Where to stay · Corfu · Greece
Where to stay in Corfu
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dr.K., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Corfu Town. UNESCO old town of Venetian lanes, fortresses and the Liston arcade. Best alternatives — families: Gouvia and Dassia; budget: Gouvia and Dassia; nightlife: Sidari.
Key facts
- First visit
- Corfu Town
- Families
- Gouvia and Dassia
- Budget
- Gouvia and Dassia
- Nightlife
- Sidari
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Corfu Town | UNESCO old town of Venetian lanes, fortresses and the Liston arcade |
| Families | Gouvia and Dassia | Resort strip and marina just north of Corfu Town |
| Couples | Corfu Town | UNESCO old town of Venetian lanes, fortresses and the Liston arcade |
| Budget | Gouvia and Dassia | Resort strip and marina just north of Corfu Town |
| Luxury | Kalami and Agni | Quiet pebble bays below cypress hills, linked to the Durrell family |
| Nightlife | Sidari | North-coast resort beside the Canal d'Amour rock formations |
| Food lovers | Corfu Town | UNESCO old town of Venetian lanes, fortresses and the Liston arcade |
| Solo travellers | Pelekas and Glyfada | Hilltop village for sunsets above one of the island's best sandy beaches |
| Quiet stays | Kalami and Agni | Quiet pebble bays below cypress hills, linked to the Durrell family |
| Beach | Gouvia and Dassia | Resort strip and marina just north of Corfu Town |
Corfu neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and food lovers
Corfu Town
Corfu Town's old quarter is a maze of narrow lanes (kantounia) between tall pastel houses, with the Spianada square and the arcaded Liston cafés, the Old and New Fortresses and the church of Saint Spyridon. It is the island's cultural and dining centre and its main transport hub, with buses to resorts and ferries from the New Port.
- Good
- History, museums and restaurants on the doorstep; Main bus and ferry hub; Lively evenings
- Watch out
- No good beach in town; Busy with cruise passengers on some days
- Nearby
- Old Fortress, Spianada and Liston, Church of Saint Spyridon, Mon Repos
$$ · Best for families, beach and budget
Gouvia and Dassia
Gouvia has a large yacht marina and the ruins of a Venetian shipyard, while neighbouring Dassia has a long, narrow beach with watersports and resort hotels. Both are within 15–20 minutes of Corfu Town by bus or car, which makes them practical bases for exploring the island.
- Good
- Close to town and the airport; Plenty of hotels and apartments; Watersports
- Watch out
- Narrow beaches; Busy main road
- Nearby
- Gouvia Marina, Venetian shipyard, Corfu Town, Aqualand
$$$ · Best for couples, families and food lovers
Kassiopi
Kassiopi is a former fishing village around a small harbour with a ruined Byzantine-Angevin castle on the headland. Coastal paths lead to pebble coves such as Bataria and Kanoni, and the village has a good choice of tavernas and bars without large resort hotels.
- Good
- Pretty harbour; Clear water in pebble coves; Good tavernas
- Watch out
- About an hour from the airport; Beaches are pebbly
- Nearby
- Kassiopi Castle, Bataria beach, Avlaki beach, Old Perithia
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and quiet stays
Kalami and Agni
On the north-east coast facing Albania, Kalami and Agni are small bays of clear water backed by olive and cypress groves. Lawrence Durrell lived in the White House at Kalami in the 1930s, and the coast is popular with villa-renters, boaters and travellers seeking calm.
- Good
- Calm, clear water; Upmarket villas; Peaceful atmosphere
- Watch out
- Steep access roads; Limited nightlife and shops
- Nearby
- White House at Kalami, Agni Bay, Kouloura, Mount Pantokrator
$$$ · Best for couples, families and beach
Paleokastritsa
Paleokastritsa is a series of small bays below steep green cliffs on the west coast, crowned by a 13th-century-founded monastery. Small boats take visitors into the sea caves, and the sea here is noticeably cooler and clearer than on the east coast.
- Good
- Spectacular scenery; Boat trips to sea caves; Clear water
- Watch out
- Very busy with day-trippers at midday; Steep and hilly
- Nearby
- Paleokastritsa Monastery, Angelokastro, Liapades, Agios Georgios Pagon
$$ · Best for families, budget and nightlife
Sidari
Sidari, on the north coast, is a large resort known for the sandstone cliffs and inlets of the Canal d'Amour, shallow sandy beaches and lively bars. It is a base for boats to the small Diapontia islands of Erikoussa, Othonoi and Mathraki.
- Good
- Shallow sandy beaches; Lots of affordable accommodation; Evening entertainment
- Watch out
- Built-up resort feel; Over an hour from Corfu Town
- Nearby
- Canal d'Amour, Cape Drastis, Peroulades, Diapontia Islands
$$ · Best for couples, beach and solo travellers
Pelekas and Glyfada
Pelekas is a traditional village on a ridge in the centre of the west coast, known for sunset views from the Kaiser's Throne lookout. Below it, Glyfada has a long sandy beach with beach bars, and nearby Myrtiotissa is a secluded cove reached by a steep track.
- Good
- Sandy west-coast beaches; Sunsets; About 25 minutes from Corfu Town
- Watch out
- Waves on windy days; Steep roads down to the beaches
- Nearby
- Kaiser's Throne, Glyfada beach, Myrtiotissa, Kontogialos
$ · Best for nightlife and budget
Kavos
Kavos, near the southern tip of the island, is Corfu's main party resort, with a long strip of clubs, bars and fast food popular with young groups in summer. Beyond the strip, the Arkoudilas beach and the Cape Lefkimmi coast are much quieter.
- Good
- Big nightlife scene; Cheap accommodation; Long shallow beach
- Watch out
- Rowdy and very seasonal; Far from the rest of the island's sights
- Nearby
- Arkoudilas beach, Lefkimmi, Paxos boat trips
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Corfu Town | $$$ | Old Fortress, Spianada and Liston, Church of Saint Spyridon, Mon Repos |
| Gouvia and Dassia | $$ | Gouvia Marina, Venetian shipyard, Corfu Town, Aqualand |
| Kassiopi | $$$ | Kassiopi Castle, Bataria beach, Avlaki beach, Old Perithia |
| Kalami and Agni | $$$$ | White House at Kalami, Agni Bay, Kouloura, Mount Pantokrator |
| Paleokastritsa | $$$ | Paleokastritsa Monastery, Angelokastro, Liapades, Agios Georgios Pagon |
| Sidari | $$ | Canal d'Amour, Cape Drastis, Peroulades, Diapontia Islands |
| Pelekas and Glyfada | $$ | Kaiser's Throne, Glyfada beach, Myrtiotissa, Kontogialos |
| Kavos | $ | Arkoudilas beach, Lefkimmi, Paxos boat trips |
Getting to your hotel
Corfu's Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport is about 3 km south of Corfu Town, roughly 10 minutes by taxi or a short ride on the blue city bus. Transfers take about 40 minutes to Paleokastritsa and around an hour to Sidari, Kassiopi or Kavos.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Corfu for first-time visitors?
Corfu Town. Corfu Town's old quarter is a maze of narrow lanes (kantounia) between tall pastel houses, with the Spianada square and the arcaded Liston cafés, the Old and New Fortresses and the church of Saint Spyridon.
+Where should families stay in Corfu?
Gouvia and Dassia: Close to town and the airport.
+Which area of Corfu is best for a budget stay?
Gouvia and Dassia ($$): Resort strip and marina just north of Corfu Town.