Things To Do in Moraitika

The main strip along Moraitika’s coast road is crammed with bars, tavernas, and restaurants. There’s something for everyone, with fast-food outlets and pizzerias fighting for their place alongside traditional Greek favourites. The locally prepared seafood is the star of the show, though. It’s delivered net-fresh from the fishermen who haul their catch in from the Messonghi River.

Moraitika has never been one of Corfu’s wilder spots, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its fair share of lively bars and clubs. They open late, and rarely close until the sun stirs from its slumber. Early evenings, meanwhile, tend to be spent nursing a Greek frappé or a bottle or 2 of Mythos beer in the quiet tavernas and wine bars sprinkled along the front.

Easter is a big deal in Corfu and warrants a huge festival. On Good Friday, the churches in Moraitika bring out their funeral biers and parade them around the parish to the sound of an orchestra and choir. On Holy Saturday, the locals throw pots out of their windows to mark the first resurrection. Later on, there’s a huge fireworks display and marching bands travel the streets.

Moraitika’s strip is well-stocked with supermarkets, and clothes and tourist shops. Jewellery, leather goods, and olive-wood sculptures are particularly good buys. The options stack up further afield in Corfu Town, the Venetian-style capital. It’s a 30-minute drive away and has so many boutiques and market stalls selling the likes of ceramic knick-knacks and handmade needlework that it’s impossible to single any out.

The town’s sandy beach is a long sand-and-shingle affair, tickled by the warm, shallow waters of the Med. It’s a good spot for families with young children. When you’re ready to let off a little steam, there are watersports and a waterslide on tap, while a scuba diving centre caters for both experienced divers and those wanting to learn. Boat trips also leave from Moraitika pier for tours around the island and to Paxos further south.