Corfu Holidays: how to get the most out of Corfù
When traveling, I am usually not doing much of the research on the area, I simply get the flight tickets, book the hotel, and the rest is destiny. This time, when planning my Corfu holidays, I planned everything in advance as I wanted to make sure we visit the best places of Corfu, eat at the best restaurants and enjoy our time as much as possible!
As a food blogger, one of my main goals was to make sure I taste as much of the local flavors as possible. But I did not stop here! I have also collected some information on local transport, tour organizers, boat rentals and other useful information. If you are planning your Corfu holidays, keep in reading, I am sure you will find this information helpful!
Corfu Holidays and the Best Beaches of Corfu
When you hear someone saying, “Corfu holidays”, what would first come to your mind? As any traveler, I believe the first thing would be those crystal water beaches! If you look at the map, you will realize how many beaches this amazing island has! Just like anyone else, we wanted to make our holidays unforgettable by visiting the best beaches of Corfu. Or, let’s better say, not only the ordinary beaches that can be easily reached by ground transport.
We have spent 8 days in Corfu and visited quite many of them. What is important to notice is that some beaches in Corfu can only be reached by boat. Oh, I loved the idea and could not wait to get a boat and see them during my Corfu holidays! Here below you will find a list of the beaches we have visited. We did not stop in all of them for a swim, but it made our idea on the bestest of them!
In this post about our Corfu holidays, I grouped the best beaches of Corfu into two groups. Those that can be reached by ground transport and others that can be only reached by boat. No worries, I will also let you know where to get the boat! It’s going to be your best holidays, so keep on reading.
If you want to see photos of my Corfu holidays now, click Follow on my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ and then open the highlights Corfù Part 1 and Corfù Part 2.
Before I start, here are some fun facts: I only like beaches that face the West, meaning those that offer the best sunset views! This may sound weird, but I feel this is “my beach” if I have water and sun just in front of me! I am sure this comes from my childhood when I spend most of my summers in Palanga/Nida beach on the Baltic seaside of Lithuania. Weirdo, I know 🙂
Agios Gordios Beach
Our number one beach! Sandy beach with lots of bars and restaurants (so quite busy, but hey, this is Corfu holidays, so we were ready for it, weren’t we?) and a crystal clear water! This is a shallow beach so long way walking into the water and safe for kids! If you want a complete relax and silence, you should keep on reading as there would be other options for you instead of Agios Gordios! There is a super nice restaurant where you can have the most delicious grilled fish, you can find the photos on Instagram highlight. It was absolutely delicious and we would definitely return there, even to have the same grilled fish!
Advice: there are some bars that give you sunbeds and umbrellas for free if you buy something (even an espresso would work!). So do not get into the first one that will ask you to pay €5-15 for two sunbeds and an umbrella. We will need some extra penny for other attractions during our Corfu holidays!
Agios Georgios Beach
May sound very similar to Agios Gordios and yes, it is on the West coast as well, yet it is another beach so make sure you spell it correct.
A very spacious sandy beach that only has some areas with sunbeds or umbrellas. The beach is quite long, and we could see a bar on the other side of the coastline. I would say this beach would be the best option to those who want some relax on their Corfu holidays (just like we did the day we visited Porto Timoni!).
Advice: This is a deep-water beach, meaning, you do a couple of steps into the water and it’s already up to your ears, therefore, less kid-friendly compared to Agios Gordios beach. The beach is spacious so you may want to take your umbrella or even sunbed!
Barbati Beach
A very nice pebble beach with a nice blue water. It was easy to reach the beach by quad, yet you may want to arrive earlier to find parking. The beach has some bars, so sunbeds and umbrellas would be offered (we did not take them as it was a stop for a quick swim).
If you want to see photos of the Barbati beach, click Follow on my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ and then open the highlights dedicated to Corfu holidays. You will find photos of all beaches we have visited!
Strogylo Beach
This is the beach where our BBQ tour boat had stopped for a swim. I am not sure if this beach can be reached by ground transport (did not notice, was too concentrated on the food, sorry lol) as the only people on the beach were those from the boat. A very tiny pebble beach with nice water, would not visit if not with the boat tour that we went for on our Corfu holidays.
Kouloura Beach
We saw this beach from the boat, and it seemed so beautiful, wide, empty, and BLUE! We will definitely visit this beach next time we are in Corfu (this is going to be soon, very soon!), so follow me on social for the updates!
Nissaki Beach
If this beach was wider, it would definitely be one of my favorites out of all visited during our Corfu holidays. Yet it is so small (max 30 sunbeds total!) and busy that we did not even stop for a swim! We would only return if it was not this crowded (so probably never ever anymore lol). The beach has a taverna and the fresh fruit selling van was there, too.
