Corfu, sparkling in the Ionian Sea, is one of the most enchanting places I’ve ever visited. It’s the second-largest island in the Ionian group and offers the perfect mix of lively beaches, peaceful bays, and stunning scenery that makes every moment feel special.
If it’s your first time here, figuring out the best areas to stay in Corfu can be a bit tricky—each part of the island has its own charm. Whether you’re after a buzzing beach town or a quiet coastal village, Corfu has something for everyone, and it’s surprisingly affordable, especially during the shoulder seasons.
1. Corfu Town: Best for Short stays, first-time visitors, cultural lovers
✅ Perfect if you’re staying 1–3 nights
✅ Best in spring, fall, or winter – summer is too hot!
✅ Great base for sightseeing
✅ Easy public transport to the rest of the island
Corfu Town, the island’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the ideal base for a short stay or off-season visit. Its walkable Old Town is packed with Venetian architecture, lively squares, museums, and a wide range of cafés, restaurants, and shops. This mix of history, culture, and convenience makes it one of the most attractive places to stay on the island.
The town combines historic charm with modern life. You’ll find everything from cobblestone alleys and Georgian mansions to contemporary shopping arcades. Highlights include Spianada Square, Mon Repos Palace, the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, and the Liston Arcade.
Corfu Town is also the island’s public transport hub—ideal if you’re not renting a car. Most buses start and end here, making day trips easy. The traffic can be challenging too. There’s a strong selection of small hotels, apartments, and villas, though prices are higher than elsewhere on the island.
Keep in mind: summer can be intensely hot, and the stone streets offer little shade. For comfortable exploring, spring and fall are the best times to visit. Whether you’re here for a cultural stop or a few days of city life before heading to the beaches, Corfu Town delivers a rich and rewarding experience.
Best Hotels in Corfu Town
- (€€€) Kerkyra Blue Hotel & Spa by Louis Hotels: Ideal 5 star seaside hotel close to the town center, with exceptional service and warm hospitality. The food is delicious across all three restaurants.
- (€€) Bella Venezia: Lovely hotel in the center of Corfu’s old town, quiet and relaxing despite its great location. Friendly staff, tasty local breakfast, and peaceful garden
- (€) LOC HOSPITALITY Urban Suites: ***The budget hotel we stayed in Corfu Town*** Great location, just a short walk from Saroko Square and everything we needed. The room was quiet and cool, the bed very comfortable, and the staff—especially Manuela—was incredibly helpful and kind.
2. Gouvia: Best for budget travelers, no-car trips
✅ Well connected by bus – second only to Corfu Town
✅ All types of places to stay – from cheap to fancy
✅ Some nightlife
🚫 The beach is basic
🚫 More functional than scenic
On the opposite side of Corfu Town, about 15 minutes north, Gouvia is one of the best places to stay if you’re not renting a car and still want to see a lot of the island. It’s well-connected by public buses and has a wide variety of accommodation options, from cheap apartments to luxury all-inclusive resorts.
The town itself isn’t especially scenic. Once a quiet fishing village, Gouvia is now known for its large marina and tourism-friendly setup. There’s a small beach, a strip of tourist shops and restaurants, and some light nightlife in summer.
It’s not a place you come to for atmosphere, but it’s practical, especially for budget travelers or those wanting to explore without driving.
Best Hotels in Gouvia
- (€€€) Dreams Corfu Resort & Spa
- (€€) Paradise Hotel Corfu
- (€) Hotel Orpheus
3. Dassia: Best for families and couples on a budget
Just a 10-minute drive from Corfu Town, you’ll find Dassia, a slice of paradise with its Blue Flag beach. It’s incredibly family-friendly, and the vast beach area with lush grassy gardens is perfect for a relaxing day with just a towel and sunshine.
The main coastal road runs right behind the beach, lined with mid-range hotels. Dassia is dotted with shops, taverns, and restaurants. The food in Dassia is incredible, especially at Etrusco, where we enjoyed a truly unforgettable meal that showcased the finest of Corfiot cuisine with innovative flair.
And for those who crave a bit of adventure, the area offers a variety of water sports.
