The Ultimate Corfu Road Trip: Coastal Views, Sandy Beaches, & Seaside Towns

Corfu was one of my favorite Greek islands. The large, lush, island is part of the Ionian island group, located west of mainland Greece. The stunning island has so much to explore, from stunning beaches, epic coastlines, quaint fishing villages, lively party scenes, charming Corfu town & more. I highly recommend renting a car to get around Corfu, it’s a huge island with tons to see, a lot of the best spots are a bit more remote, which limits you if you’re relying on public transport!

I rented a car on my most recent trip and compiled an epic road trip around mid & northern Corfu (where many of the islands highlights are) Keep reading below for my top stops on a Corfu road trip. I’d recommend dedicating at least two days to hit all these spots, and a day or two more if you want to see more. I’ve put my 2, 3 and 4 day itineraries at the end of this article!

See my advice for renting a car in Corfu here.

Corfu Road Trip Highlights

• Corfu Town
• Kassiopi
• Canal d’ Amour
• Porto Timoni Beach
• Agios Georgios Beach
• Bella Vista Viewpoint
• Monastery of Paleokastritsa & Viewpoint
• La Grotta Bar
• Agios Gordios Beach

Also in this Article

• Getting to Corfu
• Where to Stay in Corfu
• Corfu Itineraries (2, 3 & 4 Days)

Corfu Road Trip Map

Corfu Town

Corfu Town is the main city of Corfu, and a great jumping off point for your Corfu road trip. Corfu Town deserves at least half a day, if not longer to explore, so make sure you dedicate some time before kicking off your road trip to venture through the charming old town & harbor area.

Corfu Town is a series of picturesque streets and alleyways worth exploring, with tons of shopping, a great selection of restaurants, a charming harbor area, and vibrant nightlife, there is something for everyone!

Kassiopi

From Corfu Town you can drive up the coast to the northeast point of Corfu, Kassiopi, a charming fishing village that has become a popular resort town, while still managing to maintain it’s traditional feel. The drive from Corfu Town to Kassiopi is stunning, most of the drive is along the coast and will bring you past a few picturesque beach towns like Ypsos & Gialiskari.

Kassiopi is small and easily explore on foot. The crystal clear harbor is dotted with fishing boats and lined with a series of restaurants and pubs. You can explore most of Kassiopi in an hour or so, but you could also easily spend a few more relaxing hours there if you have time!

Canal d’Amour

From Kassiopi, you can head west along the Northern coast of Corfu. This area of Corfu is a bit more rural and uninhabited. You’ll notice less towns as you drive along this stretch of coast, but there are still several beach/resort areas if you’re looking for another place to stop.

Eventually you’ll come to the Canal d’ Amour, or, the Channel of Love, the narrow crystal clear canal is surrounded by picturesque sandstone cliffs that have been sculpted for years by the waves.

Legend has it couples who swim the canal together will find the love of their life, and those who swim to the end of the canal will meet the love of their life soon after. Unfortunately for me, I did not find love, but I did damage my rental car when Google Maps took me on a wrong turn 🤣

The area is a bit small and can get crowded, so try to get there earlier, or head there later in the day. There are plenty of local beach bars to grab a drink or lunch while you’re nearby!

Porto Timoni Beach

Next up, make your way to Corfu’s west coast to visit one of it’s most stunning beaches, Porto Timoni. Porto Timoni Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in Corfu, and like many stunning beaches in Greece, is a bit more of a challenge to get to.

Porto Timoni is actually two beaches separated by a small strip of land located in Northwestern Corfu near Afionas. The beaches themselves are nice, but it’s really the panoramic view that is breathtaking!

The beaches can be reached via hiking down from the main parking area (there are two trails, one is more direct, but steeper, the other is a little less steep, but longer. It also gives you some panoramic views of neighboring Agios Georgios beach.

I recommend taking this trail down, and the other one up, as it’s quicker.

If you’re just going to the viewpoint it’s a 10-15 minute walk, if you’re going all the way down to the beach it’s about 20-25 minutes. This trail is rocky and a bit steep, don’t make the mistake of wearing flip flops (like I did!)

You can also hire a water taxi from Agios Georgios beach directly to Porto Timoni and skip the hike, but I don’t recommend this as the best views are the ones from the hike!

This beach is small and gets crowded, so I recommend getting there early and just planning on visiting for an hour or two.

Agios Georgios Beach

Right near the parking area for Porto Timoni, is Agios Georgios beach, a large, sandy beach that’s a great place for an afternoon swim after visiting Porto Timoni, which can get quite crowded. Agios Georgios offers more room to relax. There’s also a series of beachside restaurants to grab a bite!

