Gouvia Corfu

holiday report and Gouvia beach map

Gouvia Corfu

GOUVIA Corfu is about 8km north of Corfu Town and located off the main highway that runs to the popular beach holiday resorts of Ipsos and Dassia.
There are signs to Gouvia on the six-lane highway that forms a sort of inland boundary to the resort. Gouvia is on the right as you head north, down some narrow lanes that came as quite a shock after the wide, fast road that runs up the Corfu coast.
The roads leads right down to Gouvia beach but drivers will find parking at the beach well nigh impossible. It is best to leave the car of the roadside before reaching the Gouvia resort proper.
Gouvia is dominated by the huge Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel complex but there are any number of hotels and apartments in Gouvia and a wide range of restaurants here, most of them cheap and cheerful and aimed squarely at the lower end of the tourist market. For Greek food and a decent menu you may need to head inland and away from the Gouvia beach area.
Gouvia is located in a flat area with no hills to speak of. Although there are plenty of shops they are aimed at the tourist trinket market and Gouvia sadly lacks for Greek island character.
Gouvia beach is mostly pebbles and shingle with a little sand here and there. The water is shallow and there are the usual watersports you expect on a crowded beach. Swimmers are well advised to take care of the passing speedboats and jet skis. Beachside cafes and tavernas provide toilet facilities.
Gouvia has grown on the back of its very large marina, which you would normally expect to result in oil slicks and dirty water but the sea is reasonably clean, although it has yet to get a Blue Flag.
There is little natural shade on Gouvia beach, despite plenty of trees along the streets sited further inland. Transport links are good with regular buses heading both north and south out of Gouvia and plenty of taxis.