After at least 40 visits since I was 1 year old (1994), I can confirm that Corfu is one of the best and most diverse Greek islands to visit. In this Corfu travel blog you will find a complete mini-guide to the most wonderful island.
Looking for more tailor-made Corfu travel advice? Check out the options for custom travel advice, such as a 45-minute video call with me.
Corfu is one of the largest and most diverse Greek islands . There are tons of beaches of any kind (long and sandy, pebble bays with turquoise water), there is a large and lively town that probably is the most picturesque city of Greece. There’s nature, culture, party… something for everyone!
Corfu is located in the North-West part of Greece. The island stands out because it is completely green, full of cypress trees, and in many other ways heavily influenced by the Venetians. Corfu town looks like a very picturesque Italian settlement.
The best time to visit Corfu is from May to October. Corfu is located in the North-West part of Greece and is so green because it relatively gets a lot of rain in winter. I personally prefer the second half of May and the first half of June, as well as the second half of September. Why? The weather is relatively stable, with temperatures of 25C. You might encounter a cloudy day or a short shower in May or September, but it rarely lasts. In May the countless flowers on Corfu are blossoming.
The second half of July and first half of September are relatively busy, whereas August is an extremely busy month in Corfu. Don’t let it put you off if August is the only month you can go, the island is large. But if you can, try to avoid going to Corfu mid-July till mid-September.
The season in Corfu ends mid to end of October, although some places will already close down at the end of September.
How many days do you need on Corfu if you want to get a good impression on it? Corfu is one of the largest Greek islands and you need at least 5 days to even see some of the highlights and Corfu town. If you’re only stopping by to see Corfu town, you need as many as 1 to 2 days on Corfu.
How to get to Corfu? As Corfu is an island, you can reach it by boat plane and boat.
By plane: via Athens or directly from numerous European airports. The airport of Corfu is called Ioannis Kapodistrias airport, after the first head of state of the independent country of Greece.
By boat: Depeding on where you are coming from, you can search one of the following routes on the search engine of Ferryhopper and easily find a date and time of your convenience.
- From Igoumenitsa to Corfu town
- From Igoumenitsa to Lefkimmi
- From Paxos to Lefkimmi and Corfu town
- From Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi, Lefkada, Paxos to Corfu town
- From Sarande, Albania
CLICK HERE TO FIND FERRY DATES AND TIMES FOR THESE ROUTES TO AND FROM CORFU
For more in-depth info on the ferry companies that are operating these routes to be able to book directly through them, check out my complete 150-page Corfu Travel Guide (e-book).
Renting a vehicle
The best, easiest and fastest way to get around on Corfu is to rent a vehicle. Preferably a car, or otherwise a scooter. If you are able to do that, I would even say it is a necessity to make the most out of your stay and to get to some of the real spectacular places you don’t want to miss out on. It is not necessary to rent a 4×4. I’ve never done so. Although the roads in Corfu are windy and sometimes filled with holes, 99% of the roads are asphalt roads.
You can find the rental companies I prefer, as well as information about legal requirements to be able to rent a vehicle, and information on parking on the island in my complete Corfu Travel Guide (e-book). There is also a discount included on scooter rental.
I would never recommended renting a scooter and certainly not an ATV if you have no experience driving them.
Public transport
Corfu has 2 bus systems. The blue Corfu City Bus operates in and around Corfu town. The Green Buses are the long distance buses that can take you from Corfu town around the island and vice versa. Tickets are maximum a couple of euros and therefore this system is vert cheap. Although there are quite a lot of resorts and villages these buses are going to, it takes more time than renting a vehicle. Some routes only offer 1 or 2 buses per dat. Also, you might have to change buses in Corfu town to go from one place to another, which is really inconvenient.
Which area(s) should you stay in when visiting Corfu?
Corfu town
If you are visiting Corfu for just 1 or 2 nights, in late fall, winter or early spring, Corfu town is the place to stay at! Summer is less ideal due to the heat. Also, Corfu town does not have a real ‘beach’ within walking distance. It has some swim spots (you can read all about them in my complete Corfu Travel Guide) but it is not te place to be for an ideal beach holiday.
Gouvia / Kontokali, Dassia, Ipsos, Benitses
These are all fine bases for ALL types of first time visitors to Corfu, as well as youngsters without a driving license and looking for nightlife. They are located very close to Corfu town, and they are the only tourist resorts that are operated by the Blue Bus system. This means there is a very frequent bus to Corfu town all day long. They offer every type of accommodation, from self-catering apartments to all-inclusive 5* resorts. Gouvia, Dassia, Ipsos and Benitses are all vibrant and offer some nightlife and countless restaurants and bars for you to eat and drink at. Everything about nightlife in Corfu is included in my complete Corfu Travel Guide (e-book). These places do NOT have the most spectacular beaches on the island, but Corfu is also not an island where you should stay at one place. You have go around and discover it, and choose another spectacular beach every day.
