Southern Corfu Drive
This Southern Corfu drive starts and ends in Moraïtika, taking in hill villages, secluded beaches, lovely views, and a visit to Gardiki Castle.
Lizard Enjoying the View on Corfu!
The southern part of Corfu is best known for its beach resorts both big and small. This drive, however, takes you through the pretty rural landscape that lies inland, and which many visitors never see.
It also goes to the secluded beaches of the west coast, where you
can have a lovely lunch or later in the day watch the sunset from friendly,
family-run tavernas.
Start: Moraïtika
From the bustling resort of Moraïtika, head south along the main road, ignoring the major left turning that takes you directly south past Mesongí. Instead follow the main road as it sweeps around to the right. After 3 km (1.9 miles), turn right on the minor road signposted to Ágios Déka and Corfu Town. It runs through a rural landscape of market gardens and olive groves.
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Small Villages
After the small village of Strongíli, where there are a couple of roadside tavernas, the road narrows and climbs slowly uphill through the villages of Kornáta and Komianáta. There are good views across the valley to the left and a definite sense of entering another Corfu.
After 11 km (6.8 miles) you come to a crossroads below the village of Stávros. Continue straight ahead, following signs to Kérkyra (the Greek name for Corfu Town). Around the curves, the road opens out to fine views over the coastline between Benítses and Corfu Town.
Áyii Déka
There are no pull-off viewpoints but there are some longer straight stretches of road where you can pull over to the side safely and not inconvenience what little traffic there is. You can also drive on and park at the village of Áyii Déka, which means ‘Ten Saints’, and walk back to the viewpoint for a longer look.
Inland from the town, the mountain of Áyii Déka is 576 meters (1,890 feet) high, the second highest on Corfu after Mount Pantokrator in the north-west of the island. We also recommend a Drive to Mount Pantokrator from Corfu Town.
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Ágios Matthaíos
A series of sharp hairpin bends brings you down to the main road at Milia. Turn left towards Sinarádes. After about 1.5 km (almost a mile), bear left on the road to Ágios Matthaíos.
The road is very winding, with several side roads leading to small villages such as Kamára, Ágios Theódori and Káto Garoúna. Keep to the signposts for Ágios Matthaíos. After about 10 km (6.2 miles) you pass through Vouniatádes. Another 4 km (2.5 miles) brings you to Ágios Matthaíos.
Ágios Matthaíos is a market town for the area, with little of interest for tourists. As you come into town, avoid the busy main road through the town centre and bear right following signs for Paramonas Beach, 3 km (1.9 miles) further west. To visit this beautiful beach, when you come to a fork in the road follow signs to the right for Hotel Paramonas and Sunset Taverna, where the road ends.
Prassouda Beach
Alternatively, go left at the fork and continue on the asphalt road which follows the coast below the western slopes of Agios Mattheos mountain, which is 463 meters (1,519 feet) high. It runs through a magical setting of dense olive groves interspersed with glimpses of the deep blue sea. After 3 km (1.9 miles), a turn-off to the right leads to Prassouda Beach, where a pleasant taverna overlooks the wild, rocky coastline.
After another kilometer or so, a few hundred meters beyond a sign for another beach turn-off, watch for a sign on the right for the fountain built by Serbian soldiers during World War I (it is actually only signposted from the opposite direction, so you will see the back of the sign).
Palaeolithic Cave
After another 100 meters (328 feet), on the left is the Rockshelter of Grava Gardikiou (again, only signposted from the opposite direction.) A path into the woodland to the right of the fenced gate leads to a large cave which was occupied by Palaeolithic hunters and gatherers around 20,000 BC.
The many stone tools and animal bones found there during the archaeological study of the site are some of the oldest artefacts on the island, now on display at the Archaeological Museum in Corfu Town.
Gardiki Castle
Photo by Marc Ryckaert
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Gardiki Castle
Some 400 meters (1,312 feet) further on, where the road forks, park in the small field on the left and walk to the nearby ruins of Gardiki Castle. The 13th-century fortress was built by the despots of Epirus, who briefly ruled from the mainland. The outer walls are impressive, but beyond the arched doorway (open access) little remains in the overgrown interior except a view of the defensive walls in what is, unusually, a low-lying castle.
Back to Moraïtika
Continue back to the main road and turn right. After 3 km (1.9 miles) you come to a T-junction. Turn left, but just beyond the road swings right again and is signposted to Benítses. Follow this road back to Moraïtika.
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Other Corfu Pages
Greece Travel Secrets picks where to stay in northern Corfu with budget and luxury hotels in Sidari, Daphnila Bay, Kontokali, Ipsos, Barbati and more.
The Corfu Climate page describes the hours of sun, the rain, the winds, to help you plan the best time to visit this Ionian island.
Northern Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts and secluded beaches, with several hill and mountain villages well worth visiting.
These fun facts about Corfu include how the island got its name, who wrote the Greek National Anthem, and the eccentric Englishman, the Earl of Guilford.
Corfu or Kerkyra is the main island in the Greek Ionian islands with Corfu Town being one of the most attractive of Greek island capitals.
Angelokastro is a 13th-century hilltop fortress with breath-taking views near Paleokastritsa on the Greek island of Corfu in the Ionian Islands.
Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Corfu, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
Corfu writers and artists inspired by the island include both residents and visitors, like Gerald and Lawrence Durrell, Edward Lear, and Henry Miller.
Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.
The best beaches on Corfu, chosen by Greece Travel Secrets, include Paleokastritsa, Mirtiotissa, Sidari and Cape Asprokavos.
Donna Dailey of Greece Travel Secrets visits Albania by boat from Corfu Town, staying overnight and seeing archaeological sites with Sipa Tours.
Kalami in north-west Corfu is a hidden gem which many people know about because writer Lawrence Durrell once lived here in The White House.
Paleokastritsa is on the west coast of Corfu and is one of the most popular holiday spots. This page gives information on beaches, boat trips, weather and map.
Sidari is a popular holiday resort on the north coast of Corfu with beaches and unusual rock formations as well as plenty of places to eat and to stay.
From Nero to Nicolas Cage, the invasion of Corfu goes back to Roman times and through to Hollywood today!
Northern Corfu is the most diverse part of the island, with Corfu's highest point, Mt Pantokrator, and beach resorts like Sidari and Palaiokastritsa.
Information for travellers to Greece on Corfu festivals and events including Easter, the Feast of St Spiridhon, Carnival and Name Days.
North-West Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts, quiet beaches, hill villages, and places ideal for watching the sunset,
This Lawrence Durrell walk takes you from Kaminaki Beach in northern Corfu to the White House in Kalami where the writer Lawrence Durrell lived for four year.
Corfu Town’s Old Fortress is the town’s most striking landmark, standing east of the Old Town on top of a rocky promontory.
There are three islands off the northwest coast of Corfu, Erikouusa, Othoni and Mathraki, popular with day-trippers from resorts like Sidari.
This is the Greece Travel Secrets selection of where to eat in northern Corfu, from classy restaurants and traditional tavernas to beachside fish tavernas.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in north-west and central Corfu including luxury mansions, inexpensive rooms, and resort hotels.
Corfu’s wildlife includes rare and colourful birds, snakes, lizards, fireflies, and insects, with plenty of places to watch the wildlife like lakes and lagoons.
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