Arilas Holidays

This dinky village on Corfu’s northwest coast whisks you away from the usual tourist haunts. Here, life is all about kicking back and enjoying the countryside and the quiet. The village has kept its Greek character – it’s the sort of place for family-run tavernas and friendly bars. Then there’s the star of the show – the lovely golden beach.

This two-kilometre golden-sand beach is pleasingly crowd-free, thanks to its off-the-beaten-track location. But there are watersports on hand, as well as sunbeds and umbrellas, plus other beaches within walking distance. Agios Stafanos to the north is over a mile long, and pebbly Afionas to the south offers some great views of the sunset.

You can see these three small islands from Arilas and boat trips set off from the harbour in Agios Stefanos, just up the road. You’ll see Mathraki’s picturesque harbour and get to sunbathe on the secluded white sands of Othoni. Getting to Ericusa, the island furthest away, takes you through the pretty Canal D’Amour caves in Sidari, before arriving at the island’s sandy beach and old harbour. There’s also the chance for some dolphin spotting.