Things To Do in Kavos

For some peace and quiet away from Kavos, you’ve got the pretty island of Paxos just half-an-hour away by boat. It’s got 3 villages, all within walking distance. Lakka is a tiny one, with narrow streets and olive groves to walk through. Loggos is all about the waterfront tavernas. And Gaois gives you Venetian-style buildings and chic boutiques.

Paxos is a pretty island just 30 minutes’ away by boat. On it there’s the village of Lakka, which has lovely olive groves to stroll through. And the other 2 villages here are easy to get to on foot – Gaois looks very Venetian and comes with chic boutiques, while Loggos has great little waterfront tavernas.

Amusing anecdotes and mother-in-law jokes are what you’ll get from The Rose Tree’s genial host, Dimitri. You’ll find him about 10 minutes’ walk from the main strip, along with a menu that takes in meze, tzatziki, fresh seafood and a rather popular lamb dish. Not only that, Dimitri will give you lots of on-the-house top-ups of wine, made from the grapes at his countryside vineyard, no less.

When you’re not snoozing on the beach, it’s all go on the activity front. You can ride a banana boat, feel the wind in your hair with a 75 mile-per-hour speedboat ride – or even get catapulted up into the air, if that’s your thing. And if you just fancy a walk along the sand, you’ve got cafés and bars to keep you company along the route.

With 8 kilometres of sand to go round, there’s plenty of space on Kavos Beach, and the watersports here are second to none. But if you fancy something altogether quieter, there’s a little-known beach about 2 kilometres away near Asprokavos. Here it’s just you and a very nice man who rents out deckchairs and sells you watermelons when you’re hungry.

Handily, most of the shops in Kavos are on the main strip, so you can pop in for more suntan lotion on your way to the beach. You’ve got a good quota of places here selling clothes, sports gear, local crafts and jewellery. And if you want to stock up on post-club snacks, the supermarkets have got it covered.

The party playground is on the main drag – the road that runs parallel to the beach. Not that you’ll need directions, you can just follow the crowd. The bars get things started with big drinks and even bigger sounds, and later – much later – the clubs take over. When you’re all foamed out, you might want to go and watch the sun rise over the beach. You won’t be the only one.

Right in the middle of the resort, this goliath of a club has 3 separate arenas to dance in. They’re into their themed parties here, so expect to dress up for the school disco. Wednesday is the big one, though – that’s when their famous Trinity club night brings in the likes of Dave Pearce and Scott Mills to really raise the roof.

You’ll find La Scala just off the main street behind Legends Bar. This is the bar where people come for a chilled-out drink without the thumping soundtrack. The seating’s comfy, the atmosphere laid-back – and some say they do the best cocktails in Kavos.

It’s always nice to hang out with the locals, and this annual religious festival seems like as good a time as any. You can join them on the streets to watch the procession, headed by the Bishop of Corfu, no less. As for the music, the philharmonic orchestra makes a change from Hed Kandi.

At this family-run Greek taverna, the owners take their food seriously. George catches the fish himself, while wife Sophie picks organic veg from the garden. You can taste the result for yourself with the fresh prawn salad, moussaka and souvlaki – meat grilled on a skewer. As for the well-priced wine, it comes from the couple’s own vineyard, of course.

Clothes, jewellery and souvenirs can all be found in the shops of Kavos, though many holidaymakers tend to include shopping in their daytrip to Corfu Town. The main street, Odos N. Theotoki, should see you right for leather goods, olive wood pieces, sculptures and one-off ceramics made by Greek artisans. Shops shut for siesta, but on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday they re-open ’til about 9.30pm.

Kavos plays to the Brit pack. Sunday roasts, Chinese stir-fry, Indian curry – you’ve got all the usual suspects at the cafés and restaurants in the resort. If you want a taste of traditional Greece, there are a few places serving up classics like sofrito – that’s slow-cooked veal. And if you’re in a hurry, the gyros – kebabs – give you fast food at its best.

Kavos keeps its holidaymakers well fuelled with curries, stir-fries and Sunday roasts. That said, there are a few traditional tavernas here that will become your second home. Expect friendly hosts along with Greek classics like moussaka, prawn-filled saganaki, and kleftico with lamb that near melts in your mouth.