Discovering Sidari, Corfu in a Day as a Solo Traveler

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The way I ended up in Sidari, Corfu was by pure chance. I booked a highly rated hostel in Corfu without checking to see where it was located on the island or how I would get there. By the end of the trip I had a lovely evening with people from the hostel and enjoyed a full day with plenty to do. Some things just work out on their own!

large rock overlooking Sidari Beach
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the large rock formation at the end of Sidari Beach overlooking the shallow waters

How to get to Sidari

Depending on what time of the day you arrive, you can take a public bus or a private transfer bus. Sidari is located in the north west corner of Corfu.

Public Bus

The public buses in Corfu are known as the Green Buses even though they are not always green in color. In my experience they are quite infrequent and not on time. The public transit infrastructure in Corfu is not the best but that’s okay. From the airport walk 15 minutes to the Green Buses terminal. You will take the A2 bus to Sidari. A one way ticket costs 3.70€ (cash only) and the trip duration is 1hr 15min. ⚠️ Be aware that the summer bus schedule is more frequent than during the winter. ⚠️

Private Transfer

If you arrive after the last public bus at 8:30PM, your best option is a private transfer from Corfu Airport to Sidari. These private transfer buses are not on a schedule but leave when a flight has landed in Corfu and when there are enough people to fill the bus. Right before exiting the airport are stalls for bus companies. Just tell them your destination and they’ll direct you to the right bus. I paid 15€ for a one way transfer to Sidari and after an hour’s journey I arrived at my hostel doorsteps.

Where to stay in Sidari

As a solo traveler, I must recommend a hostel! The one I stayed at with a rating of 9.7/10 on Hostelworld is Angelica’s Backpacker’s Hostel for 30€/night. Angelica herself runs the hostel with her family. She is a kind host who goes out of her way to make her guests feel like they’re at home. When I arrived from the airport around 11PM Angelica was up to greet me with a liter bottle of water.

The hostel is located on the edge of Sidari, about an easy 1km walk to the center. Angelica’s hostel is very clean and the rooms feature single beds (mine had three beds total). The rooms all have ensuite bathrooms and patios connected to the backyard. The backyard is lush and relaxing with a pool and lounge chairs. It’s perfect for those days you feel too lazy to walk to the beach that’s less than a kilometer away. The outdoor tables were a great way for solo travelers to convene in the mornings and evenings.

The people I met at the hostel were all around my age (in their 20s). As soon as I arrived I was invited by my roommates to join for dinner and beers on the beach. While hostel does not organize any activities, the vibe of openness and friendliness of the travelers is impeccable. I could not have asked for a better social hostel for a beach town I had chosen at random.

What to expect from Sidari

I experienced culture shock in Sidari but not for what you would expect… As I walked through town and read sign after sign, I began to question my surroundings. “Best English breakfast in town”, “Sunday Roast every Sunday”, “Fish and Chips”. Little did I know I was staying in a resort town made for English tourists!

Resort at Sidari on the beach
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the low-key resorts of Sidari

The vibes of Sidari are interesting to say the least. There are low-key economical-looking resorts all across the main beach that are catered to English tourists. It is a very family friendly vibe. The quality of the beaches are not very good in the center of town. I don’t recommend hanging out there unless you like to spend time with children on holiday. The geological makeup of the beaches in this area is clay, which if wet, sticks to you and your towel.

A Day’s Itinerary for Sidari

Everything included in this list is in the exact chronological and east to west order in which I experienced these places. In one day starting from my hostel I visited each of these locations by trekking west along the coast up till Cape Drastis. I don’t specifically recommend visiting each and every sight in this list in one day unless you are as restless as I am!

Start the Day at WakeCup Coffee & More

Although this is common food throughout Greece, I am obsessed with freddo espresso (shaken iced coffee) and tiropita (cheese-filled flakey pastry). The combination of the sweet creamy coffee and the flakey savory pastry is such a good combination for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

freddo espresso and bougatsa at a Sidari Cafe
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frothy freddo cappuccino and flakey tiropita is the best combo

This cafe is located on the main strip in town where you’ll find restaurants, pharmacies, cafes, bars and gift shops.

