Corfu
From the UNESCO old town and Achilleion Palace to the cliffs of Paleokastritsa, the love channel of Sidari, and the golden sweep of Glyfada.
Corfu is the greenest island in Greece — a landscape of ancient olive groves, Venetian hill towns and Ionian sea that shifts from turquoise to deep cobalt depending on the light. It was the only part of Greece never occupied by the Ottomans, which gives it a uniquely Venetian and British colonial character. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The west coast has the finest sandy beaches in the Ionian islands.
Getting there
Major international airport — Aegean, Sky Express, Ryanair, EasyJet, charters. No Piraeus ferry — reach Corfu via Igoumenitsa (mainland NW) by frequent shuttle, or fly direct. Italy ferries also available (Bari, Ancona, Venice).
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Tip: Direct flight is fastest. Italy ferry routes are great if you are coming overland from Europe.
When to Visit
Corfu has weather closer to Italy than the Aegean — wetter, greener, no Meltemi. April-May is wildflower season; June and September are the sweet spots. Avoid mid-July to mid-August unless you specifically want the British package crowd. Easter on Corfu is one of the most spectacular in Greece — the pot-throwing on Holy Saturday morning is unforgettable.
5-day itinerary for Corfu
Day 1: Corfu Old Town
- 09:00 · Old Fortress Corfu
16th-century Venetian fortress on a rocky promontory — the symbol of Corfu. The views from the lighthouse tower over the old town and the Albanian coast are extraordinary. - 10:30 · Liston Promenade
The elegant arcaded promenade modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, built during French occupation. The best coffee in Corfu, overlooking the Spianada — the largest square in the Balkans. - 11:30 · Corfu Old Town (UNESCO)
UNESCO-listed old town — narrow Venetian lanes called kantounia, Byzantine churches, and the extraordinary Museum of Asian Art (the finest in the Balkans). Allow 2 hours. - 13:30 · Lunch — To Dimarchio
Classic Corfiot restaurant under the trees near Dimarchion Square. Try the sofrito (Corfu's signature veal dish) and bourdeto (spicy fish stew). - 16:00 · New Fortress
16th-century Venetian fortress on the hill above the new port. Labyrinthine underground passages and excellent views. Far fewer visitors than the Old Fortress. - 17:30 · Kanoni & Mouse Island
The most photographed spot in Corfu — a tiny church on a rocky islet in the Halikiopoulou Lagoon. The causeway and the planes landing over the lagoon make for a surreal and memorable scene. - 20:30 · Return to Corfu Town
Short drive back to Corfu Town (about 10 minutes from Kanoni). Aperitifs at one of the Liston cafés are a Corfiote ritual — the arcade was built by the French to mimic Paris's Rue de Rivoli.
Day 2: Achilleion & the South
- 09:30 · Achilleion Palace
Extraordinary neoclassical palace built by Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) in 1890, later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The terraced gardens and statues of Achilles are magnificent. - 11:30 · Benitses Village
Traditional fishing village that was Corfu's first tourist resort in the 1970s. It has returned to its quiet roots. Roman baths and a small aquarium are worth a stop. - 13:30 · Kavos Beach
Long sandy beach at the southern tip of Corfu. Calm, shallow, warm water. The resort behind it is geared toward young people and nightlife — the beach itself is excellent. - 16:00 · Arkoudilas Beach
Wild, empty sandy beach in a protected nature reserve near the south tip. No facilities, no development — just sand, sea and olive groves. One of the hidden gems of the south. - 20:30 · Return to Corfu Town
Long drive back from the southern tip (about 1 hour to Corfu Town). The eastern coast road in evening light is a fitting end to the day.
Day 3: Paleokastritsa — The Jewel of Corfu
- 09:00 · Paleokastritsa Monastery
13th-century monastery perched on a headland above the bays. Small museum of icons and ecclesiastical objects. Extraordinary views over the turquoise coves below. - 10:00 · Paleokastritsa Beach
Six coves of extraordinary clarity, emerald water and dramatic cliff scenery — the most beautiful coastline in Corfu. Rent a small boat to explore the sea caves and hidden coves inaccessible by land. - 13:30 · Angelokastro
13th-century Byzantine castle on a sheer sea cliff — the most dramatic castle site in the Ionian islands. Views north along the entire Albanian and Greek coastline. - 15:30 · Agios Georgios Beach (North)
Long, sandy north Corfu beach with far fewer crowds than Paleokastritsa. Clear water, some waves, and spectacular sunset views. The village has good tavernas. - 17:30 · Porto Timoni
A stunning double bay accessible only on foot (45-min hike). Two beaches side by side facing opposite directions — the most photographed spot on the island after Kanoni. - 20:00 · Return to Paleokastritsa
Drive back to your Paleokastritsa hotel (about 30 minutes from Afionas). The bay's tavernas — La Grotta or Akron — are favourites for sunset dinners with the monastery floodlit above.
