Fiskardo Cottage

Rooms

Enter the cottage into an open-plan kitchen and living room, with white-and-grey flecked marble floors and a whitewashed wooden pitched ceiling. A cool, light and airy space, it combines modern cooking facilities with a boxy white sofa, armchair and TV. There are old trinkets and collectables, including a retro telephone, a vintage sewing machine, sets of scales, and an old-fashioned wood-burning stove. Spotlights and 2 big white metal fisherman’s lamps make it atmospheric after dark.

The master bedroom has exposed stone walls with a wooden floor, a white wrought-iron double bed and French doors opening onto a small balcony with views across the fields towards the sea. The other bedroom (double or twin) is rather basic though nice, with one exposed stone wall. A new extension provides a third double bedroom with ensuite bath/shower room, and there's also a white wooden mezzanine level above the living room with a wrought-iron double bed, meaning that the cottage can in theory sleep 8. The family white-and-grey marble bathroom has a big walk-in rain shower.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Beach umbrellas
• DVD player
• Family friendly
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Ipod dock
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Satellite TV
• Sunloungers
• Terrace
• Washing machine

Eating

The open-plan kitchen is fully equipped with a cooker, big fridge/freezer with an ice maker, kettle, toaster, microwave and oven, espresso machine and dishwasher, plus a wealth of crockery. There's a table in the kitchen, but you'll probably want to dine alfresco in the lovely outdoor eating space with a long wooden table. It’s a fine spot for breakfast, with the sea merging into the sky in the distance, and you also get sublime sunsets.

It’s worth stocking up on some basic provisions (cooking oil, milk etc) as these aren’t provided. There’s a mini-market in the village (a 5-minute walk uphill), 2 small grocery stores in Magganos (a 20-minute walk), plus 2 well-stocked supermarkets in Fiskardo (5 minutes by car or a 30-minute walk). A shopping service is also available if requested at least a week in advance of your stay, and the owners can also arrange a private chef.

Restaurant wise, the nearest place to eat out is To Petrino in the village - they serve a selection of Greek mezze plus barbecued meat and fish dishes. For breakfast out in the village, head to Picnic and try their delicious Eggs Benedict. In Magganos there’s a decent taverna called Ionio, which does good local food and occasional live music, or in Fiskardo, highly recommended are Vasso’s and Tassia’s, both overlooking the harbour and serving good (though not cheap) fresh seafood.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Coffee / tea making
• Family friendly
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Shopping service
• Toaster

Kids

Families are welcome and kids will enjoy having a small pool to splash in, though teenagers could get a little frustrated by the isolated location. The cottage is in a tranquil setting yet conveniently close to tavernas, shops and beaches. The nearest are a 5-minute walk away, but up an overgrown, unsurfaced track, which could be difficult for young children or those with limited mobility.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

We think this cottage is perfect for a family with a couple of kids (ideally aged 5-10), with 3 bedrooms (2 doubles, 1 twin) and it's own slim pool right outside. It also has a double bed on the mezzanine above the living room which could sleep an extra 1-2 older kids (the steps are a little steep for younger ones).

Distances:

• Airport: 90 minutes
• Hospital: 45 minutes
• Shops: 10 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Fiskardo Cottage is set in Markandonata, a peaceful hamlet built into a west-facing hillside, overlooking the Ionian Sea and close to the northern tip of Kefalonia. The fishing village of Fiskardo lies a 5-minute drive away.

By Air
Fly into Kefalonia (58km - served by charter flights from the UK throughout the summer), or Athens then get a connecting flight.

From The Airport
You can take a taxi - approx €90 - but we'd recommend hiring a car. It is not essential because tavernas, minimarkets and 2 beaches are all within walking distance, but you'd probably want one for food shopping and sightseeing. Note that taxis are expensive on Kefalonia.

By Car
For car hire see our car rental recommendations. For an idea of distances, the airport is 5km south of the island's capital, Argostoli, and Fiskardo is 45km north, at the top of the island.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.