Best Places to Visit in Corfu – Beaches, Sunsets & Places Worth Visiting
If you’re searching for the best places to visit in Corfu, you’ll quickly realize the island offers much more than just beaches. From scenic viewpoints and old town streets to hidden bays, sunset spots, and coastal villages, every part of Corfu feels a little different.
Out of all the trips I’ve taken so far, Corfu honestly became one of my favorite destinations. What I loved most was how varied every day felt — one morning we were exploring Corfu Old Town, later hiking down to Porto Timoni, then ending the evening with sunset views or watching planes land near Kanoni. It never felt repetitive, which made the whole trip so much more memorable.
So if you’re currently planning a Corfu trip and trying to decide which places are actually worth visiting, these are the spots that stood out to me the most after exploring different parts of the island myself.
Best places to visit in Corfu:
1. Porto Timoni & Afionas – Corfu’s Most Famous Viewpoint
Getting to Porto Timoni & Afionas
Before visiting Porto Timoni, it’s important to know that public transport here is very limited. Buses only run a few times a day, so renting a car, scooter, or quad makes the experience much easier. We rented a quad during our Corfu trip, and for places like Porto Timoni and Afionas, it ended up being the best decision — parking was easier, the roads were more convenient to navigate, and the whole experience felt more fun overall.
Parking in Afionas
As soon as we arrived in Afionas, we parked at the first lower parking area for just a few euros and walked uphill from there. A lot of people try to get into the upper parking area closer to the viewpoint, but the difference is only around 1–2 minutes on foot, and the upper lot is usually completely full during summer.
Exploring Afionas Village
Afionas itself is also worth exploring before heading to Porto Timoni Beach. The village has narrow Greek alleyways, white buildings, scenic cafés, and the famous bougainvillea-covered streets that appear all over Pinterest and travel photos from Corfu. Unfortunately, when we visited, most of the flowers had already dried out because of the heat.
The Porto Timoni Hiking Trail
From the top of Afionas, there are two different walking routes. The left-side trail is the famous steep hiking path down to Porto Timoni Beach. It’s rocky, dusty, and much more exhausting in strong summer heat than it looks online. The right-side route is less crowded and mainly leads to scenic viewpoints overlooking the coastline.
I was honestly very glad that I had read about the trail beforehand and wore sneakers instead of sandals. Even with proper shoes, the combination of heat, dust, uphill walking, and very little shade can feel intense during peak summer afternoons. Still, the view from the top overlooking Porto Timoni Beach was absolutely worth it.
Important Things to Know Before Visiting Porto Timoni Beach
Another important thing to know is that there are no proper beach bars, shops, or facilities once you reach Porto Timoni Beach itself. During summer, small water taxis sometimes operate from the beach, but depending on the time and weather, you may still need to hike back uphill on foot.
Where to Relax After the Hike
After finishing the hike, we stopped at one of the small bars near the beginning of the trail in Afionas, which honestly felt like the perfect way to recover after the walk.
2. 7th Heaven Bar & Loggas Beach – The Best Sunset Spot in Corfu
If you only watch one sunset in Corfu, make it this one.
7th Heaven Bar, located above Loggas Beach, is one of the island’s most famous sunset spots. The view over the cliffs and sea becomes especially beautiful during golden hour, when the sky turns orange and pink above the water.
The glass platform extending over the cliffs is the main attraction here, and yes — there’s usually a queue around sunset. But even without standing directly on the platform, the surrounding views are still incredible.
Things Worth Knowing Before Visiting
- there’s no direct public transport
- it’s easiest to reach by rental car, quad, or scooter
- there’s a parking area near the bar
- sunset hours get crowded during peak season
If you’re staying in Sidari and feeling a little adventurous, walking there is technically possible too — although I probably wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. We randomly decided one early evening that we didn’t want to wait until the next day for sunset, so we ended up walking all the way from Sidari to 7th Heaven Bar, which took roughly an hour. Slightly unhinged decision in the heat? Probably. But it honestly became one of the funniest memories from the trip.
Right below the bar, a staircase leads down to Loggas Beach, a smaller beach surrounded by dramatic cliffs.
+ TIP: And if you’re already in the area, Cape Drastis is only a short drive away and absolutely worth adding to the same day trip.
We actually liked this whole area so much that we ended up coming back again the next day by quad.
