10 Best Beaches in Corfu, Greece
Published August 2021 | Updated August 2024
Corfu, Greece is a small island, and as expected, it has tons of beaches! The entire perimeter of the island is just beautiful beach after beautiful beach. We spent most of our days exploring the coastlines and all the best beaches in Corfu.
These are the ones I visited and loved the most! Spoiler, there are no bad beaches in Corfu. Every beach is lovely in its own way, but depending on your preferences, some will be much higher on your list than others.
Spending my days swimming in the sea and sun was one of my favorite things to do in Corfu. if you don’t have a car, no worries! There are plenty of tours to book that start in Corfu Town and take you all around the island. I’ve included a few of the best ones throughout this guide.
Although there are tons of beaches around the island, this is my list of the best beaches in Corfu!
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What To Bring to the Beaches in Corfu
Water shoes: There’s a reason this is one of my 7 tips for the perfect Corfu trip! Most of the beaches in Corfu are rocky and many have sea urchins that you need to watch out for. Water shoes are a must for a comfortable beach visit at the rocky beaches.
Reef-safe sunscreen: Make sure you’re wearing sunscreen that is safe for the sea! I absolutely love Coola face and body sunscreen. It’s lightweight, doesn’t have a white cast, and is reef-safe.
Turkish towel: My favorite type of towel to travel with is a Turkish towel because it is lightweight, doesn’t take up space since it’s thin, and dries quickly.
Sun hat: Corfu summers are HOT and the sun is strong. In addition to sunscreen, bring a wide-brimmed sunhat to protect your face and neck from sunburns.
Know Before You Go
Rocky beaches and sea urchins: As I mentioned earlier, and will mention a few more times throughout this guide, many beaches in Corfu are rocky and have sea urchins. Even the best beaches in Corfu are rocky with sea urchins! Water shoes are the best for dealing with the rocks and being careful of where you step is the best way to avoid sea urchins.
Some areas don’t have beach access: Although there are beaches around the majority of the coast, areas like Corfu Town lack beaches. If you want to stay in an area with easy access to large and sandy beaches in Corfu, the northwest area is your best option. I have a guide to the best areas to stay in Corfu that is helpful if you’re choosing where to stay.
Rent a car: I highly recommend renting a car if you want to really explore all the best beaches in Corfu. It’s convenient, saves time, can get you to areas a bus wouldn’t, and is nice to load up with all your items (water shoes, towel, change of clothes, sunscreen, etc.) for a full beach day.
West Side
The west side is the more lush and green side! The water is crystal clear and the beaches don’t typically have the sea urchins along the sea floor like some on the east side. This is just my experience and you may still stumble across a beach with some urchins on the west side (they’re common in Corfu).
I highly recommend getting some water shoes, if not for the urchins, for the rocky beaches throughout the island!
The west side has the most sandy beaches in Corfu, and arguably the best beaches in Corfu. There are still some rocky beaches though. These amazing beaches bring in more tourists, so expect more crowds on the west side. It’s also where some of the larger hotels and resorts are.
The west side also has stunning rock formations coming out of the water at most beaches — very picturesque!
If you haven’t yet booked accommodations, visit my post about where to stay in Corfu. It will guide you through the best areas to stay, which ones have the best beaches in Corfu, and links to some of the most highly-rated apartments and hotels.
Bus Tour of the West Side of Corfu
Explore Paleokastritsa and Afionas (two places with the best beaches in Corfu!) via a guided bus tour that picks you up in Corfu Town and drives you across the island.
Rovinia Beach in Liapades
While the trek in the heat to get there (and back) was less than ideal, Rovinia Beach was one of our very favorites!
We spent a while here splashing around in the sea with our snorkels and goggles, taking photos and videos underwater with my waterproof phone case, and checking out the natural cave.
Parking: Park at the top on the side of the road. You can drive down the somewhat steep and narrow road to reach a small parking lot, but it’s narrow even for tiny cars. If you cannot find parking at the top, there are two parking lots. Park in the first one — the second one is difficult to reach.
Tip: Once you begin walking and reach the part of the path that has a rock wall on one side, turn right and walk to the edge for an amazing aerial view! Then head back to the main path and follow it all the way down to get to the beach.
Recommendations: In addition to parking on the side of the road at the top, get there early! This is a popular beach and gets crowded.
Location: First parking lot coordinates (39.670582621175875, 19.731854255335662)
accommodations Near Rovinia Beach
Porto Timoni in Afionas
Despite being possibly the MOST popular beach in all of Corfu, Porto Timoni is no joke to get to. This was the most difficult hike I’ve done, especially considering it was over 90ºF at 9am. It’s extremely rocky and steep — you need to be pretty able-bodied to make it up and down.
The gorgeous views of the dual bays make the hike worth it and land this as one of the best beaches in Corfu! Take time to stop along the way for photos of the famous views from above – it’s amazing.
Once you get down to the bottom of the trail, turn left to go to Porto Timoni Beach. The water is a gorgeous teal and clear enough to snorkel!
