Petani beach

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Petani beach Kefalonia

Petania beach is one of the most picturesque beaches in Kefalonia island, where the sea colours are amazing, and the scenery of the bay is also beautiful. A lot of travellers say in Kefalonia Petani beach is the Carribbean beach of the island, which is also a recommended place for diving and snorkeling.

Petani beach

Just a decade ago Petani was a hidden gem in Kefalona, visited by just beach enthusiasts, but now due the beautiful photos and the great reviews this interesting place became much more popular. Some maps and travel guides mention this incredible bay as Petanoi beach, Paralia Petanoi, or Παραλία Πετανοί in Greek language, but all these names mark the same place in Kefalonia island.

  • Known as: Petani beach, Petanoi beach, Paralia Petani, Παραλία Πετανοί
  • Location: Kefalonia southwest, Paliki peninsula
  • Coordinates and map: 38.261154, 20.377775
  • Access: asphalt road
  • Facilities: parking lots (paid and free), parasols and sunbeds for rent, beach bars, restaurants, showers, lifeguard, a few water sports
  • Shore: pebbles, coarse sand, rocks
  • Sea surface: varied, there can be waves, shallow and deep parts
  • Villages nearby: Agia Thekli, Kontogenada, Lixouri

Where to stay: click here for apartments and hotels in Kefalonia Island!

Where to find Petani beach in Kefalonia Island and how to get there

In Kefalonia Island Petani beach is situated on the southwestern coastline, which is known as Paliki Peninsula. The nearest mentionable village in the area is Lixouri, which lies approx. 15 kilometers away, while the capital of the island, Argostoli is located much further, 36 kilometers away from here. The road which leads to Petani is asphalted, and it takes you all the way down to the beach.

Petani beach access and road conditions

Very important information about Petani beach access when you arrive by car, there are some narrow U-turns at the last sections. Pay attention and slow down when reaching these turns, because the bottom of vehicles which have lower bottoms can hit the road.

At the higher points, where the road is getting wider in some places, you have the opportunity to pull over to the side of the road in several places. These places are lookouts of Petani beach, from where you capture the amazing views and you can make imposing photographs.

Kefalonia Petanoi beach view

Boat trips and daily excursions to Petani beach are not common, because the largest ports of Kefalonia Island are further away from here. So the best options to arrive here are driving here by car or motorbycicle.

Petani beach parking informations

It’s worth to know about Petani beach parking, that behind the beach there are free and payed parkings as well. Parking at Petani beach is not always easy, especially on some high season days in July and August. The reason is there are not many free parking spaces here, and therefore the local parking lots fill up relatively quickly. In theses case options for parking are the small paid parking lots, and when these filled, arriving vehicles have to park at the edge of the narrow road.

Parking lot of Petani beach in Kefalonia

When you don’t have other options and you have to park along the road, always fold your mirrors to avoid a crash or scratch!

During high season months the local parking situation shows how Kefalonia Island became much more popular in Greece. A decade ago Petani beach was visited by only a few tourists and locals, and parking was much easier even in summer.

Free parking lots of Petanoi beach

Petani beach information and pictures

On the island of Kefalonia Petani beach (Paralia Petani) has remained a beach with a calm atmosphere despite the increasing number of visitors. The beach is quite well developed, as there is a parking lot, a tavern, and a beach bar behind the pebbled grass. The two best restaurants here are Ksouras Taverna and Erasmias.

Kefalonia Petani beach beach and behind the bars, sunbeds and umbrellas

The crystal-clear water of the Ionian Sea at Petani beach varies rapidly depending on the location – there are places where it is shallower because of the rock benches, but usually you have to swim or float on the water once you get a few meters in.

Sea temperature at Petani beach


If the surface of the water is not disturbed by large waves, then thanks to the purity of the sea, the sea bay is also excellent for diving, in fact – Petani beach welcomes you with one of the richest underwater wildlife of the waters around the island of Kefalonia, and you can discover many fish swimming among the plants living under the surface. Don’t leave your diving goggles at home when you arrive here, as there are few Ionian islands with similar wildlife as here, and it is one of the best diving spots in Kefalonia, which, according to several travelers, sometimes beats Antisamos beach in terms of wildlife.

Petani beach diving


On the beach of Kefalonia, whose colors are reminiscent of the tropics, there are often bigger waves: in this case, the vegetation in the sea (usually sea grass, which gives the water dark spots) can wash up on the shore, and the water plays in thousands of shades of blue instead of colorful spots , such as Myrtos beach from time to time. Of course, when the sea is rough, Petani beach is not suitable for diving due to the rough sea.

Petani beach waves

Due to local sea currents, the temperature of the Ionian Sea here can sometimes feel cooler than elsewhere on the island. You don’t need to wear swimming shoes because of Petani’s gravel-like, light-colored pebble beach, but you should be careful with the slippery rock benches here and there! There is also the possibility of a little water sports at the Petani Water Sports tent, where you can also rent pedal boats or kayaks if there are no waves.

Kefalonia Petani beach tavern

Some of the locals also call the bay Xoura’s beach (Ksouras): they set up a small memory of the first person who set up a tavern here. It is a little interesting that some local traffic signs also refer to this beach as Petanoi beach (Paralia Petanoi, Παραλία Πετανοί), but in authoritative Kefalonia island maps and brochures, the name Petani is used by many more people.

Petani beach is one of the most eye-catching beaches on the island of Kefalonia and in the whole of Greece, which evokes the tropics in its colors and the best places in its atmosphere – a real five-star!

The skyline is lavish, you can see any of its faces
It is almost fully equipped
Larger waves occur several times a month

Petani beach

On the northern side of Petani beach, there is a cove covered by rocks, but easily accessible. Walking across the northern part of the main beach, you pass a small boat dock, then descend a few steps and you’re in a cove that remains hidden by many.

Small bay of Petani

This part is not developed, but it is a really photogenic and charming bay, and many people see it as one of the hidden gems of Kefalonia. You can stay here only at your own risk, a sign outside also announces: due to the vertical rock wall at the back, there is a slightly higher risk of falling rocks.

Kefalonia is a hidden gem

The southern part of the beach, on the other hand, is special because there are small sea caves under the high rock walls. For diving, in the opinion of many, this southern part is one of the most recommended parts here, some have even seen very special fish here.

Diving and sea caves

If you are in the area, you can also visit another special beach on the island of Kefalonia, Xi beach, which has a completely different character with its slow depth, gray rock walls and reddish-yellow sand.