Corfu Travel Guide: The Complete Island Guide

Corfu has a history unlike any other Greek island. Venetian for four centuries (1386–1797), then briefly French, then British (1815–1864) before joining Greece — the architectural result is extraordinary. The Old Town is the most intact Venetian urban fabric in the Ionian Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels genuinely like a small Italian city transplanted to the Adriatic. The island also has exceptional beaches on every coast, a developed food scene, and terrain that ranges from the flat resort south to the lush, wooded hills of the north.

Getting There from Athens

Flight: Domestic flights from Athens to Corfu (Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport, CFU) take approximately 55 minutes. Fares start from approximately €40 with Aegean Airlines or Sky Express; book ahead for shoulder season deals. The airport is 2km from Corfu Town — taxi approximately €10–12, bus approximately €1.50.

Ferry: The most practical route is not from Athens but from the mainland port of Igoumenitsa, a 1.5-hour crossing from approximately €10. From Athens by car or bus, you drive/travel to Patras and take an overnight ferry (approximately 6–7 hours) from approximately €25 deck class. Direct ferry from Piraeus (Athens) is also available but takes 11+ hours.

Top 5 Beaches

Glyfada: The island’s best all-rounder — a wide arc of golden sand on the west coast backed by low cliffs, with clear water and reliable beach facilities. Gets busy but never feels as congested as the south coast resorts. Good bus connection from Corfu Town (approximately €2).

Paleokastritsa: Not one beach but a series of small coves surrounded by steep wooded hillsides, with extraordinary water clarity and a Byzantine monastery on the headland above. The most scenic setting on the island. Arrive before 9am or after 4pm to avoid the worst of the summer crowds.

Porto Timoni: A double-coved beach accessible only by a 45-minute walk from Afionas village on the northwest coast — two crescents of pebble and sand separated by a narrow headland, with no development and no vehicle access. One of the most beautiful beaches in the Ionian Islands.

Canal d’Amour, Sidari: Sandstone rock formations carved by the sea into channels and arches on the north coast — distinctive geology unlike anything else on Corfu. The swimming area between the rocks is sheltered and clear. Crowded in high summer but worth the trip.

Issos (Halikounas): A long, undeveloped beach on the southwest coast backed by Korission Lagoon — a protected wetland that attracts flamingos and migratory birds. Windsurfing conditions are good on the lagoon side; the sea beach is exposed but dramatic. Far less visited than the west coast beaches.

Corfu Old Town

The old town occupies a peninsula flanked by two Venetian fortresses. Between them, the street grid survives largely intact: the Liston arcade (modelled on the Rue de Rivoli, built during French occupation), the Spianada square, narrow lanes called kantounia, and dozens of small Venetian churches.

Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio): Entry €6 adult (as of 2026), open 8am–8pm daily in summer. Built on a naturally defensible promontory, connected to the town by a drawbridge. Good views from the lighthouse tower.

Museum of Asian Art: An unexpectedly excellent museum in the former British Residency — 11,000 Japanese, Chinese, and Indian artefacts. Entry €6 adult, open 8am–3pm Tue–Sun.

Paleokastritsa

The most scenic bay on Corfu, combining sea caves, extraordinary water clarity, and a 13th-century monastery (entry free, open 7am–1pm and 3pm–8pm). Local fishermen run trips to the sea caves from the main beach — approximately €15–20 per person.

Best Time to Visit

May and September are the best months for Corfu. In May the island is green from winter rains, temperatures are 22–26°C, and the beaches are uncrowded. September maintains summer warmth with prices dropping and school holiday crowds gone. July and August see heavy package tourism on the south coast; Kavos becomes a party resort with very little of Greece’s character remaining. The north coast remains more bearable in peak season.

Where to Stay

Budget (€55–90/night): Hotel Konstantinoupolis (Corfu Town) sits on the Old Port waterfront in a neoclassical building; from approximately €60/night in shoulder season. Hotel Arcadion (Corfu Town) is a clean, centrally located option near the Spianada; from approximately €55/night.

Mid-range (€110–170/night): Bella Venezia is a beautifully restored neoclassical mansion in Corfu Town, close to the Old Fortress; from approximately €120/night. Cavalieri Hotel occupies the top three floors of a converted Venetian mansion on the Liston, with rooftop bar views over the Old Fortress; from approximately €140/night.

Luxury (€300+/night): Domes Miramare Corfu (near Moraitika) is a cliff-edge resort with private beach, infinity pools, and a well-regarded spa; from approximately €400/night in peak season. Grecotel Corfu Imperial (Kommeno Peninsula) offers a private peninsula setting with multiple pools and fine dining; from approximately €320/night.

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Where to Eat

Rouvas (Corfu Town, Guilford Street): A traditional lunch taverna with no menu — the day’s dishes are displayed in pots. Corfiot classics: pastitsada, sofrito, bianco fish stew. Approximately €12–20 per person. Opens at noon, closes when the pots run out. No reservations; arrive early.

Etrusco (near Kato Korakiana, 18km from Corfu Town): The island’s most acclaimed restaurant — fine-dining Corfiot cuisine with Italian influences, set in a restored 17th-century mansion with a courtyard garden. Approximately €65–90 per person including wine. Book weeks ahead in season; consistently ranks among the best restaurants in Greece.

Day Trip: Paxos

A tiny island 45 minutes south of Corfu by hydrofoil — just 10km long with no cars in the villages, olive groves covering the interior, and sea caves on the west coast (including the famous Blue Caves of Antipaxos). Day trips run from Corfu Town approximately €45–60 per person including boat. Antipaxos, a further 15 minutes south, has the clearest blue water in the Ionian Sea.

Getting Around

Buses (KTEL Corfu) run from the terminal near the New Port to most villages and beach areas — approximately €1.50–3 per journey. Taxis from Corfu Town to Paleokastritsa cost approximately €35–40. Car hire gives the most flexibility: approximately €35–60/day for a small car. The island’s road network is good by Greek island standards.

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See Also

• Things to Do in Corfu - the Old Town, Paleokastritsa, and the best beaches
• Best Beaches in Corfu - Paleokastritsa, Glyfada, Canal d’Amour, and Sidari
• Restaurants in Corfu - Corfiot specialties and the best tavernas
• Best Tours in Corfu - Old Town walking tours, boat trips, and quad adventures
• Where to Stay in Corfu - Corfu Town vs. beach resorts
• Corfu vs Crete - Ionian vs Aegean island comparison
• Corfu vs Zakynthos - Ionian island head-to-head
• Zakynthos Travel Guide - the other major Ionian island to the south
• Lefkada Travel Guide - the Ionian island accessible by road
• Greek Island Ferry Guide - ferries to and from Corfu
• Greece Car Rental Guide - essential for exploring Corfu’s villages