Ipsos Beach
The Ipsos beach is one of the most famous around Corfù town, but we passed by without stopping. It reminds me a lot of the Benitses beach: long coastline going in parallel with the main road. When on Corfu holidays, I prefer to choose a beach that lets me breathe fresh air rather than the exhaust of the cars. This beach has some water games so most probably good for families with kids.
Kanoni Beach (the famous!)
Nice one! The particularity of this beach is the huge rocks that you would lie on for the sunbath! The beach has sunbed and umbrella rental service, yet I would prefer to go for the rock option. Not sure there is any bar nearby, so you may want to grab a snack before. Corfu holidays must be about food, too lol
To see more photos of the best beaches of Corfu, click Follow on my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ and then open the highlights dedicated to our Corfu holidays.
Bataria Beach (aka Mpataria Beach)
Small pebble beach close to Kanoni Beach, no bars just sunbeds, not sure the water as we did not stop for a swim. If I had to choose between Kanoni Beach and Bataria Beach, the first one would definitely win!
Kalamionas Beach
Another (super) tiny pebble beach in Kanoni area where we stopped for a walk. Nothing special about this beach, Kanoni Beach still wins!
Pìpitos Beach
A small pebble beach with sunbeds and umbrellas (not sure there is space for anything else lol)…. We did not stop for a swim but I have a feeling that this beach is cozy, so I would return to spend some time there! I will do it on our next Corfu holidays and will let you know!
Agios Stefanos Beach
Veeeeeery wide sandy beach! We were there early in the morning, and it was pretty empty, not sure how it looks like throughout the day. Would definitely return for the quietness that we found there. There are bars and tavernas around so I would assume sunbeds and umbrellas, too (maybe free of charge for the bar / restaurant customers).
Arillas Beach
This is the beach that we saw from the top of the hill; see my Instagram profile for the photos, the view was outstanding! I would love to return to this beach on my next Corfu holidays and spend a day there. The water must be amazing as this is what it looked like from the top!
Issos Beach
This beach, together with Chalikounas beach, are like Palanga/Nida beaches in Lithuania. This is a sandy beach, wide and nice, not many options for the bars or tavernas though. If I had to choose between Issos beach and Palanga/Nida beach… Let me be real Lithuanian and vote Palanga/Nida! 🙂
For more photos of my Corfu holidays, click Follow on my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/. Once done, click on the Corfu holidays highlights to see the photos!
Chalikounas Beach
Very similar to Issos beach, wide and nice sandy beach. Note that the beach is divided into two parts and it is separated by the canal. We were told it was not possible to cross it but there was some tiny bridge there, not sure if it was open though. If you kite, Chalikounas must be the best place for your Corfu holidays and kiting!
Paleokastritsa Beach (the famous!)
I may sound weird, but I did not find anything so special about this beach! If you asked anyone, what Corfu holidays is about and what are the most visited places, people will definitely say Paleokastritsa beach! I will try to understand it better the next time I visit Corfu, but as of now, I would choose any other Corfu beach, sorry!
Rovinia Beach
A very small pebble beach that is worth a quick swim – the water was sooooo blue!
Rent a boat Corfu / Boat hire Corfu
If you want to visit beaches that can only be reached by boat, you will need the boat rental company. If you wish to get the contact details of the boat hire Corfu company, its location (that will also be your starting point) and more information about how and where, follow and message me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ or email me at [email protected] and I will be more than happy to help you out!
Advice: No driving licence is needed to get the boat, so no worries for the “I don’t know driving a boat” – we didn’t either but were safe and sound 😀 Also, since lots and lots of sun cream will be needed on the boat, remember to take yours!
Stelari Beach
Mainly pebble beach with SUCH A BEAUTIFUL crystal clear water! Amazing views and swims, worth getting off the boat to get some sunbath. This is our favorite beach of all that we visited by boat. If you manage to visit this beach, you will have the best memories from your Corfu holidays, I promise!
Advice: you may see some jellyfishes, so be careful!
Chomi Beach
This is a very narrow mainly pebble beach with a very beautiful crystal water. The colors of this beach are amazing: white coast and hill, and crystal blue water – could not expect more! If we had to compare the two – Stelari and Chomi, Stelari beach would still be our “best beaches by boat” winner.
See all the photos of our Corfu holidays by clicking Follow on my Instagram page and then open these highlights dedicated to Corfu!
Limni Beach
This beach is similar to Porto Timoni as the land divides it into two different parts: the Northern and the Southern. We did not stop in this beach as it was super crowded. If you decide to visit, make sure you get there earlier in the morning. No bars, no sunbeds if not your own! Oh and, to be honest, I am not sure if this beach can be reached by ground transport! I will check next time, promise.
