Nissaki Corfu is a tranquil hideaway on the north-east coast, known for its crystal-clear turquoise water, small white-pebble coves and lush green hills, about 22 kilometres from Corfu Town. This guide covers the beaches, the dining, the water sports and how to visit this peaceful, scenic stretch of coast.
Nissaki is a quiet, beautiful base for the north-east, a serene corner of the wider Corfu tours and travel guide. It lies between Barbati and Kalami. The sections below cover the resort.
What is Nissaki like?
Nissaki is a tranquil, spread-out area on the north-east coast, known for crystal-clear turquoise water, small white-pebble coves and lush green surroundings. Its name means “small island”, after the islet at its heart, now joined to the shore and home to one of Corfu’s oldest tavernas.
Nissaki is the north-east coast at its most peaceful and scenic. Rather than a single resort centre, it is a spread-out area of coves, hillside villas and tavernas scattered along a beautiful stretch of coast below green, olive-clad slopes. Its name, meaning “small island”, comes from the little islet at the heart of the bay, now connected to the mainland and crowned by one of Corfu’s oldest tavernas. The clear turquoise water, the white-pebble beaches and the quiet, unspoilt setting define the area, which suits those seeking calm and natural beauty over bustle, set within the wider Corfu beaches. The coves are exquisite.
What are Nissaki’s beaches like?
Nissaki’s beaches are small, beautiful coves of smooth white pebbles with exceptionally clear, turquoise water, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The main beach has sunbeds, tavernas and boat hire, and its central position makes it a fine base for reaching coves like Kalami, Agni and Kerasia.
The coves are Nissaki’s treasure. Typical of the north-east coast, they are small, scenic beaches of smooth white pebbles lapped by water of an extraordinary turquoise clarity, ideal for swimming and snorkelling in calm, sheltered conditions. The main Nissaki beach is well equipped, with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, tavernas at the water’s edge and boat-hire companies right on the shore, plus a small jetty for excursion boats. Its central location on the coast makes it a perfect launch point to explore the famous nearby coves of Kalami, Agni and Kerasia by boat, set out alongside the guides to Kalami and Agni Bay. The dining is excellent.
What is the dining and what activities are there?
Nissaki’s beachfront is dotted with well-regarded tavernas serving fresh local cuisine, with the famous foodie coves of Agni nearby. Water sports such as paddleboarding and jet skis run from Kaminaki and the main beach, and the Apollo dive centre is based at Nissaki harbour.
Good food and gentle activity fill the days. The area’s tavernas, set on the islet and along the coves, are well regarded for fresh, local cooking in lovely waterside settings, and the celebrated foodie bay of Agni, with some of the island’s finest seaside dining, lies just along the coast. On the water, paddleboarding, jet skis and other watersports operate from Kaminaki and the main Nissaki beach, while the Apollo diving centre operates from Nissaki harbour, exploring the clear reefs and walls of this coast. Boat trips and the coastal walks to the neighbouring coves complete the picture, set out alongside the guide to Corfu diving. One practical point is worth knowing.
What should you know before staying?
Nissaki is very spread out with steep hills, so a car is needed to reach the different beaches, hillside tavernas and shops comfortably. The steep gradients from the road down to the coves and up to the villas make it among the trickier resorts for those with mobility challenges.
Nissaki’s hillside setting shapes a stay here. Because the area is spread along the coast with accommodation, tavernas and supermarkets scattered across steep slopes, a car is really needed to get around comfortably, to reach the various beaches and hillside restaurants and to explore the rest of the north-east coast. The terrain is genuinely steep, with steep gradients from the road down to the coves and up to the villas and tavernas, which makes Nissaki less suitable for those with mobility difficulties or very young children needing pushchairs. For active visitors with a car, however, the beauty and tranquillity are ample reward, set out alongside the guides to Barbati and Corfu car rental. Getting there is easy by road.
How do you get to Nissaki?
You reach Nissaki in about 35 minutes by car from Corfu Town, around 22 kilometres north along the scenic coastal road, with parking near the beaches. Green Buses also serve the area, but the spread-out, hilly layout makes a hire car the most practical way to get around.
Nissaki is an easy drive from the capital. By car it is roughly 35 minutes north from Corfu Town and the airport, around 22 kilometres along the winding, scenic coast road through Barbati, which offers breathtaking sea views, with parking near the main beaches. Green Buses connect the area with Corfu Town and the north-east villages, but given how spread out and hilly Nissaki is, with beaches, tavernas and accommodation scattered along the slopes, a hire car is really the most practical way to enjoy a stay and explore the surrounding coves, set out alongside the guides to how to get to Corfu and a Corfu itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nissaki Corfu known for?
Nissaki is known for its tranquil setting and small, beautiful white-pebble coves with crystal-clear turquoise water on the north-east coast. Its name means “small island”, after the islet at its heart, and it makes a scenic base for reaching coves like Kalami and Agni.
Are Nissaki’s beaches sandy?
Nissaki’s beaches are pebbly, made of smooth white pebbles rather than sand, typical of the north-east coast. The water is exceptionally clear and turquoise, ideal for swimming and snorkelling, and water shoes help for comfort on the pebbles.
Do you need a car in Nissaki?
A car is really needed in Nissaki, as the area is spread out across steep hills, with beaches, tavernas and shops scattered along the slopes. The sharp inclines also make it less suitable for those with mobility challenges or pushchairs.