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A tall pink neoclassical house on the street at Pelekas, Corfu

Pelekas: a hill village, and a sunset with a name

Pelekas sits on the ridge above Corfu’s west coast, high enough to see both sides of the island on a clear day. It is a village rather than a resort: lanes, a square, tavernas, and rooms rather than large hotels.

An at a glance card for Pelekas. What it is: A hill village on the ridge. Above it: The Kaiser’s Throne lookout. Below it: Kontogialos and Glyfada. The view: Both sides of the island. Getting down: A steep road to the sand. One row is marked out as the thing that decides the visit. The conclusion reads: A village above two beaches, and a named sunset. No prices appear.
A village above two beaches, and a named sunset.

Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.

Above it stands the viewpoint known as the Kaiser’s Throne, named for Wilhelm II, who came up from the Achilleion to watch the sun go down from this hill.

The viewpoint

A short climb from the village brings you to a stone platform on the summit with a full circle of view: the west coast and its bays below, the island’s spine, and the sea on both sides.

It is a sunset spot with a car park, so it fills in season and empties fast afterwards. Come half an hour before rather than at the moment, and take a layer, because the ridge is breezy when the coast is not.

The beaches below

Two sandy bays sit under the village and are the reason many people stay here:

  • Kontogialos, sometimes called Pelekas beach, a wide sandy bay with organised sections.
  • Glyfada, the larger and busier of the pair, with full facilities.

Both are a steep drive or a long walk down from the village, and buses run in season. Note that this Glyfada is the Corfu one, not the Athens suburb of the same name.

Who it suits

Good for: people who want a village base with beaches nearby, walkers, and anyone who prefers a room with a view to a resort with a pool.

Less good for: those who want to step from the room onto the sand, since everything here involves the hill.

Last checked August 2026. Bus routes and seasonal facilities change - see our editorial policy.

Common questions

What is the Kaiser’s Throne in Corfu?

A stone viewing platform on the hill above Pelekas, named after Wilhelm II, with views across both sides of the island and a well-known sunset.

Which beaches are below Pelekas?

Kontogialos, also called Pelekas beach, and Glyfada, both sandy west-coast bays reached by a steep road down from the village.

Is Pelekas a good base in Corfu?

It suits travellers who want a village with tavernas and views, with beaches a short drive below rather than at the door.

How far is Pelekas from Corfu Town?

A short drive west across the island to the ridge above the coast, with seasonal buses.

Is the Corfu Glyfada the same as the Athens one?

No. They share a name only; the Corfu Glyfada is a west-coast beach below Pelekas.

Next

Read things to do in Corfu, best beaches in Corfu, or where to stay in Corfu.