16 of the best beaches in Corfu

1. Paleokastritsa

Six beautiful beaches line the coast near Paleokastritsa, one of Corfu’s more popular resorts. The geography here is hilly and lush, so each is backed by sloping, olive tree-clad cliffs that contrast the brilliant turquoise water and stone-coloured shores.

The beaches on this north-western part of the island are a mix of sand and pebbles and there are plenty of facilities and activities nearby, such as diving shops and waterfront tavernas.

The eponymous stretch is well worth a visit but be sure to make time for tiny La Grotta. Just around the headland, this pretty cove is little more than a beach bar and jetty perched on a handful of rocks, but the swimming is excellent and there’s even a diving board if you’re feeling brave.

2. Agios Gordios Beach

Looking for just one beach for your Corfu holiday base? Agios Gordios, on the west coast, is a brilliant option.

This long, horseshoe-shaped bay is particularly scenic, with thick forested cliffs surrounding the beach, and the impressive Ortholithi rock formation keeping lookout from the water.

If you’re up for a challenge, hit the hiking trail on the southern end of the beach for panoramic coast views. If not, Agios Gordios has just about everything you’ll want for a day on the beach, with a sandy shore lined with restaurants, shops, bars and watersports facilities.

3. Rovinia Beach

Earn your lazy day of sunbathing by hiking to beautiful Rovinia Beach from the nearby village of Liapades, about one kilometre away.

This is one of the more unspoiled and secluded beaches in Corfu, so don’t expect any restaurants and facilities – just a floating bar that often moors up just offshore to sell snacks and drinks for a few euros.

Days here are all about relaxing, cooling off in the calm, clear water and admiring the dramatic white cliffs that tower over the pebbles.

4. Marathias Beach

If it’s soft golden sand and calm water you’re after, you can’t go wrong with Marathias Beach. This Blue Flag beach in southwest Corfu is long and wide, with plenty of sun-loungers, umbrellas and lunch spots, as well as open space for kids to play in.

The beach gets quieter and less touristy as you head further along the sand to Santa Barbara, where bars offer sun-loungers for free with a purchase of food or drink. Stroll along to enjoy the far-reaching sea views in peace.

5. Kerasia Beach

With fragrant pine and olive trees lining its white pebbly shore and little boats bobbing in the clear blue water, Kerasia Beach is easily one of the best beaches in Corfu.

Despite being relatively close to the popular resort of Kassiopi (which is just a 20-minute drive away), this little beach at the bottom of a steep side road keeps a low profile, meaning you won’t find many other tourists.

Idyllic and with a typically laidback Greek vibe, you’ll find just a smattering of sun-loungers here, as well as a family-run taverna that’s been serving up delicious seafood to hungry beachgoers for almost 50 years.

6. Glyfada Beach

Just 30 minutes from Corfu Town, Glyfada Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Corfu. Thankfully, it’s also one of the largest, with a wide sandy shoreline that stretches out across the island’s west coast.

With soft, golden sand and safe, shallow waters, it’s a great spot for families. There are several bars, restaurants and hotels nearby too, making this a great all-rounder.

Plan a beach-hopping day in this part of Corfu and you can easily visit the smaller beaches of Kontogialos and Myrtiotissa, on either side of Glyfada, too.

7. Issos and Halikounas Beaches

Rolling dunes and soft golden sand define Issos and Halikounas, two of Corfu’s prettiest beaches.

The neighbouring beaches – a long finger of sand that gets wider towards the southern side – curves around the edge of the beautiful Korission Lagoon, one of Corfu's best-kept secrets. It means there's brilliant blue water on both sides of the sand – cool cobalt colours in the lagoon and sparkling cyan in the sea.

While the beaches may appear wonderfully wild and untamed in parts, there’s a lifeguard station, sun-loungers and umbrellas for hire and a few watersports centres. If you want to try windsurfing or kitesurfing, this is the place to give it a go.

8. Loggas Beach

Steep stairs lead down to Loggas Beach, a narrow strip of sand sheltered by towering chalk cliffs on Corfu’s northwest coast. The tree-topped cliffs are the main attraction here so get your Instagram shot from the skywalk balcony at the clifftop 7th Heaven Café then take a swim out into the turquoise Ionian Sea for a proper view.

There aren’t any facilities or sun-loungers on the beach itself, so come prepared with a picnic and towels and stay until dusk – the beach enjoys some of the best sunset views on the island.

