SeaTV · Ionian Islands · Kefalonia
Sami Marina, Kefalonia — Sailing & Mooring Guide
The main service port of Kefalonia’s east coast — full provisioning, the launching point for Melissani Cave, and the gateway to Antisamos Bay just round the corner.
Sami sits on the east coast of Kefalonia, in a wide sheltered bay opening east toward the Ithaca channel. The town is the main commercial port of the island after Argostoli — a working harbour with ferry services, full provisioning, supermarkets, banks, and the kind of practical infrastructure that makes a charter day feel easier than the picture-perfect alternatives at Fiskardo or Assos.
For sailors, Sami is the east-coast practical stop — less photogenic than Fiskardo, more useful. The bay offers reasonable shelter from the prevailing N–NW wind, the bottom is mud with good holding, and the nearby attractions (Antisamos Bay, Melissani Cave, Drogarati Cave) give the crew somewhere to spend the afternoon ashore. Surge can develop in unsettled conditions — but in normal summer weather it’s a settled overnight.
⚠ Reality check: Sami is a working ferry port. The town quay fills early with fishing boats. The basin west of the harbour is shallow and reserved for local boats. Surge can develop in the harbour with strong S–SE winds. Don’t expect a flat night every night.
⚓ Quick Facts for Sailors
Position
East coast Kefalonia · facing Ithaca channel
VHF Watch
Ch. 10 (Sami port) · Ch. 16 (distress)
Quay Depth
4–7 m at the pier
Bottom & Holding
Mud · good holding
Shelter
Reasonable from prevailing N–NW
Authorities
Sami Port Police
Approach & Navigation
From the north
Coming south from Fiskardo or across from Kioni on Ithaca, the buildings of Sami town become visible as you close the bay. Straightforward approach — no specific hazards on the run-in.
From the south
Coming north from Agia Effimia or further south, the port of Sami is hidden behind Cape Dhekalia (Ak Dhekalia). Once you’re round the cape, the harbour opens up. Stay clear of the cape on rounding — it’s clean but no shortcuts.
Channel call
Working channel for Sami port is VHF Ch. 10. Useful to call before arrival in season — port police can advise on quay availability.
Wind & surge
Shelter from the prevailing N–NW is reasonable — the bay is wide enough that the wind reaches the harbour but the swell is broken by the geography. Surge can develop when the wind shifts to S–SE, especially in unsettled weather. Long stern lines and snubbers help; if conditions look like building from the south, an early move is preferable to a sleepless night.
⚓ Mooring Options
Main Pier · Stern-To · 4–7 m
Stern-to the Main Pier
The standard charter spot — stern-to with own anchor along the main pier on the south side of the harbour. Mud bottom, good holding, depths 4–7 m.
Berthing: Stern-to with own anchor. Mud bottom — set carefully and confirm with reverse.
Best for: Standard overnight, full town access, ferry services, Antisamos Bay day trip.
⚠ Watch: Surge develops in S–SE conditions. Long lines + snubbers help. Ferries pass on schedule — wash through the day.
Town Quay · Fishing Boats Priority
Town Quay — Generally Full
The town quay (closer to the village) is usually full of fishing boats. Don’t plan to take a slot here — even if it looks free at arrival, fishing fleet returning at sunset will need the space.
Recommendation: Stay on the main pier south of the town.
West Basin · Local Boats Only
West Basin — Shallow & Local
The basin to the west of the main port is shallow and reserved for local boats. Don’t enter — depths drop quickly inside, and the slots are taken.
Facilities & Services
Provisioning: Multiple supermarkets in the town — full range of fresh produce, meat, fish, frozen goods, drinks. The best provisioning point on Kefalonia outside Argostoli. Walk 5–10 minutes from the quay.
Banks & ATMs: Multiple in the town centre, all within walking distance.
Pharmacy: Available in town.
Water & fuel: Available — confirm specific arrangements at arrival with port police.
Tavernas, cafés, shops: Plenty along the waterfront and through the town. Less yacht-tourist-priced than Fiskardo.
Car & motorbike rental: Multiple operators near the quay — useful for visiting Melissani Cave, Drogarati Cave, Antisamos Bay (by road), or longer day-trips to the west coast.
Ferries: Sami is a working ferry port — connections to Ithaca (Pisaetos and Vathy) and onward services to the mainland. Useful for crew rotations.
What to Do Ashore
Antisamos Bay
A magnificent white-pebble beach 3 km north of Sami town, with green wooded hills running down to clear blue water. Famous as a filming location for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Reachable by sea (calm-day day-anchor only — no shelter overnight) or by road from Sami in 10 minutes. Don’t miss it.
