The viewpoint
The whole bay from the mountain road above โ the best view.
**A crescent of white pebble between two enormous cliffs, and close to the most famous beach in Greece** โ on Kefalonia's northwest coast. The view from above is what made it: the mountain road drops and a **white bay** suddenly opens in front of you, hemmed by two vertical cliffs, its water **deep blue grading into turquoise** along colour boundaries so sharp they look drawn. The reason for the colour is simple: the beach is **fine white pebble, not sand**, the bottom is white too, **and it deepens fast** โ so the bands shade sharply. โ That rapid depth is its greatest danger: **the currents are strong** and the bottom drops away suddenly a few metres out. โ And the best of it is **the viewpoint above** on the road โ which is where the photograph you know comes from.
The whole bay from the mountain road above โ the best view.
Deep blue and turquoise in sharp bands over the white bottom.
Vertical walls enclosing the beach and framing it.
Myrtos, 28084 Kefalonia, Greece
**With genuine caution โ and this is not a routine warning.** โ **The danger**: the bottom **drops sharply a few metres** from the water's edge โ two steps and it is over your head. **The currents are strong**, especially when the sea is moving, and waves rebounding off the shelving pebble pull outwards. **There have genuinely been drownings here** โ documented, and the beach is known for it locally. โ **What to do**: **(1) look at the flag** if one is flown and obey it. **(2) Do not go in if the sea is moving** โ a day with waves is not a swimming day here. **(3) Stay close to shore** and do not swim out. **(4) Watch children closely and at arm's length** โ it is not enough for them to be ยซin the shallowsยป, because the shallows end abruptly. **(5) There is no permanent lifeguard** โ do not rely on anyone. โ **The safe alternative for families**: **Antisamos** or **Xi Beach** โ calmer and more gradual. โ **And the clifftop view** remains available to everyone with no risk at all.
**Stop at the viewpoint if time is short or you have small children โ the photograph is from above.** โ **The fact**: **the famous image of Myrtos is taken from above** โ from a lay-by on the mountain road before the descent. From there you see **the whole crescent**, the colour boundaries and both cliffs, which is the view that made the beach famous. **And it is free, costing you only the stop.** โ **What you find below**: a handsome pebble beach that **loses the view from inside it** โ you are in the picture rather than in front of it; **the pebble hurts**, **the water is dangerous**, **the descent is hard** and **the car park fills**. โ **When going down is worthwhile**: if you are a strong swimmer on a calm day and want exceptionally clear water, or want to spend half a day. โ **Do not go down** on a day with waves, with small children, or if you have an hour. โ **The ideal arrangement**: **stop at the viewpoint on your way** between Assos and Argostoli โ minutes, and you get the best of Myrtos.
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