Dafnata: Hikes to Stavros Hill and the Pantokrator Chapel

Hiking trails to and from Dafnata

Dafnata can be explored via several hiking trails with different destinations. Route No. 3 runs from the settlement to the summit of Stavros Hill; the connection between Routes No. 16 and No. 12 leads to the Pantokrator Chapel. Route No. 13, on the other hand, comes from the port in Benitses to the settlement of Dafnata. The options can therefore be organized around three clear starting points or destinations: the hill, the chapel, and the connection from the port. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding first whether you want to start in Dafnata or reach the settlement on the way from Benitses.

From Benitses to the settlement

Hiking Route No. 13 leads from the port in Benitses to the settlement of Dafnata in about 55 minutes. The path climbs through olive groves and, in some sections, runs along gravel and/or asphalt roads. The time given is an estimate for the route between the port and the settlement. For planning purposes, both the starting point and the climb and described surface are therefore relevant.

To Stavros Hill

Route No. 3 starts in the settlement of Dafnata and heads east through forest and dense vegetation to the summit of Stavros Hill. The walking time to the summit is about 25 minutes; the actual duration and pace may vary. To return to Dafnata, you can take a gravel road to the west and then Route No. 16. Plan for the eastbound outward leg and the westbound return as separate sections.

To the Pantokrator Chapel

Route No. 16 connects Dafnata to the Pantokrator Chapel via a gravel road. It can be combined with Route No. 12 to make a circular hike from Dafnata to the chapel. Route No. 12 initially follows the road toward Komianata for about five minutes; the old path to the chapel begins there. This path has no major changes in elevation. The approximately five minutes refers to the road section toward Komianata, not the entire route to the chapel.

An alternative route from Dafnata to the Pantokrator Chapel follows a gravel road and takes about 50 minutes. This gives you a choice of differently described options for reaching the chapel: the circular hike combining Routes No. 16 and No. 12, or the approximately 50-minute gravel route.

Another hiking option from Benitses

A recommended circular hike starts in the old settlement of Benitses and passes through or by Dafnata. This is another way to include Dafnata in a hike without making the settlement the starting point of the loop. This distinguishes it from Route No. 3 and the paths to the chapel, which start in Dafnata.

How to compare walking times

The times given—about 55 minutes between the port and the settlement, about 25 minutes to the summit, and about 50 minutes on the alternative route to the chapel—refer to different routes with different destinations. They are therefore not directly comparable times for the same path. On Route No. 3, trail conditions and your personal pace can affect the actual walking time. Before setting out, check the current condition of the trails and plan according to the starting point and destination you choose.

Corfu as a wider travel destination

Corfu also offers a cultural highlight: Corfu Old Town and its two fortresses are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Museum of Asian Art in the Old Town houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas, and Central Asia. This overview of Corfu complements the hiking focus in Dafnata with a distinct cultural theme.

Discover more destinations: Pélekas, Katavolos, Perouládes, Perivoli, Viros, Petriti, Chalikounas, Giannades

Go to the main travel overview: Corfu.