Things To Do in Glyfada

Soft, sandy Glyfada Beach is real bucket-and-spade territory. When you’ve finished fashioning a sandcastle, the watersports centre here can set you up with anything from easy-paced pedalos to the more ramped-up jet-skiing and paragliding. And if you’ve got a head for heights, the nearby rocks are a top spot for cliff-jumping.

This family-owned, beachfront taverna has been dishing up meals here for decades – so they’ve pretty much got the hang of things. The menu comes loaded with Corfiot specialities like sofrito – beef cooked in a garlic and parsley sauce – and stifado, a rather tasty stew. If you’re more into fish, this place also serves up a good freshly-netted selection.

About 15 minutes from Glyfada, you’ve got the Aqualand waterpark in Agios Ioannis. The place packs in favourites like the Twister, Kamikaze and Black Hole, plus there are kid-sized slides and a bouncy castle. If you need a break from the action, they’ve laid on free sunbeds and umbrellas, while the fast-food restaurant sorts you out for food.

Glyfada has a full line-up of watersports. Pedalos and canoes are up for hire, or you can take things a bit faster with waterskiing and jetskiing. For real daredevils, there’s also the option of diving off the rocks out to sea – if you want to really show off, the highest jump point is over 40 foot high.

Legend has it that the 14^th-century Monastery of the Blessed Virgin in Mirtiottissa was built after a monk had a vision which led him to the site, where he found a cave with a cross and an icon of the Virgin Mary. Today, you can look around the monastery’s ancient icons and wall paintings, then buy fresh herbs grown in the surrounding forest. It’s quite a tough 1-kilometre climb to get there – and you might need to ring the church bell to get in.

Nightlife in Glyfada is something that mainly happens in the hotels – otherwise it’s a matter of watching a beautiful sunset, then enjoying a quiet ouzo at a beachfront bar. Nearby Pelekas has more of a party atmosphere, or you might want to go into Corfu Town for the buzzy rooftop bars at The Esplanade.

This open-sided beach bar is the liveliest in the resort, attracting a crowd of reps and trendy young locals. It’s all about cold beers, cocktails and chilled tunes ’til around 5pm when the music revs up for a bit of dancing. You won’t be having a late one here, though – the place closes up about 9.30pm

In Glyfada, they don’t go in for big party nights. Your hotel will probably have something lively going on, but beyond that the place is about as laidback as it gets. Which is exactly how the holidaymakers here like it, mind. It’s all about relaxing over an ouzo or the local Metaxa brandy at one of the beachfront bars.

Rock, folk and soul are on the playlist at the annual Agiotfest over at Agios Ioannis, about 20 minutes from Glyfada. You’re welcome to bring your own picnic, though there’s plenty of food and Corfu beer here if you want it. Entry is 20 euros, and children go half price. You can buy tickets at www.agiotfest.co.uk

European-style buffets at the hotels and fast-food snack places on the beach are just part of the dining story at Glyfada. If moussaka is more your thing, try the small portfolio of waterfront tavernas that serve up Corfiot specialities like briami, made with aubergine, potatoes and courgettes. For more local dishes, Pelekas – about 10 minutes’ drive up the hill – has a good selection of eating places.

On the food front, the hotels have it covered for European-style buffets. If you fancy a bit more local taste, though, you’ve got a handful of beachfront tavernas to help you out. These places serve up really traditional Corfiot dishes like the popular moussaka and the less well known – but equally tasty – briami, a veggie dish made with aubergine, potatoes and courgettes.

Glyfada has a couple of supermarkets and there are a few places near the beach where you can pick up souvenirs. Neighbouring Pelekas gives you a bit more choice if you’re on the hunt for ceramics, leather and lace, or if you want boutiques then Corfu Town is the nearest option – shops shut at 2pm, but on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays they open again between 5pm and 9pm.