I had the pleasure of visiting Corfu in July of 2023. This island has just about everything you could want from a Greek island. It’s sunny, very affordable and I’d describe it as laid-back and low-key. The island’s history is long and complicated so it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cultural influences if you visit the island today. It just doesn’t scream “Greek” since it’s been ruled by just about every European power since before Ancient Greek times. It’s been around for a while so yes, it’s definitely touristy and some places are a little too crowded. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t space for everyone on this wide-ranging island with lots to offer.
The beaches in Corfu are as varied as its history of colonial rule. There are long sandy beaches, tiny beaches sandwiched between cliffs, untouched pebble beaches, sandstone canals, city beaches, wild beaches and crowded ones. There’s a beach in Corfu for just about anyone!
How to get around Corfu (and get yourself to a beach!)
Green Buses 🚌
Corfu’s Green Buses are the island’s public buses that take you from one side of the island to another. These buses are not very frequent nor are they always on time so make sure to plan accordingly. But, hey, it’s better than nothing! For the most part there is a bus that will start in Corfu City to any major destination on the island. However it is less likely that there will be a bus in between two destinations if one is not Corfu City. For these situations it is likely you will need to transfer buses. ⚠️ Make sure to double check the timetables. The frequency of buses will decrease drastically for low season. ⚠️
Rental Car 🚗
Car is definitely the most convenient method of transportation on the island since it is not so well connected by public transit. Rental cars can be as cheap as 20€ a day if you book months in advance. Rentalcars.com is my go-to website for finding the cheapest rates ⚠️ Be careful when driving because the mountainous roads are very narrow. A road that is meant to be a two way street will be the width of a one way and a public bus is not going to slow down for you. ⚠️
Scooter 🛵
Scooters are a fun way to transport yourself a short distance, but not recommended for multi-day travel. If you hold a normal driver’s license you will be able to rent a 50cc scooter. This can go no faster than 40mph or 65km/h since it does not have a very powerful engine.
Renting a scooter is a very straightforward process. You will have no problem finding a scooter rental wherever you’re staying. For 25€ a day I took a scooter from Paralia Agios Georgios and rode about 20 minutes up a small mountain to Afionas to get to Porto Timoni Beach. This was a great alternative to renting a car or taking a taxi for such a short ride.
Map of Corfu Beaches
Beaches of Corfu
Paralia Agios Georgios
Paralia Agios Georgios at Agios Georgios Pagon (NW Corfu) is hands down my fav-or-ite beach in Corfu. I love it so much I have compiled a list of all the reasons why you should love it too:
- The sand is perfect – a nice-sized yellow grain, the kind that won’t stick to you, and some non-intrusive rocks here and there
- The water is cool, calm, refreshing and clear – perfect for snorkeling and cooling down from the hot, hot sun
- The beach itself is massive stretching at least 2 kilometers in length (walking from one end to the other would take 45 minutes to an hour) which means that there’s space for everyone! You can relax in peace 😎
- It’s just the right amount of developed – you can rent a sun bed and umbrella, eat a gyro on the strip, play in the sand or observe underwater life
- It’s insanely beautiful – the beach is framed by beautifully forested hills
- The location is perfect – if you want to explore other beaches (like Porto Timoni, Kastelli Beach or Paleokastritsa) you needn’t go any further than a few minutes south or north by boat or scooter!
- There are plenty of activities available – snorkeling, kayaking, scooter rentals, boat hires, all of your beach vacation dreams come true in just one beach!
For all of the above reasons I would highly suggest making Agios Georgios Pagon your home base for a week-long stay in Corfu. The vibes on this beach are so chill, low-key and relaxing. The selling point is just how impressive in size and beauty the beach is and rich in activities!
Porto Timoni Beach
Porto Timoni Beach is a very popular and iconic beach in Corfu for good reason! It’s a wild beach meaning there is no infrastructure so you need to bring your own umbrella, food and water. ⚠️ Be prepared for the 30 minute downhill hike. It is exposed to the sun and the path is rocky and steep at times especially if you are not wearing sneakers. ⚠️ The views on the way down are absolutely stunning.