3. Corfu Old Town – The Most Atmospheric Part of the Island
One of the things I liked most about Corfu was the atmosphere of the Old Town.
Compared to the beach areas around the island, Corfu Town feels more local, with narrow cobblestone streets, pastel-colored buildings, flower-covered balconies, tiny cafés, and small side alleys that are fun to explore without really planning anything.
One thing worth knowing before visiting: the streets can get slippery in summer, especially in very flat sandals, so practical shoes make a huge difference here.
Some of my favorite things to do in Corfu Old Town:
- walk through the small side streets early in the morning
- grab coffee at the Liston Promenade
- visit the Old Fortress
- explore the small local shops
- watch the sunset near Faliraki
I also shared a full one day in Corfu Old Town itinerary with hidden beaches, cafés, sunset spots, and local tips from our trip around the island.
The town has surprisingly good food spots. Fresh gyros, Greek pastries, and kumquat liqueur are everywhere, and the café culture here is one of the best parts of the experience. If you enjoy relaxed Mediterranean destinations with a mix of history, beaches, and aesthetic streets, Corfu Town is definitely worth spending at least a full day in.
4. Paleokastritsa & La Grotta – Beaches, Boats & Clear Water
Paleokastritsa is one of the most popular areas in Corfu for a reason.
The combination of green hills, rocky coves, and clear turquoise water makes it one of the island’s most scenic coastal areas. This part of Corfu feels more nature-focused and relaxed compared to busier tourist areas.
The roads here are hilly, so comfortable shoes are helpful again, especially if you plan to explore multiple beaches in one day.
Two places I personally really liked nearby:
Liapades Beach
Less crowded and more peaceful than some of the main beaches. The water here is incredibly clear, and swimming near the rocks feels very different from the sandy beaches around Sidari.
La Grotta Beach Bar
More of a beach club experience than a traditional beach. Built directly into the rocks, with ladders leading into the sea, it’s one of the most unique places to swim in Corfu.
By afternoon, the atmosphere becomes much livelier, especially during summer.
This entire area is perfect if you enjoy:
- boat trips
- hidden coves
- beach bars
- swimming
- quieter scenery
5. Sidari & Canal D’Amour – One of Corfu’s Most Family-Friendly Beach Areas
Sidari has a lively and very tourist-friendly atmosphere, especially during peak summer season. The area is easy to reach by public transport, which makes it popular with families and travelers without rental cars.
The long sandy beaches, restaurants, beach bars, souvenir shops, and sunset spots make it one of the easiest areas in Corfu for a relaxed beach day without needing to plan too much in advance.
Our accommodation was also based in Sidari, which honestly worked really well as a base for exploring different parts of Corfu. From here, we drove around the island by quad for day trips to places like Porto Timoni, Loggas Beach etc.
One thing we noticed quickly in Sidari — and honestly around Corfu in general — was how friendly people were. The atmosphere in the bars, cafés, restaurants, and smaller local places felt very relaxed and welcoming throughout the trip.
The most famous attraction here is Canal D’Amour.
The rock formations, narrow sea channels, and bright turquoise water make it one of the island’s best-known swimming spots. According to local legend, couples who swim through the channel together stay together forever — unfortunately for me, that legend probably won’t work out because I can’t actually swim properly.
One thing worth knowing before visiting is that the water gets deep very quickly around the rocks, and people often jump from the cliffs into the sea during summer. The views are beautiful, but it’s definitely worth being careful near the edges, especially in sandals or when the rocks are crowded.
Right next to it, D’amour Beach Bar is a great place to spend a full afternoon with:
- cocktails
- sunbeds
- pool access
- sea views
Final Thoughts
What I liked most about Corfu was how different each part of the island felt.
Some places were relaxed and romantic, others were more adventurous, while areas like Corfu Old Town felt atmospheric and historic. The island has a good balance between beaches, viewpoints, local towns, and scenic drives, which makes it easy to combine slower days with more active exploring.
If I could give one overall tip for Corfu, it would be this:
Don’t underestimate how much walking, heat, hills, and dusty roads are involved in some areas. Comfortable outfits and practical shoes honestly made a huge difference during the trip.
Hopefully this guide helps you find some of the best places to visit in Corfu — from famous viewpoints and beaches to smaller spots around the island that made the trip feel even more memorable for me.
