Pérama

Day Trips

Touch down in Pérama and settle into your seaside accommodation, breathing in the fresh Ionian breeze. Wander along the promenade to admire traditional fishing boats bobbing in crystal waters. Pause at a beachfront café for a rich Greek coffee and a slice of bougatsa as locals greet you warmly.

Set off on foot to explore the tranquil pebble beach, skimming smooth stones across the turquoise sea. Enjoy a light lunch of grilled octopus and fresh salad at a family-run taverna overlooking the water. Take a dip to cool off and sunbathe on the shore as the afternoon light dances on the waves.

Return to your hotel terrace for a sunset cocktail, watching golden hues spread across the bay. Dine at a waterfront taverna, sampling meze platters and Corfiot wine while local musicians play soft bouzouki tunes. End the night with a leisurely moonlit stroll along the glimmering shoreline.

Hop on a local bus to Gouvia Marina, tracing the village’s Venetian past through its elegant port buildings. Wander past sleek yachts and small fishing vessels, imagining maritime traders of centuries gone by. Savor a freshly baked spinach pie with a side of Greek yoghurt at a marina café.

Join a guided walk around the old shipyards and the nearby Venetian arsenal, where stone arches still stand. Pause for a light seafood lunch right on the dock, sampling mussels cooked in white wine and garlic. Explore hidden lanes lined with bougainvillea, discovering artisan shops selling olive-wood crafts.

Return to Pérama to freshen up before dinner. Choose a seaside restaurant and delight in grilled sea bream with lemon-rosemary potatoes. Cap the evening with a stroll under twinkling streetlights, stopping at a gelato stand for a cone of rich pistachio flavor.

Drive or take a taxi to the grand Achilleion Palace, built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Marvel at the neoclassical statues and peacocks roaming lush gardens overlooking the sea. Gaze at the intricate frescoes inside the palace, imagining aristocratic balls of the 19th century.

Descend into Gastouri village for lunch at a family-run taverna, enjoying moussaka and fresh village salad. Wander the narrow lanes, browsing small shops offering handmade ceramics and local honey. Climb to a hilltop viewpoint for a sweeping panorama of Corfu Town and the Ionian horizon.

Return to Pérama for an alfresco dinner near the seafront. Try traditional sofrito—tender veal in white wine sauce—paired with a crisp local rosé. Unwind on a waterfront bench, listening to gentle waves and distant church bells.

Catch the early bus to Kanoni to reach the famous Panagia Vlacherna Monastery. Hop on a tiny boat shuttle to Mouse Island (Pontikonisi) and photograph its postcard-perfect chapel amidst cypress trees. Enjoy a light snack of koulouri (sesame bread ring) while gazing at Corfu Town’s skyline.

Descend to nearby Mount Analipsi for lunch overlooking the runway of Corfu International Airport. Watch planes glide in low over olive groves as you sip a refreshing iced tea. Then, hike through fragrant pine forests toward hidden chapels etched into rocky cliffs.

Head back to Pérama for a sunset aperitivo on your balcony. Sample local cheeses and olives with chilled ouzo as the sky deepens to purple. Dine at a small family restaurant, sampling zucchini fritters and lamb kokinisto in a convivial atmosphere.

Embark on a small-group boat tour from nearby Agios Spyridon beach toward Paleokastritsa’s sea caves. Peer into emerald grottoes and swim beneath dramatic limestone arches. Snorkel above underwater rock formations teeming with colorful fish.

Disembark at Paleokastritsa bay for fresh grilled sardines and village salad at a cliffside taverna. Visit the Byzantine monastery perched above the shore, admiring its ancient icons and serene olive courtyard. Hike an olive-scented trail to hidden viewpoints over the Ionian Sea.

Return to Pérama and rest by the water’s edge. Enjoy an evening dip under a sky twinkling with stars. Treat yourself to a gelato at a beachfront gelateria, relishing flavors like bitter orange and chocolate swirl.

Drive into Corfu Town and wander through Liston arcade, inspired by Napoleon’s Rue de Rivoli. Sip a strong espresso at an outdoor café while watching early shoppers browse pastel-painted boutiques. Step into St. Spyridon Church to admire its baroque interior and glittering iconostasis.

Cross the moat to explore the majestic Old Fortress, climbing ramparts for sweeping harbor views. Enjoy lunch within the fortress walls, sampling local meat pies and tomato fritters. Stroll along cobbled streets of the Old Town, discovering hidden courtyards and street art.

Return to Pérama for a gourmet seaside dinner. Feast on fresh prawns saganaki in tomato sauce, paired with a chilled local white. Finish with loukoumades drizzled in honey as traditional folk tunes drift across the piazza.

Set off early to tackle the trail up Mount Pantokrator, Corfu’s highest peak, through cypress forests. Pause to admire wildflowers carpeting the slopes and the distant shimmer of the Albanian coast. Reach the summit chapel by late morning and relish panoramic views spanning Ionian islands.

Descend toward the quaint village of Pelekas for a tavern lunch of grilled lamb chops and fava bean purée. Explore stone houses clustered around a village square shaded by plane trees. Sip mountain tea with local honey as you chat with villagers about island traditions.

Head back to Pérama, stopping en route at a roadside bakery for kalitsounia (cheese pastries). Sunset finds you on your balcony, gazing at the sea’s shifting colors. Conclude the day with a light dinner of tomato and cucumber salad drizzled in olive oil.

Board an early departure boat from Gouvia to the dreamy islands of Paxos and Antipaxos. Glide past sheer cliffs with sea caves and hidden coves in brilliant turquoise. Disembark in Paxos port for a stroll among pastel houses and fishing boats.

Lunch in Lakka, sampling freshly caught fish grilled over olive wood and accompanied by local white wine. Sail onward to Antipaxos, anchoring in Voutoumi Bay for cliff jumping and swimming in glassy waters. Relax on a secluded beach while a picnic of local cheese, olives and bread awaits.

Return to Pérama by sunset, the boat’s wake glowing pink under the sky. Freshen up before dinner at a family-run taverna. Indulge in spinach-stuffed calamari and rice pudding spiced with cinnamon.

Visit a nearby olive mill to learn about centuries-old pressing techniques and sample multiple cold-pressed oils. Stroll groves heavy with silvery leaves and plump olives waiting to be harvested. Sip coffee under an ancient olive tree while farmhands demonstrate harvesting up close.

Join a hands-on cooking class in a rustic farmhouse, preparing classic dishes like spanakopita and briam. Roll phyllo dough, stamp ravioli shapes, and season everything with the fragrant local oil you just tasted. Sit down to a long, convivial feast, sharing stories with your new cooking partners.

Walk back to Pérama as dusk settles, smelling woodsmoke from village ovens. Treat yourself to a simple seaside dinner of grilled eggplant drizzled in local oil and lemon. Drink ouzo with ice while musicians pick a gentle tune on a nearby balcony.

Spend your final morning at the beach, nestling under a rented umbrella with a good book and a chilled lemonade. Take intermittent dips in the gentle surf, feeling the warm sun on your skin. Collect smooth pebbles and fragments of sea glass as mementos.

Enjoy a leisurely lunch at your favorite waterfront taverna, savoring the simple perfection of Greek village fare. Walk along the promenade one last time, greeting fishermen hauling in nets of sardines. Pack your bags slowly, lingering over each moment by the water.

Watch the sun melt into the Ionian Sea from your balcony, toasting your trip with a glass of retsina. Share a last plate of tzatziki, pita, and olives under a canopy of string lights. Drift off to the sound of lapping waves, already dreaming of your next return to Pérama.