8 of the best resorts in Corfu

1. Sidari

Best resort in Corfu for families

Travelling with kids? Sidari is a great choice. This beachside resort on Corfu’s north coast is one of the most popular on this island thanks to its huge range of accommodation options, from all-inclusive resorts to self-catering villas.

The same goes for its bars and restaurants, which include local tavernas, fussy-eater-friendly burger bars and more. You won’t be short of things to keep the kids entertained either, with the popular Aqualand waterpark around an hour’s drive away and the famous Canal d’Amour right on your doorstep.

Of course, you can’t go wrong with a beach day, and handily Sidari has three. The main Blue Flag beach is a long stretch of sand and shingle that slopes gently into brilliant blue water – ideal for kiddies to splash around in.

Where to stay in Sidari

Akron Seascape Hotel, perched beside Canal d’Amour Beach, has a number of modern facilities to keep all the family happy, including swim-up pool rooms, an al fresco bar and a kids playground. If you’d prefer to go self-catering, there are plenty of affordable apartments with kitchens in Sidari – try three-star Stemma Hotel for stylish suites set around a generous pool complex or Jimmy's Apartments, just a 15-minute stroll from Sidari’s main beach.

2. Kassiopi

Best resort in Corfu for couples

Sitting somewhere between traditional fishing village and lively resort, unspoiled Kassiopi is ideal for couples.

This resort on the lesser-known northeast coast is centred around a pretty harbour with a great selection of bars, cafés and restaurants for romantic meals overlooking the water.

When you’re not indulging in good food and wine, make a beeline for the nearby beaches. Just minutes away are two of Corfu’s best beaches, Avlaki and Kerasia, where you’ll find pebbly shores and traditional beachside tarnas.

For days out, take a boat trip around Corfu’s pristine coast, or hike up to the village’s clifftop Byzantine castle.

Where to stay in Kassiopi

After a day of exploring, retreat to Melina Bay Boutique Hotel for waterfront views in your modern and stylish room or take in the uninterrupted sea views from the pool at three-star Kassiopi Bay Hotel. If you’re seeking more relaxed accommodation just a few minutes’ walk from Kassiopi’s amenities, Solaris has excellent self-catering apartments and studios centred around two freshwater swimming pools.

3. Benitses

Best resort in Corfu for foodies

Benitses has gone from fishing village to hedonist heaven and back again. Corfu’s original party town has long moved on from its disco days of the 1960s and the charm that attracted that first wave of tourists is now drawing in a different kind of crowd.

These days, foodies love the east coast resort for its sea-to-table restaurants and family-run tavernas (try Oi Oraies Benitses or Klimataria, which gets the locals’ tick of approval for its octopus pastitsada).

Elsewhere, Benitses’ quiet shingle beaches are ideal for peeking beneath the waves but you can also reach Corfu’s west coast sands in under half an hour if that’s more your bag.

Where to stay in Benitses

The most important meal of the day is taken care of at the three-star Bella Vista Beach Hotel, where the well-rated breakfast steals the show. If you’re after a pool, the stone-set one at Anasa Corfu comes with fabulous sea views, or you can really push the boat out at five-star Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa. Expect plush rooms with endless Med vistas, top-quality dining across four restaurants and a soothing spa just 2km from Benitses.

4. Ipsos

Best budget-friendly resort in Corfu

Another former nightlife capital of Corfu, Ipsos (Ypsos) has also quietened down in recent years, but its partying heyday has left a legacy budget travellers will love – namely, cheap bars and restaurants along the waterfront as well as super affordable accommodation.

With a long pebbly beach to lay your towel on and calm turquoise waters to swim in, you won’t need to spend a penny to have a good time during the day in Ipsos.

When you’re ready to mix things up, Corfu Town is just a 20-minute drive away and there is a regular and cheap bus to get you there. Here, you’ll find plenty of free sights, including the spectacular Old and New Venetian Fortresses.

Where to stay in Ipsos

You’ll find several accommodation options dotted along Ipsos’s beachfront, including Hotel Yannis Corfu. Further inland, family-run Dominoes Hotel has a sparkling pool and is just a five-minute walk from the beach. Or, forgo the pool and find a budget apartment on Airbnb to save some pennies – many are just steps away from the beach.

