Nissaki Beach, Corfu: The Small Pebble Cove Between Barbati and Kalami, With One of the Island’s Oldest Tavernas on the Islet That Gave It Its Name

Greece | Nissaki | Corfu, Ionian Islands

The name means small island, and it is still there — now linked to the mainland, and containing one of the island’s oldest taverns. The geography that named the place is the one that still defines it: a small rocky islet that was once separate, now a peninsula, with a taverna on it that has been serving customers for longer than most restaurants in the vicinity have existed.

Rather than a single village, Nissaki is made up of a collection of picturesque coves, hillside hamlets, and traditional tavernas scattered along the slopes of Mount Pantokrator. There are multiple beaches in the Nissaki area. The main beach — a small scenic pebble cove with boat rental, a couple of tavernas, and the Apollo dive shop — is the one this article covers. A coastal path north from Kaminaki to the larger Nisaki Beach at the hotel is also available.

The main beach at Nissaki is a beautiful small pebble cove with a charming harbour and excellent waterfront tavernas. The water here is famously clear and deep, making it one of the best spots on the coast for snorkelling and swimming. The main amenity is the boat rental service, offering a fantastic way to explore the coastline.

Getting There: 22km From Corfu Town, Steep and Narrow Final Road, Very Limited Parking at Beach Level

The final part of the drive down to the beach is on a steep and narrow road with hairpin bends. It requires careful driving, especially in a larger car. Arriving early to find parking at the bottom is advisable.

Parking is limited. Down at the main beach, there is a very small car park that fills up early. Most parking is found in small lay-bys along the main road.

The bus from Corfu Town stops on the main road high above, from where it is a steep walk down. The area is very hilly and the walk back up from the beach to the bus stop is the practical consideration for visitors arriving by public transport. A hire car is the more comfortable approach.

The Beach: Small, White Pebbles, Deep Clear Water, Water Shoes Recommended, Albanian Coast Visible

Nissaki Beach is a classic northeast coast cove with smooth, white pebbles. Water shoes are recommended for comfort.

The beach has a stoney seabed with lots of harmless fish, making it perfect for snorkelling. Just simply lounging at the beach will provide you with fantastic views of the Ionian Sea and the country of Albania.

It is a well-organised seashore, offering inexpensive pairs of sunbeds and umbrellas along the beach. Visitors will benefit from the nearby cafeteria, ideal for a quick snack or a refreshment, or they can visit one of the tavernas.

The cuisine of the Mitsos family tavern is excellent. Mitsos Taverna is the consistent visitor recommendation — the family-run seafood restaurant on the waterfront that appears in reviews across multiple seasons.

The Boat Hire Hub: Agni, Kalami, and the Durrell Coast by Sea

Nissaki Beach is one of the best starting points to hire a boat to explore famous coves like Kalami, Agni, and Kerasia.

Agni has acquired a reputation for gourmet meals in any one of its three tavernas, and to sit there eating on the water’s edge is one of the pleasantest things to do in Corfu. The next bay further south is a popular stopping place for boat trips — adventurous youngsters scramble up the rocks to dive into the clear sea below or go into the cave where you have to duck under the water.

Kalami — the White House where Lawrence Durrell wrote Prospero’s Cell (1937–1939) — is accessible from Nissaki either by the coast road (narrow, but passable) or by the hire boat. The combination of the Nissaki beach morning and the Agni waterside lunch is the specific northeast coast programme.

Kaminaki and the Southern Coastal Path

There is an easy coastal path north from Kaminaki to Nisaki Beach — the largest of the beaches in the area, home to the TUI Atlantica Nissaki Beach hotel. It’s not possible to walk along the coast between the main Nissaki Beach and Kaminaki, but the path from Kaminaki northward works.

Kaminaki — a picturesque beach at the end of a steep gravel track south of Nissaki — has the feel of a fishing village, two tavernas, and boat rental. The combination of Nissaki main beach and a walk to Kaminaki for the afternoon adds a second distinct cove to the programme without needing to drive.

Connecting to the Northeast Coast

Nissaki sits in the middle of the northeast coast’s most prestigious stretch — nestled between Barbati and Kalami, the two anchors of the Durrell Coast. Barbati Beach Corfu Greece is the entry point to this coast, 3 kilometres south. Kalami — the literary destination — is approximately 8 kilometres north.

Nissaki Beach on Corfu is the small pebble cove 22 kilometres from Corfu Town — the name comes from the islet that became a peninsula, one of the island’s oldest tavernas on it, Mitsos Taverna the family-run waterfront recommendation, very limited parking (arrive early or park on the main road above), water shoes recommended, steep and narrow final road, boat hire the primary activity (Agni, Kalami, Kerasia all accessible), and the Kaminaki coastal path south for a second cove without driving.

Park at the top if the beach-level lot is full. Walk down. Hire a boat in the morning.