Interview with a Family Traveling with a Young Child – Corfu

In early June 2025, just before the summer rush, Kinga, her husband, and their little son set off to explore the Greek island of Corfu. They spent a sunny week by the sea and came home full of useful insights. In this interview, they share their experience with accommodation, transport, child-friendly beaches, dining, local prices, and fun activities ideal for families with young children. If you’re planning a trip to Corfu with your little one, you’ll find plenty of practical tips in this post!

Basic Information

How long did you stay in Corfu, and how old was your child at the time?
We spent one week in Corfu with our 4-year-old son, from June 3 to June 10, 2025.

Why did you choose Corfu as your destination?
The main reason was the price—we found a great deal we simply couldn’t pass up. Several of our friends had been to Corfu and highly recommended it. The timing worked out perfectly: we had time off, and we wanted to escape the usual rainy, cool German June weather. We didn’t have a specific destination in mind—we just wanted something by the sea, affordable, and sunny. Corfu checked all the boxes.

Weather and Seasonal Experience

What was the weather like in early June?
We had beautiful weather the entire time! Not a single cloudy day. Daytime temperatures were over 28°C, and evenings were pleasantly mild—no sweaters needed, just pure summer vibes.

What was the sea temperature like? Was it enjoyable for a young child?
Absolutely! The water was around 22°C and felt great—not cold at all. Our son loved splashing around every day.

Were the beaches and towns crowded?
Since early June is still considered pre-season, there were no crowds. We easily found sunbeds each day. Even at more popular spots, like city centers or famous beaches, the atmosphere was lively but never overwhelming.

Travel and Transportation

How did you get to Corfu, and how was the journey with a young child?
We flew directly from Memmingen, Germany. The flight took just 90 minutes, which our son really enjoyed. He even fell asleep on the way there, as our flight departed at 6 a.m. Our return flight was at 9:40 a.m., so both trips worked out well timing-wise.

Did you rent a car? Was it easy to get around the island?
Yes, we rented a car through qeeq.com, as recommended by a friend. Overall, getting around was fine, but it’s worth noting that the northwestern part of Corfu, where we stayed, has very winding roads. The region is quite hilly, so a 10 km drive could easily take 25–30 minutes. The smaller roads were in rough shape, with potholes—sometimes our car scraped the ground. Major roads were much better maintained. Tip: if your child gets carsick easily, bring travel sickness remedies!

How was parking? Did you find free or paid options?
In Corfu Town, parking was paid, but since we arrived in the morning, we found a spot easily. Our hotel had a free private parking lot, so that was convenient. Most places offered free parking, except at some busy tourist sites. For example, parking at Porto Timoni Beach was 9 euros for a full day. In Sidari, parking was paid, but we found free spots a few streets away by being a bit creative.

Accommodation

What kind of place did you stay at?
We stayed at Alkyon Beach Hotel in Agios Georgios Pagon, which we booked through Booking.com. It was a beachfront hotel with breakfast included, an adult pool, and a separate children’s pool. The breakfast was delicious and varied—every morning we found something we liked.

Was the accommodation family-friendly?
Very much so. It had a relaxed atmosphere, a safe pool area, and helpful staff—ideal for families with small children.

Was the accommodation stroller-friendly?
Our son no longer uses a stroller, but we did see several families with strollers, and the hotel and surrounding area seemed accessible enough.

Beach Experience with a Child

Which beaches did you visit, and which would you recommend for families with young kids?
We visited several lovely beaches, but three stood out as especially family-friendly:

  • Agios Georgios Pagon (where we stayed): This beach has small pebbles at the entrance and finer ones as you go deeper. Water shoes are highly recommended.
  • Arillas: Classic family beach—sandy, gently sloping, calm waters. Perfect for little ones.
  • Agios Stefanos: A long, wide sandy beach that’s also great for kids.

What about Sidari?
Sidari is more popular, so it’s best to go early. The famous spots like Canal d’Amour can get crowded even in the off-season.

