Greece › Corfu Family Hotels
By Santorini Dave
The 9 Best Hotels for Families in Corfu
1. Corfu Palace Hotel – Corfu Town
Hotel Phone: +30 2661039485
Old-time classic hotel with slightly dated, comfortable 2-bedroom suites (family of 6) with a lounge, marble bathrooms, mini-bars, and 2 balconies with panoramic bay and mainland views. Rooms on the higher floors have unobstructed sea views. There are lovely saltwater swimming pools, restaurants, bars, and a casino. A short walk takes you to the center of Old Town Corfu, with its shops, tavernas, bars, and charm.
2. Corfu Holiday Palace – near Corfu Town
Hotel phone: +30 2661036540
Set in landscaped gardens, this lovely 4-star hotel has beautiful, modern villas with private pools and 2-bedroom suites (both sleep families of 6) with complimentary breakfast, floor-to-ceiling doors, and balconies with picturesque sea views. Villas have living & dining areas, fully equipped kitchenettes, traditional fireplaces, furnished sun terraces and great views of Mouse Island and suites have living rooms, sofa beds, mini-bars & bathtubs. Has saltwater pools, a private beach, beach bar, multiple dining options, games room, and a bowling alley. Corfu town is a short ride away.
3. Sidari Water Park Hotel – Sidari
Hotel Phone: +30 2663099066
Very family-friendly hotel with spacious, clean family rooms, bi-level maisonettes and suites (all sleep family of 5) with living rooms/lounges & furnished balconies (pool/garden/sea views), having its own water park (pools & water slides), kids’ playground, gardens and entertainment programs. Some rooms have jacuzzis, sofa beds, and mini-fridges. It’s walking distance (or short drive) to the beach, the main strip, and tavernas/restaurants.
4. Paradise Village – Roda
Hotel Phone: +30 2663063516
Tranquil, self-catering villa complex set in lush gardens having individual, spotless 2-bedroom villas (family of 4) with kitchenettes and balconies with garden views. Has a small play area for children and it’s a short walk to the beach and Roda’s restaurants & bars.
5. Filorian Hotel Apartments – Acharavi
Hotel Phone: Summer – +30 2663063107, Winter – +30 2661046186
Set right on the beach, this family-run hotel offers very clean, basic 2-bedroom apartments (family of 6) with sofa beds, kitchens, living rooms & lengthy balconies with garden/sea views. Has a small garden, private parking, good-sized pool, restaurant/bar by the beach and shops/bars and more are within easy walking distance.
6. Hotel Yannis Corfu – Ipsos
Hotel Phone: +30 2661093176
Pleasant, family-run hotel, set on top of a steep hill with simple, modest apartments (sleep family of 5) with sofa beds, bunk beds, coffee/tea facilities, fridges, complimentary breakfast & dinner and balconies with garden views. Has 2 dining options including a restaurant/bar by the pool & free parking. A small beach, shops and restaurants are located a few minutes walk downhill.
7. Pegasus Hotel – Roda
Hotel Phone: +30 2663063400
Laid-back, 3-star family-run hotel offering basic, good value, superior family rooms (up to 5 people) with fridges and balconies with garden views. There’s a large pool, water slide, pool bar, kids playground, games room, free parking, and breakfast buffet. The beach and many bars and restaurants are within walking distance.
8. Mediterranean Blue – Kavos
Hotel phone: +30 2662024629
Excellent family-run hotel, offering 2 types of spacious 2-bedroom family apartments (family of 5) with fridges, toasters & kettles and balconies/patios. The first type has a mezzanine floor, pool views, a communal furnished balcony and 2 rear balconies, while the second type is a bungalow (with sea views) located in an annex away from the main building, set on the beach. Has live entertainment in the evenings, gardens, kids’ pool & play area, and a breakfast buffet.
9. Molfetta Beach Hotel – Gouvia
Hotel Phone: +30 2661091915
Relaxed family-run hotel, set right on the beach, with quadruple rooms (family of 4) and a two-bedroom apartment (family of 5 or 6). Larger rooms have a refrigerator, coffee/tea facilities, bunk beds, and sea views while the lone apartment features wooden beams, stone walls, a living room, floor-to-ceiling windows, private jacuzzi, and a huge balcony overlooking the bay/church. There’s lively entertainment in the evenings, but lacks a pool.