Melissani Cave
An underground lake inside a cave, with a partially-collapsed roof letting sunlight stream through to the water — when the sun is high (around noon), the lake glows electric blue. A 10-minute drive north of Sami. Boat tours within the cave run regularly through the season.
Drogarati Cave
A separate cave system 4 km from Sami — larger, dryer, with stalactites and stalagmites. Sometimes used as a concert venue for the natural acoustics. Worth a visit on a half-day cave-tour combined with Melissani.
Where to Eat — Sailors’ Picks
Sami’s restaurant scene is more locally oriented than Fiskardo — fewer flash spots, more solid Greek tavernas. The waterfront is busy in season but standards are good and prices are fairer.
Cafe Riviera
A long-running waterfront spot — Greek classics, mezze, fresh fish, generous portions. [link]
Contessina
A simpler taverna at the south end of the waterfront — fish, grilled meats, fair prices, the kind of meal you remember. [link]
Antisamos beach tavernas
If the crew has rented a car for the day, lunch at one of the small beach tavernas at Antisamos is a fine half-day excursion. [link]
Pro Tips for Sami
Provision here. Sami is the best-stocked east-coast town on Kefalonia — top up the boat before pushing south or across to Zakynthos. Fiskardo is better food, Sami is better groceries.
Rent a car. Melissani, Drogarati, Antisamos, and the cross-island drive to Argostoli — all easier from Sami than from Fiskardo. One day-rental gives you the full island.
Long lines for surge. If a southerly is forecast, set long stern lines with snubbers from the start. The harbour surge isn’t dangerous but it works the boat against the quay all night.
Skip the town quay. Don’t try to wedge into the fishing-boat slots on the town quay — even if there’s space, the working fleet has priority. Stay on the main pier.
Day-anchor at Antisamos. 3 NM round the headland from Sami, the bay is one of the most spectacular daytime swim spots on Kefalonia. Calm days only, never overnight — but for an afternoon, perfect.
Suggested Routes from Sami
North to Fiskardo (12 NM)
Up the east coast to Fiskardo — the most photographed harbour in the Ionian. Easy run, comfortable on the prevailing wind on the lee side.
North to Agia Effimia (5 NM)
A short hop north to Agia Effimia Marina — quieter modern marina, calm overnight option.
East to Ithaca (8 NM)
Across to Vathy on Ithaca — the protected fjord-like bay at the head of Ithaca’s south coast. Or further round to Kioni on the east coast of Ithaca.
South to Zakynthos (25 NM)
An open-water passage south to Port Zakynthos or Agios Nikolaos & Blue Caves. Plan a morning departure — the channel can build NW chop in the afternoon.
For full overview: Kefalonia overview. For multi-day plans: 7-Day Ionian itinerary.
✅ Sailor’s Safety Checklist
▢ Cape Dhekalia identified on approach from south
▢ VHF on Ch. 10 (Sami port) and Ch. 16 (distress)
▢ Anchor set in mud bottom — full reverse to confirm
▢ Long stern lines + snubbers if S–SE forecast (surge)
▢ Town quay avoided (fishing fleet)
▢ Ferry track noted — wash through the day
Emergency Numbers — Kefalonia
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Sami (VHF Ch. 12): +30 26740 22031
Sami Port Police (VHF Ch. 10): +30 26740 22031
Coastguard Argostoli: +30 26710 22224
Olympia Radio (VHF Ch. 03/86): Greek HF/VHF maritime service
Argostoli Hospital: +30 26713 60100
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Approach footage from offshore, drone passes over the harbour and Antisamos Bay, the manoeuvre to the main pier, and a walk through the town — Sami as you’d see it from the cockpit. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
If you’re sailing Kefalonia or planning a southern Ionian charter, here are the related SeaTV pages — organised by area.
Kefalonia · Other Anchorages
→ Fiskardo — north-east tip, most photographed harbour
→ Agia Effimia Marina — quieter alternative 5 NM N
→ Assos — west-coast village (calm-day visit)
Ithaca · Across the Channel
→ Vathy, Ithaca — 8 NM E
Zakynthos (Southern Endpoint)
Continue your Kefalonia charter
North to Fiskardo, east to Ithaca, or south across to Zakynthos.
→ Kefalonia overview · Fiskardo · Vathy, Ithaca · Around Zakynthos
“Sami is the practical port. Don’t underrate it just because it isn’t Fiskardo.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Kefalonia Edition
