The biggest upside to living in Corfu is that winters are short and summers are long. Sure you get seasonal depression here too, sure I miss London’s bustling pace of life, sure I get to experience here as well the occasional existential crisis. The difference is that here you can soon wash all your problems away in a crystal clear sea.

Corfu is home to incredible beaches. The most impressive ones are accessible by boat mainly, but you can still get to dip in emerald waters surrounded by incredible views even within a short walking distance from the city center.

We are going to start our little tour of my favorite beaches from Central Corfu as there is a lot to go through. I will follow up with North and South, so have full view and you are in the know just in time before your summer vacations.

Central Corfu Beaches

Paliokastritsa Maybe the most iconic and recognizable beach on the island. Full of life, full of Italians and little boats you can hop on to visit nearby secluded beaches and the blue caves. Situated between the Paliokastritsa Monastery, the Aquarium and a variety of hotels, tavernas and bars.

*This is the main beach which it’s super packed in summer and where you can hop on a boat to explore nearby beaches.*

It has rocks and sand and plenty of fish in the sea, so great for both flirting and diving. Crystal clear waters that are always a bit cold. If you come, you must hop on one of the many boats to visit near by beaches like Paradise Beach and explore the sea caves.

Paleokastritsa is also the location of one of the most iconic bars in Corfu: La Grotta. Nested in a rock, it’s an amazing spot to combine swimming, socializing and cocktails. It’s hidden from the street and you need to walk down and then up quite a few steps to reach it, but the views and atmosphere make it all worth it. It used to have a much more relaxed and hippie vibe and lots of dancing, but unfortunately the past couple of years it’s gotten gentrified a bit with reservations, sun beds and people living in the Instagram vs in the moment, but all in all it’s still a must visit!

Another great option if you are looking for something more calm and a great menu to go with is Akron beach bar. I’d advise booking your sun bed prior to visiting as it can be hard to find something available on the spot.

Newest addition is Aragosta Beach Club that opened up last year. I haven’t visited yet but plan to as it looks very promising.

Glyfada Iconic, sandy, big, there is a section for everyone on this beach - from families to nudists and clubbers- and easily accessible via bus from city center. Glyfada was my favorite beach growing up as it has clear waters, green views, warm sand, a beautiful sunset and enough people to keep things interesting. If you walk from one side of the beach to the other you will see everything and everyone and get a good exercise on top of it.

The right side of the beach is more scenic, with a small, beautiful bay popular with families. You can find good shade in the afternoon, and the water is shallower. On the rock on the side you can see the villa that once belonged to the designer Michalis Polatov and has hosted many celebrities.

Glyfada - the right side and the Villa Polatov

Right in the middle is a legendary, timeless beach club that has been revived again and again. When I was in highschool it was Aloha, today it is Pazuzu. And although the name -and maybe the vibe- has changed what has not changed is the dancing and partying.

On the left just before, in front and right after Marriott’s Domes of Corfu hotel you have another popular section for families and people that want to chill without a sun bed, as it’s quite spacious and hotel guests leave the beach early so as not to miss their all-inclusive dinner. Right after, towards the left end of the beach you have the nudist section, so head right there if you want to let loose.

Gyaliskari Gyaliskari beach is near Glyfada. Actually in that area, near Pelekas, you get five great beaches in a row: Myrtiotissa a legendary nudist beach with a monastery on top, then Glyfada, then Kontogyalos - think a smaller sized Glyfada- and then Gyaliskari. Gyaliskari is a bit more difficult to access. You don’t get public transport till the beach and if you drive the road is a bit narrow, uphill and not in the best condition. It’s not a long way though so if you brave through you are soon rewarded.

It’s not a very long beach, but it has a nice setting with a big rocks that remind of Thailand scenery and on the left side, where there is a deserted hotel you can lay on the concrete and enjoy the sunsets. There is a small cafe/restaurant, so if you get thirsty on the way down or up- worry not- supplies are within reach.

Ai Gordis Easy to recognize from the big rock on the left side of the beach, which offers a great photo spot on the drive down to the beach. It is home to the renowned hostel Pink Palace. If you meet an American and they say they’ve been to Corfu while in college, 99% they mean they were at Pink Palace and probably can’t remember much.

