I’ve explored Corfu many times, watching it grow from a hidden gem into one of Greece’s most popular islands. Yet on my trips I’ve still found plenty of peaceful, under‑the‑radar spots that feel far from the crowds. Here are my favourites…
1. Paleokastritsa
I was impressed how this north-west coast resort combined old-school island charm with an upmarket feel, swapping brash resorts for a classier affair and sublime scenery consisting of emerald cliffs, turquoise bays, whitewashed streets, and a choice of beaches ranging from sandy and family-friendly to beautifully wild and rocky.
A breezy 45‑minute coastal drive north of Corfu Town led me to an idyllic week of beach‑hopping, snorkelling and diving in turquoise waters, exploring secret sea caves, feasting on Pastitsada with mushrooms, and visiting the breathtakingly pretty Paleokastritsa Monastery! It was developed just had a different feel to the main party hot-spots.
Location: West coast | Size: small coastal village | Vibe: turquoise-water dreamy, pretty, and laid-back
My favorite highlights…
- Staying at the chic Akrotiri Beach Resort Hotel – I loved its prime peninsula beachside setting and superb wellness facilities – especially the outdoor sea‑view massages which used locally harvested rosemary, sage, lavender, and thyme oils!
2. Kalami Beach
I couldn’t believe how completely charming this Durrell-famous corner was – nestled on the north-eastern coast, with glassy azure waters, emerald-green hills, a quiet pebble beach shaded by olives and cypress trees, friendly tavernas nearby, and the beautiful White House adding a touch of wonderful literary magic!
After a scenic 45‑minute drive north from Corfu Town, I lazed on gorgeous pebbly beaches, snorkelled and kayaked, indulged in aubergine moussaka and aromatic Corfiot wine on the patio of Kalami Beach Taverna and found that the White House had been transformed into a stylish restaurant with guest rooms.
Location: Northeast coast | Size: small, curved beach | Vibe: relaxed, old-money Mediterranean feel
My favorite highlights…
- Staying at the boho‑chic 4‑star San Antonio Corfu Resort – I adored the soothing onsite spa, and starting my day with morning Hatha yoga followed by lemon verbena tea in the serene garden!
3. Barbati Beach 
This north-eastern hideaway felt idyllic in every way – olive-clad hills, glassy turquoise water, a gently pebbled beach mixed with sand, and Mount Pantokrator towering in the background – sought-after, yet not spoiled, and refreshingly uncrowded.
Just half an hour north of Corfu Town on the northeast coast, I settled in for a stress‑free escape – diving into swimming, snorkelling, paddle‑boarding, jet‑skiing, and a scenic boat trip – before discovering the area’s few charming tavernas and effortlessly cool bars (the icy strawberry daiquiri at the chic Verde Blu Bar was a highlight)! Just note, the beach shelves quite quickly, so the water gets deep fast.
Location: Northeast coast | Size: long, narrow beach | Vibe: refreshingly low-key with a calm, upscale holiday feel
My highlights…
- Staying at the fine 4-star Corfu Luxury Villas – I really liked the chic modern decor (the local stone walls, hand‑crafted furniture, and art from Corfiot artists), the private swimming pool and the friendly personal concierge assistance!
4. Rovinia Beach 
Hidden on the west coast near Palaiokastritsa, this beach felt like a secret reward for making the effort – reachable only by boat or a narrow trail, blissfully crowd-free, and ridiculously beautiful with its lush green cliffs, clear blue water, and soft sand mixed with polished pebbles.
Getting there felt like part of the adventure – a 40-minute drive from Corfu Town, a leafy trail from Liapades, and steep stone steps down to a crescent-shaped beauty, complete with wonderfully clear water for snorkeling, flashes of colourful fish, a secret cave to explore, and a little boat selling icy drinks nearby. Just remember bring everything you need – there are no facilities on the beach.
Location: west coast | Size: small, secluded cove | Vibe: hidden-gem, wild-beautiful, and blissfully peaceful
My highlights…
- Staying nearby in the Odysseus Hotel for a long weekend break (it was just a 10 minute drive from Rovinia Beach) – I loved how olive and lemon trees dotted its manicured garden and its superb location overlooking the glistening bay!
5. Roda Beach
Roda’s beach turned out to be one of the island’s biggest but it was fairly easygoing – a 1.2-mile ribbon of golden sand with calm, kid-friendly waters, gentle green hills behind it, with a developed, resort feel that was lively and buzzing, but never overly hectic or brash!
Just 50 minutes up the coastal highway from Corfu Town, I kicked back for five days and I relaxed by the beach, wandered past pretty whitewashed buildings, cute traditional tavernas, chic little shops and modern hotels, and amped things up with jet‑skiing, paddle‑boarding, scuba dives and a boat ride to hidden coves!
