You won’t be limited on things to do in Paleokastritsa as it is a popular area in Corfu offering a variety of activities.
Paleokastritsa attracts those who want to get away from their 9-to-5 seeking peace and tranquillity. It is perfect for a relaxing holiday, laying around on the abundance of charming beaches.
However, for those seeking a bit more adventure Paleokastritsa has many activities and points of interest to discover especially via a scenic road trip.
How to get to Paleokastritsa
There are a few ways you can travel to Paleokastritsa which include renting your own car, booking a taxi or hopping on a public bus.
Prices change depending on where you will be travelling from.
From personal experience, we can dive into taking a bus from Corfu Airport and Corfu Town to Paleokastritsa
Corfu Airport to Paleokastritsa
Booking a taxi is the most popular way to get to Paleokastritsa from Corfu airport.
There is the option to book through your accommodation, which would probably be the best option for ease of mind and convenience. Sometimes this is included in the price but you will be sharing with other travellers and have to wait for them before you set off.
However, if this isn’t an option for you there are taxi’s available at the airport arrival area.
The cost of a private taxi from Corfu Airport to Paleokastritsa will be approximately €45 and will take around 30 – 45 min.
Bus from Corfu Town to Paleokastritsa
A public bus from Corfu Town to Paleokastritsa is cheap, safe and comfortable. The public bus service is run by Green Buses which serves all around Corfu Island.
Even though the bus makes a few stops in Corfu Town, it would be best to head to the Green Buses main station in Corfu Town.
Before you set off, make sure you ask your accommodation for the bus time table or you could check the Green Buses timetable on their website. At the station, you can book your ticket to Paleokastritsa which is only €2.30 per person. There, you will be directed to the appropriate stand and wait for the bus to arrive.
Just a heads up, don’t be expecting the bus to arrive bang on time, that doesn’t mean you can turn up late though either. Just get there early and relax at the station eating your warm pastry, sipping on some coffee purchased from the shop inside the station.
The journey from Corfu Town Green Buses station to Paleokastritsa is approximately 1 hour. It is a comfortable ride with air conditioning if needed. They even have a toilet on board if you’re desperate and your bladder is bursting.
There are a few stops within and around Paleokastritsa but the main ones are outside Akrotiri Beach Hotel and the Odysseus Hotel.
Paleokastritsa accommodation
Regarding the resorts in Paleokastritsa, there are 2 main ones, the luxurious Akrotiri Beach Hotel and Odysseus Hotel.
However, don’t worry if you are on a tighter budget as there are other cheaper accommodations to choose from.
Paleokastritsa Resorts
Akrotiri Beach Hotel
We can speak about Akrotiri Beach Hotel form personal experience and would highly recommend staying there.
We stayed at Akrotiri Beach Hotel for 3 nights at the end of September, just outside the peak season, booking the classic double room. To our surprise upon checking in, we received a free upgrade to the superior double room with a jaw-dropping sea view.
As another bonus, it was Kerrie’s birthday and they organised a bottle of wine for us to enjoy and a free birthday cake at dinner. The hotel went above and beyond our expectations and the facilities such as the pool were great.
Having the beach on your doorstep helps too.
A side note: You may be cautious on who you pick based on the COVID-19 measures. Akrotiri Beach Hotel at the time was very well organised to keep everyone safe, including staff wearing masks and hand sanitiser is available in all rooms.
Check out Akrotiri Beach Hotel’s prices here.
Odysseus Hotel
The other beautiful main resort to stay in Paleokastritsa situated on the hillside boasting views of the Ionian Sea.
Just like the Akrotiri Beach Hotel, they offer views of the sea and access to a pool. If the pool doesn’t suit you, the beach is only a stone throws away.
Check out the latest prices on Odysseus Hotel here.
Budget Accommodation
At heart, we are still backpackers and understand people travel on a budget and can’t afford to stay in luxurious accommodation all the time. Paleokastritsa has some great options for a tighter budget.
Great for solo backpacker, friends and couples: Afrodite’s Pool and Studios
Ideal for the couple wanting privacy but close to the centre: Manganas Studios
Things to do in Paleokastritsa
1. Rent a car
One of the best ways to explore Paleokastritsa is by renting a car. It will give you so much more time to visit spots and the freedom to come and go when you please.
There are a few rental companies to choose from ready for when you land at the airport.
Another option is to rent from a local company. We opted to do this and went through our hotel, Akrotiri Beach Hotel. We rented for 1 day and it cost us €30.
2. Agia Triada Beach
A small incredible gem of a beach.
This is right on the doorstep of Akrotiri Beach Hotel. We have been around the globe to some beautiful beaches and the water here is some of the best we have seen. It is crystal clear with calm waves, perfect for a dip to cool down or relax and have a casual swim.
It is also the location of Akron Beach Bar, the best food we tasted at our time in Paleokastritsa.
3. Paleokastritsa beach
One of the main and popular beaches and for good reason. Enclosed by green cliffs either side, it’s a nice sight to look at.
This beach has restaurants on its doorsteps and has turquoise waters. Fully organised with umbrellas and sun lounges.
You will be able to rent pedal boats so you can explore around the area leisurely.
4. Rent a boat in Paleokastritsa
If you can spare some money to rent a boat for the day then definitely do it.
You can take to the seas and visit little coved beaches and caves only accessible via boat. Depending on the size of the boat you can expect to pay between €60 – €80 for a half days rent. In most cases, you pay for the petrol used too, which, if you take it steady and not go full speed riding the waves, should be around €10.
