Arillas

Arillas, Corfu

Arillas is a former small fishing village located in the northwest of the green island of Corfu. Arillas is bordered to the north by Cape Kefali and to the south by Cape Arilla with the mountain village Afionas and the twin bay Porto Timoni. The first tourists came to Arillas in the 1970s and so Arillas slowly developed into a small but popular tourist destination with mainly family-run guesthouses and smaller hotels as well as a multitude of mostly family-owned apartment houses with holiday apartments and studios. Meanwhile the pool villa tourism in Arillas is also increasing. Especially - but not only - for families with small children the very long, shallow natural sandy beach with crystal clear water is very popular. While the southern part of the beach often has pebbles in addition to fine sand and at the end has a fascinating steep coast, the middle and northern part of the beach has a beautiful fine sand beach, where you can go very far into the water and still stand.

Arillas is especially popular with German, British and Dutch tourists, but there are also more and more tourists from other countries. Due to the orientation of the bay to the west, you can watch the sunset in Arillas wonderfully between the offshore Diapotic Islands (including Gravia, Diaplo, Mathraki and Othoni). Arillas is known to some tourists as a nudist beach from earlier years, but the municipality has forbidden the use of the beach as a nudist beach, especially for economic reasons.

Sunbeds and parasols can be rented along almost the entire beach. There is also the possibility to rent motor boats, pedal boats and surfboards in the middle of the bay. At the jetty in the middle of the bay there are sometimes excursion boats. Here you can also buy tickets, e.g. to get to the island Gravia in front of the bay of Arillas. More information about water sports in Arillas can be found below on this website.

For your physical well-being in Arillas on Corfu there are several cafés, restaurants and bars, some of which are located along the promenade along the beach, but some also further inland. You can sit directly at the beach and look at the sea while eating in the typical Greek taverns Graziella, Vinceremo, Thalassa and Kostas on the Beach. During the day, it is especially worthwhile to go for a short hike to the Akrotiri Café, which is situated a little higher on Cape Kefali above the northern end of the beach, where you can relax wonderfully with relaxed music and enjoy the fantastic view to the sea with the offshore Diapontic Islands as well as to Arillas, Agios Stefanos and Afionas with a drink, breakfast or snack. After dinner you can enjoy some drinks and sometimes live music at the main access road to the beach in the centre of the village in the Coconut Bar near Kostas,  in the Malibu Bar or in the Ammos Beach Bar.

In Arillas itself there is a car rental with an integrated travel agency, some cash machines, supermarkets, a hairdresser and some souvenir shops as well as the "Corfu Beer" brewery. This is one of the reasons why the Corfu Beer Festival is held in Arillas every year at the end of September/beginning of October. In 2019 the Corfu Beer Festival will take place from 25.09.2019 - 29.09.2019. This year's motto is "Corfu meets Holland". In addition to beer, Arillas is now also known for yoga and meditation. Among other things, the Gayatri Mandir offers yoga classes, massages and alternative therapies.

Distances from Arillas to Corfu City, to the airport and ferry port of Corfu and to other places in the area

The holiday resort Arillas is about 33 km away from Corfu town (Kerkyra) with its ferry port. The distance from the international airport from Corfu (CFU) to Arillas, located 2 km south of the island capital Kerkyra, is approx. 35 km. Rental cars can also be hired at the airport. Furthermore numerous taxis offer a transfer from the airport to Arillas. The one-way taxi ride costs approx. 60,- EUR. Further information about the transfer can be found on the page "Transfer Airport Corfu (CFU) - Arillas and Afionas". A local rental car provider is also available:

  • Arillas Cars
    Location: On the main road to the beach in Arillas directly left behind the hairdressing salon "Hair Wizard"
    Phone: +30-26630-51401  

Leisure and sports activities in Arillas in Corfu

Arillas offers a wide range of leisure activities. Especially water sports, yoga and hiking are very popular.

Water sports offers in in Arillas:

The different water sports providers in the bay of Arillas rent out many different water sports equipment, such as motor boats and pedal boats as well as stand up paddling and wave boards. Excursions and private tours with skipper can be booked with several providers. Please ask for prices on site. It is recommended not to book the water sports activities in advance, but at short notice on site, because the weather conditions are decisive for whether water sports are possible or not. In Greece you can also rent or drive certain motor boats without a licence. You do not need a licence to drive a conventional motor boat with an output of up to 30 hp or an inflatable motor boat with an output of up to 15 hp.

  • Arillas Rent a Boat - In the north of the bay of Arillas
    • Motor boats (rental)
    • Pedal boats (rental)
    • Boat trips
      Mobile: +30-6936819564

  • Arillas Boat Hire & Watersport - near the place where the central main road meets the beach:
    • Stand Up Paddling
    • Waveboards (rental)
    • Water Skiing (rental)
    • Motor boats (rental)
    • Fishing
    • Water taxi
      Mobile: +30-693-7042097


Hiking Tours in Arillas and the surrounding area

From Arillas you can set out on beautiful hiking tours, northwards to Cape Kefali and Agios Stefanos, southwards to Afionas and Cape Arilla with the twin bays Porto Timoni and Agios Georgios Pagon (Pagi).

Of course we would be pleased if you could click on "Like" for our hiking trips in the komoot app or share the hiking tours with other Corfu tourists ;-)

Further leisure activities and sports facilities in Arillas are:

  • Beachvolleyball
  • Yoga courses
  • Massages
  • Alternative healing methods (e.g. Ayuverda)
  • Creative painting classes
  • Fishing
  • Sun bathing

Nearest major places of the bay Arillas in Corfu

  • Agros, approx. 9 km away (Agros has a medical centre and a pharmacy).
  • Sidari, about 9 km away.
  • Agios Stefanos, about 2,5 km away.
  • Agios Georgios Pagon (Pagi), approx. 4 km away.
  • Corfu town (Kerkyra), approx. 35 km away (sightseeing and shopping).