Benitses lies twelve kilometres south of Corfu Town and benefits from a transfer time of only twenty-five minutes. Originally a small fishing village, Benitses gained notoriety in the eighties when its resort, a little to the south of the village, was the favoured spot for young singles. All that has changed and many of the nightclubs and discos are now tavernas and cafes and the clientele are families and couples. The village has retained its traditional atmosphere with its working harbour and charming square. Although Benitses has seen dramatic changes in atmosphere since the eighties, it remains a bustling and popular holiday choice.
A Benitses holiday offers a picturesque location with clear blue seas in the foreground and verdant hills to the rear. The beach is sand and shingle and there are a variety of water sports. Tavernas and restaurants cater for all tastes and there shops for holiday essentials as well as those selling gift and souvenir. Evenings are fairly lively with a nightclub and several music bars.
A Benitses holiday appeals mainly to families and couples and those looking for relaxing days on the beach. Those with an interest in history will find plenty to see in Corfu Town’s fascinating old quarter, as well as in the local vicinity.
The Benitses holiday season extends from Easter until October, the most popular time being in the summer when the temperatures rise from the low twenties to the mid thirties.
Old Benitses is a traditional Greek village set among lemon trees, where fishermen land their daily catch and mend their nets. Some set up stalls in the harbour where self-caterers can buy the freshest of ingredients for their evening meal. Benitses’s whitewashed houses are festooned with trailing plants, and colourful flowering pots abound. The charming village square is a mix of Venetian houses and old tavernas. Behind the village the ruins of a Roman villa and public thermal baths have been excavated.
The resort of Benitses, south of the old village, has a range of accommodation to suit all budgets. The beach, in common with most on the east coast, is a narrow strip of sand and shingle washed by clear blue sea and providing a good range of water sports.
The restaurants and tavernas in Benitses cater for all tastes serving traditional food as well as international cuisine. Evenings are full of life without being raucous where entertainment is provided by the larger hotels as well as music bars and a nightclub.
A Benitses holiday offers relaxation in a charming resort surrounded by citrus groves. Its proximity to Corfu Town with all its attractions makes Benitses even more appealing.
Although Benitses nightlife has changed over the years and it is no longer the party capital of Corfu, there are still some lively bars as well as a nightclub. Those wishing for a greater variety of venues can take a short taxi ride to Corfu town.
Benitses has a variety of shops providing holiday essentials as well as gifts and souvenirs. Those in need of retail therapy can take the bus to Corfu Town where they will be overwhelmed by the choice of boutiques and specialist shops. The island is noted for the craftsmanship of its jewellers and there are some excellent gold and silver jewellery shops. Popular buys are leather goods, items made from olive wood, handmade lace and embroidered linens. Brightly painted ceramics are also in demand.
Benitses has some excellent tavernas and restaurants serving traditional food as well as a range of international cuisine. Fish, caught daily, features prominently on menus. If you wish to sample local cuisine, try a plate of tapas, where you are given small portions of a variety of dishes. Popular dishes are small fried fish, shellfish and kalamari. A delicious dish is ‘pastitsada’, a Corfiot lasagne with layers of meat, tomato, herbs and spices, pasta and béchamel sauce. Tempting snacks in the form of souvlakis, a type of kebab, are sold from fast food stalls. For a more substantial snack these are sometimes wrapped in pita bread and called gyros.
Local wines are easy on the palate as well as the purse.
Eating in Corfu is meant to be a pleasure and is not to be rushed. Waiters will not hover over you waiting to remove plates. Don’t mistake this for tardy service.
