Where to look
Beach & Sun Seekers
Couples · Young adults · Snorkellers · Anyone chasing dramatic scenery Corfu's most celebrated beach scenery is on the northwest and west coasts. Paleokastritsa is the showpiece — a series of small, intensely turquoise coves enclosed by wooded limestone cliffs, with some of the best snorkelling on the island directly from the shore. The monastery above the bay adds an otherworldly backdrop. It is small and fills up fast, so arrive early in July and August. Glyfada on the west coast is a long sandy arc popular with sunbathers and good for swimming when the sea is calm. Agios Gordios, a few kilometres south, has a wide beach backed by dramatic cliffs and a more relaxed atmosphere. For calmer, clearer water more suitable for extended swimming, the northeast coast around Kassiopi and Avlaki has sheltered pebbly bays with outstanding water quality.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting calm water and easy logistics The east coast of Corfu — running from Dassia through Ipsos to Barbati — is the best stretch for families. The Ionian Sea on this sheltered side of the island is reliably calm, with clear, gradually deepening water and sandy or pebbly beaches that are safe and easy for children. The area is also the most developed for family tourism: supermarkets, pharmacies, watersports centres and a wide choice of tavernas are all within easy reach. Moraitika and Messonghi in the south are quieter alternatives with long sandy beaches, shallow water and a traditional village character that survives despite the tourist development. Sidari in the north is another family favourite — the famous Canal d'Amour sandstone formations are interesting for older children, and the beach itself is flat and sandy. The town has a lively promenade with all facilities.
Culture & History Lovers
History enthusiasts · Architecture fans · Art lovers · UNESCO site visitors Corfu's cultural capital is Corfu Town (Kerkyra), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most architecturally distinguished cities in Greece. The Old Fortress and New Fortress dominate the skyline; the Liston — a Parisian-style arcaded promenade built under French rule — lines one side of the Esplanade, the largest public square in the Balkans. The town's Venetian heritage is visible in every doorway and staircase. Beyond the town, Achilleion Palace (built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria) sits on a hillside south of the capital with formal gardens, imperial-era paintings and views over the whole island. Mon Repos Estate, where Prince Philip was born, is another historical curiosity with a pleasant beach. The Corfu Museum of Asian Art is unexpectedly excellent — the collection is one of the finest in Europe.
Party & Nightlife
18–30s crowd · Bucket-list party seekers · Festival lovers Kavos, in the far south of Corfu, is one of the most concentrated party destinations in the entire Mediterranean. The resort's main strip is lined with bars, clubs, foam parties and all-you-can-drink venues catering almost exclusively to the 18–28 age group from the UK. It operates at full intensity from late June through August. It is not subtle, but it delivers exactly what it promises. Those who want nightlife without the extreme intensity of Kavos should base themselves in Corfu Town. The town's bars along the Liston and in the old quarter are lively, stylish and genuinely mixed in terms of age and nationality. Sidari and Benitses both have active bar scenes that cater to a slightly older crowd looking for a fun rather than frantic atmosphere.
Romantic Couples
Couples · Honeymoons · Special occasions · Sunset & scenery seekers The north of Corfu — around Kassiopi, Kalami and Kouloura — offers some of the most romantic settings on the island. Kalami Bay, where Lawrence Durrell lived and wrote, is a tiny horseshoe cove with a single taverna and crystalline water — small enough to feel like a private discovery. Kouloura, a few minutes north, is even smaller: a circular harbour framed by cypress trees with barely room for a dozen boats. For a different kind of romance, the sunsets from the clifftop villages above the west coast — Lakones above Paleokastritsa, or the village of Sinarades — are outstanding. The Achilleion Palace gardens have a melancholy imperial romance of their own. In town, the rooftop terraces of hotels inside the Venetian walls, looking out over the Old Fortress lit at night, are genuinely magical.