For families, there’s more fun just 20 minutes away at Aqualand. It’s a water park with pools, jacuzzis, water slides, and inflatable castles – a total hit with kids and adults alike.
Dassia has a pleasant, low-key nightlife scene. It’s not the place for loud beach bars playing music until dawn, but it offers enjoyable evening entertainment. The accommodation in Dassia caters to all preferences, from excellent hotels to apartments and villas.
And for camping enthusiasts, a popular camping site is conveniently located just 1 km away. This area truly has something for everyone, making it an ideal spot for both families and solo travelers.
Best Hotels in Dassia
- (€€€) Ikos Dassia: Luxurious all-inclusive resort set within 25 acres of lush gardens with seven à la carte restaurants curated by Michelin-starred chefs, multiple pools and a private sandy beach.
- (€€) Nafsika Hotel: 4-star hotel catering exclusively to adults, featuring an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace with modern rooms and garden views.
- (€) Little Corfu: Modern and comfortable rooms in a calm neigbourhood. Supermarket and restaurants in walking distance.
4. Ipsos: Best for budget travelers, party seekers, younger crowd
✅ Cheap stays
✅ Great for young groups in August (especially Italians)
✅ Nightlife and beach bars
🚫 Beaches are small and average
🚫 Not very charming
Ipsos Beach, nestled on the east coast about 15 kilometers from Corfu Town, is a picturesque stretch of pebble and sand shoreline. The coastal road runs parallel to the beach, offering easy access and stunning views.
The beach is shallow with calm waters, making it a safe haven for families with children. You’ll find plenty of sunbeds across most of the beach, perfect for basking in the sun. For the more adventurous, Ipsos offers a wide array of water sports, and the area is peppered with shops, bars, and restaurants, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.
Ipsos comes alive in the summer, especially with young tourists, particularly Italians, who come for the beach parties and nightlife. Bars—many in an English pub style—stay open late, and there’s a range of casual eateries and taverns with sea-view terraces.
Accommodation is mostly affordable, with a focus on self-catering apartments and budget rooms. It’s a great choice for those wanting a social, lively environment without spending a lot. If you’re looking for peace and quiet or traditional charm, other spots on the island might suit you better.
Best Hotels in Ipsos
5. Barbati: Best for beautiful beaches, couples, chilled vibes
✅ Long pebble beach with amazing color
✅ Classy beachside places to eat
🚫 No city bus – only long-distance buses
🚫 Too far from Corfu Town for easy day trips
Barbati is a quiet seaside village located about 20 km north of Corfu Town, at the foot of Mount Pantokrator. It marks the point where the island’s scenery becomes especially striking, with green hills meeting clear blue waters.
The beach here is long, white-pebbled, and clean—one of the prettiest on the east coast. The calm, crystal-clear sea is great for swimming, and the beach is lined with quality clubs, sunbeds, umbrellas, and water sports options. Many beachfront spots serve food and drinks right by the water.
Barbati has a calm, upmarket vibe suited to couples or anyone looking for a quiet beach holiday with a touch of elegance. The village itself offers a handful of restaurants, bars, mini-markets, and souvenir shops, creating a laid-back but complete atmosphere. Nightlife is low-key—think dinner and a glass of wine, not loud music or clubs.
Accommodation ranges from cozy apartments and mid-range hotels to luxury villas. The main trade-off is transport: public bus connections are limited this far north, so having a car makes things easier. Without one, it’s best to treat Barbati as a relaxing retreat rather than a base for day trips.
Best Hotels in Barbati
6. Kassiopi: Best for couples, small families, charming atmosphere
✅ Beautiful turquoise beaches
✅ Stone streets, restaurants, harbor
✅ Great vibe for couples
🚫 Crowded in summer, especially August
🚫 Limited parking
Kassiopi, located on the northeast tip of Corfu about 45–60 minutes from Corfu Town, is a former fishing village that has grown into one of the island’s most charming and balanced destinations. Its picturesque harbor is lined with tavernas, bars, and shops, giving it a lively but relaxed feel—especially in the evenings when fishing boats return with the day’s catch.
