Kontokali holidays

Holidays to Kontokali are about beaches, boat trips and big-name days out. It's got an authentic appeal, plus a couple of well-known resorts on either side.

Prime position

Kontokali is pretty close to the action on Corfu’s east coast. It’s slotted into a sheltered bay with the neighbouring town of Gouvia, with a marina and sand-and-pebble beaches dressing the shoreline. Things are generally pretty sleepy, and the main focus is on lazy days or trips to Corfu Town – you can catch a bus to the capital, or drive there in 15 minutes.

Seafood specialist

One of Kontokali’s biggest claims to fame is its top-class seafood offering. Because the bay’s such an ideal place for casting off, it’s been a popular spot for fishermen for generations. The local contingent of Greek tavernas and restaurants reap the rewards, and most offer caught-today specials. One of the must-try dishes is bianco – this garlicky fish stew’s a favourite in Corfu.

Beach double

Because Kontokali practically blends into its next-door neighbour, Gouvia, you’ve got a double helping of beaches to pick from. One’s set on the headland that keeps Kontokali Bay tucked away from the Ionian Sea. The other’s a 10-minute stroll away in Gouvia – it’s beside the long-standing leftovers of a Venetian shipyard, so there’s a pinch of culture to go with the sand-and-pebble shoreline.

Calling Corfu Town

The island’s main event, Corfu Town, is the closest to city slicking you’ll get. It’s got the biggest variety of restaurants and shopping streets, like the Esplanade, but adds a dash of history to proceedings, too. The pick of them is the Old Fortress, which pokes out to sea on a long headland. It’s been around since the 1500s, when it was built by the Venetians, and you can spy the city from the top of the citadel building.