Diapontia Beaches You Can Walk To: Othonoi, Ereikoussa and Mathraki
The Diapontia Islands are small enough to cross on foot, and several of their quietest beaches are at the end of a path rather than a road. Here are six, island by island, with how long the walk takes and what you find at the end.
The islands' guides rarely give walking times, so most times here are our estimates from the distance on the map, one way at a normal pace. Carry water, because there's nothing to buy outside the villages, and wear proper shoes: the paths are stony.
1. Bragini
From Porto, Ereikoussa's harbour beach, a path heads north-east through olive and cypress trees to the small settlement and harbour at Bragini. It's about 1.5 km, so allow 20 minutes.
The sand is fine and the water shallow, which makes it a good beach for children.
Good to know: It faces east and is in shade by late afternoon, so walk over in the morning. Day boats from Corfu sometimes stop here too.
Bragini: crowds, parking & wind today2. Fyki
Ereikoussa's old harbour, on the west coast near Cape Koukouli. From Porto, walk up through the village and follow the earth road west through olive groves and cypresses: about 10 minutes.
The rest of the island's west coast is cliff, so this is the one easy way down to its water, and it faces the sunset.
Good to know: Only the half-broken old breakwater is left: don't walk out on it.
Fyki: crowds, parking & wind today3. Fyki
A big, wild bay on Othonoi's north coast under green slopes. Drive towards Dafni, the village above the bay, as far as the road goes, then follow the path down to the coast: about 10 minutes down and longer back up.
The shore is rocky in places and pebbly elsewhere. It's a favourite of snorkellers, and on some summer nights plankton makes the water glow.
Good to know: It faces north: sheltered on days of southerly wind, rough when the northwesterly blows. Water shoes help.
Fyki: crowds, parking & wind today4. Xylosermi
This walk ends at a view, not at the water. From Chorio, Othonoi's village on the hill, you can walk to the sunset point (Iliovasilema), high above Xylosermi's fine sand and turquoise water.
There's no way down from there: the slope to the cove is cliff, and the beach can only be reached by boat from Ammos.
Good to know: Don't try to climb down. Come for the sunset, when the cove looks its best from above.
Xylosermi: crowds, parking & wind today5. Fyki
Mathraki is under a kilometre wide here, so it takes about 15 minutes on the footpaths from Plakes, the harbour on the east side, down the hillside to Fyki on the west coast. It's a large pebbled bay with rocks standing in the sea.
It's unorganised: no sunbeds, no shade, nothing to buy.
Good to know: Bring a mask: the rocks are good for snorkelling on a calm day.
Fyki: crowds, parking & wind today6. Arvanitiko
A secluded pebble beach on Mathraki's south-east side. From Ano Mathraki, the upper village, walk down towards Cape Arvanitiko: about 15 minutes, and longer for the climb back.
Few people come, even in August.
Good to know: Bring water and shade: there's nothing there.
Arvanitiko: crowds, parking & wind today