Location: North coast | Size: long, wide beach | Vibe: easygoing and sunny-holiday relaxed
My highlights…
- Staying at the upscale boutique Ibiscus Corfu Hotel – the fragrant gardens filled with bougainvillaea and lemon trees were so pretty and my incredible swim-up pool room which were huge highlights!
6. Arkoudilas Beach
This was my kind of beach – wonderfully wild, remote and totally unspoilt, tucked away on the island’s southern tip near Kavos, with a kilometre-long stretch of sand mixed with fine gravel, rugged cliffs towering above, and clear blue waves rolling in, all kept blissfully quiet thanks to a bumpy access road, zero overdevelopment and local conservation efforts – to me, it was the perfect Greek beauty spot!
An hour’s drive south from Corfu Town took me to Kavos, then down a rugged track (it was a little rouhg and slow-going!) to a pristine, crowd‑free beach with nothing but nature. For five days I swam, snorkelled, explored the ruined Monastery of Panagia Arkoudilas above, discovered silvery‑grey clay on the beach (which made a great face mask!) and more often than not, had the place all to myself!
Location: Southwestern tip | Size: long beach | Vibe: raw, windswept, and wonderfully untamed
My favorite highlights…
- Staying in the chic 4-star boho-boutique Ekati Mare Lifestyle Resort – the buffet under the stars and the Insta-worthy sunset celebrations and enjoying their Mamma Mia! movie night under the stars!
7. Liapades
This felt like the real deal – an authentic little Greek village hideaway on the west coast, all olive groves and vineyards, stone houses, cobbled lanes, and swoon-worthy sea views, blissfully untouched by the tourist crowds.
This west-coast base, just 40 minutes from Corfu Town, delivered my perfect rhythm – deserted backroad drives, hidden-cove kayaking, olive-scented walks, clear-water snorkeling, sampling aromatic red Amoroso at the family‑run Goulis Winery, unhurried taverna nights, as well as a fine mix of beaches from amenity-filled Liapades to boat-only Rovinia and Iliodoros, with sandy, sleepy Limni in between!
Location: West coast | Size: small village | Vibe: authentic with a peaceful local-island feel
My favorite highlights…
- Staying at the tranquil, rustic-chic Anna Pension – I adored the peaceful hillside location and views and the friendly welcome by the owners Anna and Kostas – they even surprised me with homemade kumquat liqueur and fresh figs grown in their garden!
8. Paralia Acharavi
Hidden in plain sight on the northern coast, this long, open beach felt refreshingly mellow – popular but not rowdy in the slightest, with shallow turquoise water, a sand-shingle-pebble shoreline, friendly tavernas and bars along the front, and just enough development to be convenient without spoiling the charm.
I drove just 50 minutes north of Corfu Town via the coastal road, and I checked in for a quick escape—trying out paddle‑boarding, water‑skiing and jet‑skiing against a backdrop of Albanian peaks, then exploring Acharavi’s cafés, boutiques and interesting landmarks, from ancient Roman Baths to the Church of Saint Charalambos to the laid back Woody’s Restaurant (Woody’s salad with apple slices, chewy dried figs and toasted nuts was a standout)!
Location: North coast | Size: long, wide beach | Vibe: family-friendly with an easygoing resort-town feel
My highlights…
- Staying at the trendy Paralia Acharavi, I loved its boutique feel and sociable energy — from evening tennis under warm floodlights and chirring of cicadas to the salty air, Aperol spritzes, and the sea murmuring nearby!
9. Arillas Agiou Georgiou
This little north-west coast village was all about easygoing beach days – no mega-resorts or nightlife, just a soft stretch of golden sand, friendly tavernas and a handful of sunbeds and cafés, reached after a quiet one-hour drive from Corfu Town along rural backroads.
During a short stay at the beachfront Bardis Hotel, I slipped into Arillas mode – lazy swims, snorkeling sessions and jaw-dropping sunsets – then explored nearby showstoppers like Cape Kefali, with its tiny beaches, rocky ledges and fearless cliff divers, and Cape Drastis, just five miles away, famed for its soaring white cliffs and secret coves.
Location: Northwest coast | Size: long, wide sandy bay | Vibe: slow, low-key Greek beach-town feel
My personal highlights…
- After rattling up the narrow dirt road from Peroulades, I reached the windswept cliffs of Cape Drastis and found its Insta-famous turtle-shaped rock formations carved into the milky turquoise water!
10. Porto Timoni 
I was seriously wowed by this unique double bay which has two very distinct beaches! I found it was only accessible by a challenging hiking trail, which thankfully deterred large crowds, preserving its pristine natural beauty and peaceful vibe.
I loved this little adventure – driving 50 minutes to Afionas, checking into the stylish 4-star Zeus Throne Suites, then hiking 25 minutes to twin turquoise bays framed by steep green hills and sun-washed water, where I swam, snorkelled and kicked-back before heading back up the trail.
