One of our top places to visit on Kefalonia with Toddlers is the Drogarati Caves. Unlike the Melissani Lake Cave where you have a guided tour on the boat, this is easy to explore on foot. I've visited a number of times over the years and it still leaves me with a sense of awe and wonder when I leave. So here we go our guide to visiting Drogarati Caves with Kids, especially toddlers.
Drogarati Caves
Drogarati cave is a natural wonder on Kefalonia.
Formed over millennia by the rains this natural cave was revealed over 300 years ago when the entrance collapsed during an earthquake revealing the huge cavern inside.
Getting to Drogarati Caves
Drogarati caves is easy to get to. If you have a hire car then it is sign posted from Sami so you can easily find your way there and there is a large car park to leave your car in.
It is also included on many of the tours often in combination with Lake Melissani as it is so close. Check with your operator of one of the tour offices to find out more.
Facilities at Drogarati Caves
As I mentioned above there is a car park here as well as a cafe/restuarant and souvenir shop.
The car park in the afternoon when we visited had lots of shaded areas to park the car under which was a benefit with the heat.
How much does Crogarati Caves Cost to Enter
At the time of writing our under 2 was free.
Adults cost 5 Euros and children 3Euros.
When is the cave Open at Drogarati
The Cave is open daily from 10 - 5pm during the summer season.
Visiting Drogarati with a toddler
One of the biggest things to note is that there is no easy access into the cave when we visited.
It was via steps - we used a carrier and left the buggy in the car as our toddler at the time did not walk very far.
You also need to make sure that you wear sensible shoes with grips as the steps down into the cave are steep and as you get lower down they do become slippery due to the dampness in the air.
Another thing to note is that because it is underground it is also very much colder than above. In the summer months, this can be a pleasant change to the heat.
However, spring, autumn and winter it does make it very cold. So we would recommend that you bring a sweater, especially for your toddler.
Looking for more tips for travelling with toddlers - read our guide to avoiding meltdowns whilst you travel this summer.
What's there to see at the Caves
The caves are HUGE and open so this is not going to be a calustrophobic experience for anyone.
Although you can attend concerts in the cave at various time of the year for us it was a great opportunity to see inside the cave.
The different colours and the stalactites and stalagmites were amazing to see. Considering how dry Kefalonia is during the summer months, that these are formed shows you that it does get a good amount of rain in other seasons.
What is there to see Near Drogarati Caves
This isn't a long visit so it's worth seeing what is around the area as well.
Lake Melissani is very close and you can easily combine the two on the same trip. In fact, many of the organised tours do just that.
The beach at Sami - Antisamos is one of our pick of the best beaches on Kefalonia. It is pebbly but does have a really pretty view and the water is lovely and crystal blue.
Drogarati Caves with Toddlers
Overall
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Facilities
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Ease of Visit with a Toddler
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Parent's Review
Summary
Cave Drogarati is a quick visit - you can visit in under an hour but it's worth going to especially if you are in the area. You can easily combine with a trip to Lake Melissani and to Antisamos beach at the same time. The steps down to the cave are steep and there is no other access so with a toddler we had to carry him down and once the handrail disappears towards the bottom we took extra care (this is a place to wear sensible shoes trainers or walking sandals- flip flops with a toddler carried are a no go). Inside is interesting but there has been damage to the cave structure but it is a nice place to visit. There is also a cafe, souvenir shop and bathrooms above so you can get a refreshing drink and a snack as well.
Pros
- Cooler than the summer heat
- Beautiful - not the best cave in Europe but great for a visit and trip on the island of Kefalonia
- There are facilities and you can get some snacks, drink and food here
Cons
- The only access is a set of 150+ steps which are steep down into the cave these can be slippery especially at the bottom
- There is some damage to the cave structure that has occurred which is a real shame but in the majority of cases it's not recent/
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