The southwest coast of Corfu is famous for its sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and beautiful green landscapes.
From dozens of beaches along this part of the coast, we’ve picked five which we like the most.
The beauty of this part of the coastline is that you get five completely different beaches along one stretch of the Corfu coast.
Located one after another in a row, the scenery and atmosphere change completely from one beach to the next.
Agios Gordios Beach
This is undoubtedly one of the most well-known, developed and easily accessible beaches on the west coast of Corfu.
Agios Gordios stretches for about 1.5 km along a long sandy bay, surrounded by lush green hills and dramatic rock formations.
Near the southern end of the beach, the distinctive Ortholithi rock rises from the sea, adding a distinctive feature to the landscape.
The view of Agios Gordios village from above is one of the most recognisable and beautiful coastal views in Corfu.
Agios Gordios Beach has everything you might expect from a developed resort: sunbeds and umbrellas, beach bars, tavernas and water sports, while the village sits directly behind the beach.
At the same time, there is a quieter part of the beach where you can enjoy more calmness and peace.
Learn more about Agios Gordios Beach, its infrastructure and bus schedule in our article.
Yaliskari
Yaliskari is the smallest of these five beaches.
It feels like a tiny hidden cove between the larger Agios Gordios and Kontogialos, with rocks and dense Mediterranean vegetation surrounding it.
Thanks to its tucked-away position, Yaliskari can feel much more protected and intimate than the larger beaches nearby, especially when the west coast gets windy.
It is a lovely little sandy beach with shallow water and a seaside taverna right by the entrance.
The beach also has beautiful sunset views, making it a particularly nice place to stay until the evening.
Important note: due to the location of a private villa next to the entrance to the beach, it is accessible only from 8 am to 10 pm.
If you’re into early-morning or nighttime beach time, you might not be able to get there.
Kontogialos Beach
Just after Yaliskari, there is Kontogialos.
It is also known as Pelekas Beach because of its closeness to the traditional village of Pelekas.
The beach is located at the bottom of a green valley, surrounded by hills and cliffs covered in dense Mediterranean vegetation rising on both sides.
It is a large and spacious, fully developed sandy beach stretching for about 500 m, with a wide sandy shoreline.
It has sunbeds and umbrellas, a few nice beach bars and tavernas, and a volleyball court with a net.
The water stays relatively shallow near the shore, while the wide sandy beach gives plenty of space even during the busy summer months.
And, of course, the famous sunset adds another reason to visit. Kontogialos has one of the most beautiful sunsets on the island.
The beach faces west, so you can watch the sun literally dissolve into the Ionian Sea.
Glyfada Beach
The next beach to the north is Glyfada Beach.
Glyfada feels bigger, livelier and more cosmopolitan.
It is one of Corfu most famous sandy beaches, loved by both visitors and locals, with fine golden sand stretching beneath steep, pine-covered green hills.
The clear water takes on beautiful blue-green shades, especially on sunny days.
Glyfada offers everything you need for a full beach day: sunbeds and umbrellas, showers, beach bars, tavernas, water sports and even a beach volleyball court.
Despite all the development, the surrounding green hills and open views of the Ionian give Glyfada a strong natural character.
At the northern end of Glyfada, you will also find a small section traditionally used by naturists.
It is separated from the main beach area and tucked away behind large rocks.
From this end of Glyfada, you can also take a hiking path to the next beach, Myrtiotissa.
The trail is roughly 1 to 1.5 km long, climbing above the shoreline before descending towards the beach.
Myrtiotissa Beach
Just when you think you’ve seen all the diversity of Corfu’s southwest coast, Myrtiotissa changes everything.
This tiny sandy beach, approximately 100 m long, sits between Glyfada and Ermones, hidden beneath steep, almost sheer cliffs covered in dense greenery.
It is probably the wildest and most secluded beach of our five, and that is exactly what makes it so special.
The view from above is literally breathtaking: huge green-covered cliffs, turquoise sea and golden sand.
Myrtiotissa also has a long association with naturism.
According to historical accounts, from the 1960s it became the only beach in Corfu where naturism was tolerated, establishing its reputation as the island’s first and most famous naturist beach.
Myrtiotissa has a narrow strip of fine golden sand meeting amazingly clear water.
But you won’t find a row of beach bars or a large resort here.
There may be a small summer canteen offering drinks and basic refreshments, but not much more.
So, if you are planning to spend a day at Myrtiotissa, pack your supplies.
Getting to Myrtiotissa is not the easiest.
There is no public transportation directly to the beach, and the nearest practical bus access is at Glyfada.
The road to Myrtiotissa is very narrow, and the final section is not suitable for a normal car.
We recommend going to Myrtiotissa by 4×4, especially if you are not familiar with the access road.
The road is also very narrow, so you should not try to drive all the way down to the beach.
For the final part, there is a steep and rugged descent path to the beach, which you will have to walk.
Expect roughly a 20-minute walk to the beach, but every step is absolutely worth the effort!
If you want to explore more beaches of Corfu, read our guide to 5 Most Famous Corfu Beaches.
