Porto Timoni beach in Corfu
COVER STORY

The best beaches of Corfu

Porto Timoni beach in Corfu
READING TIME
As long as it takes to eat a slice of watermelon

Prepare to dream of summer as you discover the best beaches of Corfu island, the ‘Grand Lady’ of the magical Ionian Sea

How many shades of blue are there? All you have to do is list them as you lay back on your sunbed and observe the waves breaking. Thirty beaches in Corfu have been awarded a Blue Flag, adorning 217km of coastline set against a lush background of forest green. And there are many others, just as wonderful.

So let’s get you dreaming as we head around the island and pick out the best beaches in Corfu:

Sidari

Endless sandy beaches with stunning sandstone formations, as if the sea moulded the sand like a potter. On the western side of Sidari, there are the fjords and the famous Canal d’Amour. The myth has been passed along for generations that, if you swim in this natural passage, you’ll find your soul mate. There is also a waterpark that’s fun for all ages, while at the port there are boats ready to take you on daily excursions to the Diapontia islands.

Aerial view on Sidari in Corfu Kerkyra Greece

Paleokastritsa

Six beaches, each more beautiful than the next in an area that for decades reigns as Corfu’s queen of tourism. Take note:

  • Agia Triada: Deep waters with a sometimes rocky, sometimes sandy seabed. Water skiing, parasailing, boat rentals, bars and restaurants are just some of the facilities and activities you’ll find here.
  • Alipa: A sandy beach, with big rocks along its northern part. Clean and crystal-clear sea. You’ll find umbrellas, sunbeds, boat rentals and a restaurant, as well as a fishing port.
  • Agios Spyridonas:  The most picturesque and popular of all the beaches in Paleokastritsa, since it looks out at the cliffs. It is fully-organised and one of many beaches in Corfu with water sports options.
  • Agios Petros: A beach with both sand and pebbles, ideal for water sports.
  • Ambelaki: A quiet beach with deep water and a rocky seabed. It is fully equipped with umbrellas, sunbeds and boat rentals.
  • Platakia: Two neighbouring beaches with pebbles, umbrellas, sunbeds and a restaurant.

A boat trip to Paradise beach in Corfu

Benitses

A coastal village with more than one beach with sand or pebbles. The biggest (the first you’ll encounter after Kaiser Bridge) is fully-organised, with umbrellas, sunbeds, water sports, bars and tavernas.

Kontokali

Just a stone’s throw from Corfu town and very near the Gouvia marina, you’ll find one of the most developed resorts in Corfu. The beach is large and sandy, with high standards of service and facilities, hundreds of umbrellas, and a large selection of water sports.  

Myrtiotissa

Situated between Ermones and Glyfada, you’ll find the cape of Agios Georgios. On its southeastern side, the area of Myrtiotissa has one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. To get to the beach, you need a 4x4 or to walk for about 20 minutes. It has refreshing water, golden sand, a vibrant seabed perfect for snorkelling or scuba diving and a little freshwater stream that flows from the rocks into the sea.

Glyfada

Myrtiotissa’s neighbouring beach is very popular, with fine sand, surrounded by pine-studded hills, olive groves and villas. It is fully-equipped, including a space for beach volleyball. If that sounds like fun, then you’ll find Glyfada is one of the best sandy beaches in Corfu. About 4km away, is the Corfu Golf Club and the Corfu Horse-Riding Club. Nearby is the well-known waterpark, Aqualand.  

Acharavi

A very popular beach, with shallow waters and fine sand. It has facilities for water sports as well as tavernas.    

Roda

One of the busiest beaches on the island, located right after Acharavi. It’s fully-organised, with plenty of options for water sports, restaurants and bars.

Arillas

Right after Kavokefali, you’ll encounter Arillas, a large sandy beach with shallow water. Aside from water sports, it offers many opportunities for hiking, horse-riding and excursions to the surrounding areas. The sunset in the nearby village of Afionas is breathtaking.  

Agios Georgios Pagon

A beach shaped like a horseshoe, surrounded by rugged cliffs that descend to the sea, creating isolated coves. It is deep to the right and warmer and shallower tot left, perfect for small children. It’s worth taking a boat ride, canoe or paddleboat to the natural bay of Porto Timoni. Here you’ll find snacks, food, cocktails and water sports, as well as accommodation.

Halikounas

A thin strip of land separates the beach from the protected Korission lagoon. Leave the sand dunes and walk across the wooden bridge to a rare forest with cedars and orchids. The wind and waves in the area make Halikounas an ideal kite-surfing destination.

Agios Georgios South

Crystalline, refreshing waters and a beach 8km long. In the northern part, you’ll find Issos beach with its sand dunes, extending as far as the cedar Forest of Korrision Lake. In the southern part, there are two successive beaches, Marathias and Agia Varvara, perfect for paragliding, scuba diving and other sea sports.

Apraos or Kalamaki

Sand onshore and shallow water for several metres into the sea. Anyone who wants to swim in deeper water must walk along the wooden pier. It is one of the best beaches on Corfu for small children.

Ermones

On the southernmost tip of the Ropa Valley, 3.5km after Giannades, there is a deep bay with a small sandy beach encircled by green, steep hills. Restaurants, bars, shops and hotels ensure that you’ll have everything you need.

Kavos

Cavo Bianco of the Venetians is today a popular destination for young tourists from all over the world, as the fun at the bars and beach bars begins in the morning and lasts well into the night. It is shallow and fully-equipped with facilities and opportunities for boat excursions to Paxos island and Parga, on the mainland. It is the most developed tourist area in Lefkimmi.

Ipsos

Crystalline waters and a hospitable beach across the length of the bay. Whichever lounge chair you choose to sit at, you’ll enjoy beach services of the highest standard.

Agios Gordios

An endless beach of golden sand, as well as pebble and crystal-clear water. To the left, there are steep vertical cliffs with dense vegetation and the rocky islet of Tholeto. There are fully-equipped facilities, including water sports, restaurants, bars and boat rentals.

Dassia

Oblong, with pebbles and a view to the mountains of Albania. In the distance, there is a platform to dive off or to use as a starting point for your favourite water sports.

Mesoggi

To the left flows a small river and to the right there is a lush, green hill. With plenty of tavernas to choose from and with sunbeds and pedal boats to rent.

Corfu By Tom Grimbert/unsplash

FAQs about Corfu, Greece

Corfu is one of the most popular of the Ionian Islands, the island chain off the west coast of mainland Greece in the Ionian Sea. It is the northernmost of the main Ionian Islands.

Yes, Corfu has an airport receiving seasonal international flights and domestic flights from Athens to Corfu throughout the year. The airport is found 2.5km outside Corfu town and can easily be reached by taxi or bus.

There are daily ferries to Corfu from the port of Igoumenitsa, in north-western Greece, about 485km (5hrs30mins) from Athens and 325km (3hrs45mins) from Thessaloniki. Public bus (KTEL) services are available from both cities. The crossing takes 1-1.5hrs. There are also ferries from Italy (Venice, Bari and Ancona).

There’s a whole selection of marinas of different size and location in Corfu. It depends on whether you want to be close to the Old Town or somewhere else on the island. The main marinas are Naok (The Nautical Club of Corfu) and Limin (both near the old town), Gouvia (about 10km from Corfu town), Petriti (to the south, 29km away), Kassiopi (in the north, 36km away) and Palaiokastritsa (on the northwest coast, 25km away). If you are sailing to Corfu, make sure to book a berth before arriving. You’ll find all the facilities you need in the marinas, as well as the option of hiring a sailing boat and skipper at larger ones, such as Gouvia.