The town strikes a nice balance between authentic village atmosphere and tourist-friendly amenities. Narrow streets lead to boutique shops and a variety of dining options, including local tavernas and international restaurants serving Italian, Chinese, and Mexican cuisine.
Nearby beaches such as Avlaki and Kerasia are standout features: clean, clear, and framed by rocky coves. They’re well-equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, ideal for a full day by the sea. Kassiopi is walkable, scenic, and well-suited for couples and families who want a peaceful setting with just enough going on.
Nightlife is present but low-key—bars along the promenade are livelier than those deeper in the village, but the overall vibe is calm and friendly. Accommodation ranges from affordable apartments and mid-range hotels to private villas.
The main drawbacks are limited parking and summer crowds, particularly in August. It’s also a bit removed from the island’s center, so it’s best for those planning to stay local or with a car for exploring.
Best Hotels in Kassiopi
- (€€) Lofos Hotel
- (€€) Kassiopi Luxury Suites
- (€€) Melina Bay Boutique Hotel
- (€) Damaskis Studios
7. Sidari: Best for nightlife lovers, friend groups
✅ Famous Canal d’Amour beach
✅ Loads of bars, karaoke, cocktails
🚫 Very busy and not peaceful
Sidari, on the north coast of Corfu, is one of the island’s busiest resorts, known for its lively atmosphere and broad appeal to package holidaymakers. With over 14,000 beds and a high concentration of bars, clubs, and restaurants, it’s the top choice in the north for nightlife and social energy—especially popular with British tourists.
The main beach in Sidari is a wide, sandy Blue Flag beach with calm, shallow waters—great for families or sunbathers. For something more peaceful, Megali Beach offers natural rock pools and a quieter vibe. Just west of town, the famous Canal d’Amour is a highlight: a narrow, scenic cove surrounded by soft sandstone cliffs and local legends of love.
Evenings in Sidari range from laid-back dinners to clubbing that goes into the early hours. The town is packed with casual eateries, tourist shops, and entertainment venues. It’s ideal for travelers who want fun, social vibes, and nightlife without needing to go far.
That said, Sidari can feel chaotic and crowded during peak season, especially in August. The town is built more for convenience than charm.
Best Hotel in Sidari
- (€€) Sidari Waterpark
- (€€) Amour Holiday Resort
- (€) Panorama Sidari
8. Paleokastritsa: Best for scenic lovers, boat trips, beach hopping
✅ Multiple beaches with stunning water color
✅ A must-see – best in June or September
🚫 Toyristy, very busy in summer
Paleokastritsa, on Corfu’s northwest coast, is one of the island’s most visually striking areas, known for its dramatic cliffs, turquoise waters, and six distinct beaches. It’s a top choice for travelers seeking natural beauty and beach variety.
The beaches—mixes of sand and pebbles—are well-equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas, and water sports. The main harbor at the end of the beach road is a hub for boat and kayak rentals, perfect for exploring nearby caves and hidden coves. It’s also a popular spot for scenic boat trips.
Despite its popularity and increasing development, Paleokastritsa has retained much of its charm. Restaurants and bars line the waterfront, offering a mix of local and international cuisine, though nightlife is quiet—most places wind down early, making it ideal for couples and families looking for a more relaxed stay.
That said, the area gets crowded in peak summer (especially July and August), and it’s very much tailored to tourists. For similar scenery with fewer visitors, nearby Liapades is a quieter alternative.
Best Hotels in Paleokastritsa
- (€€€) Akrotiri Beach Resort Hotel
- (€€) Zefiros Traditional Hotel
- (€) Odysseus Hotel
9. Benitses: Best for central location, tourists without a car
✅ touristy but still has a touch of an old fishing village feel
✅ Easy access to Corfu Town by bus
✅ Small, charming, a bit lively
🚫 Main road runs right behind – can be noisy
🚫 Not much beach space
Benitses is a seaside village just 10–12 km south of Corfu Town, making it one of the most convenient spots on the island—especially if you’re not renting a car. Easily reachable by bus, it blends tradition, accessibility, and laid-back appeal.
Once a buzzing party hub in the 1960s and ’70s, Benitses has matured into a more relaxed, family-friendly destination. While its nightlife is now low-key, the village still has enough bars and tavernas to keep evenings interesting without the chaos.
