SeaTV · Ionian Islands · Kefalonia
Agia Effimia Marina, Kefalonia — Sailing & Mooring Guide
A small fishing village halfway between Sami and Fiskardo — the quiet east-coast option when the famous harbours are full and the gusts off the valley aren’t joking.
Agia Effimia sits on the east coast of Kefalonia, roughly midway between Sami Marina to the south and Fiskardo to the north. It’s a small working fishing village with a tidy mole-protected harbour, water and power on the quay, and a handful of restaurants along the seafront.
For sailors, Agia Effimia is the third option: less polished than Fiskardo, less industrial than Sami, with most of the practical things you need within five minutes’ walk. It’s especially useful when Fiskardo fills early in season (which it does, daily, by 15:00) and you want something more relaxed than the Sami waterfront. The trade-off: the channel between Kefalonia and Ithaca funnels the prevailing northerly wind, and gusts coming off the valley behind the village can hit you suddenly even in apparently moderate conditions.
⚠ Reality check: The Kefalonia–Ithaca channel is consistently windy, almost always from the north. In August expect strong NW gusts between 15:00 and 18:00. Set the anchor as if the wind is coming — because thirty minutes from now, it is.
⚓ Quick Facts for Sailors
Coordinates
38°18.15’N · 20°36.03’E
VHF Channel
Ch. 74 (marina) · Ch. 16 (distress) · Ch. 12 (port)
Quay Depth
3–4 m at the visitor quays
Bottom & Holding
Sand, mud and weed — set carefully
Distance Markers
~7 NM N of Sami · ~12 NM S of Fiskardo
Marina Contact
+30 26743 60250
Wind, Weather & Approach Notes
Approach from the north
Coming south from Fiskardo, the village stays hidden until you’re around Ak Agirossiki — the small headland just north of the harbour. Keep close to the Kefalonia coast, watch for fishing-boat traffic out of Agia Effimia, and the breakwater becomes visible as you turn the cape.
Approach from the south or east
From Sami or from Vathy across the channel, the village and harbour are clearly visible on approach. The east-coast bay opens wide and the breakwater is unmistakable.
The channel wind
The Kefalonia–Ithaca channel is one of the windiest stretches on the route. The prevailing flow is from the north, accelerated by the geography of the two islands. In August this becomes strong NW between 15:00 and 18:00 — sometimes F5–F6 in the channel while it’s calm in the next bay.
Gusts off the valley
Behind Agia Effimia is a narrow valley running west into the mountains. In strong NW conditions, the wind funnels down this valley and hits the harbour as williwaw-style gusts from the WNW — sudden, much stronger than the average wind, and capable of dragging a poorly-set anchor. Take this seriously.
⚓ Mooring Options
North Quay · Stern-to · Most Common
Stern-to the North Quay
The standard option. The marina staff will direct you to a slot along the inside of the breakwater — typically 8–12 visitor boats fit on a busy night.
Berthing: Stern-to with your own anchor in 3–4 m. No laid lines. Drop in 5–6 m off the quay and reverse in carefully. Allow extra chain — the gusts make a tight set risky.
Set carefully: Bottom is mixed sand, mud, and seaweed. The anchor may sit on weed without biting — reverse hard at low revs first to test, then full revs once it bites. Snorkel it in 2 metres’ visibility before settling.
⚠ Watch: Strong gusts down the valley behind the village can hit suddenly. Long stern lines, anchor chain ratio 5:1 minimum, and test the set with the engine before stepping ashore.
East Quay · Stern-to · Smaller Section
Stern-to the East Village Quay
Shorter section along the village waterfront on the east side of the harbour. Closer to the tavernas and shops, but more exposed if SE winds develop.
Berthing: Same approach as the north quay — stern-to with anchor. Generally 4–5 boats fit before it’s full.
SE warning: If the forecast shows any SE component, take a north-quay spot instead. SE winds push swell straight into the east-quay section and the boats start working their stern lines.
⚠ Watch: Surge in the harbour during SE conditions. If it builds, slip and head to Sami for proper shelter — don’t try to ride it out.
SW Anchorage · Free
Free Anchoring Southwest of the Harbour
When the quays are full, drop the hook in the bay southwest of the harbour. Sand bottom, decent holding, short dinghy ride to the village.
Anchoring: 6–10 m on sand. More predictable holding than inside the harbour because the bottom is cleaner and the patch is bigger.
⚠ Watch: Open to E and SE — fine in the prevailing N/NW, untenable if anything from the southeast quadrant builds.
Facilities & Shore
Water & electricity: Available on the quay at most berths. Small fee.
Fuel: No fuel pump on the quay — fuel is delivered by mini tanker. Call +30 694 481 1214 to arrange (same operator that serves Fiskardo). Plan ahead — same-day delivery is usually possible but not guaranteed.
Provisioning: Two small supermarkets in the village — fine for a few days of bread, fruit, yoghurt, and basics. For full provisioning go to Sami instead.
ATM & pharmacy: Both on the village square, two minutes from the quay.
Marina contact: +30 26743 60250 · VHF Ch. 74.
Walks: A coastal path runs north toward the next small bay (Karavomilos) — about 30 minutes’ walk, ending at the small spring-fed lake. Quiet and pleasant in the late afternoon when the air cools.
Where to Eat — Sailors’ Picks
A handful of waterfront tavernas and a few smaller places set back in the village streets. Standards are good — Agia Effimia is small enough that a bad kitchen wouldn’t survive a season. Booking isn’t usually necessary outside peak August nights.
