Argostoli to Lixouri Ferry

By Dave Briggs

Useful Resources for Your Greek Island Trip

Turn-up car ferry, every day of the year

Car ferries cross the Gulf of Argostoli between the island’s two largest towns all year round. The operator publishes a new timetable every week or two. From 19 October 2026 boats leave every 30 minutes from about 07:00 until 16:30, then hourly until about 22:30, and on Sundays hourly all day. In June 2026 the half-hourly service ran until about 19:30; in the winter timetable (December to February) boats leave hourly, from 07:00 at Lixouri and 07:30 at Argostoli, with the last around 21:30. The crossing takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

  • Tickets: Buy your ticket on board, as a foot passenger or with a vehicle. The operator offers no advance booking.
  • Fares: Adult €3.50; half fare €1.80; car €7.00 with the driver; motorbike €2.00. Ten passenger tickets cost €25 and five car tickets €25 (the operator’s price list, October 2026).
  • Operator: Ionian Sea Ferries Consortium

Hours change from one fortnight to the next and holidays differ: on New Year’s Day 2026 there were two boats each way. Check the operator’s timetable page for the day you travel.

Sources: Ionian Sea Ferries website (timetable, prices and fleet), October 2026; The operator's earlier timetables, as archived in November 2025, January 2026 and June 2026; Greeka local ferry guide (crossing time) (checked 24 October 2026).

Argostoli and Lixouri sit on opposite shores of the same stretch of water, the broad gulf that cuts into the west of Kefalonia, and the short ferry hop between them is more a local crossing than an inter-island voyage. For anyone based in Argostoli who fancies an afternoon in Lixouri, or the other way round, this is the easiest way to do it -- quicker than driving the long way round the gulf, and a pleasant way to see the town from the water. Check the schedule box above for the latest confirmed dates before you travel.

Because the gulf is tucked in behind the headland rather than open to the Ionian Sea proper, the crossing tends to stay calm even when there's a bit of wind about further out. Boats run right through the day at a steady clip, so this isn't a route that needs much planning -- you can generally turn up at the dock and expect another departure before too long, with several crossings an hour at the height of summer.

Useful Resources for Your Greek Island Trip