Thinking of booking a trip to Poros on Kefalonia? Here’s what to expect from this small port town in a quiet stretch of Kefalonia’s north coast, between Sami and Skala.
What’s the vibe like?
Poros is not one of the more well-known destinations on Kefalonia, but there is one big reason to stay there – the ferry. Car ferry connections from the Kyllini on the mainland, as well as Zakynthos via Kyllini, arrive at Poros. This is how I arrived when I island-hopped over from Zakynthos, and decided to stay in Poros for a few days.
But as you’re here for my honest opinion, I didn’t love it as a place to stay, although I do think it will suit certain people.
So the first thing I want to say about Poros is that the scenery is rather great. It’s a small port town spread out along the shore at the foot of lush green hills, with a long pebble beach. The town is divided into two parts – the harbour bit and the beach bit. The harbour is small and functional, it receives the ferries and a few visiting yachts but isn’t the kind of place where you have an atmospheric meal next to a buzzing marina.
Poros is a functional place, albeit a rather nice one, but it doesn’t have much atmosphere. It does have a great little cafe/bar called Remetzo which is located in the green rocky headland separating the two parts of town, and this is what will come up if you see Poros on social media.
The beach part of town feels a bit run-down and cheap. There are plenty of budget traditional rooms here – I’m a big fan of that, but these seemed to be block booked by budget Eastern European coach trips and felt lacking in love. It has the feel of somewhere that has had its heyday. But Poros has good bones, and it wouldn’t take much to improve the vibe (although that will also mean a corresponding lift in prices, I’m sure).
Not everywhere needs to cater to tourists though. Despite having an international airport, Kefalonia feels like an island that is stubbornly resisting give itself completely over to tourism, which can only be a good thing these days. And Poros feels like one of these stubborn places.
I think, as a first glimpse of Kefalonia, it’s probably not the best place to stay and if it’s your first time visiting then I’d recommend onwards travel. Popular resort Skala is nearby – it is touristy but has an amiable vibe. Katelios and Lourdas are also nicer, Sami is more bustling, and Fiskardo is posher. Perhaps if I’d visited Poros at the end of my trip I would have found it refreshing.
But if you just want to stay somewhere unpretentious and a bit old-school, with cheap sunloungers and a couple of tavernas and cafes nearby, and you don’t need any excursions, then it’s actually pretty good. And it’s certainly a million miles away from the package resort vibe at Skala and Lassi.
What’s the beach like?
Poros’ main beach is pretty great, especially if you like beaches with a traditional Greek vibe – basic sunloungers, lots of free space, no fancy beach bars, perfect for swimming. It’s a kind of coarse grey shingle and rock beach that gets deep quickly. The water was flat calm when I was there. It reminded me of the beach at Kalamata. It’s a bit stony so you might want sea shoes.
Overall, it feels a bit municipal. It’s the kind of beach that’s great to live near for an everyday swim rather than somewhere that will wow you on holiday. The big mountains behind mean it’s often a bit cloudy and muggy.
There are some really pretty cove beaches along the coast like Limenia , and Kalo Lagadi to the south, and Makria Petra to the north.
Activities and amenities
You won’t find many organised activities in Poros, although there are a couple of boat trips that run from the harbour or will pick up from Poros after Skala. Hermes Cruises offer a number of different boat trip itineraries throughout the week, including Ithaka, Fiskardo, Zakynthos, and BBQ beach trips. I do recommend taking day trip to Ithaka if you haven’t been before. And it’s also well worth going up the coast to Fiskardo – that bit of the north coast is very beautiful.
And all of those mountains make a great area for walks – I found a few routes up into the hills behind Poros on the Komoot app. If you have a car, you can drive to Mount Ainos which is Kefalonia’s highest peak.
Transport and accessibility
Poros is a 1-hour drive from Kefalonia International Airport, and it’s also about 1 hour to most of the island’s main attractions including Fiskardo, Myrtos, and Assos.
Poros is separated from most of the island by mountains so all drives (except along the coast to Skala) are hilly. The roads on Kefalonia are in good condition but they are known for being slippery when wet.
One thing you should know about the buses here is that a lot of the people who arrive on the ferry are coming over on the bus from Athens, That same bus then stop in Poros where you can board to travel onwards to Argostoli. As it’s a busy student route, the bus is often packed so be prepared to stand or make alternative arrangements. Getting on the bus can feel like a bit of a scrum, especially around national holidays.
You can check bus timetables at the KTEL Kefalonia website.
Where to stay
Most of the accommodation in Poros is in traditional rooms and studios at the budget end that are looking a bit dated now. 2-bedroom Waves Beachfront Apartment is right by the seafront and has freshly renovated rooms in a modern style.
Read more about Kefalonia:
Where to Stay on Kefalonia: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
Kefalonia – A Relaxed 1 Week Itinerary
7 Things That I Loved About Kefalonia (And 1 That I Didn’t)
How to Day Trip from Kefalonia to Ithaka
10 Most Beautiful Beaches on Kefalonia
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