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Corfu's best beaches ... Glyfada, Agios Gordios, Paleokastritsa, Barbari... !!
If your idea of a dream holiday is to lie on beautiful beaches and swim in clear waters, Corfu is the place for you. It is the beloved vacation spot of sunbathers and water sports enthusiasts because most Corfu beaches have soft sands and ideal weather conditions for windsurfing, waterskiing and other beach activities. Some beaches are perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving as they have rocky coves. Most of the beaches are well organized, and offer a variety of facilities, ranging from canteens and bars to taverns, restaurants, mini markets and shops.
Some beaches in Corfu have a system of safety signals that indicate whether or not prevailing conditions are safe for watersports or swimming. Signals may vary. If any signal, usually a coloured flag, is displayed, its significance should be checked and its instruction heeded.
Most of Corfu's beaches have safe bathing, with shallow water extending for some distance over sand and shingle and with an absence of currents. Where steep shelving occurs on beaches, or where there may be potentially dangerous currents, this is mentioned in the text.
Tidal movements in the Mediterranean generally are minimal, although there may be some visible change in the waterline, especially on the west-coast beaches. At some beaches, more sand builds up, or is exposed, in summer.
All beaches in Greece are freely accessible to the public by law. On Corfu, as elsewhere, many beachfront hotels monopolise the area of beach in front of their premises. The law states that free passage along the shore must not be blocked with any permanent structure.
If you simply wish to lie on a beach for a short while, you are free to do so. You are not bound to rent any moveable equipment that is set out on that beach, although you should not use such equipment without first paying for its use.
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Acharavi beach: This popular family resort on Corfu's north coast lies a short distance inland from the beach and to either side of the wide main road. The wooded heights of Mount Pantokrator rise impressively behind and a different world of dense olive groves and quiet villages, such as Episkepsi and Lafki, can be reached from the resort. Acharavi has a range of shops and eating places. Villas and hotels fill the space between village and seafront. The sand and shingle beach shelves gently and bathing is safe. There are watersports.
Afionas: To the south of the village lies a narrow promontory that ends at Akrotirio (Cape) Allllas, while to the west lies Kravia (Gravia) Island, the 'Ship Island', with its little flotilla of offshore rocks trailing behind it.
Just in front of the church at Afionas, a surfaced lane leads off towards the cape. In 50m, at a junction, the lane bears right (signed Dionysos Taverna). Take the left branch along a rough track that leads out onto the promontory and down to a narrow neck of land at Porto Timoni. Small beaches lie either side. On the headland are the faint remains of defensive walls dating from about 500 BC.
Agios Georgios North-west: Agios Georgios is an attractive resort and although its individuality has been blurred by beachfront development, bold, natural surroundings still dominate the scene. The sandy beach sweeps for over 2km along the curve of a south-facing bay between Akrotirio (Cape) Arillas and Akrotirio (Cape) Falakron. Bathing is safe here, although the area can be windy at times, making Agios Georgios a good windsurfing centre. There are windsurfing schools on the beach as well as iet-ski and waterski facilities.
Agios Georgios South-west: Like its northern namesake, this Agios Georgios has been tacked on to a long stretch of sandy beach, part of the almost continuous 12km strand that fringes the southwest shoreline of Corfu. Linear development has left the resort without much heart, but location is what matters. Numerous watersports are available and several good tavernas overlook the sand.
The beach is narrow, but you can find uncrowded space if you walk some distance along the open coast in either direction. Inland is the village of Argyrades (Argirades), worth visiting for its friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere, its Venetian architecture and its shops and cafes.
Agios Gordios beach: An attractive west-coast resort at the foot of spectacular pine-covered coastal hills where the beach is framed by big headlands to north and south. At the beach's northern end are Plitiri Point and the rocky heights of Aerostato, known at one time as
The Lookout' because of its use as a watch-point for pirates and potential invaders. Just offshore from Agios Gordios southern headland is a remarkable tusk-like pinnacle called the Ortholith. Onshore is a similar pinnacle, beyond which rises the great bulk of Mount Garotina.
The beach is wide and sandy with patches of shingle, and numerous watersports are available, including a beachside diving centre. A steep hike to the south from Agios Gordios takes you to the rocky cove of Fieroula and on to the hamlet of Pentati.
