli is a safe, easy-going town. The main risks are on the road: narrow, steep mountain roads with blind bends, especially the descent to Myrtos and the approach to Assos. Choose a driver rather than hiring a car if you are unsure of mountain driving. At Myrtos, strong waves can roll into the open bay; swim only in calm conditions.
Emergency number: 112
Practical information
Crowds
Melissani is busiest from noon to 13:00, when coach tours arrive for the best light; go early. Myrtos car park fills by about 09:30 in summer. Argostoli itself is quiet compared with the island's sights, so return early and enjoy the town at the end of the day.
Accessibility
The waterfront from the pier into the centre is flat. Melissani involves a descent and stepping into a small boat. Assos castle is reached by a steep path, and Myrtos beach is a pebble walk from the car park. The tourist train and taxis are the easiest ways to see more of Argostoli. If your ship is at anchor, ask whether wheelchair users can tender ashore.
If it rains
Melissani and Drogarati are both underground or partly so, and still work in light rain, though Melissani's blue light needs sun. In town, spend time in the cafés on the main square and the shops on the pedestrian streets. Skip the Myrtos descent and the Assos castle path when wet.
Money, language, time
Currency: EUR · Language: Greek · Time zone: EET (UTC+2), EEST (UTC+3) in summer
Your whole cruise, planned like this
This is one port. Pro plans every port on your cruise.
The day plan above assumes a 17:30 all-aboard. Your ship's times will differ, and so will every other stop. Pro builds the plan from your ship's real times: a timed day in Argostoli and every other port, a leave-by time for each stop, and a Plan B if you run late. Ultimate adds a live leave-by countdown from where you are on the day. Every plan uses the same checked facts as this guide. Nothing is made up.
Pro
€119.88/yr (≈€9.99/mo)
billed yearly · cancel anytime
- Full timed plan for every port, on every cruise you take
- Leave-by time on every stop and a running-late Plan B
- Cruise Radar: whole-cruise plans from your ship name
- AI day optimiser, audio briefings, PDF and offline access
Ultimate
Never miss the ship€203.88/yr (≈€16.99/mo)
billed yearly · cancel anytime
- Everything in Pro
- Crowd Clock: passengers ashore hour by hour, and your calmest 90 minutes in every port
- Port Day Live: a leave-by countdown from where you are, with alerts at 30, 15 and 0 minutes
- Schedule Watch: an email the moment your ship's times or port days change
- Return-now mode, all-ports cruise hub, savings tracker, calendar export
30-day full refund, no questions asked · Secure checkout via Stripe
Other ports on cruises that call at Argostoli
Katakolon cruise port guide
Walk to townShips dock right next to Katakolo village, so you walk ashore.
Read the Katakolon guide
Kalamata cruise port guide
Walk or short rideKalamata is a docking port: ships berth in the city harbour, and a signed, level walk along Faron Street reaches the centre in about 20 minutes.
Read the Kalamata guide
Nafplio cruise port guide
Tender portNafplio is a tender port: ships anchor in the Argolic Gulf and tenders land at a pier on the Old Town waterfront, a short walk from Syntagma Square.
Read the Nafplio guide
Volos cruise port guide
Walk to townShips dock in the Port of Volos, about 300 m and a five-minute walk from the waterfront, so no tender or shuttle is normally needed.
Read the Volos guide
Argostoli Cruise Port — Common Questions
Was this accurate?
Your answer helps the next cruiser — it takes one tap.
Sources & method
Facts checked against official sources: October 2026
- KTEL Kefalonia – official site (office and contacts)
- Visit Greece (Greek National Tourism Organisation) – Kefalonia
- Discover Greece (Greek tourism sector) – Boating in Melissani Cave
- Visit Kefalonia Island – Melissani and Drogarati opening hours, April 2026 (Municipality of Sami announcement)
- MSC Cruises – Greek cruise passenger fee
- Celestyal Cruises – Argostoli cruise port guide
- CruiseMapper – Kefalonia (Argostoli) port
- Adventour Begins – Argostoli cruise port guide (updated April 2026)
- Greeka – KTEL buses in Kefalonia
- The World Travel Guy – Melissani Cave Lake (2026)
- BeachAtlas – Myrtos Beach 2026 guide
- Dave's Travel Pages – Assos, Kefalonia (updated July 2026)
Independently researched
None confidenceRelated Cruise Planning Guides
Authority Guide
The Ultimate Mediterranean Cruise Port Planning Guide
We use cookies
Essential cookies are always on. We only enable analytics, marketing, personalisation, and session replay if you allow them. You can change this any time. Policy version 1.0.0. Privacy policy