Don’t worry if you haven’t driven a boat before. The staff you rent the boat from should show you everything you will need to know on how to drive the boat safely.
We recommend renting a boat from the company on Agia Triada Beach. They were very friendly, had good rates on the boats and gave us all the information we needed to make sure we were safe driving around the water.
If you haven’t been on a speedboat before, a word of advice, maybe take some anti-sickness tablets or something else to prepare you for potential seasickness. Don’t be like Woody and 20 min into the journey start puking overboard.
5. Go snorkelling around Paleokastritsa
They are some nice snorkelling spots around Paleokastritsa for you to see some nice coloured fish.
It would be a lot better to rent some snorkelling equipment as well as your boat so you can hop in at the best spots around. Although you don’t need a boat to snorkel, you can snorkel from any of the beaches or cliff edges too.
For snorkel gear, you can expect to pay around €15 for snorkels, flippers and goggles to rent for the full day.
6. Monastery of Paleokastritsa
Residing on a hill by the sea, the Monastery of Paleokastritsa is one of Paleokastritsa greatest landmarks.
It is nice to get a bit of culture when visiting other countries and areas, so drive up, or take a tour to the 13-century building. You will be greeted by Monks whose Monastery is their home. Take it all in and enjoy the architecture, paintings and gardens.
Entrance is free and there is free parking at the Monastery too.
7. Explore Ruin of a Villa
As you drive up the mountains it is a head-turning moment when you see this abandoned building.
What was once a villa (self-explanatory name) is now a landmarked abandoned building with graffiti on the outside of it.
It is one of the more luxurious abandoned buildings you’d see but one of the main reasons to visit is due to the amazing views that are on offer there as well.
Be careful if you explore inside the building as there is broken glass shattered everywhere, and after all, it is abandoned. You don’t know what state the building is in or how safe it will be in general.
We went just before midday and it was a cracking view!
8. Take a road trip to Sidari
Sidari is another popular place people go to in Corfu.
It is popular amongst people who wish to lay back, relax and have the convenience of everything around them.
It’s known for its abundance of restaurants including Chinese, Indian and typical British food cuisine. However, it does have some wonderful places nearby to explore too.
9. Check out Canal D’Amour
A wonderful setting based around obscure rock formations with stairs leading down to a cosy beach.
This area is perfect for a stroll or a cheeky refreshing swim.
We went straight to this spot when visiting Sidari and despite the fact that it rained when we was there, it was still beautiful and a great spot not to be missed if you’re in the area.
10. Have fun at Agios Spiridon Beach
Probably one of the quietest beaches around the area.
It is a sandy beach which has lovely, calm water. There are a few restaurants around and within peak season you can do beach and water sports.
11. Admire the views at Cape Drastis
A truly wonderful sight everyone should witness when visiting Corfu.
On your way back from Sidari this can be one of your last stops. As you arrive you can park up and walk down to a path to the cliff edge which has an amazing sight waiting for you.
Glorious, enormous, creamy coloured rock formations protruding out from the waters with a backdrop of the blue sky and glistening sea.
Paleokastritsa restaurants
Paleokastritsa has some great places to eat considering how small it is. The best part is most are probably no more than a 10 min walk away from each other.
Akron Beach Bar
The best food by far that you can taste within Paleokastritsa. That is no overreaction.
Not only is the food beautifully presented but everything tastes phenomenal. Whether it’s the king prawns, the octopus or the steak, your mouth will be watering and craving more with every bite.
It is on the more expensive side for the restaurants around Paleokastritsa but it is well worth the money spent.
The restaurant is right on the beach which is stunning at night too. Akron Beach Bar is not to be missed.
Nereids restaurant
Renowned for their Greek Mediterranean cuisine, Nereids Restaurant & Bar offer an array of dishes that everyone can enjoy.
Again, slightly on the more expensive side but something a little different than Akron Beach Bar focusing mainly on fish dishes.
La Grotto Beach Bar
La Grotta Lounge and Pub on Google Maps .
The food isn’t what drives most people to the bar, but the vibe and facilities they offer.
When you’re done snacking on fries there’s a diving board you can jump off straight into the sea. The bar is engulfed around massive rocks so it feels like it’s your own private area.
In peak times La Grotto Beach Bar is filled with people enjoying a drink and lounging around in their swimwear listening to chilled music. Offering a party vibe to have fun during the day or relax at night watching the sky change colour as the sun sets.
Tango café bar
Tango café bar is the best place to be to watch the sunset in Paleokastritsa.
You can admire the sunset as you sit having snacks high up in the cliffs, sipping on your brightly coloured cocktail. You will have the best views any bar could offer.
Make sure you book a table and ask for a good sunset spot as they fill up fast.
Oh, make sure you can prepare yourself for the steep stairs to the top to reach the bar too. That sunset is worth it though, don’t worry.
Things to do in Paleokastritsa FAQs
By taxi, the journey will take approximately 30 – 45 min to reach Paleokastritsa from Corfu Airport.
Paleokastritsa is perfect for couples, they are plenty of places to visit and many beaches to explore.
Paleokastritsa is a beautiful place to visit and is great for the individual, couples, friends and families. It has many great beaches and places to explore.
Paleokastritsa is more expensive than Corfu Town with regards to food and accommodation, however, there are still some hotels and restaurants/bars offering budget prices.
By car, the journey from Paleokastritsa to Sidari will take approximately 45 min.
La Grotta is one the best party style bars in Paleokastritsa, surrounded by cliffs offering great views and cliff jumping for those dare devils out there.
