Windy Day in Corfu? 10 Sheltered Beaches with Calm Water
Almost every summer afternoon a wind called the maistro blows in from the northwest. It's what keeps Corfu green and the evenings bearable, and on the west coast it's what turns a glassy morning sea into rows of white horses by two o'clock. At Glyfada the waves can reach a metre on a maistro afternoon, red flags go up, and families pack up early.
The fix is simple: cross the island. The mountains of the north and the mainland opposite shelter the east coast, and beaches that face east or south have the wind blowing off the land, not onto them. We've picked ten of them, listed from north to south. None of them is a hidden gem; they're just reliably calm when the other side isn't.
1. Agni
Northeast Corfu · 4.4 Google (214 reviews)
Agni is a small pebble bay on the northeast coast with three tavernas on the waterfront. It faces east across the strait to Albania, so the maistro passes overhead and the water stays clear and still.
On windy days the boats from Kalami and Nissaki come here for lunch, because it's one of the calmest places to tie up.
Good to know: The lane down from the main road is narrow and parking is tight. Get there before 11:00 or come by boat.
Agni: crowds, parking & wind today →2. Barbati
Northeast Corfu · 4.5 Google (3,223 reviews)
Barbati is a long beach of small white pebbles at the foot of Pantokrator, Corfu's highest mountain. The mountain is exactly what you want on a windy day: it stands between the beach and the northwest wind, and the sea in front is usually flat and deep blue.
It's fully organised, with sunbeds, tavernas and watersports, so it's an easy place to spend a whole day while the west coast blows itself out.
Good to know: Paid parking fills quickly on windy days, when half the island has the same idea. Green buses to Kassiopi stop on the main road above.
Barbati: crowds, parking & wind today →3. Ipsos
East Corfu · 4.0 Google (1,249 reviews)
Ipsos is a long, narrow strip of pebbles between the coast road and a wide bay, in one of the island's livelier resorts. The bay faces east and the water is rarely rough, so it's a good bet for paddleboards and pedalos on days when that's impossible elsewhere.
It isn't the prettiest beach on the island, but there are bars, watersports and food a few steps from your towel.
Good to know: Blue bus 7 from San Rocco in Corfu Town runs here, so you can leave the car behind.
Ipsos: crowds, parking & wind today →4. Dassia
East Corfu · 4.1 Google (1,361 reviews)
Dassia is a tree-lined beach close to Corfu Town, with beach bars and plenty to rent. The olive and plane trees reach almost to the water, so there's natural shade as well as shelter.
The bay faces east and the sea is calm most days. It's mixed sand and pebbles and gets deeper gradually, which makes it easy with children.
Good to know: Blue bus 7 stops on the main road; it's a short walk down to the beach.
Dassia: crowds, parking & wind today →5. Mon Repos
This is where Corfu Town swims: a small beach with a jetty and a café below the Mon Repos estate, looking across the bay to the Old Fortress. It faces east into the sheltered water between the town and the mainland.
When the wind is up, it's the quickest calm swim from town. Afterwards you can walk in the estate's woods or down to Kardaki.
Good to know: Parking is limited and paid; blue bus 2A stops by the estate gate.
Mon Repos: crowds, parking & wind today →6. Benitses
East Corfu · 4.0 Google (1,325 reviews)
Benitses is a former fishing village south of town with a pebble beach and a seafront promenade. The hills rise straight behind it and block the northwest wind, so the sea here is often like a lake.
There are tavernas along the front and a small harbour. It's a good half-day if the wind has spoiled your plans, with lunch included.
Good to know: Blue bus 6 runs from Corfu Town along the coast road.
Benitses: crowds, parking & wind today →7. Moraitika
East Corfu · 4.5 Google (1,662 reviews)
Moraitika is a long east-facing beach in a resort area further south, with shallow water and every kind of facility. It's busy in high season but rarely wavy.
The shallow water warms up quickly, so it's also one of the warmer places to swim early and late in the season.
Good to know: Messonghi is the next beach along, just across the river, if you want to walk.
Moraitika: crowds, parking & wind today →8. Messonghi
East Corfu · 4.3 Google (139 reviews)
Messonghi is where the Messongi river meets the sea, and the beach runs south from the river mouth. Families like it for the very shallow water, and it's protected from the maistro by the island's mountainous middle.
The river itself is lined with small boats and a couple of tavernas, which makes a nice walk in the evening.
Good to know: Green buses towards the south stop here.
Messonghi: crowds, parking & wind today →9. Boukari
East Corfu · 4.3 Google (1,533 reviews)
Boukari is a quiet fishing hamlet in the southeast, known for its fish tavernas. The beach is small pebble, the water is calm and the pace is slow.
It's the place to go when you want sheltered water and a long fish lunch without a resort around you.
Good to know: Parking is easy and free. Come in the afternoon, swim, and stay for dinner.
Boukari: crowds, parking & wind today →10. Marathias
South Corfu · 4.7 Google (2,014 reviews)
Marathias is a wide sandy beach on the south coast with shallow water and sunbeds. It faces south-southwest, so the northwest wind comes over the land and the sea in front stays calmer than on the west coast.
If you want sand rather than pebbles on a windy day, this is the most reliable choice, and the free parking helps.
Good to know: Santa Barbara, the long sandy beach just east, works on the same days.
Marathias: crowds, parking & wind today →