Paleokastritsa Beach

Paleokastritsa is the famous west-coast bay of Corfu, a cluster of small beaches framed by cliffs, caves and the monastery above.

About Paleokastritsa Beach

Paleokastritsa is the most famous beach resort on Corfu, a series of small bays and coves on the island's rugged west coast, framed by cliffs, caves and the monastery that sits on the headland above. The name means 'old castle', and the setting is dramatic: green hills drop steeply to a sea of extraordinary clarity, and the coastline is broken into a series of small beaches rather than one long strand. The main beach is a mix of sand and pebbles, with clear, cool water that is ideal for swimming and snorkelling, and the surrounding coves can be reached by small boat or by swimming around the rocks. The caves along the coast, some of which can be entered by boat, are one of the highlights, and the water is famous for its colour, a deep, luminous blue-green. Above the bay, the 13th-century monastery of the Virgin Mary offers one of the best views on the island. Paleokastritsa has been a resort since the 19th century and has a gentle, slightly old-fashioned charm, with tavernas and small hotels tucked into the hillside. It is also associated with the Phaeacians of the Odyssey, and local tradition identifies it as the place where Odysseus was washed ashore.