Paradise Beach Taverna
A long-running family-run kitchen on the small beach south of the harbour — five minutes’ walk from the quay. Greek classics done well, fresh fish off the local boats, friendly service. €€
Captain’s Cabin
On the waterfront close to the quay. Mixed Greek and international menu — useful if the crew has been on souvlaki for four nights running and someone is asking for pasta. €€
Adonis Taverna
A street back from the harbour. Smaller, simpler, the kind of place where the menu is on a chalkboard and the cook is also the waiter. €€ · [VERIFY: confirm operating before publishing]
Pro Tips for Agia Effimia
Plan B for Fiskardo crowds. If Fiskardo is full when you arrive (very common from 15:00 onwards in season), Agia Effimia is 12 NM south — a comfortable two-hour sail. Don’t waste an hour circling Fiskardo bay; go.
Anchor for the gusts, not the wind. Set as if you’ll see F5 from the WNW — because you will. Long scope, full reverse, snorkel before settling.
Cross to Ithaca early. If you’re heading to Vathy or Kioni next, leave by 09:00 — the channel is calmest before the thermal builds. By midday you’re beating into F5 with chop.
Order fuel a day ahead. The mini tanker doesn’t always show up the same day, especially in August. If you need a fill, call +30 694 481 1214 the evening before.
Walk to Karavomilos lake. Thirty minutes north along the coast path is a small spring-fed lake — clear water bubbling up where the limestone meets the sea, fed underground from Melissani Cave behind it. Worth an evening walk.
Suggested Routes from Agia Effimia
North to Fiskardo (12 NM)
A two-hour morning sail north along the Kefalonia coast to Fiskardo. Useful when you’ve used Agia Effimia as a Plan B and want to try Fiskardo again the next day, or when continuing the cruise toward Lefkada.
South to Sami (7 NM)
A short morning sail to Sami Marina — full provisioning, repair services, ferry to Ithaca. The standard “boat-jobs day” stop.
East to Ithaca (Vathy or Kioni)
Across the channel: Vathy is 8 NM SE, Kioni is 6 NM E. Leave early to cross before the channel wind builds. Pera Pigadhi is a possible side stop on the south route.
West coast detour — Assos & Myrtos
A morning trip around the north tip of Kefalonia to Assos and Myrtos beach. Roughly 25 NM round trip — leave Agia Effimia by 07:00, swim at Myrtos before 11:00, lunch at Assos, return east before the afternoon thermal builds. See the Kefalonia overview page for west-coast timing.
More multi-day plans on our route pages: 7-Day Ionian itinerary · Best Sailing Route from Corfu · Our Route trip log.
✅ Sailor’s Safety Checklist
▢ Anchor set with full reverse; chain ratio 5:1 minimum
▢ Snorkel-checked the bite — no weed wrapped on the anchor
▢ Forecast checked for SE component (avoid east quay if SE)
▢ Channel crossing planned for the morning, not afternoon
▢ VHF on Ch. 16 (Ch. 74 for marina)
▢ Long stern lines + 4 fenders deployed before backing in
Emergency Numbers — Kefalonia
European Emergency: 112
Marina Office: +30 26743 60250
Coastguard Sami (VHF Ch. 12): +30 26740 22031
Coastguard Fiskardo: +30 26740 41400
Health Centre Sami: +30 26740 23720
Hospital Argostoli: +30 26713 61164
Fuel (Mini Tanker): +30 694 481 1214
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Approach footage from the channel, the manoeuvre into the harbour, and quay-side detail — Agia Effimia as you’d see it from the cockpit. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
If you’re routing through Agia Effimia, here are the SeaTV pages worth bookmarking — organised by area.
Kefalonia · Other Anchorages
→ Kefalonia overview — Fiskardo, Sami, Assos, Myrtos round-up
→ Fiskardo — north-tip pastel village (12 NM N)
→ Sami Marina — east-coast service hub (7 NM S)
→ Assos — NW coast Venetian fortress harbour
Ithaca · Across the Channel
→ Ithaca — Best Anchorages overview
→ Vathy — capital, sheltered natural harbour (8 NM SE)
→ Kioni — picture-postcard NE harbour (6 NM E)
→ Pera Pigadhi — small island anchorage south of Ithaca
Lefkada & the Inner Ionian (Continuing North)
→ Lefkas Marina — largest charter base in the Ionian
→ Lefkas Town Quay — free alternative on the canal
→ Nidri — east-coast village & bay
→ Vasiliki — south-coast windsurfer bay
→ Best anchorages of Lefkada — overview
→ Meganisi Island — small bays SE of Lefkada
→ Kastos Island — quietest overnight in the area
Mainland & North Ionian
→ Preveza — mainland gateway to the Ambracian Gulf
→ Lakka Bay, Paxos — iconic NW horseshoe
→ Gaios, Paxos — all-weather harbour
→ Marina Gouvia, Corfu — main charter base
→ East Coast of Corfu — Kassiopi to Petriti overview
→ Petriti — south Corfu fishing village
Zakynthos · Further South
→ Sail & Anchor around Zakynthos — overview
→ Port Zakynthos — main town quay
→ Lagana Bay National Marine Park
→ Porto Vromi — west-coast cliff anchorage
Suggested Routes & Itineraries
→ 7-Day Ionian Sailing Itinerary — Preveza to Sami
→ Best Sailing Route from Corfu — 4-day southbound
→ Our Route: Corfu → Paxos → Lefkada → Kefalonia — 10-day trip log
Continue your Kefalonia charter
North to Fiskardo, south to Sami, or across the channel to Ithaca.
→ Ionian Islands hub · Fiskardo · Sami Marina · Vathy, Ithaca
“Agia Effimia is the harbour you find when Fiskardo is full — and stay because the gusts are honest and the dinner is good.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Kefalonia Edition