Location: Northwest coast | Size: twin bays | Vibe: dramatic with a “wow” Mediterranean feel
My highlights…
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Doing the Afionas–Porto Timoni round trip which took an hour, starting among jasmine- and bougainvillea-covered stone houses, then climbing a few steep, rocky stretches to a jaw-dropping viewpoint overlooking the twin turquoise beaches — totally worth it!
11. Kouloura
This little village honestly looked like a painting – peaceful, undeveloped and blissfully free of nightlife, tucked away on the north-east coast with turquoise water, a postcard harbour, a scattering of old stone houses and olive trees, plus rocky coves instead of sand (with Kalami’s gorgeous pebble beach just a short walk away, there wasn’t a sandy beach directly in the village though).
I loved my slow week here – driving 50 minutes up the coast from Corfu Town to stay at the rustic-chic 4-star Sinium Luxury Villas near Kalami Beach, then doing little more than swimming in blue-blue water, wandering the harbour, visiting the striking Villa Anieli (a spectacular white mansion by the sea) and savouring long, lazy lunches at the local tavernas!
Location: Northeast coast | Size: tiny horseshoe-shaped harbor | Vibe: peaceful, old-Corfu feel
My highlights…
- Dining at rustic‑chic Taverna Kouloura – I loved its scenic spot on Kouloura harbour and my beautifully presented dish of stuffed zucchini flowers and baked eggplants with chickpeas.
12. Boukari 
I discovered this was proper, old-school Greece – a peaceful south-east coast village with fishing boats drifting in turquoise water, a humble little beach of sand and pebbles, cosy tavernas, whitewashed houses and leafy hills rising behind it, far removed from the crowds.
Just 40 minutes south of Corfu Town via quiet village roads I checked into the romantic boutique retreat Mythos Panorama and I relaxed on a tranquil beach, lingered over meals in cute waterfront restaurants, wandered the surrounding countryside, headed out by boat, and revelled in the laid‑back, untouched Greek charm.
Location: Southeast coast | Size: small seaside village | Vibe: low-key, authentic, and wonderfully slow-paced
My highlights…
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I climbed for an hour to reach the hilltop village of Chlomos, then wandered its narrow lanes lined with pastel Venetian-style houses, carved wooden balconies, and dramatic cascades of crimson bougainvillea — utterly beautiful!
13. Petriti
This felt like a proper hidden gem and refreshingly different – a welcoming little coastal village far from the busy hotspots, with no big resorts or nightlife, just family-run tavernas, fishing boats bobbing in the bay and a quiet sand-and-pebble beach with calm, shallow water for easy swims. There was a focus on sustainable, small‑scale tourism so I thought it was a great choice for an eco‑conscious getaway!
A 45‑minute drive south from Corfu Town brought me through Messonghi and Petriti to the family-friendly Egrypos Hotel, where I spent a long weekend embracing the laid‑back beach life, watching boats in a picture‑perfect harbour, hiking through olive groves, and discovering Issos Beach (6.3 km) and Gardenos Beach (7.4 km). Just note it’s very quiet at night!
Location: Southeast coast | Size: small fishing village | Vibe: authentic, sleepy, and charmingly local
My personal highlights…
- Dining at the laid‑back, rustic Stamatis Taverna, I sat on the lantern‑lit outdoor patio surrounded by olive trees while savouring perfectly cooked Neapolitan linguine and a flavorful potato salad drizzled with local olive oil and fresh herbs!
14. The Island of Vido
This tiny island felt like such a special find – just 540 acres of peaceful, history-soaked calm, reached by a quick boat ride from Corfu’s Old Port, with pine and palm trees, three lovely sand-and-pebble beaches, and moving landmarks like the Serbian Mausoleum and the Church of St. Stephen, all carefully protected from mass tourism.
With no roads or places to stay, I explored this island on a day trip from my fine Corfu Town base, the 4-star Siora Vittoria Boutique Hotel – and spent it hiking leafy trails, discovering historic spots, swimming and snorkelling off secluded beaches, and enjoying a one‑of‑a‑kind lunch at its only restaurant! Just check return times in advance, as the last boat back was surprisingly early!
Location: Just off the coast of Corfu Town in northeastern Corfu | Size: small, uninhabited island | Vibe: peaceful, natural, and softly melancholic
My favorite highlights…
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Walking the two-mile circular path in just over two hours, passing hidden pebble coves and stopping often to admire Corfu Town’s pastel skyline across the bay, the air warm with salt and sun-baked wild thyme and oregano herbs!
Beautiful photos and great tips!
Only just noticed this post. Corfu has been hanging around in the back of my mind for a few years–to walk around the whole island (it’s not very big). The fotos are nice, I didn’t realize it was so hilly. Good one.
Great list here, I’m heading there next year so this is very useful!