Nature & Active Travellers
Walkers · Cyclists · Wildlife fans · Olive grove explorers Corfu is the greenest of the Ionian Islands — inland it is covered in ancient olive groves, cypress trees and wild fennel. The Corfu Trail, a long-distance footpath running 220km from tip to tip of the island, passes through hill villages, forests and coastal cliffs that most visitors never see. The trail takes 10–12 days end-to-end but individual sections are walkable as day hikes. The mountainous north — around Pantokrator (906m, Corfu's highest point) — rewards those who make the effort: the views on a clear day extend to Albania, Italy and the Adriatic. The Korission Lagoon in the south is a protected wetland with flamingos, herons and over 100 bird species on the migration route. Kayaking along the northeast coast between the clifftop villas is one of the best half-day activities on the island.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Students · Cost-conscious visitors · Off-season travellers Corfu Town is the best budget base — it has the island's widest range of accommodation at all price points, from basic guesthouses to mid-range hotels, and you can manage without a rental car using local buses. The town market has the cheapest food on the island, and there are free beaches within walking distance or a short bus ride. The east coast resorts (Dassia, Ipsos, Pyrgi) are significantly cheaper than the west coast in all seasons. Kavos is cheap but exclusive to the party demographic. Sidari in the north offers decent value with a full range of budget apartments and studios. Shoulder season — May or October — cuts prices across the entire island by 40–50%, while weather and sea temperature remain very pleasant.
🏛️ Corfu Town (Kerkyra)
UNESCO World Heritage capital. Venetian fortresses, elegant Liston arcades, Byzantine churches. Cultural hub and best transport connections. Culture · History · All types
🌊 Paleokastritsa
The island's most dramatic cove scenery. Turquoise bays, cliffs, monastery. Small and crowded in peak season but genuinely beautiful. Beach · Romance · Scenery
🏖️ Glyfada / Agios Gordios
Long west coast sandy beaches. Good surf sometimes, dramatic cliff backdrops. Younger crowd, lively beach bars. Beach · Young adults
🏠 Kassiopi / Kalami
Quiet northeast fishing villages. Lawrence Durrell country. Crystalline horseshoe bays, excellent tavernas, very little nightlife. Romance · Nature · Authentic
🌴 Dassia / Ipsos
Sheltered east coast resorts. Calm sea, family beaches, watersports. Good value, easy access from Corfu Town (15 min). Families · Budget
🎉 Kavos
Southern party resort. Exclusively 18–28 crowd, UK-oriented, strip bars and clubs. Not for families or anyone wanting quiet. Party · Nightlife
🏡 Moraitika / Messonghi
Quiet south coast family resorts. Long sandy beaches, traditional village character, good value tavernas. Families · Relaxed
🌅 Sidari
Northern resort. Canal d'Amour sandstone formations, sandy beaches. Lively but less extreme than Kavos. Good family option. Families · Beach · Mild party
Tips for booking
- Paleokastritsa is best before 10am or after 5pm. Midday crowds are intense in peak season and parking becomes almost impossible. Stay nearby in Lakones or Makrades to walk down before the day-trippers arrive and after they leave. The evening light on the cliffs is exceptional.
- The east coast is calmer than the west coast in all weather. The Ionian Sea between Corfu and the Albanian/Greek mainland is naturally sheltered. Even when the west coast has rough surf from Atlantic swells, the east coast remains completely calm and safe for young swimmers.
- Stay in or near Corfu Town for culture. The Campiello neighbourhood inside the old walls offers small guesthouses with genuine character at reasonable prices. Waking up inside a Venetian city is something the beach resorts can never replicate.
- Kavos requires accepting what it is. If you want the full party experience with 2am beach parties and DJs until sunrise, it delivers. If you want nightlife but also good sleep, food and beaches, base yourself in Corfu Town and take a day trip to Kavos instead.
- Book a villa in the Kalami or Kouloura area. VRBO and boutique agencies list private villas on the water with terraces over the bay, ideal for a special stay. The bays are quiet enough for complete privacy but Corfu Town is only 30 minutes away when you want restaurants and atmosphere.
- Rent a bicycle or scooter from Corfu Town. The interior villages and inland olive country are virtually unreachable without your own transport, but distances are short and the roads through the groves are beautiful. Avoid the main north road in peak season — the mountain villages are quieter and far more rewarding.
- Use the public bus network from Corfu Town (KTEL Blue Buses). Buses run to all major resorts from the town bus station at San Rocco Square. A day-return to most beaches costs under €5. Renting a car is much cheaper booked online before you travel — see our Car Rental guide for tips.
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