Beaches
The best beaches in Corfu, all around the island
Corfu is greener than the rest of Greece, and its beaches sit below olive groves and cypress trees. These are the ones worth the drive, coast by coast, and the hotels we would pick by the water.
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At Paleokastritsa, the boatmen on the jetty call out trips to the sea caves while the monastery bell rings on the headland above. The coves around them are small, cold and very clear, and the hills behind are thick with olive and cypress. It is not the Greece of white rock and bare hills, and that is the point.
Corfu sits in the northern Ionian Sea, close to Albania, and gets more rain than most Greek islands, which is why it is so green. The west coast has sandy beaches and some surf, while the east, facing the mainland, has calm water and pebbles. These are the beaches that stand out.
Short answer: which beaches in Corfu are best?
Paleokastritsa and Porto Timoni in the north-west are the most beautiful. Glyfada and Kontogialos on the west coast have long sandy beaches and sunsets, and Issos in the south-west has dunes and space. For calm water, choose the east coast around Kassiopi.
Best views: Paleokastritsa
Best adventure: Porto Timoni
Best sandy beach: Glyfada
Best for space: Issos and Halikounas
Best for children: Agios Georgios Pagon
Paleokastritsa and the north-west: coves below the monastery
Paleokastritsa is not one beach but several small coves around a headland topped by a monastery. Boats leave from the jetty for the sea caves along the coast. The beaches are small, so arrive early.
Further north, Porto Timoni is a narrow spit with a beach on each side, reached by a path down from the village of Afionas. Allow about half an hour each way. Nearby, Agios Georgios Pagon is a long sandy bay with shallow water, a good bet with children.
At Sidari on the north coast, the Canal d'Amour is a set of sandstone formations with narrow channels you can swim through.
The west coast: long beaches and sunsets
Glyfada is one of the finest sandy beaches on Corfu, backed by steep green hills. Some days there are waves, which is part of its appeal. Just north, Kontogialos below Pelekas is where people gather in the beach bars at sunset.
The village of Pelekas on the hill above has a viewpoint known as the Kaiser's Throne, where Kaiser Wilhelm II is said to have watched the sun go down.
The south-west: dunes by Lake Korission
In the south-west, the Korission lagoon is separated from the sea by a long strip of dunes. Issos and Halikounas are the beaches here, with room for everyone and little development. It is often windy, which draws kitesurfers.
The north-east: Kalami and the little harbours
Between Corfu Town and Kassiopi, the road runs high above the sea, with turnings down to coves such as Kalami, Kouloura and Agios Stefanos Sinion. Tavernas sit right at the water's edge, and the mountains of Albania rise across the strait.
At Kalami, the writer Lawrence Durrell lived in the White House in the late 1930s, now a taverna. Kouloura is a tiny harbour with cypresses and fishing boats, a good place for lunch after a swim.
Ikos Odisia
Ikos Odisia from the air at Dassia.
The east coast: calm water near town
The east coast faces the mainland and Albania, and the water is calmer. Beaches are mostly pebble, but swimming is easy and Corfu Town is close. Kassiopi in the north-east is an old fishing village with small coves around a ruined castle.
Near town are the resort beaches at Dassia and Moraitika, where many of the larger hotels have their own bathing areas.
Ikos Odisia: a new resort at Dassia
Ikos Odisia opened in 2023 on a bay at Dassia, north of Corfu Town, with a private beach and eight restaurants included in the rate. A day's car hire is part of the package, so you can drive over to the west coast without planning. For families and couples who want everything in one place but still want to see the island.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ikos Odisia
Domes Miramare
Domes Miramare by the sea on Corfu, from the air.
Domes Miramare: adults only in an old garden
Domes Miramare stands by the sea south of Corfu Town, in an old garden of tall trees, and is for adults only. There is a bathing jetty right below and a calm, green feel. A good choice for couples who want quiet days by the water with town a short drive away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Domes Miramare
When to go
June and September are best: warm water and green countryside without the biggest crowds.
The east coast is calmer in wind: when the west is blowing, the east is often still.
Hire a car: the best beaches are spread out and buses to the west coast are infrequent.
Check the climb: Porto Timoni and several north-west coves involve a steep walk down and back up.
Frequently asked questions about Corfu's beaches
What is the most beautiful beach in Corfu?
Paleokastritsa and Porto Timoni are the most beautiful, and Glyfada is the best sandy beach on the west coast.
Does Corfu have sandy beaches?
Yes, mainly on the west coast. Glyfada, Agios Georgios Pagon and Issos are sandy, while the east coast is mostly pebble.
Where is the calmest water in Corfu?
On the east coast facing the mainland. Kassiopi and the beaches around Dassia usually have still water.
How do you get to Porto Timoni?
Walk down the path from the village of Afionas. It takes about half an hour each way.
Where should you stay in Corfu for beaches?
Paleokastritsa or the west coast for the best beaches, or the east coast near Corfu Town for calm water and easy access to town.