Why is Corfu great for kids and families?
The greenest and most attractive island, Corfu is one of Greece’s most popular islands and has been beckoning tourists for years. Yes, it’s a magnet for tour groups, travel resorts, and tour packages. But despite attracting hordes of tourists there’s enough beauty, charm, and sandy beach here to keep families (and kids) very happy for a few weeks of holiday fun. A short drive from even the most popular tourist resort should have you back in the land of olive trees and charming villages. And with all those Italian visitors comes something else: great Italian restaurants.
The one thing you don’t get with Corfu is the opportunity to island hop. The few nearby islands don’t have easy ferry connections with Corfu. If you have visions of taking the ferry from one island to the next (which I love) then you’re best focusing on the islands of the Cyclades. Naxos, Paros, and Santorini are all wonderful destinations for island hopping.
Attractions for Kids and Families
Corfu Town
This Old Town of Corfu’s capital city is as popular as it is beautiful. Kids should love wandering the streets, eating ice cream and just generally being tourists in this very pedestrian-friendly destination.Aqualand Water Park (central Corfu)
This water park dubs itself the most amazing in Europe. If you have kids that love the water they’ll probably agree.Trailriders Horse Trekking
For ages 6 – 60. A horse ride is a great way to see the green hilly interior of Corfu.Kalypso Star
A glass bottomed boat tours the waters around Corfu. Marine life and underwater formations are popular with both kids and parents. There’s also a BBQ cruise which families love.
Best Beaches for Families with Children
Glyfada and Pelekas
Like many of the west coast beaches children should be watched closely as the tranquil seas can turn choppy quickly. Perhaps even more appealing than these two gorgeous beaches is the friendly and unassuming town of Pelekas perched high above the coast. A central location, good restaurants, a range of accommodations and a free bus service to both of the beaches make Pelekas a good base for touring the island.Agios Gordios
A beautiful beach, friendly restaurants and small playground in town make this an attractive destination.Sidari
A resort town with nightlife and bars but nothing too crazy and still very family-friendly. Lots of watersports, nearby fun, and a nice beach.Paleokastritsa
A large range of beach activities make this popular tourist destination a good beach for older kids. Boats can take families to the beach of their choice along this stretch of coves.
Getting to Corfu
Ferry To Corfu
Corfu is part of the Ionian island chain stretched like a beach blanket along Greece’s west coast. The island’s location makes it as close to Italy as to Athens, and quite distant from the other popular tourist islands such as Santorini, Naxos or Crete. Ferries can get you here from Ancona, Brindisi, Bari and Venice in Italy as well as Igoumenitsa on mainland Greece (which itself is an 8 hours bus ride from Athens).
The other Ionian islands hold their own charms and attractions so visitors shouldn’t feel like they’re limiting themselves by sidestepping the Cyclades.
Different companies around Corfu Town offer day trips to Albania for about 80 Euros.
Flights to Corfu
Corfu is connected to Athens by Olympic Airways and Aegean Air. A number of cheap budget airlines fly from northern Europe (e.g. London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt) to Corfu.
I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on 
Hi Dave!
We are planning a last minute trip to Corfu this May with 6 adults and 9 kids (3 families).
We would like to be near enough to Corfu Town and action, but far enough away for some quiet time. We are open to renting a home or finding a resort hotel. Kids are adventurous and range in ages from 10 to 16. We love to explore and be active, we love good food, and we want to be able to hang out together in the evenings. It’s so last minute I don’t know where to start.
I really like the village of Pelekas on the west coast of Corfu. It has easy and direct buses into Corfu Town. Several nearby beaches. And nice views and walks. There’s nice village vibe at night and many outdoor patio restaurants. Kontis Apartments are in the middle of the village and are great for families.
