One Of The World's Best Lakes Is In A Mystical Greek Cave Offering A Dreamlike Boating Adventure

For more than 3,000 years, Greece has been a major epicenter of Western Civilization — with all the tourism that comes with that. Even today, Greece remains one of Europe's top travel destinations, boasting both sublime natural scenery and major historical sites. The nation's capital and cultural heart of Athens is consistently its top tourism draw, with iconic historical marvels like the Acropolis ranking high on Rick Steves' top spots for an evening stroll. As impressive as Athens' history and attractions are, however, Greece as a whole offers much more than just its historically famous city. One lesser-known, but unforgettable, Greek attraction is nestled away on a small island in the Ionian Sea. Thanks to a fortuitous interplay of nature and history, the magical Melissani Cave and its subterranean lake display a side of Greece that seems like something out of a dream. 

From a purely geological angle, Melissani Cave and Lake are a singular artistic masterpiece from the natural forces that crafted the world-renowned Greek isles. The cave's silver limestone walls provide an eye-catching contrast with the deep blue water of its underground lake, while deep greens from the nearby forests decorate the entire scene from above. But with thousands of years of history in the region, Melissani Cave has also accumulated a good deal of archeological significance, as well as a prominent place in Greek mythology. And though Melissani Cave and Lake are beautiful to observe from afar, you can get a much more intimate immersion into its magical world of nature, history, and myth on an unforgettable boat tour. 

The Melissani Cave and Lake are located on the Greek island of Kefalonia, the largest of the underrated Ionian Islands. Though it doesn't get the attention of spots like Athens or Santorini, Kefalonia more than deserves a spot on any list of can't-miss destinations on a trip around Greece. Within this stunning island, Melissani Cave is undoubtedly the single best display of the region's geographic beauty and historical significance. 

The cave itself is a large limestone cavern consisting of two separate chambers. Proximity to the Ionian Sea caused large quantities of water to seep into the cave over time, eventually dissolving the rock into large underground hollows and creating a gem-like blue lake. The island's catastrophic earthquake of 1953 caused the cave's roof to collapse, creating a picturesque cenote (a large hole exposing subterranean water). This natural skylight adds another layer of beauty to the lake, particularly at midday when sunlight streams down through the cave and illuminates the blue water below. 

The cave's remarkable beauty does not appear to have gone unnoticed by the ancient Greeks. In Greek mythology, Melissani (alternately spelled "Melissanthe" or "Melissanthi") was the name of a nymph who threw herself into the lake's waters due to unrequited love for the god Pan. Though there are a few competing theories of the origin of the cave's name, the story is well-known enough to give the cave the nickname of "the Cave of Nymphs." Recent archeological excavations around Melissani Lake have uncovered notable ancient artifacts, including figures of the god Pan and several dancing nymphs, suggesting that the lake was an important religious site. 

Despite its apparent significance to the ancients, Melissani Lake was lost for centuries before its rediscovery in 1951. Today, Melissani Lake and its surrounding cave are open to the public, thanks to the subsequent construction of an artificial entranceway and some nature-friendly infrastructure. Most impressively, visitors can immerse themselves in this once-sacred place by taking a one-of-a-kind short boat tour right on the lake's enchanting waters! 

Throughout this brief boating adventure, you'll pass through both of the cave's main chambers, past striking stalactite formations, and right underneath the sublime streams of sunlight pouring down through the natural opening above. You can also marvel at the biodiverse flora decorating the cave entrance, creating the appearance of an arcadian forest sitting atop a subterranean wonderland. Eventually, the boat tour takes you past the small islet in the center of the lake. As the apparent center of the cave's archeological treasures, the Melissani Lake Island counts among Greece's most underrated ancient sites outside of Athens. 

The Melissani Cave and Lake are open to the public from May through October, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the colder months, the cave may have more limited opening hours on Thursdays and weekends, though you should check ahead of time if you're visiting during the offseason. The island of Kefalonia is served by Kefalonia International Airport, which has flights from Athens and other cities across Europe. Alternatively, you can take a ferry to Kefalonia from the Greek ports of Kilini, Patra, and Astakos. Kefalonia also has plenty of hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals — check out the bustling capital Argostoli or the quaint seaside village of Assos.