Corfu: Discovering Greece’s Emerald Isle and Charming Old Town
Corfu, Greece
There are very few places on earth as magical as Greece. The bright blue waters, delicious food, dramatic landscapes and friendly locals all combine to make it one of the top places to visit in the world. You could easily spend a month in Greece and never be bored. Amongst all the stunning options, Corfu is a magical island located at the top of Greece just a short distance from Albania.
While it may not have the notoriety of Santorini or Mykonos, Corfu has plenty to offer as a destination. Located in the north lonian Sea off the west coast of mainland Greece, Corfu is a place to be treasured – an island rich in history that boasts the most charming Old Town, home to warm and welcoming locals, as well as colorful Venetian corridors, stunning beach bars and outdoor dining that spills out onto the picturesque pedestrian boulevards.
However, it’s the incredible coastline that keeps visitors coming back. Crystal clear waters surround Corfu and give way to soaring sea cliffs, dazzling grottos, secret beaches, sea caves and secluded coves. If you’re wanting to see some of the most natural beauty Greece has to offer, then Corfu might be for you!
Let’s look at what we will cover in this article. you can skip ahead to any section if you wish:
QUICK GUIDE
LANGUAGE: While Greek is the native language of the island, English is widely spoken. All street signs and menus have English as well.
CURRENCY: Euro
DRESS CODE: It is an island, so most tourist will be in beach clothes with some sort of cover up for walking into town. If you are visiting churches, monasteries or the fortress, it is better to be respectful and cover up more modestly. However showing your knees will not get you kicked out.
TIPPING: Tipping isn’t required (like most European countries) but we suggest tipping 10% when you have great service.
WHEN TO VISIT CORFU
The island like most places has high season as well as low season. However it generally has beautiful weather for most of the year. You’ll find off season from November – March where evenings can become very cold and the days reach a mild temperature. High season is June- September and this is when you will get the most out of your visit. If you want to visit during shoulder season to avoid the crowds and still have decent weather (hopefully…) you can try to plan your trip in April, May or October. Personally we suggest going for a summer vacation.
TRANSPORTATION IN CORFU
If you have plans to visit anywhere outside of Old Town while on Corfu, you’ll need a car or scooter. Car rentals are conventionality available at the airport, which is a 10-minute drive from Old Town. We decided to use VIP rentals with A2S Corfu Car rentals and we highly recommend them! They will pick you up from the airport and check you in quickly. At the end of your trip, they drop you back off for your flights home. The staff was absolutely wonderful and we had zero issues with the car. Just keep in mind that they require a credit card (not debit card) in the name of the driver who is renting the vehicle. They even gave us a little thank you gift before we left. It’s a beautiful crystal cube with the island of Corfu etched in the middle you can put on a display light.
If you’re staying Old Town, most hotels and apartments do not have parking spaces. You’ll have to find street parking along the water or the streets surrounding Old Town. There are buses but in typical Greek island fashion, they are extremely unreliable, not well located and just make it much harder to get around. If you don’t have a lot of luggage then perhaps renting a scooter or ATV would be better for you.
ACCOMMODATION
The first choice you need to make is which part of the island you want to call home base. The old town of Corfu is only about a 10 minute drive from the international airport. This makes it a popular base for many visitors. If you choose to stay in town you will have plenty of options.
We decided that we wanted to stay closer to a lot of the attractions on our TO-DO list, as well as be able to catch the sunset every night. For these reasons we headed to the west side of the island instead which is roughly an hours drive without traffic.
Our hotel was called Sunset Blue. When we arrived we realized that they were still in the middle of renovations. Of course this led to some amenities not being fully ready until the end of our stay.
However, we chose our location for its proximity to many of the day trips and sites we wanted to see, making the use of our hotel really just a luxury, not a necessity. We will say they have a lovely pool with an incredible view and access directly to the beach down below.
There is a grocery store, a bakery and many restaurants all within a few minutes walking distance.
You can check out all the options available here to make the best choice for you!
WHERE TO EAT IN CORFU
Corfu has a unique blend of its own food created from the influences of traditional Greek as well as Venetian palates. I’ll admit, I am a huge fan of Greek food. This is always one of the highlights for me when visiting. There’s something unique about how the Greeks make their pastries that I personally just find superior to the rest of the world (sorry France and Italy). I have separated the list of places to eat between the east side near old town and the west side near our accommodation so you can plan depending on where you are located.
WEST COAST:
Havana
We had originally planned to eat at 7th Heaven, which is highly rated for the best sunset spot to grab drinks and dinner, but sadly it was raining so we decided to stay close to home. The portions are quite large and the Cesar salad and gyros were very tasty. Drinks were just okay, and it wasn’t ut top place during our stay but good enough to mention.
D’Amour Beach Club
This was one of our favorite spots. We loved it so much we went back a second time to spend the day there for breakfast and lunch. It is a gorgeous spot if you want to lounge around with a pool, multiple coves, declicious food and spectacular drinks. It is on the pricer side compared to many other options but we think it was worth it. Our drinks ranged from $8.00-$12.00, food ranged from $5.00 – $10.00 but we ordered a loth throughout the day. If you’re only staying for one drink or a quick meal you can easily do it on a budget.
