Antisamos Beach Guide: Parking, Sunbeds and Why It Rivals Myrtos

Antisamos may look familiar even if you have never heard its name. Its white pebbles, turquoise water and densely wooded hills appeared in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and the natural amphitheatre remains instantly recognisable despite the beach facilities added since filming.

This guide covers the practical side: how to drive there, where to park, how the “free sunbeds” really work, and the question everyone asks — is Antisamos better than Myrtos?

Location	East coast, about 4–5 km from Sami
Beach type	Long, curved bay of small white pebbles
Water	Very clear, gets deep quickly
Parking	Free lot at the end of the beach
Facilities	Beach bars, sunbeds, toilets, showers, water sports
Lifeguard	Present in the summer months
Status	Blue Flag awarded for 2026
Best for	Swimmers, snorkellers, film fans, easy beach days

Antisamos sits on the east coast of Kefalonia, just around the headland from the port town of Sami. There is only one road in, and it starts in Sami itself — follow the signs from the seafront.

The road climbs over the hill in a series of bends, passes a viewpoint with a full panorama of the bay, then drops down to the beach. It is narrow in places and you may meet goats on the tarmac, but it is asphalted all the way, and most drivers find it less intimidating than the switchbacks down to Myrtos. Allow about 10–15 minutes from Sami.

Approximate driving distances:

If you are travelling without a car, KTEL Kefalonia operates a direct service from Sami to Antisamos during the tourist season. Timetables and frequency can change, so check the current schedule before relying on it — especially for the return journey. A taxi from Sami is the most flexible alternative. If you are still deciding on transport for your trip, our guide on whether you need a car in Kefalonia covers exactly this kind of situation.

This is one of the best things about Antisamos: parking is generally free. A spacious unpaved car park sits right behind the beach, at the end of the access road, with additional space along the approach.

On busy days in July and August, the closest spaces can fill by late morning, so arriving before 10:30 gives you a better chance of parking near the beach.

Two small caveats. The car park is gravel and dust, so on the rare days when the wind blows from the land, some dust can drift towards the beach. Most spaces are exposed to the sun, although limited shade may be available under trees farther back — a windscreen sunshade still earns its place.

Antisamos is a long, curved bay of small white pebbles, closed in on both sides by hills covered in pine and cypress. The green comes right down to the waterline, which is what gives the bay its almost tropical look in photos. Across the strait, the view is of Ithaca.

The water is the main event. It shifts from milky turquoise in the shallows to deep blue within a few metres, and visibility is excellent — this is one of the best easy snorkelling spots on the island, with fish visible right off the beach.

Three practical things to know before you settle in:

• The seabed drops off quickly. You are out of your depth within a few steps. Confident swimmers love it; weak swimmers should stay close to shore.
• Water shoes help. The pebbles are small but they are still pebbles, both on the beach and underfoot in the water.
• There is no natural shade. Despite all the greenery on the hills, the beach itself is exposed. Bring an umbrella or plan on renting a sunbed set.

The organised section with bars and sunbeds takes up a large part of the bay. If you prefer space to yourself, walk towards the far end of the beach, past the last bar — the crowd thins out noticeably and there are quieter pockets between the rocks.

Antisamos is a well-organised beach with several beach bars operating along the pebbles. Between them they run the sunbeds, the music, the food service and the water sports.

You will see signs advertising free sunbeds — but arrangements vary considerably between operators and even between rows. Recent 2026 visitor reports mention complimentary loungers with a food or drink order, minimum spends of roughly €30–55 for some premium or front-row places, and fixed charges of around €15–20 for two loungers and an umbrella elsewhere. These are only indicative prices, so always ask what is included before choosing a place.

Is it a bad deal? Usually not. You would likely order lunch and drinks anyway, and service is brought to your sunbed. But if your plan was a towel on the pebbles and a packed lunch, you can do that too — head past the organised section and lay your towel in the unorganised part of the beach.

Toilets, showers and changing cabins are available in the organised section, and a lifeguard watches the beach during the summer months.

