Things To Do in Barbati

Barbati is often used as a base for walking holidays, thanks to its prime position at the foot of Mount Pantokrator. At 915m, this is the island’s highest mountain. You can walk to the top of it, though do take provisions, because it’ll take you about 7 hours. Your reward is views of Italy, but even lower down you’ll spot some of the 600 species of wildflower, along with the odd pine marten.

This classic, family-run taverna enjoys a central location, along with winning views over the sea and Corfu Town. The food is Greek and traditional – think grilled octopus, calamari, and excellent spanakopita or spinach pie. It’s friendly on the wallet, too – you can expect to pay around 20 euros a head for 2 courses, plus wine and tip.

It’s not just Greek performers who rush to play this annual showcase of concerts and theatre – they come from all over the world. The venues are the clincher – gigs take place in centuries-old buildings in Corfu Town, like the town hall and Liston. It’s your chance to see them close up, spot-lit in their full glory. Oh, and the classical-led line-up’s pretty good, too.

You’ve got a clutch of tavernas on the main road, as well as behind the beachfront. These serve up crowd-pleasers like pizza and fillet steak, along with more old-school Greek dishes like stifado – a meaty stew made with beef and shallots, and the delicious lamb kleftiko or stolen lamb – a melt-in-the-mouth, slow-cooked dish.

This hip, contemporary beach bar brings a touch of Ibiza to Barbati. During the day, you can have the waiters bring chilled Champagne to your lounger. Then later, when the sun goes down, head for the low-slung sofas and candlelit tables for a leisurely cocktail. And should you fancy eating, there’s a smart restaurant on the terrace.

You can pick up local souvenirs in the village, the most popular gifts being handmade ceramics and ornaments carved from the local olive wood. And when you want more choice, you can head into Corfu Town, where the old-town boutiques sell handmade lace and leather goods, along with tasty wild honey and fig cakes.

The watersports centre in the right-hand corner of the bay offers up plenty of scope for splashy fun, including waterskiing, banana boats and ringo rides. You’ve also got 2 boat rental stalls on the beach, and another at the travel agent’s in town. These will rent you a little motorboat so you can explore the coves along the coast under your own steam.