Paleokastritsa

Photograph by Anas Morsali, taken during his own trip

Paleokastritsa is widely regarded as Corfu's most beautiful destination — a breathtaking series of six bays and coves carved into the dramatic western coastline, where sheer green cliffs plunge into waters of extraordinary clarity and colour. Legend identifies Paleokastritsa as the site of King Alcinous's palace in Homer's Odyssey, where the shipwrecked Odysseus was found by Princess Nausicaa. The Monastery of Theotokos (Virgin Mary), perched on a headland above the main bay, has been a place of worship since the 13th century and today houses a small museum with Byzantine icons and ancient olive presses, while its garden terrace offers spectacular views over the coastline. The bays themselves range from organised beaches with sunbeds and tavernas to hidden coves accessible only by boat — glass-bottom boat trips explore dramatic sea caves where the water glows an ethereal blue-green. The surrounding hillsides are covered in ancient olive groves and cypress forests, with the ruined Byzantine fortress of Angelokastro crowning the highest peak, offering 360-degree panoramas over the entire northwestern coast. Snorkelling in Paleokastritsa's clear waters reveals abundant marine life including octopuses, parrotfish, and sea urchins.

Planning the wider trip? The Corfu planning guide covers how to get there, how to move around, where to stay, realistic costs and a day-by-day itinerary that includes Paleokastritsa.