Recommendations: Go early morning before it gets hot and don’t wait until midday to walk back up – you’ll get overheated fast.
The hike is pretty steep and rocky, so wear comfortable sneakers and bring plenty of water! I wore my Allbirds Tree Runners and was thankful for it, but would recommend some nice trail shoes for better grip. I could not have made it in flip-flops or at peak temperature in the middle of the day.
When we left around 11am, there were tons of cars driving up and down the street searching for parking. Get here early to get a spot or stay at a nearby hotel with free parking.
Tip: If you want to go to a nearby beach with much easier access where you can park right at the beach (no hiking required!), then I recommend Agios Georgios Beach! It’s also considered one of the best beaches in Corfu, but isn’t featured on this list since I didn’t visit it myself.
Parking: There is street-side parking near the trailhead, but it can fill up quickly.
Location: Coordinates to the area we parked (39.72112433863492, 19.659622014351275)
Accommodations near Porto Timoni
Pirate Beach in Afionas
As a big fan of all things pirates, this is possibly the best name for a beach I’ve ever heard! Pirate Beach requires the same hike as Porto Timoni (above) because it is actually on the other side of it!
When you walk down to the bottom of the trail, turn right to reach Pirate Beach. Going left will take you to Porto Timoni.
The water on this side was much lighter and more aqua-blue compared to the green/teal water on the Porto Timoni side. It was also slightly colder water but still warm enough to swim in. The color of the water alone is enough to land this on the list of best beaches in Corfu!
We arrived around 9:30am and had the beach to ourselves for about 20-30 minutes before another couple got there. It’s typically less crowded than the bay and beach on the other side.
Recommendations: Same as Porto Timoni — get there early and wear good shoes for the hike.
Parking: There is street-side parking near the trailhead, but it can fill up quickly.
Location: Coordinates to area we parked (39.72112433863492, 19.659622014351275)
La Grotta in Paleokastritsa
La Grotta may be one of the more touristy beaches, but it is a must-visit. Despite not having an actual “beach,” I still consider it one of the best beaches in Corfu. We spent hours here hanging out, taking photos, getting drinks from the bar (!!), and jumping off the diving board.
Yup! A diving board into the sea! The diving board is installed on a rock and launches you right into a nice deep spot in the sea. The diving board alone makes La Grotta one of my favorite places to visit in Corfu.
There’s a bar at the top with tables and chairs to sit at while you sip your drink and admire the view and bonus: nice bathrooms! There is not a beach here, but plenty of rocks to sit on with a beach towel, and of course chairs all around near the top of the bar/restaurant.
We got here around 11am and had the best time. Although it is a more touristy area, it’s one of those places that is popular for a reason and worth visiting. You could easily spend a full day here swimming in the sea and having lunch at the restaurant.
September 2024 update: The dock is now completely gone. I’m not sure if/when it will be replaced, but the diving board is still there!
Recommendation: Bring your wallet if you want to get drinks here! And of course, lots of sunscreen (my favorite face + body sunscreen) if you plan on staying for hours like we did. There isn’t shade around the rocks, but there is some up at the bar.
Parking: There is street-side parking at the top. There is also a Green Bus Stop here if you’re taking the bus here!
Location: Coordinates to the parking area (39.674380122957565, 19.71918592011395)
Accommodations Near La Grotta
If you don’t have a car and don’t want to rely on public transit to reach Paleokastritsa from Corfu Town, book a bus tour! This full-day tour picks you up in Corfu Town before heading to Paleokastritsa, where you can explore the town and enjoy the beaches. You can also take an optional boat tour for an additional cost.
Agios Spiridon Beach in Paleokastritsa
This is definitely one of the more touristy beaches in terms of how commercialized it is.
There are beach chairs all over, but they must be rented for the day. It’s 10 euros per chair (that price may change seasonally), but we just dropped our stuff on the beach and enjoyed a swim in the sea. Bring a lightweight towel to lay out on if you don’t want to pay for a chair.
The water is SO clear here, with beautiful large rocks jutting out of the water on either side. The rocks nicely frame the beach and make it feel more like a protected bay.
One thing I like about this beach is that it gets deep quickly. You don’t need to swim far out to reach a point where your legs can’t reach the bottom. Maybe that’s a con for you, but it’s a pro for me!
If you’re not a fan of cold water, this beach might not be for you. It is by far the coldest water we swam in our entire trip, but it is still much warmer than the Pacific Ocean that I’m used to in California.
Recommendation: If you want a chill day in one spot, rent a couple of chairs and relax here. It does get crowded, but you’re also in a town with restaurants all around if you want to step away from the beach to grab some food and come back later.
Parking: There is a large parking lot walking distance from the beach where you can pay to park. Coordinates to parking lot: (39.672310947937525, 19.702112727379866). There is also a Green Bus Stop here if you’re taking the bus here.
Location: Directly in front of Hotel Apollon Corfu Paleokastritsa.
