Ipsos Holidays

Ipsos is Corfu's brilliant all-rounder – a lively east coast resort that delivers lush beaches, buzzing nightlife, and dramatic mountain views without breaking the bank.

Good to Know

• ☀️ Weather - Summer highs of 27-32°C with around 11 hours of sunshine daily. The sea hits 25°C by August. Barely any rain from June to September.

• 💶 Money - A meal for two with wine at a taverna runs €20-€35. A beer is €3-€4, a coffee €2-€3. Sunbeds are around €8-€10 per pair. One of the better-value resorts on Corfu.

• 🏔️ Fun Fact - The Battle of the Straits of Corfu happened right off the coast here in 1798, when a joint Russian and Ottoman fleet attacked French-held Corfu. You can't see any evidence of it now (the sea is too busy being gorgeous), but the bay you're swimming in has proper historical pedigree.

Highlights of your Holidays to Ipsos

• Blue Flag beach - A 1.5km stretch of pebbles and shingle (bring beach shoes) along a sheltered east coast bay, with shallow, calm water perfect for families.

• Proper nightlife - One of the few Corfu resorts outside Kavos with a genuine late-night scene, including bars, cocktail lounges and clubs open until the early hours.

• Mount Pantokrator backdrop - Corfu's highest peak (906m) rises dramatically behind the resort, with hiking trails and traditional hill village tavernas at the top.

• Brilliant value - Taverna meals, beer prices and accommodation are noticeably cheaper than the south coast resorts, without feeling budget.

• Watersports hub - Jet skiing, parasailing, paddleboarding, banana boats and a dive school operating from the harbour.

Where to Stay in Ipsos

Ipsos stretches along the coast road for about 1.5km, with a distinct feel depending on where you plant yourself. The strip runs north to south along the bay, and the quieter Analipsis area sits inland on the hillside behind.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Southern end of the strip is the calmest part of the beach with the shallowest water, and it's closer to the harbour and the family-friendly tavernas. Hotels here tend to be set back slightly with pools and gardens.

• Analipsis (inland) is the hillside area behind the main strip, quieter and greener with more space. A few minutes' walk down to the beach, and the self-catering apartments up here tend to have better views and bigger pools. Great if you want the beach by day and peace by night.

💑 Couples

• Mid-strip puts you right in the middle of everything, walking distance to the best bars, restaurants and the liveliest stretch of beach. The smaller boutique-style properties sit along this section.

• Southern harbour end is more romantic, with harbourside seafood restaurants and a slightly slower pace than the main bar strip further north.

🎉 Groups

• Northern end of the strip is where the nightlife concentrates, with Dirty Nellies, the cocktail bars and the late-night clubs clustered along the coast road. Stay here and you're walking distance from everything that matters after dark.

🏨 What are the top Hotels in Ipsos?

Ipsos has a handful of properties covering families, couples and self-catering. For a wider selection, see all hotels in Corfu.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Yannis Hotel. Set in 15 acres of gardens about 150m from the seafront, with an outdoor pool, separate kids' pool and a mix of room types including family options. Three-star comfort with a friendly, relaxed feel and free parking.

• Ipsos Beach. Right on the bay with sea views from the balconies, an outdoor pool with paddle pool for kids, a playground and a youth exercise area. The beach-and-pool combo means you're never short of options.

• Dominoes Apartments. In the quieter Analipsis area, this family-run complex has two large pools, peaceful gardens and a properly relaxed pace. Budget-friendly and walking distance to the beach. Good pick for families who want space and quiet.

💑 Couples

• Corfu Secrets Hotel. A smaller property blending classical style with modern comfort, a short walk from Ipsos Beach and surrounded by bars, restaurants and shops. The kind of base where you can roll out of dinner into a cocktail bar without getting in a taxi.

• Paradiso Aparthotel. Self-catering apartments with kitchenettes, an outdoor pool and sun terrace. About 600m from the beach with supermarkets and restaurants nearby. Good for couples who want to cook breakfast on the balcony and eat out in the evening.

🎉 Groups

• Corfu Secrets Hotel. Right in the middle of the action and a short walk from the bars, clubs and Dirty Nellies. The central location means nobody's getting a taxi home, and the rooms are comfortable enough to recover in the next morning.

• Paradiso Aparthotel. Self-catering apartments with kitchenettes keep the food bill down, the pool area is sociable, and it's close enough to the strip to be convenient without being above a nightclub. Good value base for a group week.

• Yannis Hotel. The 15 acres of gardens and big pool area give a group plenty of space during the day, and it's 150m from the seafront strip for evenings. Three-star pricing that won't cause arguments over the group budget.

👉 All hotels in Ipsos

What are the top beaches to visit on your holidays to Ipsos?