Hi Santorini Dave,
We would like to visit Corfu in August. My biggest issue is that I don’t know which area or town we should stay in. We have 2 kids (2yrs & 7). We would like to stay somewhere at night where there is some life (restaurants, tavernas, maybe a lunapark for the kids). We will have a car so we will go to the beaches with the car. Preferably there should be a nice clean sandy sheltered beach within maybe 30 min drive. To give you an idea of what we like, last summer we went to Cyprus and stayed in Ayia Napa and we loved it there. Obviously we didn’t go to the bar strip but enjoyed the lively streets, and there were nice beaches nearby. I really need help to decide where to stay that is similar.
Your advice is greatly appreciated.
There is no real street-by-street equivalent of Ayia Napa in Corfu and Ayia Napa, it must be said, is an acquired taste and not for everyone. True, AN has the life, the bars and the entertainment for the kids, but Corfu has all that too: it’s just packaged differently. Having a car will help you combine it all in such a way as to make your holiday enjoyable for all of you. First up you need to know a bit about how Corfu works vis-à-vis its tourist and travellers.
Corfu Town is very pretty and popular for strolling around during the day and dining in at night, it’s not a beach centre in itself and most people don’t stay here unless they are not beach folk, or prefer to stay in the heart of things. Most visitors to the islands come on packages and as a rule get transported to the main hotel strips which run northwards from Corfu Town to Kassiopi on the north-east tip of the island, or further round to the west to another sequence of resorts that are a little quieter, as far as Agios Stefanos.
The West coast facing the open Ionian Sea is home to a series of scattered more muted, yet very pleasant communities the most popular of which is Palaiokastritsa and further south Ermones, Glyfada, Pelekas (my favorite), and Agios Gordios. Back East across the island you will find one of the oldest resorts, the former fishing village of Benitses-turned into Torremolinos then re-gentrified back to a place with a touch of its old taste. Further south is less touristy until you hit the rather rowdy resort of Kavos which is not recommended. Have a look at Google maps to familiarise yourself with the locales mentioned.
With two youngish kids in tow and given that you are looking for a ‘lunapark’ you are probably better basing yourself north of Corfu Town within the Gouvia, Dassia and Ipsos strip. Here you will find a lot of tourist life, good beaches and fun for all. There is no organised ‘luna park’ such as the one at Ayia Napa, though you may find scattered extreme ‘slingshot’ type rides wherever entrepreneurs have chosen to set up, but there’s a waterpark worth knowing about. It’s called Aqualand and is a short drive (14km) inland from Corfu Town. As you will see from the site it is quite extensive and has family as well as adventure rides and slides.
The North coast (as alluded to above) has the life and activity that you are after but the resort communities are a little more muted and don’t have the spectacular views across to the mainland afforded by the large natural and better protected bay running north of Corfu Town. One last thing – August is high season and that means busy and more expensive season and early bookings for hotels and flights are essential.
Hi David,
I reserved the Sidari Beach Hotel for early August, but I have now done more research and thinking that it might be better to find something in Kassisopi? I’m traveling on my own with 12 year old son for 2 weeks. He doesn’t like sand … we might get a car for a few days…
We want to have lots of nice Greek food and explore the different places while we are there. Need to think what exactly to do bearing in mind my son will be more likely to get into water in rocky type of places. He loves swimming and snorkelling …. I’m a scuba diver and we generally like water sports, or jet skis etc. If there is any historical area we want to see it too. What’s your advice? Alicia
Well Corfu certainly has some nice sandy beaches, but with a car you may be in a better place to search around for beaches that boast less sand, or simply head to the side of the beach that meets the rocks. Most cove-style beaches will ultimately meet the rocks at some point and many people do in fact prefer swimming from there. Snorkelling is usually better off rocks anyway as your son probably knows by now. The only disadvantage with rocks can be getting in and out of the water if there are not some flat rock areas to enter and exit from and sea urchins commonly congregate around rocky areas and you really wouldn’t want to be pricked by one of these nasties.
Kassiopi is a picturesque part of Corfu and the area has some water-based scuba and snorkelling activities organised: see the following site links –
apollosub.com
divecorfu.com
diving-corfu.com
It will be hard not to find “lots of nice Greek” food in Greece but like anywhere else on a popular tourist island, you really need to do your pre-research to find that places that the Greeks go to. Anywhere with a tourist menu and photographs is likely to be pretty bland. Kassiopi has plenty of choices to eat at and To Tavernaki tis Marinas in Kassiopi is a good place to start.
