Petani Beach
Best for. Confident swimmers and sunset chasers who want Myrtos drama with thinner crowds, plus anyone who likes reading the wind before they pick their hour.
Best spot. The northern end under the cliff for the calmest water early, then a taverna table up top for the sunset once the afternoon breeze fills in.
Know this. This is an open west coast bay, so it is glassy at dawn and can chop up by mid afternoon when the sea breeze turns onshore. Swim early, and the water deepens fast, so it suits strong swimmers.
Petani is the west coast answer to Myrtos, and on the right morning it is every bit as good. It sits at the bottom of the Paliki peninsula, a winding drive over the hills from Lixouri, where the road suddenly tips you over the edge and the whole bay opens up below, a clean arc of white pebble between two tall headlands with water that runs an almost unreal turquoise. The crowds here are thinner than Myrtos because it takes a little more effort to reach, and that alone makes it one of the most rewarding swims on the island.
Now the part most guides leave out. This is a fully exposed west facing bay, and the west coast is where Kefalonia catches its weather. At first light the water is usually glass, deep and still and lit up like a swimming pool. Then through the day the sea breeze tends to swing onshore, and by mid afternoon you can get a steady ripple of wind chop pushing into the bay, sometimes enough to cloud the clarity near the shore and bump you around on the pebbles. None of it is dangerous in normal conditions, but it does change the beach, and it is exactly why locals tell you to come early.
The water itself shelves away fast. Two or three steps off the pebbles and you are swimming, with no gentle shallow shelf to wade into, which makes Petani a swimmers beach rather than a paddling one. That depth is a gift if you like real water under you and a snorkel along the rocky edges on a calm day, and a reason for caution if you have small children or weak swimmers in the group. Reef shoes earn their place on the pebbles, both getting in and standing on the steeper bank as a set of wind waves rolls through.
Up top there are two tavernas perched on the cliff with the kind of view you remember, and they come into their own at the end of the day. Petani faces dead west, so the sunset here is the real headline, the sky going gold then deep rose over the open Ionian while the bay below falls into shadow. Stay for it. Down on the sand there are sunbeds and umbrellas to rent in season, but no club with bottle service or daybeds, and no shade beyond the umbrellas and what the cliff throws late in the day.
Who should skip it. If you want a calm, shallow, set up family beach with easy water and a string of cafes, the sheltered east coast around Antisamos or the gentle shallows of Xi will serve you far better. But if you want big west coast drama, deep clear water, a proper swim and the best sunset table on this side of Kefalonia, get to Petani early, read the wind, and you will understand why so many people quietly rate it above Myrtos.
Clubs on this beach
Petani has sunbeds, umbrellas and two clifftop tavernas rather than a daybed beach club on the sand, so for a full club style day we point you to the Kefalonia beach clubs directory.
No dedicated beach club on this beach
Petani is a wild, beautiful public bay with sunbeds to rent and two tavernas on the cliff above rather than a daybed club with table service. That keeps it raw and uncrowded, which is the whole point. For a fuller club style day on the island, with anything unconfirmed clearly marked, see the Kefalonia beach clubs directory.
Lixouri, west coast
Petani lies on the west side of the Paliki peninsula, a drive of roughly ten kilometres from the harbour town of Lixouri over a low range of hills, with the bay revealing itself on the descent. From Argostoli you can take the short ferry across to Lixouri and drive on, or loop around by road, around forty kilometres in all. A hire car is by far the easiest way and there is parking at the top and along the approach.
Facilities are simple and seasonal. There are sunbeds and umbrellas to rent on the pebbles and two tavernas on the clifftop above the bay for food, drink and that sunset view. These are run by the operators and open seasonally, so opening times and prices are best confirmed locally before you count on them.
Pack for an exposed beach. Bring reef shoes for the pebbles, water and sun cover since shade is limited to the umbrellas, and time your swim for the calmer morning when the bay is glass. Check the wind before you commit to an afternoon, because when the sea breeze turns onshore the clarity and comfort drop, and keep a close eye on weaker swimmers in the fast deepening water.
Photo: Petani Bay Hotel - Adults Only via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a beach club on the island, with the turquoise swimming of Petani close by. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Petani Beach
Is Petani Beach good for swimming?
Yes, on a calm day it is one of the best swims on Kefalonia, with deep, vivid turquoise water that is beautifully clear. The catch is that the water shelves away fast off the pebbles, so it suits confident swimmers more than paddlers, and the bay is west facing and open, so it is calmest in the morning before the afternoon sea breeze can push in some wind chop.
Is Petani better than Myrtos?
Many people quietly think so. Petani has the same white pebble and turquoise drama as Myrtos but with thinner crowds because it is harder to reach, plus two clifftop tavernas and a far better sunset. Myrtos is the more famous postcard, but for a swim and a long day Petani often wins.
Does it get windy at Petani Beach?
It can. Petani faces west into the open Ionian, so while mornings are usually glassy, the sea breeze often turns onshore through the afternoon and can bring a choppy ripple into the bay. If you want the calmest, clearest water, come early and check the forecast before planning an afternoon swim.
Is Petani sand or pebbles?
It is white pebbles rather than sand, the rounded Ionian kind that keeps the water wonderfully clear. They are firm and can be warm underfoot, so reef shoes or sandals make getting in and out, and standing on the steeper bank, much more comfortable.
How do you get to Petani Beach?
Petani is on the west side of the Paliki peninsula, about ten kilometres by road from Lixouri over the hills. From Argostoli you can take the short ferry to Lixouri then drive, or loop around by road. A hire car is easiest and there is parking near the top of the bay.
Is Petani Beach good for families?
It is fine for families with older, confident swimmers, but the fast deepening water and the lack of a shallow shelf mean it is not ideal for small children. Families wanting easy, shallow water are better off at Xi near Lixouri or the sheltered bay at Antisamos on the east coast.