Agios Gordios
This one is perfect for the lovers of sandy beaches. Agios Giordis has a very long, sandy beach full of beach bars / restaurants that offer free sunbeds for customers. That is quite unique in Corfu. Behind the beach you can find plenty of hotels and apartments (with swimming pools) on walking distance of the beach. You don’t have to leave Agios Gordios if you don’t want, but then again it is so centrally located that you can easily go and see Corfu town and all the highlights of the islands. A typical family destination!
Liapades & Palaiokastritsa
Did you see pictures of turquoise waters and spectacular little bays on Corfu island? They were most likely taken in the area of Liapades and Palaiokastritsa. Palaiokastritsa is the bigger, busier and more touristic option. It also has more accommodations to choose from. Liapades is smaller, and more traditional as it has a traditional, old upper village that locals still live at. To me, Liapades is the perfect mix between touristic facilities, stunning views and the authentic Greek experience. The ideal place for couples to reside at.
More tourist resorts are thoroughly discussed in my blog ‘Where to stay on Corfu’?
Kassiopi
Kassiopi is located in the North-East of the island. This area is a little more ‘chique’. There are lots of gorgeous villa’s located everywhere in the green hills. Kassiopi itself is a former fisherman’s village with a cute boulevard with lots of taverna’s. In the surrounding area there are quiet bays with big pebbles and emerald waters. It is more relaxed than central Corfu.
Roda, Acharavi, Sidari
In the far north of Corfu you can find budget friendly and decent accommodation of all sorts in Roda, Acharavi and Sidari. Sidari is the ‘party place’ of the 3, whereas Roda and Archaravi are very suitable for families. All with long, sandy beaches. The North of Corfu is also rich of beautiful places to visit, such as Cape Drastis, Peroulades and Mount Pantokrator. So you won’t be bored, even though it is a 1-hour drive from Corfu town.
More tourist resorts are thoroughly discussed in my blog ‘Where to stay on Corfu’?
I’ve written separate articles featuring
Check them out in case you’re still looking for accommodation in Corfu.
These are some of the highlights of Corfu, things one should include in the places to visit or have to see and do list.
In my 150-page complete Corfu Travel Guide there are tens of pages with places to visit in Corfu and activities and experiences to do.
1. Corfu Old town
Number one on the list can only be the crown jewel of Corfu: its Venetian and Neoclassical style old town. It is utterly romantic, with many picturesque squares, traditional and fine-dining restaurants and small alleys full of souvenir shops. The top 3 highlights you can’t miss out on are the Old Venetian Fortress, the Liston and the Church of Agios Spiridon.
In my Corfu Travel Guide I included a walking route (including link to the route in Google Maps) with all highlights! As well as places to swim at, places to have a drink at, et cetera.
2. Plane spotting and Vlacherna Monastery at Kanoni
Kanoni is kind of attached to Corfu town and has some nice attractions you should visit. One of my favorite things to do in Corfu (even after 28 years) is watching the planes land in Kanoni. You have the feeling you can almost touch them if you are standing on the concrete ‘dam’ that lies in the water just in front of the runway! Next to it is Vlacherna Monastery, the poster image of Corfu. It is a small white church (monastery) on a tiny peninsula, which makes for a picturesque scene. The monastery is a Byzantine one, dating back to the 17th or 18th century. It is great for taking pictures and there is also a little souvenir shop inside.
3. Porto Timoni
In recent years, Porto Timoni became one of the most photographed beaches of Corfu. So it is definitely not secret anymore, and full of people in summer. All because of the amazing view that this double beach presents from above. It is however still secluded. You can only reach it by boat from Agios Georgios, or by hiking from the village of Afionas. The small path leading down to the beach is doable for everyone (wear closed shoes for safety). There is however little shade, so bring water, sunscreen and a hat. It should take you maximum 30 minutes. If you are a fan of hiking, especially to secret beaches, you have to check out my complete Corfu Travel Guide as I included multiple other hikes to secluded beaches.
4. Renting a boat to discover the hidden beaches of Liapades and Palaiokastritsa:
The most beautiful area of Corfu to discover by boat is the area of Palaiokastritsa and Liapades. It has tens of small bays, caves and rocky cliffs all within a 30 minute sailing distance. Points of interest are: Paradise beach, Stelari beach, Rovinia beach, Limni beach, La Grotta, Liniodoros cave and more. If you buy my complete, Corfu Travel Guide, you will get a discount code for a 10% discount on boat rental at my preferred rental company in Liapades. Therefore you will kind of have the travel guide for free 😊
5. Boat tour to Paxos, Votoumi beach Antipaxos and the Blue Caves
This full day cruise takes you to the amazing Blue Caves, lets you swim in the Maldives-like waters of Antipaxos island, one of the cute villages on Paxos island. I would definitely recommend this tour. Although it has to be said that on some of the boats there can be as much as 240 people. Book it here.
