Best time to visit
May – October
Location
Greece
Photograph by Anas Morsali, taken during his own trip
Corfu (Kerkyra), the greenest of the Greek islands, rises from the sapphire Ionian Sea off Greece's northwestern coast like an emerald jewel crowned with Venetian elegance. Unlike the arid Cyclades, Corfu is cloaked in over four million olive trees, fragrant citrus groves, and towering cypresses — a lushness inherited from centuries of Venetian, French, and British rule that left the island with a uniquely cosmopolitan character. From its UNESCO-listed Old Town to its dramatic western cliffs, hidden coves, and rolling countryside, Corfu offers a blend of culture, history, and natural beauty that has enchanted travellers from Homer to the Durrell family.
A UNESCO World Heritage maze of Venetian alleyways, French arcades, and Byzantine churches between two mighty fortresses.
A stunning west-coast resort of six turquoise bays backed by lush green cliffs, with a hilltop monastery and hidden sea caves.
Romantic sandstone rock formations creating natural swimming channels and arches in crystal-clear turquoise waters at Sidari.
A neoclassical palace built for Empress Sisi of Austria, with stunning gardens, mythological statues, and panoramic sea views.
Corfu is greener and wetter than most Greek islands, and its Venetian, French and British history shows in the architecture of the old town. The north-west coast has the dramatic scenery, the north-east the calm swimming bays, and the south the long sandy beaches — deciding which you want should drive where you stay.
Corfu (CFU) airport sits 3 km from the old town and receives seasonal flights from across Europe from April to October. Ferries run from Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland (90 minutes), from Patras, and from Bari, Brindisi and Ancona in Italy. Hydrofoils cross to Saranda in Albania in 30 minutes.
Green KTEL buses link the main resorts to Corfu Town and blue buses serve the suburbs, but services thin out in the evening. A small rental car (€30–45 per day) or a scooter is the practical choice; roads in the north-west are steep and narrow, particularly around Paleokastritsa and Angelokastro.
Corfu Town for history and restaurants, Paleokastritsa for the best scenery and snorkelling, Kassiopi and Agios Stefanos in the north-east for calm bays, and Agios Georgios or Issos in the south-west for wide sandy beaches and sunsets.
Corfu is moderately priced: €70–140 per night for a double in June or September, €14–22 for a taverna main course, €6 for the Achilleion Palace and €6 for the Old Fortress. Prices roughly double in the first three weeks of August.
Day 1
The Old Fortress, the Liston arcade, the Spianada and the Church of Saint Spyridon; end with a sunset drink at Faliraki.
Day 2
Empress Sisi's palace at Gastouri, then Kanoni and the Mouse Island viewpoint.
Day 3
Boat trip to the sea caves, the 13th-century monastery on the headland and the Bella Vista viewpoint at Lakones.
Day 4
Canal d'Amour at Sidari, the ruined Byzantine fortress of Angelokastro and a swim at Agios Georgios Pagon.
Day 5
Drive to the 906 m summit for views to Albania, then swim at Kalami or Agni bay.
Late May to mid-June and September: warm sea, everything open, and none of the August crowds.
The north-east has the calmest, clearest water; the west coast has the best sunsets but more swell.
Written and researched by travellerseasy. Guides combine first-hand material where available with checks against official transport, park and tourism sources. Prices and timetables change — read our editorial standards to see how these guides are researched, and tell us if something is out of date.
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