5. Kavos

Best resort in Corfu for nightlife

If you’re looking for all-night parties and cocktails on the beach, Kavos is your spot. The undisputed party resort of the island is unashamedly full on, with a seemingly endless supply of bars, clubs and happy hours.

During the day, you can sweat out your hangover on Kavos’s beautiful 2km-long (1.2 miles) sandy beach. If you can peel yourself away from the sun-lounger, you’ll find watersports aplenty, too.

To really go all out, take a boat cruise out into the crystal-clear Ionian and party at sea. Back on dry land, beach bars ramp up the music for happy hour as the sun starts to fade and the party atmosphere continues along the main strip until morning.

Where to stay in Kavos

Keep the good vibes going around the pool bar at Olympion Village Hotel or stay within stumbling distance of Kavos’s strip at the adults-only Cavomarina Beach Hotel, which has direct access to the beach. For a little more luxury, Ekati Mare Boutique Resort has chic rooms, enviable balcony views and even better signature cocktails. You’ll find it ten minutes from Kavos Beach.

6. Dassia

Best resort in Corfu for culture

You don’t have to choose between a beach break and a culture hit in Dassia. As the closest major resort to Corfu Town, you’re just a 20-minute taxi from some of Corfu’s best things to see and do.

In the capital, make sure you don’t miss the two huge fortresses that guard the city – to the east, the Old Venetian Fortress, and the new one to the west – and look out for elegant Venetian architecture, cute cafés, and boutiques selling locally produced goods.

Dassia itself is relatively small, but still has a good selection of local tavernas, luxury hotels and bars. There’s a lovely Blue Flag pebble beach right in town that offers watersports and boat hire and in the evenings, the resort comes alive as residents come out to eat.

Where to stay in Dassia

Make your stay in Dassia special at Grecotel Lux Me Daphnila Bay. This four-star luxury hotel spills down a verdant hill overlooking the bay and includes six restaurants, seven tennis courts and three pools. If you prefer to be in the heart of the action, TRYP by Wyndham Corfu Dassia is just a stone’s throw from Dassia Beach, while Elea Beach Hotel is a go-to for laidback all-inclusive escapes right on the waterfront.

7. Arillas

Best quiet resort in Corfu

The north-western resort of Arillas has a wonderful off-the-beaten-track feel. It’s sleepy in a good way, with enough tavernas to try a new one every night, but few bars and not a nightclub in sight.

The resort’s beach is long and wide, with golden sand and pine-clad cliffs protecting it from the wind on either side. The shallow, sheltered water is perfect for younger kids and you won’t find any watersports or loud music, so you can sit back and relax in peace on one of the beach’s sun-loungers.

If you do want a little more activity, Arillas is just a ten-minute drive along the coast from busier Agios Georgios North, giving you the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Where to stay in Arillas

If you’re looking for a home away from home, adults-only Mathraki Studios is the perfect base, where you can soak up sea views from your studio balcony and tuck into delicious snacks at the poolside bar and grill. Towards the beachfront, Hotel Marina is a prime spot to watch the sun set over Arillas Beach, or take a sandy-toed stroll down the beach to Mirage Studios Arillas – its friendly and low-key atmosphere is a win with families.

8. Agios Georgios North

Best all-rounder

With its wide crescent-shaped beach, stunning forest scenery and wealth of bars and restaurants, Agios Georgios North is a real crowd-pleaser for a Corfu beach holiday.

For a start, Agios Georgios Pagon Beach is one of the island’s best. Its soft golden sand is lined with sun-loungers and the calm, clear water is perfect for paddling, pedalo-ing and paddleboarding.

Away from the shore, the village is small but pretty, with most of the bars and restaurants running along the back of the beach, so you can enjoy spectacular sea and sunset views as you dine. As you step even further away from the water, you’ll find fragrant forests ideal for hiking.

Where to stay in Agios Georgios North

Agios Georgios North’s resorts are equally well-rounded. Check out adults-only stays such as San Georgio Hotel or bring the brood along to pads like Hotel Costas Golden Beach, which has a fabulous pool that overlooks the sea and is just a few minutes’ walk from the town’s shops, restaurants and bars.