They are the two most famous beaches on Kefalonia, and they could hardly be more different in character. Myrtos is the postcard — a vast amphitheatre of white pebbles under 300-metre cliffs, best admired from the viewpoint above. Antisamos is the beach you actually relax on.

Our take: see both, but use them differently. Stop at Myrtos for the viewpoint and a swim of an hour or two; bring your book, your snorkel and your appetite to Antisamos. The full breakdown of Myrtos — viewpoints, the descent and its parking — is in our dedicated Myrtos Beach guide.

Antisamos owes much of its fame to Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, the 2001 film adaptation of Louis de Bernières’ novel set on wartime Kefalonia. The production built the Italian soldiers’ encampment on this beach, and the bay features prominently on screen.

No sets or props remain today — what you get instead is the unchanged backdrop. If you loved the book or the film, standing on the pebbles with Ithaca on the horizon is a quietly satisfying moment, and the viewpoint on the access road frames the same panorama the cameras used.

Antisamos is popular, but the bay is long enough that it rarely feels impossibly packed. Still, timing changes the experience.

• Time of day: before 10:30 for easy parking and glassy morning water, or after 16:30 when the day-trip crowd leaves and the light on the hills turns golden. Midday in August is the busiest and hottest window.
• Season: June and September hit the sweet spot — warm sea, most beach bars open, and fewer crowds than in July and August. In July and August come early. In May and October the beach is quiet and some facilities may be closed or winding down.
• Weather note: Antisamos is often calmer when westerly winds make beaches such as Myrtos uncomfortable, which makes it a good plan B on those days. However, easterly and north-easterly winds can still produce waves, so check the conditions rather than assuming the bay will always be flat.

One small seasonal nuisance reported by visitors in late summer: wasps around food. The bars deal with it, but keep sweet drinks covered.

Partly. The sheltered bay, the lifeguard, the calm water and the food a few steps away all work in a family’s favour. The pebbles and the quick drop-off work against it.

Antisamos works best for older children who are already confident swimmers — the snorkelling keeps them busy for hours. With toddlers and inexperienced swimmers, expect to be in the water holding hands at all times; this is not a paddling beach with fifty metres of shallows. Water shoes for everyone make the day markedly easier.

If shallow, sandy water is the priority for your family, other beaches on the island fit that brief better — our guide to the best beaches in Kefalonia flags which ones.

Antisamos pairs naturally with the area’s two famous caves, and doing them in the right order saves you queues and midday heat.

You have two ways to play Melissani. For the most dramatic light on the water, aim for late morning to around midday — but expect this to be the busiest window. If shorter queues matter more, go near opening time instead (details in our Melissani Cave guide). Either way, stop in Sami for supplies or lunch on the waterfront, then settle at Antisamos for the rest of the day. Drogarati can be added before Melissani, though it makes the itinerary longer.

Staying in Sami or nearby makes this the easiest beach day of your trip — from Sami, the Melissani–Antisamos circuit is roughly 17–20 km, and adding Drogarati brings it to about 25–30 km. If you are still choosing your base, see our breakdown of where to stay in Kefalonia.

Yes, generally. There is a free unpaved car park right behind the beach, plus space along the approach. On peak-season days the closest spots can fill by late morning, so arrive early.

Often only with a food and drink order or a minimum spend at the bar that owns them; other operators charge a fixed price for two loungers and an umbrella. Terms vary by bar, by row and by season — ask what is included before you sit down.

Pebbly — small, smooth white pebbles both on the beach and in the shallows. Water shoes are worth packing, especially for children.

Yes — KTEL Kefalonia runs a seasonal direct service from Sami to the beach, though timetables change, so check the current schedule (especially for the return). A taxi from Sami is the most flexible alternative.

For a full beach day — swimming, eating, snorkelling — Antisamos is generally the more practical choice. For the single most spectacular view on the island, Myrtos wins. Ideally, visit both.

Half a day is comfortable; a full day is easy if you like your beach days slow. Many visitors combine it with Melissani Cave and Sami in a single east-coast loop.