Loutses Holidays

Loutses is best known for its spectacular views, which it owes to a setting more than 300 metres above sea level, on the eastern side of Mount Pantokrator. From its high-up perch, the village looks out over the Ionian Sea, Albania, and miles of forested countryside.

There are less than 250 people living in Loutses, so you’re guaranteed peace and quiet. There isn’t really a village centre to speak of, just a marble workshop, a car mechanic, and a handful of Greek restaurants scattered among the roads between the olive groves. The rest of the place is given over to 19th-century stone cottages, which have been converted into holiday homes.

The nearest beach is 10 minutes’ drive from Loutses, in the town of Agios Spirydon. There are two sandy bays to choose from here, which are bookended by rocks and washed by waves with Blue Flag clarity. Acharavi, a bit further on, has a good selection of bars and restaurants. You’ll find designer shopping and explosive nightlife, meanwhile, in Corfu Town, about an hour’s drive away.