Corfu is famous for its clear turquoise sea, but swimming conditions are not the same everywhere around the island. Some beaches become deep surprisingly close to shore, while others can develop stronger waves or currents when the wind increases. This is especially important on exposed parts of the west coast, although there are beaches elsewhere on the island where swimmers should also pay attention. Here are 10 Corfu beaches where it is worth checking the depth, wind and sea conditions before swimming.
1Agios Georgios Pagon & Armenadon
Agios Georgios Pagon is one of the beaches I know particularly well, and it is a good example of how conditions can vary even along the same bay.
The beach is around two kilometres long and some sections are considerably shallower than others. In other places, the water becomes deep more quickly.
Because the bay is on Corfu’s northwest coast and exposed to the open Ionian Sea, stronger west and northwest winds can also bring larger waves and more noticeable currents.
This is particularly important during summer afternoons. The northwesterly wind known as the Maistro can strengthen later in the day, so conditions may be very different from those you saw during a calm morning.
This does not mean the beach is normally dangerous. On calm days it is a wonderful place to swim. But when waves increase, families and weaker swimmers should prefer the shallower sections and stay closer to shore.
Local tip: The left side when facing the sea is generally the part I consider more suitable when the sea is calm.