As for historical sites on Corfu, the island is not distinguished for its Classical Antiquity though the island was known way back to Homeric times. Today Corfu is more renowned for its Venetian history bearing in mind that it was ruled by the Venetians for 400 years. Its approximately seven fortress bear testament to that time. The island has a rich folkloric tradition and women in some of the island villages still wear traditional clothing. Part of that time with your car might be touring the villages of the interior.
Hi David
We are staying at Fotini Studio in Paleo, I have stayed here many times before but have not been for 7 years and now have a 4 year old. We love Greek food but not so sure our son will, do you know if the local restaurants do any English type of food for children? We will get him to try Greek food but want to be sure he eats something!!!
Caroline
Every restaurant will have a variety of kid-friendly food: bread and olive oil, pita and hummus, potatoes, etc. You’ll find something and be fine.
Hello David
My partner and I, and 2 and 10 year old boys, are planning a two week holiday this summer. I have found a nice apartment on the outskirts of Messonghi with a small pool. It says it is 1.3km down hill to the beach. Do you consider that this would be a nice area to be for 2 weeks? We prefer places that are not too busy and touristy but with some nice local culture and people. My partner prefer places that are more lush and green than really dry.
Thank you!
Miranda Dixon
Messonghi is located in a rather nondescript part of Corfu, neither particularly lively, nor overly pretty. It is removed from the more popular northern resorts and the pretty west coast village scene and far enough (thankfully) from the rowdy scene at Kavos further south. It is also dominated by the large Messonghi Beach Holiday Resort north of the river that runs through the village itself. Lush and green it certainly is and is probably more ‘local’ than touristy, but it’s debatable whether a two week stay here would be recommended.
That said, if you had some transport and were prepared to get yourself around Corfu, it might be a pleasant enough base. It sounds like you’re happy with your choice of accommodation and 1300 metres is not far from the beach, so it may well suit you to a tee. You might want to take a walk through the village with Google Maps street view and get a feel for whether the place appeals to you aesthetically and geographically. Either way, Corfu is a favourite destination for plenty of discerning travellers and it’s small enough to enjoy over a two week stay. Good luck.
Dear David,
We plan to fly to Corfu in September and bring a dog. Can we take the dog on buses and to restaurants? Can we take her to beaches?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Irina Titova
By buses that can mean long-distance, inter-city buses (KTEL), or local, urban transport buses. The general answer for both cases is no, unless the dog is a guide dog and that really only applies to urban buses. On inter-city buses there is no place to store a dog inside the bus, even if it were in a cage and it would be inhumane (incanine?) to put a dog cage+dog in the hot and air-poor luggage compartment of a rolling bus. While there appears to be no specific legislation prohibiting dogs in urban buses, it is essentially highly unusual for a dog to be taken on board and the driver (and other passengers, it must be said) would most likely object and say no. So, better take the answer as a negative.
As for restaurants, the answer reflects the prevailing cultural perception of pets in Greece – that pets belong at home, in the garden, or out hunting wild boar (!). Pets and restaurants generally do not mix well, but that should not prevent you from settling pooch in a shady corner with a bowl of water and a bone outside the restaurant. Pooch inside would generally be met with disdain. That said there are always exceptions to the rules and this site will give you a lot of useful information on fido-friendly places to dine with and be with your dog in many countries including some information on Greece. However a quick search on this site reveals that there are no ‘declared’ dog friendly restaurants in Corfu yet so you may have to improvise and look for outdoor settings with shady awnings.
Beaches again provoke mixed reactions, reflecting the Greeks’ own perceptions of where dogs fit in within society. It is generally unusual to see dogs roaming freely (or even tethered) on a beach in Greece and that prejudice is bolstered by the general discomfort at the thought of stepping on dog droppings on pristine sand. Legislation doesn’t seem to stipulate what dogs can do vis-à-vis beaches, so the general rule of thumb is observe normal social conventions i.e. don’t allow your dog to annoy, clean up after her, take her for a swim away from other people and generally follow common sense. Here is another link with some extra information on travelling with pets in Greece.