Iliodoros Beach
Oh, funny one! We reached this beach by boat, and we wanted to have some sunbath on the beach but could not reach the ground as the sea is so deep :D. So we just passed by and left it with the goal to return there on our next Corfu holidays!
Transport of the Island
Related keywords: Car Rental Corfu, Car Hire Corfu, Car Rental Corfu Airport, Car Hire Corfu Airport, Airport Transfer Corfu, Corfu Taxi
Most of the travelers wonder what type of transport is the best for Corfu holidays. The island is 65km long but because of the devious roads, it may take longer to reach its different corners.
The best way to visit Corfu is by your own transport, but if you do not have one, public transport will work, too.
If you do not arrive / leave Corfù early in the morning or late at night, the public Corfù transport will take you anywhere! We were concerned about the timetables and if buses arrive at all.
They really do plus the timetables are respected. Otherwise, you may ask your hotel to come pick you up as if you get taxi, it may cost you around €50 if not more depending on the destination town. I believe this price is crazy, but it may really be your only option to reach the hotel/airport.
I have created two highlights on my Instagram dedicated to our Corfu holidays! Click follow here https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ and see these highlights.
There are two different types of busses in Corfù: the Green Line Bus and Blue Line Bus. The Blue lines serve the area around Corfù town, whereas the Green Line connects different towns of the island.
Corfù city bus company website – https://www.astikoktelkerkyras.gr/indexeg.php
Green Bus company website – https://greenbuses.gr/routes-en
We wanted to have our own transport when on Corfu holidays and were choosing between a scooter, car, or quad. And we’ve chosen a quad which we now think was the best option for the transport. Not only because it is fun but because it is quite easy to find parking. We will definitely get a quad next time we visit the island! If you want to rent a quad, feel free to message me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ or email me at [email protected]. I will gladly share the quad rental company contact details with you.
Advice 1: in order to drive a scooter, you must have driving licence A. The European driving licence B is only valid for scooters up to 50cc. This also refers to the Italian driving licence despite of the fact that you can drive a scooter of up to 125cc in Italy having the driving licence B. Most of the scooter rental companies explain this prior signing the rental contract, so you should be good, but be careful as it is your own responsibility.
Advice 2: to drive a quad, you need to have the driving licence B. No category A is needed, and it can even be your first time driving a quad, so no worries, you will make it!
Advice 3: you will find various opinions on what is the optimal quad power to visit the island. We had one of 300cc and it was more than enough for two people. If I had a chance to get less (it would have been cheaper!), I would have gone for a 200cc or even 150cc, most probably not less than this. Some hills, for example the one to return from Agios Gordios towards Corfù Town, is so sharp, that it may be difficult (but not impossible!) to drive. Rental companies want to get more money so some may also speak about 400-500cc, don’t listen to them 🙂 Note: I only speak from my experience as a driver and based on the roads we did.
Best places to visit in Corfù
Porto Timoni
This is my favorite memory of our Corfu holidays! Although the beach was super crowded, we had some sunbath there. The water was not my favorite so not sure if would ever return there. In any case, Porto Timoni is the winner!
Corfù Town
Such a cozy town! I would definitely return when on my next Corfu holidays, and would consider staying there overnight, why not! The city is clean and has a beautiful old town with very beautiful tiny streets! There is a huge number of shops, bars, restaurants. Oh, those smells everywhere you walk make you hungry in a second! It is worth a visit! If you manage to get there, go see the coast. I would not say it is as beautiful as one of those crystal water beaches, but I still loved it! On my Instagram Corfu holidays highlight you will see many photos, pretty lovely!
Corfù Airport
Well, it is not actually the airport itself but the little bridge that connects Corfù airport area with Perama. The view is amazing and taking a video of a landing plane is a must for Corfu holidays!
Advice: there are a couple of bars on the top of the hill, go get a drink there and watch planes landing. You will love it!
Pantokratoras
Wow! This was a wow! What a breathtaking view! This is definitely one of the “must see” places when on Corfu holidays. The road to get there may seem tough but if you have own transport, it is definitely worth a visit!
Kassiopi Town
A very nice area and I would definitely recommend going there. A small town with a very beautiful port area. The area has multiple beaches so you can stay there for the whole day!
We had a chance to visit one local farmer greenhouse, and we loved it! If you see local fresh fruit and veggie sellers on the road, stop and ask to show their gardens. Greeks are very nice people, they love tourists and most of them speak very good English! We had a chance to see strawberry greenhouse, oh the smellllll! Next time we will definitely buy something fresh (we were on our way to the beach so we couldn’t!).
