Enchanting Cape Drastis | How To Get There & What To Expect

Cape Drastis is a breathtaking natural wonder, a hidden gem nestled in the rugged cliffs and turquoise waters on the northwestern corner of Corfu.

Its dramatic and awe-inspiring shapes are the result of centuries of wind and water erosion, resulting in a series of towering limestone formations that jut out from the sea like ancient sculptures.

Making it even better, it’s remote and mostly untouched by development, leaving only its picturesque, natural beauty and a panoramic view that seems straight out of a postcard.

Being remote, getting here is an adventure in itself. Not only do you go up and down narrow windy roads to reach the clifftop view overlooking the sea, if you want to explore the formation itself, you can only get there by swimming or by boat. Then you can climb around the sandstone cliffs and dive back into the sea. Visiting and exploring Cape Drastis is definitely worth the effort. Especially if you’re in the northwestern part of Corfu.

This post covers Cape Drastis (or Akra Drastis in Greek), how to get here, and what to expect.

Cape Drastis

Cape Drastis is one of the top landscape features in Greece and in my humble opinion, the most beautiful in Corfu. The unique terraced, cliff formations have such an unusual shape, you can’t help but stare. And the white cliffs look so mesmerizing against the turquoise and blue waters, it’s a striking contrast of colors.

The formation is most beautiful from the clifftop viewpoint above, not far from the parking area in the dirt nearby. You immediately want to scramble down to see it closer, yet access is limited from land.

There is a bumpy dirt road down to a small cove of terraced sandstone, but you can’t see the formation from there. You need to swim or take a boat to see the formations as they’re around the corner. This is just a broad overview…I’ll get into more detail on exactly how to visit below.

How To Get To Cape Drastis

Cape Drastis is located in Peroulades, about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Canal d’ Amour and about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Corfu Town. You can drive or take the green bus from either. If you’re coming from Sidari, it’s close enough to walk.

Self Drive

If you arrive via car, follow GPS until you see the signs for Cape Drastis. As you get closer, you’ll find yourself on a narrow, windy, paved road. When you get close to the peak near the formation, you’ll see an area in the dirt where you can park. You’ll see the deep blue sea looming behind it. There will likely be other cars and people here, so it’s hard to miss.

Bus

To visit by bus from Corfu Town to Sidari, take the green bus from Corfu Town to Agios Stefanos, but exit at the Peroulades Village. Ask the bus driver, or watch your GPS to find the bus stop in the center of Peroulades. Then walk, following your GPS until you reach the parking area at Cape Drastis noted above. The walk from the bus stop to the viewpoint is about 15 minutes. Much of it uphill.

The link for the bus schedule from Corfu is above. The schedule from Sidari to Agios Stefanos will be posted inside the bus stop in the center of Sidari across from Mediterraneo Restaurant. It’s the continuation of the bus from Corfu town, but this is the only way to get the time it will arrive in Sidari.(note that these buses are not always on time).

The bus from Corfu Town will take about an hour and a half, while the bus from Sidari will take about 20-minutes.

When I was here, there were four routes per day during the week, three on Saturday, and none on Sunday. This varies through the year, however, and schedules are not always posted in advance, so check the latest schedules at the Green Bus Terminal in Corfu Town when you arrive. As there are few buses, trying to time one to get back is challenging.

Walk

As this formation is only about 2.5 miles (4 km) from Canal d’ Amour in Sidari, you can also walk. The walk will take about an hour. If you use maps.me, you can download the map in advance and navigate trails wifi free to get there. The path takes you partly along the road, then cuts in, following trails closer to the coast. I took the bus, so am not sure of the exact details…

Boat

You can also visit Cape Drastis via boat from Sidari. You can either hire someone to take you or you can rent your own boat for the ultimate freedom. Interestingly, you do not need a boat license to drive a small boat in Greece (under 30hp). They will give you a quick lesson.

The downside to this is that you will miss the incredible views from the clifftop unless you park your boat and hike up. The up side if you arrive via your own boat is that you’ll have the freedom to jump off the boat and climb around on the formations, which you may not be able to do with a guided boat. For those that are very adventurous, you can climb them and cliff jump into the sea.

First Viewpoint

The first viewpoint is not of Cape Drastis, but a very dramatic view of the rocks and water below the clifftop here, as well as the rocky coast heading towards Loggas Beach to the south.

The walkway to this viewpoint is before the parking area noted above. You’ll see a narrow dirt path along the grass off to your left. Follow that up and around (carefully!) for the following views.

The first view is straight down at the edge.

Then you can walk along the cliff towards the south to see the coast along the way to Loggas Beach. You can’t see them in my photo, but there are also small beaches to explore at the base of these cliffs that can only be reached by boat.

Be super careful as you get close to the edge as there is no railing! Plus, you never know if, or when, some ground near the edge may give way. I would NOT bring small children or pets here for safety reasons!!!

Postcard Viewpoint

After the first viewpoint, head back towards the parking area and follow the path to the edge of the clifftop for the postcard view.

I think the mountains in the distance are Albania.

Walk To The Sea

From what I call the “postcard” viewpoint, follow the dirt road over and down the steep hill to the sea. They say if you have a 4 x 4 you can drive, but I think it’s safer to walk as the road is pretty rutted.

The walk down is relatively easy, but remember that unless you take a boat back to Sidari from the bottom, you need to walk back up the steep hill.

Gravas Cove

At the bottom of the dirt road, you’ll come upon the small, terraced sandstone area by the sea called Gravas Cove. I have heard that in bad weather this cove may be closed, but am not sure if that means high winds, high waves, or what. Regardless, it’s best to visit in calm weather anyway.

