Kassiopi holidays

Nightlife, meanwhile, is low-key in Kassiopi. Around the main village square, you'll find plenty of lively, affordable tavernas and music bars where you can sip an after-dinner cocktail and watch traditional island dancing – and even join in.

Shopping is a cut above, too, with bargains including the hand-made lace that Corfu is famous for, along with paintings by local artists, silver jewellery and attractive cotton and linen casual wear.

Beyond Kassiopi's harbourside cafés and pretty beaches lies a verdant island hinterland that beckons explorers and sightseers to discover stunning mountain scenery, charming hill villages among pine woods and olive groves, and historic sites including formidable Venetian fortresses, an island capital that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tranquil Greek Orthodox monasteries.

The sea can be a bit chilly in early summer, but this time of year is also a good bet for a cheap break, with plenty of mellow sunshine and temperatures that are perfect for exploring, rambling and sightseeing. You can expect plenty of sun and very little rain (except for occasional short thunderstorms) from June until the end of September, when daytime temperatures can peak at 30C or more.

The holiday season winds down between late-September and October, as do the temperatures, so it can be a great time to pick up a bargain. These months are perfect for those who don't like it too hot.

Skipper your own powerboat (no licence required for smaller boats) to discover the delights of Kassiopi's rugged but lovely coastline. Between its sandy beaches, you’ll find tiny coves where you can moor for a beach picnic and enjoy a day of swimming and snorkelling.

Heading a few miles west from Kassiopi, you can land one the best beaches on Corfu at Roda, and explore the strangely shaped cliffs of the romantically named Canal d'Amour at Sidari.

Explore Mount Pantokrator

Rent a car to explore the forest trails of mighty Mount Pantokrator, which start only 3km (2 miles) from Kassiopi.

Climb to its 906m (2,972ft) summit for a panoramic view from its mountaintop monastery, and look over the whole of Corfu, across the Ionian Sea to the treeless mountains of Albania and the misty Pindos ranges on the distant Greek mainland.

Learn to dive

The calm, crystal-clear waters around Kassiopi are a delight for experienced scubanauts and novice divers alike, with some spectacular dive sites a stone's throw from the shore.

Dense shoals of silver fish swim close to shore at Kassiopi's house reef and around submarine cliffs and rock arches. Huge groupers lurk in underwater caves, and at Nissopoulo, a tiny islet just half a mile (1km) from Kassiopi's harbour, divers can swim above the wreckage of an ancient Roman trading vessel.

Go fishing

Kassiopi is still a working fishing harbour, so keen anglers can hop aboard a boat with an expert skipper who knows the best spots for catches like red snapper, grouper, amberjack and tuna.

Especially keen sea anglers can also discover cheap fishing holidays to Kassiopi in the off-season, from October to March.

Corfu Town

With its narrow lanes lined with old Venetian houses and 19th century café arcades overlooking a wide green park, Corfu Town – around a 40-minute drive from Kassiopi – is a delightful place for a day trip. You’ll find shops selling Corfiot lace and other handicrafts, as well as a huge array of places to eat, from the affordable to the high-end.

Visit the formidable Palaió Froúrio fortress for a spectacular view from its highest point, and pay your respects to Corfu's patron saint, Agios Spiridon, whose mummified body and silver coffin are kept in his elaborately decorated church in the heart of the Old Town.