Best Restaurants in Corfu / Corfu Restaurants
We have visited so many restaurants, tavernas and bars during our Corfu holidays. The photos of places and dishes are available on my Instagram page (I also put rating so you can have a better idea). Remember to click Follow on my page https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ and if you have questions, message me there or send me an email.
We had chosen to stay in the hotel with breakfast included. This means we always had lunch or dinner outside (pointing to the best restaurants in Corfu, of course). Oooooooooor! As a food blogger, I love visiting local markets and get local foods such as season fruits and veggies. Staying in a hotel means you can’t cook, but there is plenty of dishes that can be prepared with raw ingredients, such as the salad, etc. You could even make your own Greek salad! Ahhhhh, getting hungry as I type lol
The Central Corfù market is very small, but it was big enough to get the most delicious cucumbers, tomatoes, figs, kumquats, etc. We were not familiar with some of them, and this what makes it great – the food depends on the place you’re in, isn’t it amazing?! So we bought what we loved and had it for lunch or as an aperitivo or even as a snack in the lounge area of the hotel. Advice: don’t forget to get some fresh pita, Corfù has lots of beautiful bakeries! I loved it and would definitely repeat, not only on my next Corfu holidays, but anywhere I go!
On the dedicated highlight of my Instagram page you will find photos of what the market looks like and what kind of fruit and veggies we bought.
Best Activities for Corfu Holidays
TripAdvisor is full of activities, and we had chosen the BBQ Tour. The organizer was amazing, we really loved the trip and especially the BBQ made on board right in front of us! See my Instagram page for photos, I am sure you will love it!
Quad Tour was our second option for our Corfu holidays. But we are glad we did not choose to get one as we had rented our quad. Who can be any better trip organizer if not yourself lol
Paxos / Antipaxos Tour was among the most popular options for Corfu holidays. We did not go for it for these reasons: the boats are huge, it’s around 150-200 people all on the same boat. Chaos! Second, when you are on this huge boat, they won’t let you leave it to visit the islands. You will only be allowed to have a swim around, but no sightseeing around the island. We thought this is not worth our time then and I am sure we made the right choice.
An alternative here would have been taking the ferry boat from Corfù town to Paxos, and then another local “taxi boat” from Paxos to Antipaxos.
At the end of the day, we did not make it, but we have it on our list for our next Corfu holidays.
Advice: you may check TripAdvisor for the tours you like and get in touch directly with the organizer. TripAdvisor provides availability dates. The best is to choose one first and contact the organizer for confirmation. They are more active by phone or Whatsapp/Viber message, but you may try emailing them, too. This will help you save some money as you avoid paying TripAdvisor commission.
Best Hotel in Corfu
I love travelling and staying at family hotels, and this is exactly the type of a hotel we stayed in when on our Corfu holidays. It was in Perama and it is run by an amazing host together with his wife and kid. The breakfast was amazing, all handmade and freshly cooked in the morning. Loved it and could not expect anything better. The location was okay, we had a quad so did not have problems to move. The second time we visited Corfù we stayed in Gouvia which is outside the town, too. And it was also great as location! Note that staying outside Corfù Town is not a problem as the public transport works very well!
Some views from our hotel including the breakfast: https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ (remember to follow me before moving to the Corfu holidays highlights!)
Best ever Greek Food
As food blogger, I can’t leave you without recipes. The basket of the best Greek Food ideas is pretty ready to be shared! On my Instagram page there is already a reel with the recipe of tzatziki, go see it now! Corfu holidays was great, food was fantastic so I want to share every tiny piece of it with you.
What about Greek salad or the famous tzatziki? More recipes coming soon on my Instagram, promise!
Oh, and by the way, remember to follow me on Instagram to be the first to get updates!
I hope you found this article useful to organize your Corfu holidays! Now click the link https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pesto_pizza/ and Follow me on Instagram. More trips are coming up (Corfù is still among them!) so let’s get in touch!
If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact on Instagram (make sure you follow me first, so your messages won’t go into Spam folder!) or send me an email – I will share the best tips with you!
Tips
This was something new to me, but I loved the idea: you join Corfù-related groups on Facebook. You buy your own beach umbrella and use it until the last day of your Corfu holidays. When leaving the hotel, you ask the hotel staff to keep the umbrella for a couple of days as your “friend” will come to pick it. You post on Facebook group that you have left an umbrella at the hotel XXX and if anyone wants, they can go and get it! Maybe next time you will get a free umbrella? 🙂 This is SUCH AN AMAZING NO WASTE IDEA! I absolutely LOVE it!