You can either get there by boat hire or by making your way to Afionas by rental car or scooter. Afionas is the quaint town at the top of the hill. Walk through the charming town to get to the trailhead. You’ll see a big Greek flag indicating the start.
Once you make it to the bottom there are two sides to the beach. The beach’s surface area is not very large and it is very popular therefore it will be crowded. The beach itself is predominately rocky with some sand (not the most comfortable). On the side facing west there is a big rock in the middle of the bay that is fun to climb on and jump off of. Snorkeling around here is also exciting!
Agios Spiridon
The beach of Agios Spiridon is in the popular area of Paleokastritsa. The internet kept telling me that Paleokastrista was unmissable in Corfu so I had to check it out for myself. Since it’s so popular, the beach is very crowded (with almost no space to put down a towel comfortably) and the water is not very clear, which was a bummer. However, I did rent a kayak at the beach for 20€ and kayaked out to sea. The water immediately cleared up and the snorkeling along the coast was an amazing experience.
There’s actually several beaches in this area in walking distance including Ampelaki Beach, Alipa Beach and Agia Triada Beach. These beaches were smaller and the sand was lower quality, consisting more of rocks and dirt. In general I found the area of Paleokastritsa to be a little too developed for tourism and crowded which disrupted the overall experience.
Paralia Mirtiotissa
This beautiful beach which is directly west of Corfu City is a sandy beach surrounded by cliffs, making for some dramatic scenery. It’s also not very protected from the elements so it can be windy and the waves can be strong so be careful not to swim too close to the cliffs! However the waters are shallow enough to stand for several meters out. Also important to note – it’s a nudist beach! Here it almost feels disrespectful to not be topless or nude so try your best to participate in the culture.
There is a small parking lot directly across from Elia Taverna at the top of the cliff. From here you’ll take a 5 minute trek down a well-paved road to the beach with insane views of the sea. There are a few sun beds here for rent but most people bring their own umbrella. There’s not a lot of real estate so it can get pretty crowded.
Kastelli Beach
This may be the most pristine beach I have ever seen in my life! The beach consists of blindingly white smooth pebbles and rocks and the crystal clear waters surrounding it are an electric turquoise blue – a shade like the light blue gatorade. It’s only accessible by boat which is what makes it so remote and clean. There are a few shallow caves to protect you from the sun but other than that there is nothing else here – which could be a good or bad thing!
⚠️ You can only get here by boat! ⚠️ Your best bet is to find a boat service from the beaches of either Agios Georgios Pagon or Paleokastritsa.
Canal d’Amour
Canal d’Amour is the most popular sight in the small resort town of Sidari in NW Corfu. It is an impressive sandstone canal with a small beach. Because it is so famous, it is very crowded and packed with tourists taking photos. In my opinion it’s not really a place to relax. Better to snap some photos, jump in the water, swim through the tunnel of Dionysus and find somewhere else to stay. As Sidari is a resort town, the surrounding area is completely developed with bars, hotels and restaurants.
❗️ Read more about Sidari in my last post Discovering Sidari, Corfu in a Day as a Solo Traveler! ❗️
Faliraki Beach
If you like the city and the beach, look no further! This beautiful beach is right on the edge of Corfu’s city walls. If you’d like you can hit up Imbari, the restaurant bar that has direct access to the beach. They also conveniently have a bathroom for you to change into your swimsuit. With the bumping music and a cocktail in hand, the stunning blue water and the dramatic mountainous view of Albania as the backdrop, you’re definitely going to feel like you’re on a Greek island. Alternatively you can face the other way and you’d have a view of the Old Fortress of Corfu.
All along the edge of Corfu city you’ll find narrow pebble beaches. It blows my mind that one can access such a clean, beautiful beach in the middle of an ancient city. Corfu City is truly the best of both worlds.
Like Ken from Barbie, I absolutely thrive at “Beach”. There is nothing that brings me greater joy than a beautiful beach. I genuinely had a blast discovering all that Corfu beaches have to offer and I feel like I barely scratched the surface. I will be returning in a few months and can’t wait to see what else there is to explore! Stay tuned for the update 🙂
❤️ Valerie ☀️🌊