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Lake Korission with its dunes and cedar forest toward the sea

Nature Reserve

Lake Korission, Halikounas & Issos

Corfu · Ionian Islands

QUICK INFORMATION

CATEGORY
Nature Reserve
COUNTRY
Greece
REGION
Corfu · Ionian Islands
DURATION
3–4 days

ABOUT THIS ATTRACTION

Lake Korission is the island’s great wild space: a brackish lagoon (Natura 2000) separated from the Ionian by a belt of dunes growing one of the rarest cedar forests in Greece, with sand orchids among the junipers. Over 120 bird species pass through — flamingos and herons in migration — and the beaches on either end are among the finest in the Ionian: Halikounas, a long wild strand by the lagoon mouth, and Issos, peach dunes sliding to the sea at the southern end. The winds that straighten the pines also make Issos a kitesurfing draw.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND

The story behind it

More here soon — the road is still being mapped.

WHAT TO SEE

What to see here

01

The dune walk across to the cedar forest and the lagoon hides.

02

Halikounas beach — kilometres of open sand.

03

Issos dunes at golden hour.

04

Flamingos and waders from autumn through spring.

MAP & LOCATION

Lake Korission, Halikounas & Issos

Lake Korission, Halikounas & Issos, Corfu, Ionian Islands, Greece

39.4272, 19.8733

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MORE ATTRACTIONS

More to see in Corfu

The Liston arcade on Spianada square, Corfu old town
Old Town & UNESCO

Corfu Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage)

A medieval town of Venetian lanes, arcades and hidden campielli — the only Greek old town UNESCO lists in its entirety.

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The Old Fortress rising above Corfu old town and its harbour
Fortress

Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio)

The Venetian citadel on its own rock island, ringed by the Contrafossa moat — the reason the Ottomans never took Corfu.

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The New Fortress dominating Corfu town from its hill above the old port
Fortress

New Fortress (Neo Frourio)

The 16th–17th-century Venetian fortress above the old port — vaulted casemates, sea tunnels and the best rooftop views across the roofs.

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The red-domed bell tower of Saint Spyridon church above the old town lanes
Church

Church of Saint Spyridon

The island’s beloved patron, whose silver reliquary rests beneath the tallest bell tower in Corfu — the tallest in the Ionian.

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The neoclassical Achilleion palace above its terraced gardens
Palace & Gardens

Achilleion Palace

Empress Sisi’s marble shrine to Achilles, later Kaiser Wilhelm II’s retreat — terraced gardens, mythological statuary and views to the Albanian coast.

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The cypress-headland bays of Paleokastritsa
Coast & Monastery

Paleokastritsa

Forest-green headlands plunging into a chain of sapphire bays — Corfu’s postcard coast, with the 13th-century Theotokos monastery crowning the cape.

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THINGS TO DO

Things to do nearby

01

Walk the Corfu Trail

02

Climb Mount Pantokrator

03

Kayak and paddle the west coast

04

Sail to Paxos and Antipaxos

05

Kitesurf the Korission dunes

06

Cycle the Ropa valley and the west villages

07

Camping on Corfu — Paleokastritsa, Dassia & Dionysus

FOOD & DRINK

Where to eat nearby

01

Rex Restaurant, Kapodistriou — a Corfu institution for pastitsada and sofrito in a 1930s-era townhouse.

02

Avli, old town lanes — Slow-food Corfiot cooking in a courtyard off the kantounia.

03

Taverna Ipsia, Gastouri — family taverna above the Achilleion famous for bianco fish stew.

04

Klimataria, Benitses — the island’s classic seafood table by the harbour since 1937.

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HOTELS & STAYS

Where to stay nearby

01

Old town boutiques around Campiello — restored Venetian palazzi, best for a car-free stay.

02

Kontokali and Gouvia marina resorts — mid-island, handy for both coasts.

03

Paleokastritsa hillside hotels and the campsite — green, cool and central for the west coast.

04

Agios Stefanos northeast — quiet cove stays within reach of Kassiopi.

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ITINERARIES

Day-by-day routes

Corfu Island Loop — Corfu3 days

Corfu Island Loop

View itinerary

NEARBY DESTINATIONS

Continue the journey

Patras

Patras

Western Greece

Ioannina

Ioannina

Epirus

INTERESTS

Explore by what you love

BeachesWildlife

PART OF

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