Nisaki – quiet coast, boats and hiking trails

Nisáki is a quiet coastal village on the northeastern side of Corfu. Its harbour, rocky coastline and trails leading to ruins give the village several different facets: you can focus your holiday on time by the water, a boat trip or hiking. When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first consider which of these experiences you want to be at the centre of your stay.

Coast and boat trips

Nissaki Boat Rental states that it has been renting boats from the same location at the harbour of Nisáki for 30 years. After an introductory briefing, the boats are considered suitable for complete beginners. One suggested boat trip starts at the harbour, follows the coast north to Kassiopi and returns with stops at small beaches. Its direction and the route described for the return journey make this a specific way to experience the coast from the water.

You can also discover the rocky character of the coast from the beach: the stretch of shore on the left-hand side of Nisáki Beach is suitable for snorkelling. As conditions along the shore can vary, it is worth checking the situation locally. Boating and snorkelling thus offer two different perspectives on the waters around the village.

Trails to ruins and through the surrounding area

On the upper side of Nisáki, hiking trails lead to the ruins of Παλιές Σινιές, also known as Old Sinies. A circular hiking trail in the nearby area starts and ends in Kalami; its route passes through the northeast of the island. A section of the Corfu Trail in the nearby area changes from a largely level stretch with a view into a descent towards Katavolos and down to the sea at Kaminaki.

These routes differ in their course: on the circular route, both the starting point and the finish are in Kalami, while the described section of the Corfu Trail leads downhill from the level path with a view to the sea. The stone chapel of Saint Arsenios, accessible from the rocks, is also nearby. Check current access arrangements before visiting.

Corfu as a cultural horizon

Beyond Nisáki, Corfu offers its own cultural focus. The historic urban fabric of Corfu Old Town is almost completely preserved; its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Town and its two fortresses are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Museum of Asian Art in the Old Town houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia.

From Corfu Harbour, the museum can be reached by bus route 2 on the Mantouki–Kanoni route. Check the timetable before travelling. This makes it possible to contrast Nisáki’s quiet coastal character with a cultural itinerary of your own in the Old Town, without treating the two as the same focus.

Choose the right focus for your holiday apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment in Nisáki, the key question is whether a quiet coastal village suits your holiday and whether the harbour, beach or trails should shape your plans. If you are mainly interested in historic collections and urban heritage, you can plan Corfu Old Town as a separate part of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Glyfada, Katsimatika, Erikoussa, Sidari, Karoussades, Boukaris, Perivoli, Agios Stefanos.

Return to the main travel overview: Corfu.