Accommodations Near Agios Spiridon Beach
Canal d’Amour in Sidari
One of the best beaches in Sidari is Canal D’amour. We knew this would be a crowded spot, especially since we were hitting it midday after spending an hour and a half at Porto Timoni/Pirate Beach.
Canal d’Amour legend says that if you swim through it with your partner, you’ll be in love forever. As an engaged couple who were getting married a few months from the day we were here, we of course swam through it and got married in September 2021!
The rocks above and the teeny tiny beach below are often covered with people. The stairs down to the beach are pretty rickety and falling apart, so be cautious.
There is a large natural cave/tunnel that you can swim through (on the right side as you swim through the canal). Don’t worry – it’s above water and easy to swim through! No holding your breath and diving down. Kids and elderly people were swimming through it with ease.
Staying in Corfu Town without a car? Book a bus trip, which will take you to Barbati Beach, Kassiopi, and Canal D’amour for a full day of beach and fun!
Recommendations: Same as most – get there early to beat the crowds. I wish we had come back early another day to shoot some photos together and have the place to ourselves – next time!
Location: 39.79698603282359, 19.698260180276694
Parking: There is parking along the surrounding streets or hotels if you stay at one of them.
Accommodations Near Canal D’Amour
Book an activity in Corfu!
East Side
Onto the east side of Corfu! This is the side Corfu Town is on and where we stayed during our trip. The east side beaches are much warmer than the ones on the west side and we found them to be much less touristy.
The people seemed like locals at all the beaches we went to on this side of the island — particularly in Dassia and Ipsos.
The beaches aren’t as jaw-dropping as the west side, but they’re quieter, more private, and have a relaxed vibe. If you’re staying on the east side, these are the best beaches near you!
Boat Tour of Beaches in Corfu
Want to experience multiple beaches in a guided tour up the east coast of Corfu? Starting in Corfu town, this boat takes you to multiple spots along the east side where you can hop off and swim in the crystal blue water.
The areas they stop at are gorgeous! While we didn’t do this exact boat trip, we did our own along the same area, but I would have booked this one had I known about it.
Ipsos Beach in Ipsos
About 20 minutes (9 miles) north of Corfu Town you’ll reach a stretch of beach called Ipsos Beach. It’s pretty local and there were almost no tourists the day we visited!
It’s a nice spot to hang out on the beach during Golden Hour. Being on the east side of the island, you don’t get the sunset over the water, but Golden Hour is still magical! You can also get a nice sunrise from here if you’re willing to wake up early enough.
The second place we stayed in Corfu was just a few minutes from this beach!
Recommendations: Visit during Golden Hour for a swim in the last rays of sunshine to end your day, then get dinner at one of the restaurants nearby.
Location: 39.69950129319626, 19.839446094353157
Accommodations Near Ipsos Beach
Seaside Ipsos Apartment (managed by the same company as the apartment I stayed at in Corfu Town!)
Dassia Beach in Dassia
Dassia is less than two miles south of Ipsos and is the town we stayed in during our trip.
There are some beach chairs with umbrellas, a deck/pier you can jump off of into the sea, and a stretch of some incredible restaurants.
We ate at Ta Diktia on our last night and this was our only time at Dassia Beach, but it was nice enough to add to the list of best beaches in Corfu!
Recommendation: Get dinner and drinks at Ta Diktia!
Location: 39.681534663073194, 19.84108524185716
Accommodations Near Dassia Beach
Petrinos Cottage (where we stayed in Dassia!)
St. Nikolaos Beach in Dassia
The street our adorable rental cottage was on ended at this beach and the beautiful St. Nicholas Church!
We came to this beach more often than any other because it was just a 5-minute walk from our place.
The shore is very rocky and water shoes are highly recommended. We made the mistake of walking down to the right where there weren’t any people, only to realize the sea floor was filled with sea urchins. No wonder no one was over there! Learn from our mistake and stick to the beach area directly in front of the parking area.
The water is warm – much warmer than other beaches! Everyone here was local, which was a nice experience. There was even a wedding on the sand in front of the church the first time we came!
Recommendation: Be respectful of the locals! This is a small, quiet beach where people relax and go for calming swims. Sunrise is also a beautiful time to visit – that’s when we took the photo of us below!
Parking: There is a small parking area though at the end of the road if you plan to drive here.
Location: 39.67438463294759, 19.846438306212484
Spiaggia Libera in Corfu Town
This was the first beach we visited in Corfu. It was close to the first rental apartment we stayed at in Corfu Town and had beautiful greenish-blue, clear water. There are not many beaches in Corfu Town, so if you’re staying in that area, this might be your best beach to visit.
There is a unique hole-in-the-wall religious room that appears somewhat abandoned, but I saw some people visiting it (called Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Megalomata on Google).
It’s a lovely little spot to take a dip and cool off on a hot day in Corfu Town!
Accommodations Near Corfu Town
Mouragia Seaview Apartment (where we stayed in Corfu Town!)
More Corfu Guides
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