Dassia lies on the east coast only fourteen kilometres north of Corfu town and has a transfer time from the airport of just thirty minutes. Unlike many resorts, the hotels and apartments lie between the main road and the beach separating holidaymakers from the noise and the danger of traffic passing by. The beach is shingle and shelves gently into the clear blue sea making it ideal for children and weak swimmers. A wide variety of water sports are available. There are a large number of bars, tavernas and restaurants catering for the differing needs of visitors and nightlife is fairly lively. Although shopping is rather limited, there are regular bus services to Corfu town where you can shop till you drop.
Dassia is popular because of its beaches and water sports as well as its lively nightlife. Its close proximity to Corfu Town, one of the most interesting of all Greek towns, is an added attraction. It is also close to Ipsos and Kontokali which are both noted for their vibrant nightlife.
A Dassia holiday has widespread appeal. Beaches with safe bathing for families with small children, water sports with varying degrees of excitement for adults, tavernas and restaurants catering for all tastes as well as its closeness to Corfu Town, are just some of the reasons why British holidaymakers flock to Dassia in their thousands.
Dassia’s holiday season extends from Easter to October, the most popular time being in the summer when the temperatures rise from the low twenties to the mid thirties.
Dassia, on Corfu’s east coast, offers a greater variety of water sports than anywhere else on the island. It has a rather narrow shingle beach which gently slopes into the Ionian Sea. It is advisable to wear beach footwear as the shingle can be rather sharp and uncomfortable. There are plenty of sun beds for hire but there are no toilets or showers. The water sports include snorkelling and scuba diving, water skiing and jet skiing, banana boating and doughnutting. There is also paragliding and parascending. Boat can be hired providing the opportunity to explore the beautiful coastline with its small beaches and tiny coves. Dassia has an excellent eighteen hole course where golfers can rest assured that rain will not halt play. There is also a pony trekking centre nearby.
Dassia is well placed for exploring Corfu Town and the charming inland villages which for the most part remain untouched by tourism.
Dassia nightlife is fairly lively with a number of music bars along the waterfront. Young groups often go to neighbouring Ipsos where there is a wider variety of discos and clubs. The larger hotels often provide their own entertainment with live music. There are many calm and peaceful areas where a meal and a glass or two of wine can be enjoyed under the stars.
Dassia shopping is rather limited with supermarkets providing holiday essentials and the usual number of gift and souvenir shops. A bus ride to Corfu town will overcome this drawback, with its old quarter filled with shops of every description. Popular buys are leather goods, items made from olive wood, handmade lace, embroidered linens and jewellery. Brightly painted ceramics are also in demand.
There are many cafes, tavernas and restaurants in Dassia, as well as fast food stalls such as Souvlatzidiki where they sell takeaway souvlakis, a type of kebab. For a more substantial snack these are sometimes wrapped in pita bread and called gyros. There are pubs serving British food, including full English breakfasts for those who believe it to be a hangover cure.
Being an island, fish dishes abound in Corfu with small fried fish and shellfish being firm favourites. Prawn saganaki is a popular dish which is rich and creamy with king prawns, garlic tomato and feta cheese. Kalamari is another firm favourite.
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.
