Couples who choose an Old Town apartment for their Corfu trip usually want both things: the architecture, the dinners under the Liston, the morning markets — and one or two genuinely private beach afternoons to break the city rhythm. The good news is that within an hour of our front door there are seven beaches where you can have what feels like a whole stretch of coast to yourselves, even in August.
Here's the list, ordered by drive time from the apartment, with practical notes on when to go and what to pack from the Old Town before you leave.
Within 60 Minutes' Drive
1. Avlaki Beach (50 minutes)
Long pebble bay between Kassiopi and the mountains, with olive trees growing right up to the water's edge — natural shade, no umbrella needed. Two low-key tavernas at either end, but the middle stays peaceful. Excellent water quality, and a view across to Albania.
50 min drive northeast2. Kerasia Beach (60 minutes)
The elegant choice. White pebbles backed by cypress, calm clean water, and a single upmarket taverna where chilled white wine and grilled fish appear at the table without ceremony. Yachts sometimes anchor offshore. Limited parking keeps numbers low. Lunch here is a proper occasion — book ahead.
60 min drive northeast60 to 90 Minutes' Drive
3. Rovinia Beach, near Liapades (60 minutes)
The hidden classic. White pebbles, emerald water, green cliffs. Reach it by a 20-minute walk through ancient olive groves from Liapades, or by small boat from the harbour. No facilities, no music, no sunbeds. Late-afternoon sun trap that warms the cliffs into the evening.
60 min drive west4. Limni Beach, West Coast (60 minutes)
Even locals sometimes forget about Limni. A small bay of sand and fine pebbles reached via a dirt road. Olive trees come almost to the water; a small chapel sits on the cliff above. No bar, no music, no signs. Bring everything.
60 min drive west5. Loggas Beach, Peroulades (75 minutes)
The dramatic sunset choice. A narrow strip of sand at the base of towering white-and-orange sandstone cliffs that glow like fire as the sun sets. Most visitors stay at the bar above and watch from there, leaving the beach below quiet. Steep wooden staircase down. Pure cinema at golden hour.
75 min drive northwest6. Porto Timoni, Afionas (90 minutes)
Two crescent beaches on either side of a narrow peninsula, each lapped by a different shade of blue. 25-minute hike down from Afionas — steep in places. The view from the trailhead alone is worth the drive. Leave the apartment at 5:30am to catch sunrise from the trail; you'll have a full double bay to yourselves before breakfast.
90 min drive northwest7. Vatos / Mirtiotissa B (90 minutes)
The wild choice. A scrappy little beach near famous Myrtiotissa, reached by a steep unmarked path that keeps almost everyone away. Sand, pebbles, dense vegetation behind. Not for fussy beach days, but couples who like the rough edges of nature love it.
90 min drive westPicnic from the Old Town
The whole experience improves if you bring proper food. From our apartment, we'd suggest:
Old Market (Δημοτική Αγορά), 8 minutes' walk: bread, hard cheese, olives, fresh tomatoes, sometimes sausages from the butcher.
Specialist shops on Filarmonikis: a bottle of cold local rosé and a tin of premium Lianolia olive oil.
Paxinos Supermarket on N. Theotoki: cold water, ice, sun cream and a basic dry bag.
Pack the cool bag the night before. Thirty minutes of beach picnic preparation in the morning becomes thirty minutes of extra beach time.
How to Time It
Before 10am or after 5pm turns even popular beaches private. Locals follow this schedule by instinct — morning swim, long lunch, afternoon nap, evening swim — and tourists almost never do. Inverse the timetable and the island opens up.
Walk to the far end of any long beach. Most visitors set up close to the entrance and stay there. Five minutes of walking changes the experience completely.
Avoid August midday. Most of these beaches are fine even in August before 10am or after 5pm. Between 12 and 4 they fill up. Plan around it.
Town Tip
The drive back from any of the west-coast beaches is at its most beautiful in early evening light. Time your departure for around 8pm and stop at one of the inland villages for dinner on the way back to town — Lakones, Doukades or Karousades all have tavernas that open onto valley views you don't expect.
Best for…
Easiest from the Old Town: Avlaki, Kerasia.
Best lunch: Kerasia.
Most secluded: Rovinia, Limni.
Most cinematic sunset: Loggas at Peroulades.
Best in August: any beach reached by hike or boat — natural crowd control.
Getting There
None of these beaches has useful public transport. KTEL buses reach Paleokastritsa and Kassiopi but won't get you to the beaches themselves, and the last buses back are too early for an evening swim or sunset. A hire car for the day is the only practical option.
★ Rent a Car with Herbie
Herbie delivers a small car to our apartment and collects it when you're done. Compact cars work well — Old Town parking is easier with smaller wheels, and the dirt-road beaches need agility, not size.
Book a carStay in the Old Town
Oikia 4 is our boutique apartment inside the UNESCO Old Town — a romantic base that lets you mix walking days with private beach afternoons. Our welcome book lists the picnic shops we send guests to.
Read Next
For the boat-only version of seclusion, our hidden beaches by boat guide covers the coves no road can reach. For the dramatic west coast in full, see our Paleokastritsa guide. If you'd like to combine some Old Town nights with proper beach mornings, our sister property Corfu Beach and Town has a beach house close to Avlaki and Kerasia.