Finally, it should be said that there are many fine and discerning dog-owners in Greece, but it tends to be an urban trend rather than a rural phenomenon where dogs have a distinctly defined role. Urban Greeks, on the whole, would not take the family pet with them on holidays, but single, urban people with money (they used to be called yuppies) with a trophy dog are commonly spotted strutting their canines in all the high holiday places: case in question, just the other day a young bloke with three active Dalmatian youngsters was spotted strolling onto a Naxos-bound ferry from Paros with nary a care in his canine world and no-one was in the slightest bit surprised or bothered. Go figure! Good luck :-)
Hello! Are the beaches in Corfu free or do you have to pay to stay on the beach?
Thanks
Sharon
Yes, all beaches in Greece are free and public. (A couple exceptions near Athens.)
How Toddler friendly is Corfu? We are coming with my son who will be 20 months old, staying in a villa in Avlaki this July. Will the Tavernas have high chairs? Any tips on things to bring with us, that I might struggle to get in Corfu?
Thanks
Nicola
Corfu is as toddler friendly as any place or society that raises children :-) Greeks are as mad about kids as anyone. As a rule Greeks show great enthusiasm to all kids. So, yes, Greece/Corfu is toddler friendly. If by toddler friendly you mean can you always expect to find smooth footpaths or road surfaces, will every restaurant pull out a high chair the moment they see you walk in the door with your toddler, will you find air-conditioned toddler changing rooms in every public building? Then no … because things don’t quite work like that in Greece.
Greece’s roads and footpaths can leave a lot to be desired and negotiating archaeological sites with a toddler and stroller requires patience. Public toilets can occasionally be an affront to the senses. But you don’t see toddlers complaining and Greek parents manage perfectly well with what’s around them and a more than adequate dose of love and caring towards your toddler, which at the end of the day, is probably what counts most. And when you walk into that restaurant with your toddler the first person to be greeted with a wide smile will be your little guy.
Bring only what you consider essential. You can find anything a toddler might need and perhaps even more than you would find back home. Greece’s main towns are packed with children’s stores selling the most exquisite children’s clothes: leather shoes, designer shirtlets, and blous-ettes and every accessory imaginable. A walk through the centre of Corfu town will be fun if you’re looking or willing to spend money. Supermarkets will contain all the same baby items (though perhaps different brand names) that you will find in your local supermarket.
You mention that you will be staying in a villa Avlaki in Corfu – that is the Avlaki between Agios Stefanos and Kassiopi, I assume. You didn’t say which villa but you can always see if the villa is ‘toddler-friendly’ by checking its website – if it has one – or a quick email to the owners. In every likelihood they will have a high chair and toddler cot stashed away for use by the occasional traveller with a toddler or three, but will not probably store them in the room de rigueur as not everyone will require additional small people equipment and it will be stored away and brought out as necessary. You can also go and reconnoitre the streets of Avlaki by using Goggle Maps street view.
In summary Greece is as child/toddler friendly place as anywhere in the world and young kids on holiday there usually have a ball despite some perceived (by the parents) rough edges.
Hi David
We have 3 children and we are thinking of going to Corfu for our holiday next year, their ages will be 15, 12 and 10 next year. We aren’t really into the tourist scene and prefer to stay in a villa with our own swimming pool rather than a hotel. My husband and children are into their watersports and we love to hire our own car and explore on our own rather than organised tours!
What area of Corfu would you recommend that would suit us?
Thanks
Jo Plume
Corfu (Kerkyra in Greek) is great place for holidaying and your kids will love it. It’s a green, verdant island with an anglophile bent and Italianate flavor. It differs subtly from location to location and the bulk of tourism is centred in the northern half. You could find your villa and personal pool in any part of the island and be content yet with a car you can easily cover the length and breadth of the island in a day. It is approximately 82 kms (50 miles) from top to bottom and would take a just under couple of hours to drive (allowing for local road conditions).
The northeast and mid west sections come to mind when suggesting an area of Corfu that might appeal. Gerald Durrell lived on Corfu from 1935 to 1939 and his sojourn was the basis for his popular novel My Family and Other Animals. He lived in the White House in the village of Kalami at the north-eastern edge of Corfu. There are five villas here that you may care to explore and you would have a beach at your doorstep – rather than a pool – and boats to satisfy your love for watersports.