Yannis Grill
This was a little family run restaurant right down the street from our hotel. We just stopped in for the appetizers and a take away gyros for only $3.50! Keep in mind they had no dessert which sadly is what I was looking for when we stopped here.
EAST COAST:
AVLI
Avil is a beautiful restaurant setting on Garitsa Bay. They serve up a fresh selection of seafood, and classic Greek cuisine.
Pergola
Charming little spot on the middle of town with some tapas options as well as lots of traditional meals. It want busy at all when we arrived but took a while to get our order taken. The food came out relatively quickly though.
FAVELA Nº17
Incredible spot in old town for pancakes!
TO PIKANTIKO
Gyros for $2.80 a piece !
FAMIGLIA
Pasta is a must while in Corfu. La Famiglia sits tucked away in a charming Old Town alley, and offers a delicious selection of homemade pastas, bruscetta and lasagna.
MARGHERITA PIZZA ARTIGIANALE
Small pizza joint located in the heart of Old Town. The pies are wood-fired, thin crust and absolutely delicious. Margherita Pizza also serves a variety of pasta dishes.
ROSMARINO
The restaurant sits on one of the main squares in Old Town – a great spot for people watching over dinner. Menu offerings include fresh fish, pastas and salads.
SAN GEORGE
Delicious place to stop in Agios Georgios after hiking to and from Porto Timoni. San George has a full menu of food options, but it’s their smoothies and fresh juices that are particularly delicious.
BEST BEACHES
As Corfu is an island, it’s no surprise that there are a plethora of beaches to choose from on your trip. While many of the beaches are the pebble beaches found throughout the Mediterranean, there are still sandy beaches scattered around the island. Personally I prefer a soft beach but if you don’t like pouring sand out of shoes, bags and towels every day then you can find one of the many beach clubs that offer sun-beds to relax on.
PORTO TIMONI BEACH
This was a high to-do on my list simply for the gorgeous view point you see on your way to the beaches. Porto Timoni is two mirrored bays separated by back-to-back beaches, and the views from above are stunning. The beaches don’t have much shade, and there are no facilities. Therefore it is important that you pack plenty of water, as well as snacks and a picnic if you plan to stay more than a couple of hours. You reach this hidden gem from Afionas. I also recommend driving up (or hiking!) to Makiades Village. Park for free in the village, or pay a small fee to park at the hotel lot located at the trailhead.
It’s a bit of a hike to reach beautiful Porto Timoni, but the coastal trek is scenic and relatively mild. There are some spots that are somewhat steep and you do need proper footwear to climb as it’s not a flat path but instead rocky terrain. I would say it takes around 15 minutes to reach the viewpoint and another 10-15 minutes to reach the beach. Head there early in the morning to beat the crowds as it is a popular spot.
CANAL D’AMOUR BEACH
Located in northern Corfu, Canal D’Amour Beach is a stunning stretch of coast riddled with natural bays, canals and mini sea caves. Join the sunbathers and lay out on the picturesque beach, or climb the rocks with the adventurers who use the smooth stone shelves for cliff jumping. Rumor has it that couples who swim together at Canal D’Amour will stay in love forever or find themselves engaged in the near future. On the map it might be labeled KANALI tou Erota. Right next to the canal is the D’Amour beach bar which is an absolute must! Grab a sun-bed by the pool or on the cliff for incredible views of the canal as well as sunset.
LOGGAS BEACH
Loggas Beach is the ultimate place to watch the sunset in Corfu. It’s located at the northern tip of the island and provides stunning views out to the ocean. Loggas Beach is a small beach that requires a very short hike to get to; however the available sand area is quite narrow between the waterline and the cliffs, and you’ll have to head here at low tide to really enjoy the “beach” portion. The more popular thing to do at sunset is head to 7th Heaven right above the beach. They have a glass-bottom viewing platform for sunset!
LA GROTTA
An outdoor beach bar that overlooks one of the island’s beautiful coves. La Grotta is one of the favorite hot-spots on Corfu. That said, it’s no hidden gem so naturally it gets busy. If you want to experience it both with and without people, I suggest arriving right when the bar opens in the morning. Chances are you’ll have the place to yourself for a couple of hours. Use the time to take photos, cliff jump, hang on the diving board and swim in the sparkling cove before the afternoon crowds start trickling in. Then, grab a drink and soak in the good vibes. They have great cocktails, tasty food and party music to get you in the mood to dance. You can also reach this spot by boat, you tie up and swim up to the shore.
ROVINIA BEACH
This beach is only accessible by boat, but this doesn’t mean you should skip this gorgeous location. The shore line is ringed with wooded mountains and olive groves making it a beautiful back drop from the waters viewpoint. It has a small cave and is the perfect place for some snorkeling. This was probably my favorite location we found during our boating day.
