The 10 Best Pebble Beaches in Corfu
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Corfu's water is clearest at the pebble beaches: there's no sand to stir up, so you can see the bottom even right at the shore. This list is every pebble beach on our map with at least 300 Google reviews, in order of rating.
They fall into two groups: the coves under the cliffs south of Liapades on the west coast, and the green northeast coast facing Albania. Several have no road and are reached by boat or on foot, so check the live map for today's wind before you set off.
1. Gyali
West Corfu · 4.8 Google (839 reviews)
Gyali means 'glass' in Greek, which is a fair description of the water. The cove hides below high cliffs near the village of Giannades, with the fertile Ropa valley behind the ridge and nothing built anywhere near the beach.
The fine pebbles and clear water make it one of the best snorkelling spots on the west coast. There are no facilities at all, so it stays quiet even in August.
Good to know: Take a boat taxi or rent a boat at Ermones or Paleokastritsa. The footpath down the cliffs is steep and only for experienced walkers.
Gyali: crowds, parking & wind today →2. Chomi (Paradise)
West Corfu · 4.8 Google (524 reviews)
Locals call it Chomi; everyone else knows it as Paradise Beach. It sits at the foot of huge vertical cliffs whose layers change colour through the day, from white at noon to yellow and almost orange at sunset.
The rock around the cove is folded into small grottos and crevices that you can explore on foot or by swimming, and the white pebbles shelve into bright blue water.
Good to know: It's boat-only: taxi boats run from Paleokastritsa and Liapades. Agree your pickup time before the boat leaves.
Chomi (Paradise): crowds, parking & wind today →3. Klimatia
West Corfu · 4.8 Google (414 reviews)
Klimatia is a tiny pebble cove just south of Liapades, tucked under wooded slopes and reached by a short path from the hill above.
It's very small, and the rocks at either end are full of fish, so bring a mask and snorkel.
Good to know: Space is tight, so come early. Limni beach is a short scramble away if Klimatia fills up.
Klimatia: crowds, parking & wind today →4. Bataria (Kassiopi)
Northeast Corfu · 4.7 Google (1,586 reviews)
Bataria sits just below the ruined castle of Kassiopi, which guarded the strait between Corfu and the mainland for centuries. The name is usually traced back to a gun battery that once protected the harbour.
It has large white pebbles and very clear water, and it's the favourite beach in Kassiopi, only a few minutes' walk from the harbour on a shaded path.
Good to know: Combine it with a walk up to the castle walls for the view back over the bay.
Bataria (Kassiopi): crowds, parking & wind today →5. Kaminaki
Northeast Corfu · 4.7 Google (382 reviews)
Kaminaki is a small, sheltered bay on the northeast coast, framed by hills of olive groves and cypresses. The water is calm and warm, and the rocks on both sides are busy with fish.
It's also one of the best places on the coast to hire a small motorboat, no licence needed, to explore the coves to the north.
Good to know: Parking at the bottom is almost non-existent. Park by the main road and walk down the steep lane.
Kaminaki: crowds, parking & wind today →6. Iliodoros
West Corfu · 4.7 Google (303 reviews)
Iliodoros, also called Liniodoros, is a pebbled cove south-west of Liapades, closed in by the sea on one side and thick forest on the other.
The waves have carved the rocks on either side into shapes that look almost sculpted, with shady hollows where the light keeps changing. It's hard to reach, so it's rarely busy.
Good to know: The easy way in is by boat from Liapades or Paleokastritsa; the rough walk from Liapades takes 1 to 1.5 hours each way.
Iliodoros: crowds, parking & wind today →7. Avlaki
Northeast Corfu · 4.6 Google (1,429 reviews)
Avlaki is a long, open pebble bay between Kassiopi and Agios Stefanos, looking straight across the water to the mountains of Albania.
Afternoon breezes make it one of the northeast coast's windsurfing spots, while the mornings are usually calm and better for swimming. It's also the start of the forest trail to the wild coves of Erimitis.
Good to know: Water shoes help on the pebbles, and there's space to spread out even on busy days.
Avlaki: crowds, parking & wind today →8. Limni (Liapades)
West Corfu · 4.6 Google (891 reviews)
Limni is two beaches in one: a narrow strip of land with a pebble bay on each side, like a smaller Porto Timoni hidden south of Liapades.
Whichever way the wind blows, one side is usually calm. There's nothing to buy here and no road, which keeps the crowds away.
Good to know: Go by boat from Liapades, or allow 45 minutes or more for the demanding walk.
Limni (Liapades): crowds, parking & wind today →9. Akoli
Northeast Corfu · 4.6 Google (407 reviews)
Akoli lies in the Erimitis forest on the northeast coast, one of the last stretches of this coastline without buildings. The little Akoli lake sits just inland.
The cove is reached on a 25-minute woodland walk from Avlaki, and its clear water and rocky edges make for excellent snorkelling.
Good to know: Arrive before 11:00, when the day-trip boats start calling in.
Akoli: crowds, parking & wind today →10. Barbati
Northeast Corfu · 4.5 Google (3,223 reviews)
Barbati is about 1.5 km of small, round white pebbles at the foot of Pantokrator, Corfu's highest mountain, which rises steeply right behind the village.
The water, cooled by the current in the strait between Corfu and Albania, has earned the beach a Blue Flag. Unlike the wild coves above, it's fully organised, with sunbeds, tavernas and watersports.
Good to know: It's 19 km from Corfu Town, so it's an easy half-day trip if you're staying in town.
Barbati: crowds, parking & wind today →