Myrtiotissa Beach
Best for. Couples who want a wild, secluded cove with a famous setting and a fine sunset, and who do not mind earning it with a steep walk down.
Best spot. Take the far end of the sand for the quietest patch, swim while the morning sea is calm, and stay on the beach as the light drops over the open Ionian.
Know this. Access is a steep path with no road in for most, facilities are minimal, and the open water can bring surf on a windy day. Arrive early and bring your own everything.
Myrtiotissa carries a heavy reputation gracefully. Lawrence Durrell, who knew this coast as well as anyone, called it perhaps the loveliest beach in the world, and standing on the sand you can see why the line stuck. It is a small strip of soft golden sand tucked under steep green cliffs on the west coast, with clear Ionian water, a scatter of low rocks for shade and a monastery hidden in the hills above. There is no resort, no road in for most, and very little built here, and that is exactly the point. For a couple it offers something rare on a popular island, a beautiful cove that still feels like a discovery.
The honest part is the access, and it is the whole character of the place. You park at the top and walk down a steep rough path of around ten to fifteen minutes, and the climb back up in the heat is the real work of the day. Only a few drivers attempt the rough track in a high clearance vehicle, so most people arrive on foot, which is what keeps the beach small and quiet. The reward is a cove that empties of day visitors by late afternoon, but the trade is real, so wear proper shoes, carry water and a picnic, and do not come expecting a taverna at the bottom.
Time it well and Myrtiotissa is one of the most romantic beaches on Corfu. Come early for the calm clear morning water and the quietest sand, take the far end if you want the most privacy, and the beach has a long, relaxed naturist tradition you should simply read on arrival and respect. Stay for the sunset, when the cove faces the dropping sun and the last walkers leave you the shore. If you would rather a beach with a road, a sunbed and a lunch, neighbouring Glyfada is the easier choice a few minutes away, and Kassiopi on the northeast coast pairs calm coves with a harbour dinner. Myrtiotissa is for the couple who want the wild version, and on its own terms it is hard to beat.
Clubs near this cove
Myrtiotissa has no beach club, by design. The nearest sunbeds and a proper lunch sit at Glyfada next door. Hours and operators move with the season, so ask the venue when you enquire.
Myrtiotissa beach canteen
A small seasonal canteen sets up on the sand in the warm months for cold drinks, a simple snack and a few sunbeds, the only service on the beach itself. Rustic and welcome rather than a club. Operator and prices to be confirmed.
Glyfada sunbeds and tavernas
The organised beach at Glyfada next door offers sunbeds, tavernas and an easy day by the water, the comfortable base for a couple who want Myrtiotissa for a morning and a proper lunch after. A serviced beach rather than a styled club. Operators and prices to be confirmed.
West coast, Corfu
Myrtiotissa sits between Glyfada and Pelekas on the west coast, around twenty five minutes from Corfu Town by car. You park at the top of the hill, then walk down a steep rough path of around ten to fifteen minutes to reach the sand.
A car is the practical way to arrive, and pairing Myrtiotissa with the serviced beach at Glyfada makes an easy day, the wild cove for the morning and a sunbed and lunch next door after the climb back up.
Photo: eitan shkutai via GoogleBook a beach club
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Common questions about Myrtiotissa
Is Myrtiotissa good for couples?
Yes, for couples who want seclusion and drama rather than a serviced beach day. Myrtiotissa is a hidden strip of golden sand under steep green cliffs on the west coast, reached on foot, and it rewards the effort with quiet, clear water and a fine sunset. It is one of the most romantic beaches on Corfu if you arrive early, bring your own picnic and shade, and treat the walk down as part of the day.
Why is Myrtiotissa so famous?
The writer Lawrence Durrell, who lived on Corfu, called it perhaps the loveliest beach in the world in his book Prospero's Cell, and the line has followed it ever since. The setting earns the praise, a small wild cove of soft sand framed by cliffs and a monastery in the hills above, though the fame now brings a midday crowd in high summer.
How hard is the walk down to Myrtiotissa?
It is steep. You park at the top and walk down a rough path of around ten to fifteen minutes, and the climb back up is the real work. A few drivers tackle the rough track in a high clearance vehicle, but most people walk. Wear proper shoes, carry water, and start the descent early before the sun is high.
Is Myrtiotissa a naturist beach?
It has a long naturist tradition and you may still see clothing optional bathing at the quieter far end, while the main stretch is mixed and relaxed. It is a calm, tolerant beach rather than a scene, so a couple can simply choose the spot that suits them. Conditions and customs shift year to year, so read the beach when you arrive.
When is the best time to visit Myrtiotissa?
June and September for warm clear water and a calmer cove, and early in the day in any month. The small beach fills around midday in July and August and the open Ionian can bring surf when the west wind blows, so a morning swim followed by a stay for the sunset is the romantic way to do it.
