Pelekas Corfu is a picturesque hilltop village on the west coast, famous for Kaiser’s Throne, widely considered the island’s best sunset viewpoint, and for the golden sandy beaches of Kontogialos, Glyfada and Myrtiotissa just below. This guide covers the village, Kaiser’s Throne, the beaches and how to visit.
Pelekas blends traditional charm with breathtaking views, a highlight in the wider Corfu villages. It sits 13 kilometres west of Corfu Town. The sections below cover the village.
What is Pelekas village like?
Pelekas is a traditional, laid-back village perched on a west-coast hilltop amid olive groves, with whitewashed lanes, tavernas and a relaxed, bohemian feel. Famous for its sunsets and sweeping views, it makes a peaceful base close to some of Corfu’s finest sandy beaches.
Pelekas is the island’s sunset village. Set high on a hill some 13 kilometres west of Corfu Town, it looks out over olive groves and the open Ionian Sea, its narrow lanes lined with old houses, family tavernas, cafés and small guesthouses. The atmosphere is calm and a little bohemian, a place where traditional Corfiot life carries on against a backdrop of extraordinary views. Travellers come for the panoramas, the golden light and the easy access to the west-coast beaches just below, making it a favourite for those wanting scenery and quiet over resort bustle, set within the wider things to do in Corfu. Its crowning glory is Kaiser’s Throne.
What is Kaiser’s Throne?
A stone observation point at the highest part of Pelekas hill, Kaiser’s Throne is named after Kaiser Wilhelm II, who came here to watch the sunset. It offers a free 360-degree panorama over the whole island and is widely considered the best sunset spot on Corfu.
This famous viewpoint is the reason many visitors climb to Pelekas. The stone platform sits at the highest point above the village, where the German emperor Wilhelm II, who summered nearby, would come to admire the island, giving the spot its name. From the platform the view sweeps a full 360 degrees over the green interior, the west-coast beaches and the sea on both sides of the island, a panorama at its most magical as the sun sinks into the Ionian. The main viewpoint is free to enter, and a café-restaurant beside it serves drinks to enjoy with the show. It is rightly famous as the island’s premier sunset spot, set out alongside the guide to the best time to visit Corfu. The beaches lie close below.
What beaches are near Pelekas?
Near Pelekas lie some of Corfu’s best stretches of sand, among them Kontogialos, also called Pelekas Beach, an idyllic golden bay 1.5 kilometres below the village, plus the lively Glyfada and the wild, naturist-friendly Myrtiotissa. All sit within a short drive of the hilltop.
The village is a perfect base for west-coast beaches. Directly below, about 1.5 kilometres away, stretches Kontogialos, known as Pelekas Beach, a long, seemingly endless ribbon of golden sand with clear turquoise water and a scattering of rocks at one end, served by sunbeds and tavernas. A short drive north brings the popular, fully organised Glyfada with its beach bars, while to the south lies Myrtiotissa, a beautiful, secluded and partly naturist beach backed by cliffs and greenery, reached by a steep track. The variety of sand within minutes of the village is a major draw, set out alongside the guides to Glyfada beach and Corfu beaches. Getting to Pelekas is easy.
How do you get to Pelekas?
You reach Pelekas in about 20 to 30 minutes by car from Corfu Town, 13 kilometres west, the final climb offering previews of the view. The Blue Bus also serves the village from Corfu Town, though a car helps for reaching the beaches and lingering for sunset.
Pelekas is a short trip from the capital. By car it is roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive west from Corfu Town, the road climbing gently through the countryside with the panorama opening up on the final ascent, and there is parking in the village. A Blue Bus service connects Corfu Town with Pelekas, so the village can be reached without a car, though buses are limited in the evening, which matters if you want to stay for the celebrated sunset. A hire car gives the freedom to combine the village with the beaches below and to drive up for the sunset at your own pace, set out alongside the guides to how to get to Corfu and Corfu car rental. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Why visit Pelekas?
You visit Pelekas for the finest sunsets on Corfu from Kaiser’s Throne, the traditional hilltop village atmosphere, and the easy access to three superb beaches below. It combines scenery, charm and swimming, making it both a great base and a perfect half-day outing.
Pelekas packs a lot into a small hilltop. The free, sweeping views from Kaiser’s Throne, at their best as the sun sets, are reason enough to come, but the village adds relaxed tavernas, a genuine Corfiot atmosphere and a quiet alternative to the busy resorts. With Kontogialos, Glyfada and Myrtiotissa all within a short drive, it works equally well as a beach base or as a sunset stop on a wider tour of the west coast. Many visitors pair an afternoon on the sand with dinner and the sunset up at the viewpoint, set out alongside a Corfu itinerary. The answers above and below cover the essentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pelekas Corfu known for?
Pelekas is known for Kaiser’s Throne, a hilltop viewpoint named after Kaiser Wilhelm II and widely regarded as the best sunset spot on Corfu. The traditional village also gives easy access to fine west-coast beaches such as Kontogialos, Glyfada and Myrtiotissa.
Is Kaiser’s Throne worth visiting?
Kaiser’s Throne is well worth visiting for its free 360-degree panorama over the whole island and the sea, especially at sunset, when it is at its most spectacular. A café beside the viewpoint serves drinks, making it a perfect place to watch the sun go down.
How far is Pelekas from Corfu Town?
Pelekas is about 13 kilometres west of Corfu Town, a drive of roughly 20 to 30 minutes, with the view opening up on the final climb. A Blue Bus also connects the village with Corfu Town, though a car helps for reaching the beaches and staying for sunset.