The beach is a local favorite with tons of beach bars and restaurants. Some of the most popular with locals are Sabbia, Ark and Romantic Palace. It’s on the west coast so you can spend all day there and enjoy a magical sunset.

Gyali This used to be my secret beach so would not share online but it’s not so secret anymore and for good reasons.

@amalucky Just 🇬🇷Greek Summer #greece #greeksummer #corfu #korfu #yunanistan #yaz ♬ original sound - Amalia 🧿💋🧿

However thanks to Instagram this has become super popular. You can access the beach via boat from Ermones beach or if you are a professional climber via climbing down from Ai Lias with the help of a rope. Most tourists seem to prefer the rope route, despite the local communities posting countless warning sites not to. Let me convince you why you should absolutely not. First of all, I know you’ve seen plenty of people doing that on social, but what you don’t see is those that didn’t make it and needed rescue. Also note that you get no telephone signal at this beach. Second of all, we have intense heatwaves during summer and the point of going to the beach is to enjoy, relax and cool off, not get a heat stroke. Thirdly, Ermones is itself a beach very much worth visiting and the beach where Odysseas washed off to be found by princess Nafsika while doing laundry at the river on the left side of the beach. And the fourth reason: the team of Ermones Boats is fab, kind and will make the ride worth it.

As this is the beach of my village and I grew up there, let me give you the absolute right way to do this. You start early in the morning as this is when you get the most beautiful colour of the waters and the beach won’t be too busy. Get the boat from Ermones and ask to be picked up at say 3pm (depends on how much food and water you take with you, if you have an umbrella etc). When you return, take a dip at Ermones and then make a stop at Tristrato, where it’s always cool and breezy, for an ouzo or a local beer with home cooked fries and keftedakia. Ping me on social to thank me for a day well spent.

Robinia Beautiful beach in Liapades that you can get to via a short walk or via boat. It has a beautiful sea cave on the left and crystal clear water with thin pebble. A boat/bar shows up around noon usually. Unfortunately writing this made me realize I haven’t been there since the pandemic as it now gets too busy and if you arrive a bit late you find it very hard to park and find some space on the beach. If you are a morning person though- recommended!

Anemomylos, Mon Repos, Imabari These are the city center swim spots you can simply walk to and are in any case worth the visit. Let’s start with Anemomylos and Mon Repos which are next to each other in Garitsa Bay. You can actually dive in all across Garitsa Bay from built-in stairs, but I prefer diving from Anemomylos, the very end of the bay next to the light house.

I prefer so because it’s sandy, a bit further away from the boats and you can swim around all the way to Mon Repos. You also have a great view to the Old Fortress and all the super yachts. So you get to swim next to the billionaires of the world, but have the better experience as you can also get all the local gossip from the aunties. The crowd you get there is a mix, locals mainly and then some Italian and French tourists.

A bit further down the road there is Mon Repos. Mon Repos is a huge estate with an impressive garden that includes the summer palace of the Greek Royals, where King Philip was born - now a museum- and the ancient temples of Hera and Apollo. You can swim at two areas, one accessible via the main road, Mon Repos Baths and one if you walk through the palace Gardens to get to Kardaki and the Queen’s pier.

The Mon Repos Baths is easier to access. There is a cafe where you can get a sun bed, if that’s your vibe, or just sit under the shadow of one of the majestic trees by the beach. It’s a rocky beach as you go in, but sandy when you get in deeper waters, that is why many locals dive in from the pier.

To get to Kardaki and the Queen’s pier, you have to walk through the royal gardens past the palace and down the path to your left. So if it’s a hot day you may work up a bit of a sweat, but great to combine with some sightseeing!

Last but not least we have Imabari in Faliraki, in the heart of the old city of Corfu. We used to call it “Ta bania tou Alekou” as Alekos was the owner of the cafe/bar which is where Imabari is today.

From here you can view the other side of the Old Fortress and the sailing club, while the place offers a tasty menu and refreshing cocktails you can enjoy day and night. Keep in mind it looks towards the east so not recommended for late afternoon swims. I’d pop by for a swim in the morning (there used to be some yoga sessions in the morning too last summer) or early afternoon and then return for dinner and cocktails at night.

All in all plenty of options and can’t really go wrong! Beaches to visit in the north and south of the island coming soon…

Central Corfu beaches you should visit

Modern Day Illusions