Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BOAT TRIPS FROM PALEOKASTRÍTSA
From Paleokastrítsa's first beach you can get a boat trip to some nearby seawater caves, known
as the “
blue grottoes
” (€10 for a 30min trip), which is worth taking for the spectacular coastal
views. Boats also serve as a taxi service to three neighbouring
beaches
, Áyia Triánda, Palatákia
and Alípa, which all have snack bars.
Angelókastro
June-Oct daily 8.30am-2pm • €2
Paleokastrítsa's ruined Byzantine castle, the
Angelókastro
, is around 6km up the coast;
only approachable by a path from the hamlet of
Kríni
, en route to which there are a
couple of outstanding spots around the village of
Makrádhes
for a snack or drink while
taking in the whole vista of Paleokastrítsa's promontory. The fortress itself has been
partially restored for visitor safety and is worth the steep climb for the stunning, almost
circular views of the surrounding sea and land from the battlements.
11
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING PALEOKASTRÍTSA
Accommodation isn't hard to find but sprawls a long way back from central Paleokastrítsa, often leaving quite a walk to the
beach. Nightlife is pretty low-key, mostly comprising similar garden bars dotted along the main road.
Astacos Taverna
T
26630 41068,
W
astacos.biz.
Just
behind the second beach, highlights at this friendly taverna
include the lobster after which it's named or more pocket-
friendly moussaka. There are
also
some well-appointed
studios just behind. May-Sept.
€40
Dolphin Snackbar
T
26630 41035
. Just down some
steps from the main road and above Alípa beach, the
simple rooms here are adequate, with easy beach access,
and the food on offer (April-Oct 8.30a
m-m
idnight) is
more substantial than the name suggests.
€35
Odysseus
T
26630 41209,
W
odysseushotel.gr.
On the
road into town, this 65-room hotel has a pool, snack bar,
a/c restaurant and balconies facing
eith
er the garden or the
sea. Breakfast included. April-Oct.
€50
Paleo Camping
T
26630 41204,
W
camping
paleokastritsa.com.
Just off the main road, almost a
30min walk from the centre, this campsite has good
facilities, shady if slightly cramped
tent p
itches and a mini-
market. May-Sept. Adult plus tent
€7.50
Vrahos
T
26630 41128.
Upmarket taverna with starched
tablecloths and rather stiff service but offering pricey top-
of-the-range fish and some unusual dishes like artichokes.
Reckon on at least €25-30 per head.
April to mid-Oct
noon-1am
.
The northwest coast
The northwest conceals some of the island's most dramatic coastal scenery, the violent
interior mountainscapes jutting out of the verdant countryside. North of Paleokastrítsa,
the densely olive-clad hills conceal good sandy beaches, such as
Áyios Yeóryios
and
Áyios Stéfanos
. Public
transport
between west coast resorts is difficult: virtually all
buses ply routes from Corfu Town to single destinations and rarely link resorts.
Áyios Yeóryios
Like many of the west-coast resorts,
ÁYIOS YEÓRYIOS
, around 9km north of
Paleokastrítsa, isn't actually based around a village, though it is sometimes referred to as
Áyios Yeóryios Pagón after the inland village of Payí to avoid confusion with its
southern namesake. The resort has developed in response to the popularity of the large
sandy bay, and it's a major
windsurfing
centre, especially towards the northern end,
where boats can also be rented.
Aiónas
The village of
AFIÓNAS
, perched high above the north end of Áyios Yeóryios bay, has
been suggested as the likely site of
King Alkinous's castle
- there are vestigial Neolithic
remains outside the village - and the walk up to the lighthouse on Cape Aríllas affords
excellent views over Áyios Yeóryios and Aríllas Bay to the north.
