Exploring North East Corfu

Returning to your Corfu car hire, rejoin the route north and after a short distance you will come to the modern resort of Dassia. Dassia literally means ‘forest’, taking its name from the dense woodlands and huge olive groves around. Dassia today is a large strip development and there are not many reasons to get out of your hire car unless you are staying here.

Ipsos

Continuing along Corfu’s north east coast road, you will some come to the party resort of Ipsos. Set in a huge sweeping bay that cuts into the eastern side of Corfu, the area around Ipsos must once have been stunning. Seeing Ipsos of an early morning, you could be forgiven for thinking you were holidaying on a lake, with the natural curve of the bay flanked by Mount Pandkrator and the hills of mainland Greece and Albania in the distance. Drive you Corfu car hire straight through the ‘Golden’ Mile’ of eateries, bars and tourist shops directly behind Ipsos beach.

A detour in your hire car up the hillside to the back of Ipsos brings you to the charming village of Agios Markos which offers amazing views out over the bay of Ipsos and the east coast of Corfu. The road winds upwards from Agios Markos to Mount Pandokrator, the highest peak on Corfu.

Rejoining the north east coast road of Corfu in your Corfu car hire, you will start to move away from the big resorts of the central east coast. You will soon pass through Barbati, which is growing but still dwarfed by Ipsos, Dassia and Gouvia.

Barbati

Passing through Barbati in your car hire, you come to the swanky northeast coast of Corfu. This stretch of coastline has long attracted the rich and famous; Kalami was the summer home of Gerald Durrell and the palatial estate of the Rothschild’s is just outside of Nissaki. It is not so much about what has been done on this stretch of Corfu coastline but more about what has not been done. The tiny resorts have retained their original charm with traditional houses and small developments hidden amongst the olive groves.

The largest of these north east Corfu resorts is Agios Stephanos, set in a pretty fishing village in an enclosed horseshoe bay, framed by hills of olive groves and stands of tall cypress trees. Agios Stephanos is a pretty village with its whitewashed houses and original tiled roofs, so is a good place to get out of your Corfu hire car to stretch your legs.

The tiny villages of Nissaki, Kalami, Kaminaki and Agni are quintessential tiny Greek harbours and good places to get a feel of the Corfu of yesteryear. Any of these beaches would make for a good picnic stop or there are several good tavernas down by the waterfront in Agni, although it is not always easy to find a spot to park your Corfu car hire.

Kassiopi

Driving northwest along the coastline, you will soon come to Kassiopi. As the larger resorts on Corfu go, Kassiopi has managed to retain some of its charm by virtue of the fact that it is set around a pretty natural harbour, based around one of Corfu's original villages. Kassiopi was a thriving settlement in Roman times and by the Byzantine era even rivalled Corfu Town in terms of trading and strategic importance, just across the straits of Corfu from mainland Greece and Albania. Do get out of your Corfu car hire in Kassiopi to wander around the harbour and the old village, which is still very pretty. It is a pleasure to explore the area around Kassiopi’s Venetian fortress with its crumbling ruins and cool olive groves.

Acharavi

Returning to your Corfu car hire, follow the coast road along to the west. You will pass the impressive sandy beach of Kalamaki and the headland of St Spiridon, the patron saint of Corfu, before swinging down to the modern resort of Acharavi. Acharavi is a fair sized resort but amongst the more pleasant on the north coast of Corfu. You can pick up a car hire from Car Hire 4 Corfu in Acharavi.

To continue along this route, take the left hand turn at Acharavi and you will drive back to Corfu Town through the centre of mountainous north Corfu. Swinging around the slopes of Mount Pandokrator, you will pass several small villages, which feel slightly like going back in a time machine. There are also some impressive views. The road will bring you back out to the coast of Corfu at Ipsos and you can follow the coast road back to Corfu Town.

North East Corfu Excursion Suggestion

Pick up a car hire in Corfu Town or at Corfu Airport. Leaving Corfu Town on the main north coast road, you will pass through the high rise resort of Kontokoli and come to Gouvia after about 5km.

Gouvia was one of the first resorts to be developed on Corfu, with its great arching sweep of golden sand, at the curve of a natural harbour.

Park your hire car to get a better look at the impressive ruins of a Venetian boatyard and the largest marina on Corfu, with hundreds of yachts bobbing around in the harbour and some impressive views across to the mainland.

Olive Groves

Photos from around North Eastern Corfu

North East Corfu route map for your Corfu car hire

Agios Stephanos

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Planning to hire a car on Corfu, check out the gallery for more photos from around the south