Bella Vista Viewpoint

Next up, head down the coast towards Paleokastritsa, one of the most stunning areas of Corfu. On your way there, stop at the Bella Vista viewpoint for some of the best coastal views in Corfu. This is just a quick stop!

Monastery of Paleokastritsa & Viewpoint

The Paleokastritsa Monastery & viewpoint is one of the can’t miss stops in Corfu & offers some of the most epic coastal views. To get to the viewpoint you can drive up the narrow road or park in the lot next to Agios Spiridon Beach and walk up the road to the Monestary (about 20 minute walk) I recommend parking and walking, the road up gets a little chaotic!

La Grotta Bar

La Grotta Bar in Paleokastritsa is a great place to grab a drink and relax. This bar is literally built into the Grotta and is accessible via boat or by climbing down (a lot) of stairs from the main road in Paleokastritsa. This bar has cocktails, cliff diving, DJs, and stunning views. It’s a great stop for the end of your road trip.

Agios Gordios Beach

I highly recommend ending your road trip at a beach where you can relax! There are so many amazing beaches in Corfu, but the west coast has some of the most amazing sandy beaches with epic mountain views. You can stop at any of the beaches south of Paleokastritsa and not be disappointed, but my top recommendation would be Agios Gordios Beach! This large sandy beach is a popular resort area and is one of the nicest beaches in Corfu.

Getting to Corfu

Corfu is most accessible via plane. Flights from Athens to Corfu run daily and only take about an hour.

If you’d rather reach Corfu by ferry you’ll need to drive to Igoumenitsa, which is about 5+ hours from Athens, and then catch the 90 minute ferry to Corfu. I don’t really recommend this route unless you’re interested spending a day exploring mainland Greece on your way to Igoumenitsa.

Where to Stay in Corfu

Corfu is huge, so there is no shortage of areas and places to stay depending on your budget & the general vibe you’re looking for.

West Coast Corfu 

Best For: Beach Resorts & Views

I opted to stay on Corfu’s west coast, which boasts some of its best beaches, nicest resorts & stunning sunset views. There are tons of options along the coast, some of the best areas are:

• Pelekas
• Aramis
• Paleokastritsa
• Agios Gordios
• Agios Georgios

Domes of Corfu – Autograph Collection

I decided to splurge on my trip to Corfu on a nicer resort on the ocean. Corfu has a tons of resorts, but I cannot recommend Domes of Corfu – Autograph Collection enough.

This beachfront hotel offers a ton of amenities, and is conveniently located about 20 minutes from the airport.

Highlights:

• Stunning beach with chairs, umbrellas, beach bar
• Two pools (one for all ages, one adults only)
• Several on-site restaurants and bars (a la carte & buffet)
• Gym/Spa
• Parking on Site

Corfu Town 

Best For: Culture & Restaurants

Staying in Corfu Town directly gives you tons of hotel and accommodation options. Corfu town offers tons to do in terms of shopping, restaurants, cafes, etc.

If you’re not planning on renting a car, this is also the most accessible option to public transport on the island.

Kavos

Best For: Nightlife

Kavos is the best place to stay if you’re in Corfu for nightlife. Kavos tends to cater to younger tourists looking to take advantage of it’s many bars and clubs.

Corfu Itineraries

2 Days in Corfu Itinerary

• Day 1:
  • Morning: Explore Corfu Town
  • Afternoon: Kassiopi, Canal d’Amour
  • Night: Dinner & Drinks in Corfu Town
• Day 2:
  • Morning: Porto Timoni Beach
  • Stop by: Agios Georgios Beach
  • Stop by: Bella Vista Viewpoint
  • Early Afternoon: Monastery of Paleokastritsa & Viewpoint
  • Late Afternoon: La Grotta Bar
  • Sunset & Dinner: Agios Gordios Beach

3 Days in Corfu Itinerary

See days 1 & 2 above

Day 3:

• Boat Trip to Paxos and Antipaxos – There are many guided boat tours from Corfu that allow you to explore the stunning beaches of Antipaxos, the infamous Blue Caves of the islands that can only be reached via boat, and explore the charming island of Paxos on your own for a few hours.

4 Days in Corfu Itinerary

See days 1, 2 & 3 above

Day 4:

• Day: hang out at one of Corfu’s best beaches
  • Glyfada Beach
  • Agios Gordios Beach
  • Agios Spiridon Beach
  • Agios Georgios beach
• Night: Party in Corfu’s liveliest town – Kavos