6. Pantokrator
Mount Pantokrator with 906m is the highest point of Corfu. There is a small monastery on top of the mountain, which is no longer inhabited but worth a visit. If you are not afraid of some windy roads, you must drive (or hike) up to enjoy coffee in the ‘Pantokrator Cafe’. And to check out the spectacular 360° views of the island.
7. Aqualand
Aqualand Corfu is one of the biggest water parks in Europe and the world! It has 51 slides and pools for people of every age. From small children to thrill seeking adults, everybody that loves water slides will enjoy their day here.
8. Achilleon
The stunning, neoclassical Achilleon Palace was built by Empress Sissi of Austria in 1889. It was later bought by Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, who also built the Kaiser’s Throne viewpoint in Pelekas (see ‘other activities’ further on in the guide). It has also been used as a military hospital and as a casino. You might have seen it in the James Bond movie ‘For Your Eyes Only’! Nowadays it functions as a museum. You can go inside and walk in the beautiful gardens. The palace is close to Corfu town (10 km), and reachable by public bus.
9. Visit one of the long, sandy beaches in the south
The South of Corfu has a big number of long, sandy beaches. With amazing dunes, or sometimes impressive cliffs behind them. This part of Corfu is the least touristic and least developed. Especially in August it is great to find such marvelous beaches a little bit less busy than in Central and North Corfu. My personal favorites are Gardeno (because of the cliffs behind it) Halikournas (because of the lake behind it that has flamingo’s a couple of times a year) and Issos (because of the picturesque and unique sandy dunes).
10. Cape Drastis & Peroulades
The North of Corfu is postcard worthy at almost every corner. Peroulades offers 2 of the highlights! One of the most famous views is Cape Drastis, an incredible rock formation surrounded by almost baby blue waters. There is not really a beach but there are a few places from which the sea is easily accessible so you can enjoy a swim. Keep in mind: no facilities whatsoever. After your visit of Cape Drastis you can go to the 7th Heaven cafe in Peroulades to watch the cliffs of Logas beach and the heavenly blue waters, or the amazing sunset while enjoying a cocktail. You can also can combine a visit of Peroulades with a visit of Canal d’Amour in Sidari. Canal d’Amour is as beautiful as it is busy. On one hand the rock formations with tiny beaches with blue water between them are something you must see while visiting Corfu. On the other hand this natural phenomenon has been completely kidnapped by tons of hotels, bars, pools and other touristy stuff right on the cliffs. So you got two choices here: go early morning and enjoy the view before everyone wakes up. Or just ignore the crowds.
I included some of my top suggestions for food (restaurants) for breakfast, lunch and dinner and drinks in my TikTok video below! For a full list of recommended restaurants and bars in Corfu, check out my Corfu Travel Guide (e-book).
@tzatchickie Where to eat 🍽 and drink 🍹 in Corfu town? 😁 here are some suggestions for food and drinks in the beautiful town of this Greek 🇬🇷 island! For a full list of recommendations, check out the 88-page Corfu Travel Guide on my website! #corfuisland #corfugreece #corfutown #corfu #corfutips #kerkyra #korfoe #griekenlandtips #korfu #reistips #greecetips #greecetravel #corfuholidays #tzatchickie #travelguide #corfutravelguide #greekfood #traveltiktok #foodgreece #greekislands #ionianislands #islandtips #traveltips #travelitinerary #greeceitinerary #greece #korfu
♬ Love You So - The King Khan & BBQ Show
Thank you very much for reading this Corfu travel blog with a full guide to Corfu island. I hope it helped and you will enjoy your holidays in Corfu.
Or read one of my other Corfu blogs:
Boat rental in Corfu without a license: all you need to know
How does renting a boat in Corfu without a license work, where to best rent it and which beaches to see?
Filming locations of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ in Greece – Where exactly was the movie filmed?
These are the most important filming locations of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 in Corfu, Greece
The best local tours & experiences on Corfu island, Greece
Explore the authentic Greece. From olive grove tours to painting lessons, discover the best local tours & experiences on Corfu island.
Filming locations of the Greek Netflix series ‘Maestro in Blue’
Filming locations of the Greek Netflix series ‘Maestro in Blue’
Visiting Mon Repos, Corfu
Information on visiting the Mon Repos estate museum & park in Corfu
Filming locations of ‘The Durrells in Corfu’ & how to get there
Filming locations of ‘The Durrells in Corfu’ & how to get there
Amazing hotels, villa’s and apartments on Corfu island
Some amazing hotels, villa’s & apartments on Corfu island
Looking for more tailor-made Corfu travel advice? Check out the options for custom travel advice, such as a 45-minute video call with me.
Disclosure: some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, hotels or products that I use, would use or know very well myself. Thank you for the support to my travel tips service for Greece!
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