The beach is a modest mix of sand and pebbles, with a small harbor and options for water sports and boat rentals. While it’s not the island’s most striking beach, it’s well-equipped and never far from what you need. Shops, mini-markets, and casual restaurants line the shore.
The old village center retains authentic charm with narrow streets and traditional architecture. Attractions nearby include the Roman baths, Laopetra Rock, and the Achillion Palace—a great bonus for travelers interested in a bit of culture and history.
While its location near the main road may bother some, Benitses is a solid choice for those seeking a central, relaxed base with a bit of character and easy access to Corfu Town.
Best Hotels in Benitses
10. Kavos: Best for party animals
✅ Clubs, bars, 24/7 buzz
✅ Young party crowd
🚫 Not peaceful at all
Kavos, at the southern tip of Corfu, is the island’s most well-known party destination—especially popular with young British travelers aged 18–25. If you’re looking for nonstop nightlife, beach bars, and clubs that go until dawn, Kavos is built for exactly that.
The resort centers around a 2-kilometer stretch of sandy, well-organized beach lined with sunbeds, water sports, and plenty of daytime action. The area is full of beach bars, fast food joints, Greek tavernas, and shops, with cheap accommodation aimed at the party crowd.
Personally, this isn’t to my taste. Kavos is loud, crowded, and unapologetically focused on nightlife. If you’re looking for charm, peace, or culture, this won’t be the right fit. But for budget-friendly sun and parties with a youthful vibe, Kavos delivers exactly what its fans come for.
Best Hotels in Kavos
- (€€€) Capo Di Corfu
- (€) Mediterranean Blue
- (€) Konstantina Apartments
Final Thoughts: Where Should YOU Stay?
| You Want… | Stay Here |
|---|---|
| Culture, short stay | Corfu Town |
| Central, easy transport | Gouvia, Benitses |
| Budget + nightlife | Ipsos, Sidari, Kavos |
| Couples + charm | Kassiopi, Liapades, Barbati |
| Families + beach | Acharavi, Agios Gordios, Arillas |
| Scenic beaches + photos | Paleokastritsa, Agios Gordios |
| Quiet & nature | South Corfu, Kalami, Agios Stefanos |
How to get to Corfu
Reaching Corfu by ferry involves a drive to Igoumenitsa. Corfu is closer to Thessaloniki than Athens – about 5.5 hours from Athens and only 3.5 hours from Thessaloniki. From Igoumenitsa, you’ll find typically more than six daily ferry crossings in the summer, and the journey to Corfu is a swift one-hour sail. The ferry tickets are quite affordable, and you have the option to bring your vehicle aboard.
I personally favor using this website for booking my ferry tickets; it’s convenient and user-friendly.
If you’d rather skip the drive to Igoumenitsa, flying is a great alternative. You can easily catch a flight to Corfu from Athens or connect through Athens if you’re coming from another destination. To explore available flights, Aegean Airlines offers a reliable service to Corfu, which you can check out through their website.
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4 Responses
This information is extremely useful, however we have two kids 19 and 17 who aren’t massive party animals but would still like to be somewhere where there are some teenagers – not small kids.
me and my husband don’t like it to be too touristy and full of brits, but at the same time, want to please the kids a bit. we also want to be near a nice beach and a few good tavernas. Still not 100% sure which of the above areas would suit and also whether to hotel or villa it?
Never been before. we were going to try and fly direct to Corfu.
do you have advice for us please? I just can’t decide and really dont’ want to go to france for the umpteenth time!!
Kassiopi!
Hi Emma,
I feel your pain! I have 15 and 18 year olds who aren’t massive party animals (we live in deepest darkest west Wales) but we travel frequently and I can no longer palm them off with holidays that I might like, but they would hate eg. the Alps in summer. I have opted for Archaravi in Corfu in the hope that we can find a happy medium. Easy Jet currently have reasonably priced flights to Corfu for peak season but I imagine best value depends on where you live and how far you are prepared to travel to your departure airport.
Just back fro safari which myself and friend found just right two middle age ladies is Kavos the same or more 18-30 ???