Unnamed Canal after Sidari Beach

When I arrived to the canal that appears right at the end of Sidari Beach after climbing onto the large rock formation, I thought I was at the famous Canal d’Amour. This smaller yet stunning canal, however, is not even labeled on Google Maps. I ended up preferring this canal to Canal d’Amour because it was smaller, not crowded and had clearer waters. Stop here for a dip!

Canal d’Amour (Kanali tou Erota) and the Cave of Dionysus

This canal is the main attraction of Sidari. I was told by my boat guide that the canal gets its name from the hippies who camped out in this area in the 70s. It is a really beautiful sandstone formation that forms a little canal that you can swim in and enjoy the cool water. The Cave of Dionysus is a tunnel on the right side of the canal that you can swim straight through.

Be aware that since this is the biggest attraction in town, it will be very crowded and the water is a bit murky. There is a very tiny beach and some places on the rock that you can put down a towel but I can almost guarantee you will not have a relaxing time. It’s nice to take a dip, take some photos and find somewhere else to sunbathe.

Apotripiti Beach

I sought out this beach to get away from the crowds of Sidari Beach (the main beach in the center of town) and to find a spot to lie down. It’s has a more local vibe with space to relax. The beach is mostly clay sand so it’s a bit hard and sticks to everything. Here the waters are shallow and in the distance is Mermaid’s Rock which you can get to by swimming a short distance.

tanned locals at Apotripiti Beach with Mermaid's Rock in the background
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some very tanned locals with Mermaid’s Rock in the background

Gravas Cove at Cape Drastis (Hiking Optional)

This is my top recommendation in Sidari! There are two sides to Cape Drastis: to the right, called Gravas Cove, you can access by foot and to the left is a beach only accessible by boat.

How to get to Cape Drastis

I personally walked the 4 kilometer-long trek starting from Apotripiti Beach to Cape Drastis which follows a coastal trail most of the way so you get some stunning views. The hike took about an hour through a lightly forested area. The trail is very well paved but in the height of midday in the summer, it’s a bit of a harsh hike due to the sun. Make sure to bring plenty of snacks and water because it’s pretty desolate out there.

view of Cape Drastis
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the view from Cape Drastis from the top of the trail – here you can see the beach on the left side of the cape accessible only by boat

Other options for getting to Cape Drastis are by boat from Sidari Beach (40€ roundtrip) or by taxi/rental car. The road down is quite steep and winding and you will still have to hike a bit of the way down.

Can’t Miss at Cape Drastis

At Gravas Cove you will find wavy layered rock formations, a few sun beds for rent, a tiny boat dock for boat tours and a stand that sells cold drinks (thank God because I had ran out of water at the end of my hike). The boat here can take you to the other side of the Cape to a hidden beach or back to Sidari. There is plenty of space on the rock faces for you to lie down with easy access to the refreshing water.

The coolest thing I did all day was making my way to the end of the Cape (unfortunately I couldn’t bring my phone to take pictures). Facing land and heading west, if you continue along the cliffs to your right for about 20 minutes, you will eventually make it to the end the peninsula. The water is shallow enough to walk for the entirety of the journey. Here you will find a massive flat rock formation that you can walk around. The mud that is present here apparently is great for your skin!

Boat Tour from Cape Drastis to Sidari Beach

At the end of my beach day I paid the small stand at Cape Drastis 20€ (cash only!) for a boat to take me back into town. The boat ride followed the beautiful cliffs of the island and included a little historical tour. I was dropped off right in the middle of Sidari Beach.

Gryos at Aleko’s Grill Room

There’s nothing better than a 5€ handheld wrap stuffed with meat and fresh vegetables and a cold beer after a long day in the sun. This is the gyro spot that was recommended to me by my boat driver. Cash only!

Sunset on Sidari Beach

Sidari Beach is by no means the nicest beach in town (I didn’t bother including it on this list) but there are plenty of beach chairs which go unused when the sun starts to go down. Bring a beer, sit back, relax and enjoy the lovely sunset.

👀 Check out my reel on Sidari! 👀

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A post shared by valerie chang (@valerie_chang)


Sidari is a great place for a backpacker or solo traveler as it’s affordable and has lots to see. Hope you enjoy your time as much as I did!

❤️ Valerie 🏖☀️

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