Was there shade, shallow water, and soft sand?
There were plenty of shallow, sandy beaches. Natural shade was limited, but you could rent umbrellas or sit in the shade of beachfront bars.

Any tips for sunbed rentals?
Prices vary even between neighboring spots, so it’s worth asking around. One place charged 8 euros for a sunbed, umbrella, and included a liter of ice water!

Any beaches with free sunbeds?
Yes—at one beach with more seaweed, the sunbeds were free as long as you ordered something from the nearby taverna.

Were there shaded or quiet spots for midday rest?
Yes, we managed to stick to our son’s usual nap routine. We either found shady areas or headed back to the hotel. At quieter beaches, renting a sunbed with an umbrella gave us a perfect spot to relax.

Were there toilets, showers, restaurants nearby?
Yes, most bars let you use their toilets and showers if you rented a sunbed. We didn’t actively look for public restrooms since we always stayed close to a bar or taverna.

Dining

Did you mostly eat out, or cook as well? Was it easy to find kid-friendly food?
We ate out every day since we didn’t have a kitchen. Luckily, we easily found child-friendly meals everywhere.

Any restaurants you’d recommend for families with kids?

  • Mythos Restaurant in Agios Georgios Pagon: right on the beach, great seafood, and reasonable prices. We had a full seafood dinner (fish, mussels, caviar) for 50 euros.
  • Yiannis Grill in Agios Stefanos: a bit further (10 km from our hotel), but worth the drive. Delicious food, warm atmosphere—we loved it.

Any food allergies or intolerances to manage?
No, we didn’t have any dietary restrictions, so we didn’t need to navigate this.

Prices

How did you find the prices overall?
More expensive than expected. We visited Greece four years ago, and prices have noticeably gone up since then.

Any tips for saving money on a Corfu family trip?
Rent an apartment with a kitchen so you can cook occasionally. Travel outside of peak season. Eat at smaller tavernas rather than touristy restaurants—you’ll get better prices and more authentic food.

Activities

What did you do besides going to the beach?
We visited Corfu Town (Kerkyra), a Mediterranean gem with narrow streets, Venetian-style buildings, and lively squares full of cafes, shops, and history. It was easy to explore even with a child.

We also rented a small boat and spent a wonderful afternoon along the island’s west coast. From Agios Georgios Pagon, you can reach the famous Porto Timoni Beach by water taxi or rental boat. We rented one for six hours and visited about ten different beaches. It was an amazing experience.

Another highlight was hiking up to the Afionas viewpoint, which overlooks the twin bays. From there, a well-marked trail leads down to the beach—about a 25-minute walk. Closed shoes are essential. The trail isn’t suitable for strollers, but a baby carrier works great. Older kids who can walk well will enjoy it too. Just avoid the midday heat—early morning or late afternoon is ideal.

What was your child’s favorite part of the trip?
Definitely the water! He spent hours playing in the sea and the hotel pool. For him, it was pure paradise.

Tips and Insights for Other Families

What was the most positive experience of the trip?
Renting the boat! It let us discover hidden beaches inaccessible by car. Also, the locals were incredibly friendly and helpful. Communication in English was easy, though not many people spoke German.

Any challenges other families should know about?
If you rely on German to communicate, it might be tough—English is more widely spoken. We also enjoy lively promenades and bazaars, which we didn’t really find in the smaller villages. The area around our hotel was more low-key, possibly due to it being early in the season.

Also, walking wasn’t always easy—many streets were steep, with no sidewalks, so people walked on the road. There weren’t typical tourist bazaars, but local supermarkets had some souvenirs.

What would you bring next time that you missed this time?
We brought ours, but can’t recommend enough: water shoes, sunscreen, hats. If traveling with smaller children, bring a baby carrier.

What’s one thing visitors should absolutely try in Corfu?
Try kumquat, a unique citrus fruit native to Corfu. Its peel is sweet, while the inside is tart—don’t peel it! You’ll find it in liqueurs, ice creams, and desserts. We loved it!

Final Words

In one sentence, how would you describe your Corfu experience as a family?
Family-friendly, relaxing, and filled with unforgettable memories.