The Ionian Greek island of Corfu has different types of beaches – from sandy and rocky to vast, secluded, and exotic. Regardless of what your preference is, there is a perfect beach for everyone on this paradise island. For those who love sandy beaches, here are the best sandy beaches in Corfu.
1. Agios Spiridon Beach
Agios Spiridon is the northernmost sandy shore in Corfu. This Ionian paradise land has seashores around every corner, but most of the sandy ones are on the southeastern side of the island.
So, it comes to no surprise that Spiridon Beach is a real hidden gem that you can find near Lake Antionioti – a natural preserve area. It’s a small sandy seaside that has only one café bar, a limited number of showers, and one row of sunbeds with umbrellas. There’s a limited offer of water activities too, such as pedal boats and kayaks for rent.
The Ionian Sea is shallow here, so it’s perfect for families with little kids.
It has breathtaking views, and those who love exploring can take a short walk to the secluded Gialiskari Beach or the abandoned Monastery “Agía Ekateríni.”
Free street parking is available, so get there early during high season.
Features
- Organized: Showers
- One beach bar
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Watersports
- Lake and natural preserve nearby
- Landmarks for exploring (secluded coasts and decaying monastery).
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2. Canal D’Amour Beach
Canal D’Amour is the famous beach most know Corfu for among couples. The story goes that if the two lovers take a swim in the canal, they will wed, and their love will last forever. The space of the shoreline is minimal, and mostly taken up with rental sunbeds.
Don’t let that put you off to experience the breathtaking scenery. No other place like Canal D’Amour will give you fantastic rock formations to tan on, cave to swim through, and stunning views.
Features
- Perfect for couples
- Not organized
- Can only rent sunbeds and umbrella
- No room for personal space
- One beach bar manages the Canal D’Amour
- Sunbathing on Corfu’s unique rock formations.
3. Apotripiti Beach
If you don’t enjoy the crowds that you will find at Canal D’Amour, then be sure to check out Apotripiti beach. It’s only minutes away from the famous lover’s cove. It also has three rock formations in the sea that you can swim out to for sunbathing or snorkeling.
This place offers a truly wild experience out in nature. Just make sure to bring a bottle of water as there are no showers, which can be tricky for people with sensitive skin.
Features
- Unorganized
- Perfect for couples
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- A small off-road parking lot.
4. Loggas Beach
Loggas is one of a kind of experience. To reach Loggas, you will have to take a steep pathway from the only local bar, 7th Heaven, to stairs leading down to the beach. At the end of the stairs, you will find small sandy areas to set yourself.
There are even mini caves where you can hide from the sun and use them as your own personal paradise. We do want to mention that there were warning signs for falling rocks. So, make sure to be careful and maybe skip this place if you’re with kids.
Also, wear non-slippery shoes or sandals. The stairs are really steep, narrow, and there are no guard railings. So, you may even want to skip any heavy bags and just take the essentials with you.
Features
- Unorganized
- Only one bar
- Need to climb stairs to reach it
- Perfect for watching the sunset
- Great for couples.
5. Katevasidi Beach
Further south from Loggas is the Katevasidi beach. It’s a remote beach, with no bars or sunbeds for rent. If you want quiet peace, this is the sandy beach for you. You will need to take a dirt road to get there, so maybe renting a quad in Corfu will be your best option.
Features
- Unorganized
- Secluded
- Off-road parking lot.
6. Agios Stefanos Beach
Agios Stefanos offers a long strip of a sandy shore and clear shallow waters. It’s perfect for those that want to spend the whole day at the beach and end up watching the sunset.
Features
- Organized
- Bars, cafés, restaurants
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Family and couple friendly.
7. Agios Georgios Beach
This sandy piece of heaven is one the best viewpoints on the way to the exotic Corfu beach of Porto Timoni. At Agios Georgios Pagon, you will find a lot of Greek taverns and watersport activities. There is plenty of golden sand for the kids to make sandcastles and enjoy the clear shallow waters.
You can base yourself on the free areas or rent sunbeds and umbrellas. The beach is wide and long, so it really can accommodate anyone. Parking may be limited during high season, however, as visitors can park along the main street for free.
Features
- Organized: Showers and changing rooms
- Family-friendly
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Café bars and restaurants
- Watersports and diving
- Long sandy beach.
8. Paleokastritsa Beach
This northeastern shore, opposite of Dassia, is one of the most popular in Corfu. Paleokastritsa was one of the two beaches featured in the 1981 James Bond “For Your Eyes Only” movie, alongside the magnificent Meteora Monasteries.
The beach’s sandy bay with rocky coast makes it perfect for snorkeling as well as extremely popular among tourists. For the explorers among our readers, there are boat excursions to nearby islands and caves. If you have the time, be sure to check out the “Blue Eye Cave” with a boat excursion.
Space at Paleokastritsa is minimal due to its narrow bay shape. If you can’t find a spot, you can try your luck at the other two nearby bays – Agios Petros and Ampelaki Bay. They are all next to each other, separated with the main (and free) parking lot in Paleokastritsa. Don’t forget to visit the Corfu aquarium that’s next to Paleokastritsa Beach.
Paleokastritsa is among the most popular destinations in Corfu, and therefore it’s always crowded. So, those who want a more intimate experience should try other options on this list. However, visiting Paleokastritsa at least once is necessary because it gives an unforgettable sight with its light-blue waters.
Feature
- Organized: Showers
- Family-friendly
- Multiple café bars
- Souvenir shops
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- A large dedicated parking lot
- Landmarks and viewpoints for exploring
- Corfu Aquarium
- Island and Cave boat tour excursions.