The cove area is pretty small and can feel a bit crammed if there are a lot of people down here (which there usually are). You also cannot see the formation from here. The view in the photo below is pretty much all there is (except with lots of people).

From here, if you’re a great swimmer, you can swim to the formations. If not, there are usually boats tours available (below).

FYI. This little cove is very basic, with no facilities, and no food or drinking water.

Boat Tours

In September 2023 the small boat shown below offered tours around the Cape Drastis formations for 20€. They also offered tours around Canal d’ Amour for 20€, and tours of both for 30€.

If you want them to drop you off at Sidari Beach, you can also ask for that. If you walked here or took the bus from Sidari, this is the best way to get back! This way you don’t need to walk back up the steep hill or try to time the bus back.

If you want to book your tour in advance, I recommend this 2 hour rental/tour: Corfu Boat Rental with or without Skipper. It’s on a 30hp boat, so you do not need a license to power it yourself…or chose the skippered option.

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Where To Stay

Sidari

Most people visiting Cape Drastis stay in Sidari, combining it with Canal d’ Amour

Budget

• I stayed at Sidari Vibes On The Beach, which is a 25-minute walk east of Canal d’ Amour. It has a patio and a kitchenette just across the street from the beach. The owner is easy to communicate with and everything was clean and comfy. Honestly, I would have preferred to stay closer to Canal d’ Amour, but I booked at the last minute, so the closer options below were not available.

Affordable To Moderate

• Socrates Apartments are just a few steps away from Canal d’ Amour. This 3-star hotel has an outdoor pool, a garden, a shared lounge, and rooms with ocean and pool views.
• Located just a few minutes walk from Canal d’ Amour, Akron Seascape Resort offers all-inclusive accommodations with an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a garden. Each room at this 4-star hotel has pool views.
• Del Mare Beach Hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Canal d’ Amour. It offers studio apartments with furnished balconies that have views of the sea or the pool. There is also kitchenware and electric kettles. 
• Featuring garden views, My Corfu Luxury Villa offers self-catered 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartments with a private pool, a garden, a fully equipped kitchen, and barbecue facilities. It is located further away from Canal d’ Amour, about an 8-minute drive, although it looks luxurious, and quiet, and gets exceptional reviews. Bicycle and car rentals are available. This one is a bit more expensive, in the moderate range, but worth it if you want to avoid the touristy areas closer to Canal d’ Amour.

Avliotai

I’m adding this option, which is south of Peroulades, as these units overlooking the ocean look stunning.

Affordable

• Villa Ocean Breeze is on the west coast of Corfu in Avliótai (south of Peroulades). It features stunning sea views, balconies, and your own kitchen, 2 miles (3 km) south of Cape Drastis, about an hour walk or 15-minute drive. If I had a car, this is where I would have stayed as it looks stunning and not touristy.

Best Time To Visit Cape Drastis

The best time temperature-wise to visit Cape Drastis is May through September when days are sunny and warm. This is also when swimming temperatures will be most comfortable, even though deep summer can be hot and humid. Note that bus schedules may be limited in June and a September as they are considered fringe season.

Gravas Cove may be closed when wind and or waves are high, so if your plan is to explore the formation at sea level, choose calmer days. This just makes sense if you plan to boat or swim anyway. High wind and waves, however, could be very dramatic visually from the viewpoint.

The best time of day for striking photos of Cape Drastis is in the afternoon or close to sunset. As the formation is on the west coast and the clifftop viewpoint is directly south of it, it looks best when it’s hit by afternoon light (otherwise it will be in shadow). And although the setting sun will not be in your photo, the colorful skies that accompany sunset would make stunning photos.

Want More of Greece?

Greece is amazing! And with over 200 inhabited islands there’s so much to see. Here are my favorites along with some stories along the way.

Mainland Greece

• Top 20 Things To Do In Amazing Athens | A Complete Guide
• Visiting The Clifftop Monasteries Of Meteora
• Teaching Yoga At A Refugee Camp In Serres Greece

Corfu

• Best Things To Do In Corfu Old Town
• Things To Do In Sidari: Must-see Canal d’ Amour and More
• Top Things To Do In Pretty Paleokastrista
• Top 12 Things To Do In Captivating Corfu

Crete

• Top Things To Do In Crete
• Balos Bay Beach And Gramvousa Island, Crete
• Day Trip To Elafonisi Island, Crete
• Hiking Samaria Gorge, Crete

Ios

• Top 15 Things To Do On Ios Island 

Kefalonia

• Exploring Enchanting Myrtos Beach & It’s Stunning Viewpoints
• Complete Guide To Charming Fiskardo
• How To Get To Melissani Cave & What To Expect
• Colorful Assos Village, It’s Castle & Turquoise Bay
• The Enigmatic Sinkholes Of Argostoli
• Best Things To Do In Argostoli | Top Attractions & Hidden Gems
• Ultimate Guide To The Best Things To Do In Kefalonia

Naxos

• Top 20 Things To Do In Naxos  

Milos

• What To Do On The Cool Island Of Milos

Paros

• 15 Fun Things To Do On Enchanting Paros 

Santorini

• Hiking From Fira To Oia On Santorini

Zakynthos

• How To Get To Stunning Shipwreck Beach on Zakynthos
• Spotting Turtles in Zakynthos And Visiting Turtle Island
• Myzithres Viewpoint & Beach | Hidden Gem of Zakynthos
• Visiting Zakynthos | What To Do & Where To Stay

Other

• Philotimo, The Highest Greek Virtue
• Gorgeous Old Doors Of Greece

For an overview of all the best places in Greece, as well as how to get around, safety, tips, and more, see my Greece Travel Guide.

Safe Travels!

Julie