Day 4: Sidari & Canal d'Amour
- 09:30 · Roda Beach
Long sandy north-coast beach — calm, shallow, family-friendly. One of the best beaches on the north coast with good facilities and a lovely village behind it. - 11:30 · Canal d'Amour
The most famous spot in Sidari — dramatic sandstone cliffs carved into channels and caves by centuries of sea erosion. Local legend says couples who swim through the channel together will marry. Unique and unmissable. - 13:00 · Sidari Beach
Long sandy beach adjoining the canal d'Amour. Golden sand, gently shelving into the sea. Good for children. The resort behind it is lively with restaurants and bars. - 15:30 · Acharavi Beach
Long, wide, sandy beach that never gets overcrowded. Shallow and calm — the best family beach on the north coast. A local favourite rather than a tourist hub. - 20:00 · Return to Sidari
Short drive back to your Sidari base (about 15 minutes from Acharavi). The promenade comes alive in the evening with families and tavernas serving fresh fish straight off the boats.
Day 5: Glyfada & the West Coast
- 09:30 · Glyfada Beach
Widely regarded as the most beautiful sandy beach in Corfu — a broad golden bay framed by green hills, with calm Ionian water. Arrive early for a sunbed. Water sports, beach bars, good facilities. - 12:00 · Mirtiotissa Beach
A stunning hidden beach accessible only via a steep 30-minute walk through olive groves. Almost deserted despite its beauty. Lawrence Durrell called it the most beautiful beach in the world. - 14:30 · Agios Gordios Beach
A wide, dramatic sandy beach backed by green cliffs and a rocky pinnacle. One of the most scenic beaches on the island, with a long stretch of sand and good facilities. - 19:00 · Corfu Town — Farewell Dinner
Return to Corfu Town for a final dinner at the Liston. Order the pastitsada (Corfiot pasta with cockerel) and a glass of Robola wine.
Top beaches of Corfu
Paleokastritsa Beach
The most dramatic coastline in Corfu — six emerald coves carved into limestone cliffs, with a Byzantine monastery on the headland above. The water is extraordinarily clear and cold. Rent a small boat to discover the sea caves and hidden beaches inaccessible from land.
- Type
- Sand and fine pebble mix
- Length
- 6 coves, each 100-300m
- Depth
- Medium to deep — rocky seabed, exceptional water clarity
- Wind protection
- Various — six coves facing different directions, always one sheltered from the wind
- Facilities
- Well organised: sunbeds, beach bars, boat and kayak hire, tavernas. Monastery above.
Glyfada Beach
The finest sandy beach in Corfu — a broad golden bay framed by green hills, with the warm Ionian Sea. Consistently clear, calm water. Glyfada hits the sweet spot between beautiful setting, good facilities and manageable crowds.
- Type
- Fine golden sand
- Length
- 1 km
- Depth
- Shallow to medium — gradual sandy entry, safe for families
- Wind protection
- West-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm most summer days, sometimes choppy on rare westerly winds
- Facilities
- Well organised: sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports, beach bars, restaurant, parking.
Canal d'Amour
Unlike any beach in Greece — sandstone cliffs sculpted into channels, arches and caves by millennia of sea erosion. The narrow channel (canal) is the focal point. Swim through it with someone you love — local legend guarantees marriage follows. The surrounding rock formations are extraordinary.
- Type
- Coarse sand
- Length
- Several small channels and coves
- Depth
- Shallow to medium — sheltered by sandstone cliffs
- Wind protection
- North-facing — fully exposed to the meltemi (the dominant summer N/NE wind); often choppy June–September
- Facilities
- Moderate: some sunbeds, beach bars nearby. Gets very busy in summer.
Mirtiotissa Beach
Lawrence Durrell called it the most beautiful beach in the world in Prospero's Cell. A hidden sandy cove beneath towering cliffs, reachable only on foot. The walk keeps it uncrowded. The combination of complete seclusion and extraordinary setting makes it worth every step.
- Type
- Fine sand
- Length
- 300 m
- Depth
- Medium — clear Ionian water, some rocks at edges
- Wind protection
- West-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm most summer days, sometimes choppy on rare westerly winds
- Facilities
- Basic: one small beach café. Access via steep 30-minute walk only — no vehicles.
Porto Timoni
The most photographed spot in Corfu after Kanoni — a double bay where two beaches face in opposite directions, separated by a narrow rocky headland. The hike from Afionas is steep but the view from the top before you descend is among the best in the Ionian islands.
- Type
- Pebble
- Length
- Two beaches, each 150m
- Depth
- Medium — clear turquoise water, rocky seabed
- Wind protection
- Double bay — one north-facing, one south-facing, always one sheltered
- Facilities
- None — completely unorganised. Access only via 45-minute hike from Afionas village.