9. Glyfada Beach
Glyfada is another best sandy Corfu beach. This broad and long sandy coastline is on the eastern side of the island.
When you follow the road to the beach, you will reach small parking above it. You can leave your car on the asphalted lot, which has limited space. Alternatively, a few meters further there’s an earth parking too. Both options are free of charge.
Glyfada Beach has golden sand and natural afternoon shade from the rocky sides, making it perfect for families. On the same note, after 3 PM the shade starts overtaking the northernmost part of the beach. So, be sure to avoid that part if you want to soak up the sun all day long.
Grab a table at the Akti Glifada restaurant if you want to watch the sunset in Corfu. They have great cheeseburgers, fair prices, and free wi-fi.
Features
- Organized: Showers and changing rooms
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Family-friendly
- Multiple café bars and restaurants
- Travel souvenir shops
- Street parking.
10. Mirtiotissas Beach
Mirtiotissas is the unofficial nudist beach in Corfu. It’s a small, golden, and sandy shoreline with the perfect seclusion for full body tanning.
Don’t let the narrow and steep road off put you to visit this hidden gem in Corfu. However, be prepared for asphalted but steep turns, which are especially tricky when there are crowds during high season. Our advice is to park the car along above the beach and then walk.
Features
- Nude beach
- Unorganized – No sunbed rentals or bars
- Limited space
- Great for couples
- Street parking (limited).
11. Agios Gordios Beach
Agios Gordios has a long strip of a sandy shore. This beach is perfect for families where kids can play in the shallow waters and make sandcastles. From away, this place looks like heaven as the water is immensely clear, while the sand is golden.
Features
- Organized
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Several restaurants and bars
- Family-friendly.
12. Issos Beach
Issos is the ultimate wide and sandy destination for a great summer vacation in Corfu.
This southern seashore in Corfu is the second beach featured in the James Bond “For Your Eyes Only” movie because of its unique beauty. Issos has clear waters and rare dunes that make the beach stand out from the rest. It makes you feel as if you’re at some oriental coastline rather than on a Greek island.
Issos is organized with showers and changing rooms as well as cafe bars that offer sunbeds and umbrellas for a reasonable price.
Be sure to check out the dunes and Lake Korisson by Issos in Agios Georgios.
In terms of parking, there’s lots of open space a few steps before the beach. People leave their cars there and then walk to the coastline.
If you want to be accommodated as close as possible to the magnificent Issos Beach, consider staying at the Labranda Sandy Beach Resort in Corfu. Recently rebranded, the resort was famous under the name Aquis Sandy Beach Resort Corfu among international travelers. This beach resort in Corfu is a fantastic spot for pampering yourself and enjoying the luxury right at one of the most beautiful Corfu beaches.
Features:
- Organized: Showers and changing Room
- Multiple Café Bars
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Lake and dunes nearby for exploration.
13. Marathias Beach
Marathias Beach is south of Agios Georgios, and one of the top sandy beaches in Corfu. It’s both organized and wild at the same time. There is one bar that offers umbrellas and sunbeds, but it leaves plenty of room to relax alone away from the crowds.
Small sandy areas before the beach are available for parking. As parking space disappears quickly, be sure to get there early during the high tourist season.
Marathias is very similar to Issos, Santa Barbara, and Gardenos Beach. They’re all on the same side of the island and have that unique reddish sand that makes them quite unusual.
Features:
- Organized: Showers and changing room
- Café Bar
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent.
14. Santa Barbara “The Malta Beach”
One of the most popular known sandy beaches in Corfu is the Santa Barbara – known as the Malta Beach. This long strip of golden sand gives you the perfect getaway spot on this Ionian island in Greece.
This spot is on the same line with Issos and Gardenos, meaning it has the unique reddish sand and shallow, clear waters. Before you reach the beach on foot, there’s a large and free earth parking lot.
Features:
- Organized: Showers and changing room
- Café Bar
- Golden Sand
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent.
15. Gardenos Beach
Gardenos is a long strip of sandy beach that has many café bars, restaurants and tavernas, and watersport activities around it.
There are changing rooms, showers, sunbeds, and umbrellas. The place is family-friendly with its shallow waters and smooth sand.
The parking for Gardenos is on an earthy lot. From here you can climb down to the beach.
Features:
- Organized: Showers and changing room
- Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent
- Café Bar
- Watersports.
Our Recommendation
Regardless of which sandy beach in Corfu you choose to visit, here are some of our suggestions to make your visit comfortable.
- Use sunscreen – the temperatures are high even in late September
- Bring or rent umbrellas
- Wear water shoes when snorkeling to avoid sharp rocks
- Your waterproof action camera (and GoPro accessories)
- Snorkeling mask or set – the full face masks provide a 180 degree view.
- Get to the beach early in the morning during high season
- Check the weather as it does get windy in September
- Rent a scooter or quad to visit secluded beaches only reachable from dirt roads.
- Plan an all day cruise to visit Paxos – Antipas and Caves or the Blue Lagoon and Sivota. Popular boat tour companies include Kostas Cruises, The Cruise Company, and Corfu Cruises. The cruises take point either from Corfu Town Port Kerkira or from Lefkimi Port.
Conclusion
There you have it – our definitive list of the best sandy beaches in Corfu. From personal experience, the top sandy shores were in the southern part of the Ionian island. However, you can also find magical golden coastlines in northern Corfu too.
The other parts of the island are mostly rocky and perfect for those who enjoy snorkeling rather than sunbathing on the sand.