• Ipsos Beach - A 1.5km stretch of pebbles and shingle with Blue Flag status, running along the sheltered east coast bay. Shallow, calm water good for families at the southern end, with organised sunbed sections and beach bars along the strip. Water shoes recommended for the entry. The northern end is livelier and closer to the bars.

• Barbati Beach - A short drive north, Barbati has crystal-clear turquoise water (the pebble seabed means exceptional visibility), a Blue Flag beach and a quieter, more upmarket feel. Excellent snorkelling.

• Dassia Beach - The next bay south, with a longer, more varied beach and more beach club options. Easy to reach by bus or a short drive.

Local Lingo

Greek is the language, and while English is widely spoken in Ipsos (it's a popular resort with returning visitors), the locals appreciate a few words. Corfu's dialect has Italian influences from centuries of Venetian rule, so you'll hear the odd Italian-sounding word creep in.

• Yassou, YAH-soo (Γειά σου), Hi (the casual one, use it everywhere)

• Efharisto poli, ef-hah-ree-STOH poh-LEE (Ευχαριστώ πολύ), Thank you very much

• Mia bira parakalo, MEE-ah BEE-rah pah-rah-kah-LOH (Μία μπίρα παρακαλώ), A beer please (you'll use this one a lot in Ipsos)

• Yamas, YAH-mas (Γειά μας), Cheers

• Poso kani, POH-soh KAH-nee (Πόσο κάνει;), How much is it?

• Kali nichta, kah-LEE NEEKH-tah (Καλή νύχτα), Goodnight (for when you finally leave Dirty Nellies)

🌊 Top Things to Do in Ipsos

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Ipsos Beach morning - The southern end of the beach is calmest, with shallow water for paddling and sunbed hire. Get there before 10am for the best spots, and the beach bars do snacks and ice cream all day.

• Aqualand Water Park - One of Greece's biggest, about 30 minutes' drive near Agios Ioannis. Slides for all ages, lazy river, wave pool. A full day out that justifies the entrance fee.

• Boat trip from the harbour - Small boats and organised trips run from Ipsos harbour to the quieter coves north along the coast towards Barbati and Nissaki. Kids love being on the water, and the swimming stops are in crystal-clear bays.

• Corfu Town day trip - About 45 minutes by bus (the number 7 runs regularly), the UNESCO-listed Old Town has two fortresses, the Spianada Square (supposedly there's a cricket pitch on it, which is proper weird for Greece), and enough ice cream shops to keep everyone happy.

💑 Couples

• Sunset drinks on the strip - The beachfront bars face east so you don't get the sunset over water, but the golden light on Mount Pantokrator behind is gorgeous. Grab a cocktail and watch the mountain turn pink.

• Mount Pantokrator drive - Take the winding road up through the hill villages of Spartilas, Strinilas and Petalia. Stop for lunch at a traditional taverna with views across the whole island, then continue to the summit monastery at 906m.

• Corfu Town evening - The Old Town in Corfu Town is atmospheric after dark, with candlelit restaurants in the Venetian backstreets, rooftop bars overlooking the fortresses, and live music on the Liston arcade.

• Boat to Barbati and Nissaki - Hire a small motorboat from the harbour and explore the northeast coast at your own pace. The coves between Ipsos and Kassiopi have some of the clearest water on the island.

🎉 Groups

• The strip after dark - Ipsos has Corfu's liveliest bar scene outside Kavos. Dirty Nellies is the anchor (draught Guinness, free shots, sports on the screens), with cocktail bars and clubs strung along the seafront road that keep going until the early hours.

• Watersports circuit - Jet skis, parasailing, banana boats and paddleboards are all available from the beach. Spend the morning on the water, the afternoon on the sunbeds, the evening at the taverna, the night at the bar. Repeat.

• Mount Pantokrator quad bikes - Hire quads and ride the mountain road through the villages. The views get better with every switchback, and the tavernas at Strinilas do massive portions at village prices.

• Day trip to Paleokastritsa - About 45 minutes across the island, the west coast's most dramatic stretch of coastline with six turquoise coves, a clifftop monastery and boat trips into sea caves.

🏖️ Nearby Resorts

Dassia – Just a 10-minute walk south along the coast, Dassia has a long shingle beach and lively atmosphere. Popular with younger couples and groups, with easy access to Ipsos' nightlife too.

Gouvia – About 5km south towards Corfu Town, this upmarket resort centres around a swanky yacht marina. Great restaurants, Venetian shipyard ruins, and a cosmopolitan vibe.

Nissaki – Head north for quieter coves and crystal-clear waters. A series of small pebbly bays backed by olive groves – perfect for snorkelling and a more peaceful escape.