Xylokastro: The Romantic Riviera of the Corinthian Gulf

• By Visit Corinthia
• 04/06/202605/08/2026
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Of all the towns along the Corinthian Riviera, Xylokastro is the one that has managed to remain genuinely attractive without becoming a resort. The seafront promenade lined with century-old eucalyptus trees, the absence of large hotel blocks, and the unhurried atmosphere draw a loyal crowd of Athenian summer regulars who have been coming here for generations.

The Waterfront

Xylokastro’s signature feature is its eucalyptus-lined waterfront promenade — a kilometre-long path shaded by large eucalyptus trees that were planted in the early 20th century and have now grown to full canopy height. On a hot summer evening, walking under the trees with the Gulf on one side and the old town on the other is as pleasant as any seafront experience in Greece. The promenade ends at a small pier where the light over the mountains of central Greece can be very good in the hour before sunset.

The town itself has a low-key elegance that distinguishes it from the more commercial coast at Loutraki. A number of early 20th-century summer villas, built by Athenian families who summered here before the car made access easier, still stand along the back streets. The old part of town around the church square has good traditional kafeneia and a Thursday market.

The Beaches

Xylokastro’s town beach is pebbled and pleasant, with clear water and relatively little swell. A longer and sandier beach stretches east of town along the road toward Kiato, with quieter sections accessible via unmarked paths. The area around the mouth of the Sythas river east of town creates a protected cove that is particularly good for families with young children.

Further west toward Derveni, several smaller coves are accessible by car on short dirt tracks off the coastal road. These beaches are pebbly, have no facilities, and are mostly visited by local residents rather than tourists — the advantage being that you often have them effectively to yourself outside August. Water clarity throughout the Xylokastro coastal stretch is generally excellent.

Food

Xylokastro has a good selection of local restaurants without the tourist inflation visible in busier resorts. The fish tavernas near the port are the reliable option for seafood; the mezedopoleio near the central square serves a good range of small plates for lunch. Loukoumades (fried dough with honey) from the dedicated shop near the market square are the local sweet worth seeking out. For coffee, the cafés on the waterfront promenade stay open until late in summer.

Practical Info

Xylokastro is on the Athens–Patras train line (stops at Xylokastro station, 2 km from the centre). By car from Athens: 90 km via the E65 and E94 highways, about 80 minutes. The town has hotels, apartments and a campsite, with good availability outside peak season. Parking is easy in the side streets. The train makes Xylokastro genuinely accessible as a day trip from Athens — something the more car-dependent parts of Corinthia cannot claim. A 15-km drive east brings you to Kiato; 15 km further east is Corinth city.

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