9. Canal d’Amour

Take a dip in the Canal d’Amour (Kanali tou Erota) and you’ll be lucky in love, the legend says. We say this picturesque cove near Sidari is one of Corfu’s best beaches for its sheer beauty alone.

Almost enclosed by the golden rock formations that define this stretch of coastline, the Canal d’Amour has tiny coves made for exploring and clay sand that makes fabulous (and free) natural face masks.

The beach itself is small and fills up quickly, but you can always pitch up on the rocks and take in the views from above.

10. Avlaki Beach

You’ll find pebbly Avlaki Beach halfway between the popular resorts of Kassiopi and Agios Stefanos Kassiopi on a quiet stretch of the northeast coast. It’s popular, but not overly crowded, with shallow crystal-clear waters perfect for splashing in.

There are a couple of tavernas on the beach, as well as sun-loungers and umbrellas for hire, so you’ll have enough for a chilled-out day on the sand. And if you’re feeling active, you can hike the trails that start at Avlaki to discover other beaches in the area.

11. Kavos Beach

By day, Kavos Beach is full of families and tourists enjoying the shallow waters and long sandy beach. By night, it becomes the go-to party beach destination in Corfu; beach bars stay open until the small hours, hosting epic events that draw young revellers from all over, like Atlantis Beach Club’s Super Paint Party.

Kavos Beach is ideal if you want easy access to the usual beachside facilities, from restaurants and bars to shops and sun-loungers – it’s got the lot. If you’re an adrenaline junkie and love your watersports, almost anything you can think of (from banana boats to jet-skis) is on offer here too.

12. Arillas Beach

Nestled between two small peninsulas on Corfu’s northwest coast, Arillas Beach is a sheltered spot that’s great for a family day out.

The water is shallow and calm, and the golden sand stretches for around 2km (1.2 miles), so there is plenty of space to spread out, build sandcastles and splash around in the sea.

Arillas is quieter than some of the other sandy beaches in Corfu, but there are still lots of lovely tavernas, bars and laidback little hotels nearby too.

13. Aspri Ammos

Explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries believed the islet of Othonoi, just off the northwest coast of Corfu, starred in Homer’s Odyssey as the home of the nymph, Calypso. It’s easy to see how this wild and beautiful spot captured their imaginations – picture a lush interior, sheer cliffs and pristine beaches that are only accessible by boat.

You can take the ferry from the San Stefano Harbour near Arillas to see the sweep of pebble beaches near the port of Othonoi. But to reach Aspri Ammos, the islet’s real postcard spot, your best bet is a private boat transfer or a full-day boat tour, such as those run by San Stefano Travel. Expect stark white pebbles and sand, clear turquoise water and not much else.

14. Barbati Beach

Barbati Beach, tucked away on the northeast coast of Corfu just past Nissaki, is a real gem for beach lovers and nature lovers. The beach is clean and pebbly, the sea is perfect for swimming, and there are plenty of watersports to try.

If you're feeling adventurous, summit nearby Mount Pantokrator. It's a challenging hike, but the views from the top are one of Corfu's highlights.

Return to the beach to grab a bite at one of the seaside tavernas, where the seafood is always fresh and tasty. And don't forget to stick around for the epic sunset – it's seriously worth it!

15. Porto Timoni

The famous twin beaches of Porto Timoni are one of Corfu's most Instagrammed spots.

What the photos don't show is the tricky hike from the village of Afionas down to its shores. If you're up for the challenge, you'll be rewarded with killer views of the Ionian Sea.

The easier option is a boat trip from Agios Georgios, but it means you'll miss out on the postcard shot of Porto Timoni's pebbly shores and crystal-clear waters from above.

16. Agios Georgios North

Bigger and sandier than nearby Porto Timoni, Agios Georgios is the kind of beach you could easily spend a full day at. Tavernas, sun-loungers and watersports are all available in this horseshoe-shaped stunner, though you’ll also find some quieter patches if you want to spread out even more.

It’s backed by a small resort with plenty of guesthouses to stay in if you’re looking for a laidback holiday spot, but it’s also easy to get to by car if you’re just visiting for a day. To make things tricky, there’s another Agios Georgios in the south of the island, so this one is sometimes referred to as Agios Georgios Pagon or Agios Georgios North.