Agios Stefanos North-west: Corfu's other Agios Stefanos is a popular family resort set on the shores of a wide bay with a large, flat expanse of beach and high white cliffs at the northern end of the bay. The resort, custom-built with villas, hotels, tavernas, bars and shops lining the beachfront, is named after the Chapel of San Stefano, which stands on a small promontory to the south of the beach.
Beyond the chapel lies a large working harbour full of fishing caiques and excursion boats. There is safe bathing at the beach, which is crossed at its mid-point by a rather marshy river, and all types of beach equipment are on offer. Watersports include waterskiing and paragliding, and trips can be arranged to the neaby Diapondia Islands and south to Paleokastritsa.
Barbati: At Barbati the steep slopes of Mount Pandokrator crowd the shoreline. Behind the beach and the main road the rocky flanks of the mountain rise from dense olive groves, creating an impressive backdrop. Barbati has a long, silvery-white, shingle beach — a striking contrast to the azure sea. The beach is ideal for youngsters because it offers safe and sheltered bathing, and lies far enough below the road to escape traffic noise. There are watersports in plenty, including waterskiing, windsurfing and parascending, plus pedaloes and dinghies.
The village has supermarkets, gift shops and tavernas. Nightlife is limited to quiet drinks and meals; the only thing missing on this eastern shore is a view of the sunset. But there's always the sunrise.
Dassia beach: Dassia's shingle beach is spared the roadside clamour of other resorts, but its popularity and proximity to Corfu Town makes the seafront a busy place. A zone of hotels and apartments lies between the beach and the main road, which has the bulk of gift shops, tavernas and services, as well as the lavish frontages of two big hotels, the Corfu Chandris and the Dasia Chandris.
There is a popular campsite inland from the main road. The beach's shallow waters, reached down narrow lanes, make it safe for young children. Excursion boats arrive regularly loaded with day visitors or leave for trips. All types of watersports, including waterskiing and paragliding, add to the bustle, and there are beachfront café-bars and tavernas.
Glyfada: One of the finest beaches on the west coast of Corfu island, with a long stretch of golden sand, is reached down a winding road.
There has been much development here and major hotels tend to dominate the backdrop of tree-covered coastal hills.
Watersports are available, and include sailing and windsurfing. The beach shelves steeply in places, but otherwise Glifada is the kind of sandy paradise adored by youngsters. Tavernas line the beachfront and these popular venues go non-stop until late at night. You'll find peace along tracks and paths to the north and south of the resort.
Kontokali: The first resort to the north of Corfu Town, is fast becoming the service centre for the expanding marina that takes up the adjoining shoreline. The resort has a good selection of restaurants, tavernas and bars. The narrow pebble beaches become crowded in summer. Extended and modernised, the marina has capacity for over 800 boats and is now equipped with most services and facilities, including car rental. It is the island's main base for yacht chartering.
Messonghi beach: Separated from Moratika by the Messonghi River, Messonghi is the first resort south of Corfu Town to escape from the main road. The coast sweeps away in a gentle curve to the south where tree-covered hills fill the horizon.
Although the sand and shingle beach is very narrow, it has safe bathing and is an ideal spot for families. A narrow road, packed with shops and tavernas, leads from the north end of the beach to the river bank.
Moraitika: The name MoraItika sounds convicingly Hawaiian and the resort does its best to live up to the image with its exotic palms and thatched umbrellas. The only thing missing is the surf. Like Benitses, it is made up of old and new.
Ano (Upper) Morgtika, a delightlful complex of old houses, modern villas and a couple of tavernas, all happily swamped in bougainvillaea, is tucked away on the high ground above the north end of the resort. The resort proper runs to the south of here, its dusty main road lined with restaurants, tavernas, bars, clubs, cafés and shops. Lots of watersports available.
Roda: A pleasant resort with safe bathing and a handful of tavernas and clubs. The main road passes some distance inland from the beach, and between the two, intensive hotel and villa development has taken place.
A little harbour within a rough breakwater marks the original fishing village, and fishing caiques still work from here. Roda's beach, narrow and sandy, with rocky patches, is backed by tavernas, cafes, gift shops and clubs. Part way up the main street is the Church of Ag Georgios, in an attractive square dotted with lemon trees and plane trees. |
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