The coastline from Ypsos to Kassiopi (opposite Albania) is perhaps the most attractive section of Corfu and there are plenty of other villas to seek out to rent. The coast is sheltered more from the open sea than the west coast and with a car you can come and go quite easily to Corfu Town – which is an architectural and cultural gem in itself.
The west coast has the ‘beach scenes’ starting with Paleokastritsa and sequentially threading together the communities of Ermones, Glyfada, and Pelekas – all of which provide stunning beach view opportunities of the more open Ionian Sea. You may also wish to look along this stretch for a villa to suit your preferences. Pelekas is a little unique in that the accommodations are in a small town perched up on the hill with beautiful views and the beach is down below. You do have to take a bus or a rented car down to the beach but I find it makes for a pleasant distinction. Relaxed breakfast (perhaps overlooking the sea), trip to the beach (either Pelekas or Glyfada), then back up to wander around the small town choosing from the handful of restaurants. There used to be a courtesy bus down to the beaches but it now seems they charge 2€ and do not run as frequently.
That leaves the north coast and the southern sector. Both livable in their own way, though the south has had a reputation in the past for being rowdy as a result of ‘lager tourism’. Benitses just below Corfu Town on the east coast was ‘cool’, became uncool (because of the party crowd), and then became cool again. You may want to look here.
The north coast offers a series of fishing villages starting at Kassiopi and ending at Agios Stefanos. They are quietish, less commercial, more rural, and mostly for reading books and splashing about in the sea. Of the string of places along here, Agios Stefanos is perhaps the best choice. From here you can take a boat tour to the beguiling Diapontia Island of Mathraki.
For a final tantalizing option perhaps consider Villa Kerkyra in Gouvia, just 9km north of Corfu town. It has a pool and spacious living. Happy hunting!
We have booked to fly to Corfu mid August and we are staying in a village called Agios Steffanos in a small resort – it’s myself hubby and two girls ages 7 and 10 years – do they have nice sandy beaches close by? And would you recommend this area as family friendly?
Sarah Israel
It’s a busy time in mid-August (book hotels early) and the weather should be idyllic so the answer to your question is yes and yes, but a bit of background may be in order for you to get your bearings. Agios Stefanos grew up as a north (Corfu) resort from a fishing village (as did many later ‘resorts’) and still retains a strong tie to the sea through fishing. It’s a relatively low-key ‘family-oriented’ place – in contrast to many of the youth-oriented party hard hangouts elsewhere on Corfu so you’ve made a good choice for a holiday with your 7 and 10 year olds.
That said, Agios Stefanos is a quieter resort than most other destinations in Corfu, yet of the other handful of north coast getaways, it is probably the most favourable. It’s located in a lush and greenery-draped bay with a long, wide sandy beach that shelves gently into shallow waters – which is good children territory. It’s not a pretty-pretty beach in the sense that beaches at Paleokastritsa, Glyfada, Pelekas and the old stand-by from the 70s Benitses are, but it’s functionable, easy to live with and umbrellas and loungers sprout like mushrooms along its length during the summer months.
The waters of Corfu tend to be perceptibly colder than the waters of the Aegean – especially along the west coast – and the north coast is more exposed to the Ionian sea. An excursion that you may like to try is to the offshore island of Mathraki which is one of a trio of little-known Diapontia Islands which also include the more distant islands of Othoni and Erikousa. Excursion boats run (in summer) to Mathraki from the port of Agios Stefanos.
In summary: a sensible choice given that you were looking for a family friendly location, but do be tempted to break out and take an excursion such as the one outlined above or maybe hire a car for a day or two and explore some other busier and perhaps more picturesque locations. Corfu Town is beautiful and also worth a visit. Happy holidays!
Hi David
Thinking of booking Aqualand Village beside the water park in August our kids are 12, 10, and 8 years of age and love the water. We looking for place with nice food and just relax at night not really bothered about entertainment, would this place suit us looks nice.
Thanks John Carey
Great water park. The hotel is good value for what you get and the food is surprisingly decent. Not a lot around here but there is a free shuttle to Corfu Town (definitely worth a visit) and the beach.