Mesongi Beach on the southeast coast of Corfu combines sand and pebbles with calm, shallow water. Seafront tavernas serve local cuisine, and sun loungers and umbrellas are available to rent. These coastal features give you a concrete starting point when choosing where to stay: should your stay mainly combine beach time and dining by the sea, or would you also like to explore Corfu’s culture and nature?

Beach and practical facilities

Showers, changing rooms and toilets complement the beach facilities. If you want to plan your time at the beach around a particular facility, check the local information before your trip, as details of visitor facilities can change. This lets you include the facilities in your plans without assuming they are unchanging.

Posidonia meadows nearby

South of the village of Mesongi, Posidonia oceanica meadows extend at depths of less than 1.5 metres. In the Mediterranean, this species forms seagrass meadows of great ecological importance, providing habitats for numerous animal and plant species. This natural feature adds another coastal theme to consider when choosing where to stay: Mesongi can be understood both through the character of its beach and the Posidonia meadows nearby.

Corfu: Old Town and museums

On Corfu, Corfu Old Town offers a different focus from the beach and local cuisine in Mesongi. It has preserved almost all of its historic urban fabric, with buildings dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Town and its two fortresses are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its urban fabric, architectural history and World Heritage status offer a distinct cultural perspective on Corfu.

The Museum of Asian Art in the Old Town contains more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. The regions of origin make the collection a distinct cultural theme within a stay on Corfu. The Archaeological Museum of Corfu also offers a specific historical connection: it displays the Gorgon Medusa pediment from the great Temple of Artemis. The pediment was created in 585 BC and excavated near the Aghioi Theodoroi Monastery in 1911.

The museum’s history is closely connected to this object: it was built primarily to display the pediment excavated at Paleopolis. This allows visitors to consider both the creation of the ancient work and the reason the museum was built.

Hiking and getting around Corfu

Corfu offers other distinct options for nature lovers and hikers. In the municipal unit of Achilleion, ancient paths wind through the forested mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. The Corfu Trail covers a different scale: this 180-kilometre route passes through several settlements, with Benitses serving as one of its 13 daily stage stops. The mountain paths and long-distance trail represent different ways to hike on Corfu.

If you plan to visit the Museum of Asian Art, it is helpful to plan how to get around Corfu Town as well: from Corfu Port, you can reach the museum on bus line 2, on the Mantouki–Kanoni route. Check the timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Acharavi, Velonades, Corfu, Kassiopi, Longós, Peritheia, Spartilas, Vatos.

Back to the main travel guide: Corfu.