GLYFADA BEACH
Corfu is full of wonderful beaches, and you can find different beaches to suit your needs. One of my favorites is the sandy Glyfada beach. The water is clean, the sea is vast, there are a few different restaurants at different budgets on the beach, and you can either pay to rent a chair at one of the beach clubs or just lay your blanket down. If you decide to rent a chair and umbrella, be prepared to pay between €15-20.
TOP ACTIVITIES
Now, of course while you’re in Greece, one of the major highlights will always be the stunning beaches, but that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to this island. Let’s get down to the top things to do and see on Corfu other than lounge around on the beach!
CORFU OLD TOWN
If staying in Old Town isn’t an option, then make the historic heart of the island a destination during your stay. It’s a captivating place to explore on foot, and it’s particularly vibrant in the early evening. Get lost in the colorful labyrinth of alleys while admiring the Venetian influence of Old Town. Then dine outside at one of the vibrant restaurants or shop the little boutiques that line the charming pedestrian corridors. We only had an afternoon here and it was not enough time in my opinion for me to fully enjoy the area. If you like to stroll along streets and just see what you see then plan at least a day here.
CAPE DRASTIS
Cape Drastis is perhaps the wildest place in Corfu. At the northernmost point, not far from Loggas Beach is this beautiful sight. Cape Drastis is shaped by cliffs and tiny sea caves with a few sandy strips between them. The best way to visit Cape Drastis is by car, and to walk and see it from above, you’ll have to hike a short distance to the main viewpoint over the cliffs, but it shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to get there, and it’s not difficult!
This gives you amazing views from above, but you won’t really reach the beach from above as the cliffs are straight off down to the sea. To reach the sandy beaches, it’s best to visit by boat (on a calm day). There is a tour company at the bottom of the hike but we do not suggest driving a rental car down the rocky road.
VLACHERNA MONASTERY
The Vlacherna Monastery is the only building on a very tiny islet near the airport. This monastery dates back to the 17th or 18th century. While it’s interesting to walk through and around, it’s not very large so you won’t need a ton of time to see it. The reason I loved this place so much is that you can watch planes fly directly above you as they land or take off. If you’d like to relax and watch, head for Café Kanoni up the hill and get a view of the monastery below.
PALAIOKASTRITSA – BOAT DAY
Palaiokastritsa is probably the most emblematic vista of Corfu, but aside from that, it’s also a spot that holds many secrets and legends in Greek mythology. The bay of Palaiokastritsa is said to be where Odysseus met Nausicaa for the first time and the last spot he stepped foot on before returning home. This is a popular location if you are looking to rent a boat for a day, and trust me you should! This was one of the major highlights of the trip for us. You don’t need a boating license for anything under 30 HP and you can rent from 10:00 – 18:00 roughly, depending on who you rent with. We rented with Triton Marine Tours and absolutely recommend them! You can find their page on Facebook and use WhatsApp to contact them.
Holy Metropolitan Church of the Virgin Mary Spilaiotissa, Saint Blaise and Saint Theodora Augusta
In the church rest the relics of Saint Theodora, the empress of Byzantium that reestablished the Holy icons in churches. Her relics were brought in Corfu, as well as the relics of Saint Spyridon’s, on donkeys from the fallen city if Constantinople in the 15th century.
CHURCH OF ST. SPYRIDON
Just a 2-minute walk away from the Papagiorgis Gelateria is the most monumental church on the island of Corfu, the Church of St. Spyridon. Built in the 1580s and still located in the Old Town of Corfu, the Church of Spyridon is home to the relics of St. Spyridon and also has the highest bell tower in all of the Ionian islands!
OLD FORTRESS
From the Esplanade, one of the most defining points you’ll likely notice is the Old Fortress sitting looking out into the Ionian sea and taking watch over Corfu. Known as one of the most astonishing and impressive fortifications in Europe, the Old Fortress of Corfu was built by the Venetians during the period of their rule in the 15th century. Entry tickets are €7 and visits are available throughout the winter season from 8:30 AM to 3 PM and throughout the summer season from 8 AM to 8 PM daily.
(image from google maps)
AMBELONAS Vineyard / Winery
We were looking for a winery on Corfu and discovered Ambelonas Corfu. This is a small vineyard just 6 km from Corfu Town, on a beautiful hill with natural wild vegetation and stunning sunset views of the island. While the white and red wine are delicious, the area is exceptional for dinner. Ambelonas serves up traditional Corfiot cuisine with a modern flair. It’s one of the best meals! Reservations are highly recommended (and almost required). Ambelonas hosts a lot of weddings, so their hours are pretty limited (Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 19:00—22:30).
The End
While Corfu may not be one of the most talked about islands, I hope after reading this guide you will have fallen for its unique beauty and charm the way we have. The stunning landscapes, the beautiful crystal waters and the amazing food will have you wanting to keep coming back for more! If you’re traveling to Greece and want to check out some other islands I hope you check out our other guides: Sitia Crete, as well as Athens and Chania Crete and stay tuned for more to come!
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Trip: June 2023
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