Today this is a harbour town, where fishing boats as well as luxury yachts take advantage of the sheltered waters of the bay of Argostoli. Stretching out from the palm-lined quay is the British-built Dropano bridge, which crosses the Koutavos lagoon. At nearly a kilometre in length, the elegant arched bridge is quite a feat of engineering, built at the beginning of the 19th century with no cement to hold its stones together.

With its huge obelisk midway across the lagoon, the bridge is still the main route out of Argostoli to the north of Kefalonia, although it will soon be pedestrianised. There is not much room to spare when two cars pass on the bridge.

The modern concrete buildings and streets have little vegetation to offset the heat of the summer, although palms have been planted in recent years along the waterfront and Rizopaston to offset the heat. These palms are now characteristic of the town.

Livostroto is the main shopping street of town, where you can pick up gifts and clothes. It is pedestrianised, so it also makes for a good place to pull up a chair at one of the many cafes and watch the world go by. The Belltower cafe on Livostroto is a very popular spot and provides employment for local Kefalonians with learning difficulties, so comes recommended from Friends of Kefalonia. You can't miss it, it is based in, yes you've guessed it, the old bell tower about mid way down Livostroto.

The fruit and vegetable market, bakeries and other food shops are found mainly along the harbour front road, which makes for an interesting and colourful place to wander of a morning or evening.

If you are in town at lunchtime, pop into the Tsifras Brothers restaurant (on the side road, opposite the shell garage just down from the fruit markets on the harbour front road). This is a real Kefalonian treat frequented by locals. There are a range of dishes, all of the highest quality and ridiculously good value for money. Have a look at what is on offer that day.

In the evening, locals come to do the volta (or walk) along Rizopaston, ending in Valiano Square for a drink. Watch out though, you will pay a premium for a drink in one of these fashionable bars. See Kefalonia Top Trips for more details.

Napier's gardens provide a little green oasis, just up the hill from Valiano square. Napier was a British governor of Kefalonia in the 19th century and a real Hellenophile - he even named his daughter Elizabeth Kefalonia Napier! The gardens were recently renovated, along with the rotunda at their centre.

There are numerous museums in Argostoli, such as the Kosmetatos Foundation, which houses a collection of Edward Lear and J. Cartwright prints of Kefalonia during the British and French rule of the early 19th century.

The Archeological museum can be found behind the prefecture offices and displays a 3rd century BC grave as well as Mycenean and Roman artifacts.

There is also the Korgialenio Folklore museum where you can see traditional clothes and embroidery as well as many pre-earthquake photographs of Kefalonia (Cephalonia).

The area immediately around Argostoli is worth a look. The route out of town to the south is now pedestrianised and makes for a nice walk along the lagoon.

Friends of Kefalonia also have a self-guided trail which follows the old carriage route around Argostoli, the Piccolo Yiro. It leads out past Napier's Gardens, the old British built sea mill, past the monument to the WW2 Italian garrison massacred here and numerous other points of interest on its round route.

Argostoli has many tavernas in the centre of town, by Valiano Square as well as along the waterfront road. You will also find relaxed and fashionable bars. In short, Argostoli is worth a couple of trips, by day and night and it is here that you will get a flavour of the more cosmopolitan side to Kefalonia.

Why not treat yourself to a car hire whilst you're on Kefalonia so you get the most out of your visit. Click here for Kefalonia Car Hire