Is Kefalonia safe?
Very safe, with low crime. Winding mountain roads, wildfires and swimming in rough seas are the real dangers for visitors.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-10-22.
- Homicide rate in Greece: 0.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Greece: 8.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 · Ambulance 166 · Fire 199 · Tourist police 1571 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Kefalonia at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Rare petty theft from parked cars and beaches. Rental disputes are the most common complaint. |
| At night | Villages are quiet and safe after dark. Rural roads are unlit, so avoid driving tired. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women; harassment is rare. Quiet beaches and trails are fine in daytime. |
| Other risks | Wildfires in July–August; Earthquakes (island lies on an active fault); Rip currents and cliff roads |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Car rental firms billing for old damage; photograph the car at pickup
Take care
- Narrow cliff roads with no barriers and blind corners
- Swimming at Myrtos and Xi in strong waves
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Taking stones, fragments or artefacts from archaeological sites is a criminal offence.
- Flying drones over archaeological sites needs a permit.
- Drug laws are strict; even small amounts of cannabis can lead to arrest.
How Kefalonia compares in Greece
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Naxos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Paros | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Chania | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Milos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kefalonia | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Meteora | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Halkidiki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lefkada | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nafplio | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Skiathos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hydra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Thassos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Athens | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Santorini | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mykonos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crete | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rhodes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Corfu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Thessaloniki | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Zakynthos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ios | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Peloponnese | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Kefalonia safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women; harassment is rare. Quiet beaches and trails are fine in daytime.
Is Kefalonia safe at night?
Villages are quiet and safe after dark. Rural roads are unlit, so avoid driving tired.
What is the crime rate in Kefalonia?
Rare petty theft from parked cars and beaches. Rental disputes are the most common complaint. Nationally, Greece records 0.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Kefalonia?
Police 100 · Ambulance 166 · Fire 199 · Tourist police 1571 · All emergencies 112.
More about Kefalonia
Going to Kefalonia solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Kefalonia Airport
- Visit Greece
- Ferryhopper
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.