Benitses Holidays, Greece Backed by green hills 12 kilometres south of Corfu Town, Benitses is a former fishing village appealing to European couples in search of relaxation. Known as the island's rowdiest party resort in the 1980s, it cleaned up its image and village life now centres on a small harbour, with a pebble beach to each side. It offers a decent selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, two nightclubs, good water sports facilities and a sea shell museum.
Corfu Town Holidays, Greece The island's elegant capital, Corfu Town centres on the Spianada, a large, well-kept green where locals play cricket, and the Liston, a 19th-century, French-designed arcade housing old-fashioned cafes. Guarded by two massive fortresses, the Italianate old town is a warren of old churches, smart boutiques and traditional tavernas. There is a busy port and large yachting marina on the waterfront. Daily excursions run across the channel to Albania.
Dassia Holidays, Greece Twelve kilometres north of Corfu Town, Dassia is a low-key resort, popular with North European couples and families on package deals. Lying on the main coastal road, it offers accommodation in large, modern hotels set in gardens. The long, narrow pebble beach has good water sports facilities and looks across the channel to Albania. Two kilometres north of Dassia, Ipsos is known for late-night bars and discos.
Lefkimmi Holidays, Greece On the flat south coast, Corfu's second largest town lives primarily from farming û it is one of the few places where locals still use donkeys. Town life centres on the main square, backed by narrow streets filled with shops. A pretty canal is lined with boats and waterside tavernas, and runs to the sea. The disused saltpans provide a breeding ground for birds. In contrast, five kilometres away lies the hectic party resort of Kavos.
Messongi Holidays, Greece At the mouth of the River Messongi on Corfu's east coast, this one-time sleepy village almost merges with the busy, neighbouring resort of Moraitika. Popular with families on package deals, it offers low-rise apartment complexes set among olive trees, plus a good choice of tavernas and shops. The pebble beach shelves gently into calm waters, making it ideal for children. Taxi-boats shuttle bathers to other nearby beaches along the coast.
Paxos Island Holidays, Greece South of Corfu, the tiny island of Paxos is served by ferry from Corfu, and Parga on the mainland. As there is no airport, it attracts independent travellers and the sailing crowd who put down anchor in its sheltered bays. Its three seaside resorts, Gaios, Loggos and Lakka, are packed with Italians in August; the unspoilt interior is popular with British hikers. Taxi-boats take bathers from Gaios to the nearby sister island of Antipaxos.
