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What to see in Corfu

The museums: Set time aside to visit the island’s museums, which are also architecturally interesting. The Corfu Museum of Asian Art is housed in the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in Corfu town and is the only museum in Greece dedicated to the antiquities of Asia. In the east wing of the Palace is the Municipal Art Gallery, containing collections of paintings and engravings that trace the development of the arts in Corfu (16th-20th centuries). The Antivouniotissa Museum, which is housed in the 15th-century church of the Holy Mother of God Antivouniotissa, holds an important collection of icons and relics. In the centre of the island, at the village of Κynopiastes, you will find the Olive Museum, in which a rich collection of tools and archival photographs narrate the history of the blessed olive tree on the island.

The emblematic Liston, built during the French occupation of the island in the early 19th century, comprised of large arcades and arches and housing today the most touristic cafés of Spianada Square, is an entrance of sorts to the lanes of the old town.

Shaded and often crowned by the colourful clotheslines that form bridges between the traditional buildings of the Campiello, the narrow lanes of Corfu town appear to have come straight out of a medieval tale. The Campiello has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is filled with secret squares, small plateaus with churches, stone wells and charming little tavernas serving local fare. A stop at the church of Agios Spyridon, the island’s patron saint, built in 1589, is a must.

The hinterland of Corfu can be reached by car, and there are plenty of destinations in all directions. Near the airport you can see the famous view from Kanoni, taking in the famous and oft eulogised Pontikonisi (which you can reach by foot).

Further south in the direction of Gastouri, is the Achilleion, the palace where Princess Sissi (later the empress) regained her strengths. Impressively decorated inside and out, with maze-like gardens which are dominated by the statue of the Trojan hero Achilles, it has a clear view over the sea.

In Palaiopoli there is another palace, Mon Repos, built by the British Lord High Commissioner, Frederick Adam. Enclosed by a small wood, rocks that reach as far as the sea define its boundaries.

On the northwest side of the island, the historic 13th-century Monastery of Panagia Palaiokastritsa offers a wonderful view over the bays of the surrounding area. If you are feeling brave then you can attempt a dip in the crystal-clear (and crystal cold) waters, along with a visit to one of the local restaurants. This excursion can be combined with a visit to the celebrated Angelokastro, one of the most important Byzantine castles in Greece.

A special experience for nature lovers – although the whole of Corfu is a real gem of nature – is Lake Korission, the lagoon on the southwest coast of the island, a refuge for flamingos and a designated Natura 2000 region.

The beaches of Corfu

With a coastline of 217 kilometres, the choice of beaches seems as endless as their changing appearance. Beaches that are large and small, little bays, never-ending sands, isolated or bustling beaches, with a forest hanging above them, from one end of the island to the other.

In the northwest is Sidari, with a wide sandy beach, impressive psammitic formations and the Canal d’Amour cave characterising the landscape. It is suitable for water sports and boat trips to the Diapontia islands.

Palaiokastritsa has six little bays, each more beautiful than the other and all with freezing yet crystal-clear green waters, with numerous caves and opportunities to explore the seabed.

Staying in the northwest, the spectacular Agios Georgios Pagon, one of the largest beaches on the island, has places that offer you some privacy, thanks to the beach’s large size.

Large, sandy and for this reason often busy, Glyfada beach attracts mostly a young crowd. Equally as popular with the tourists is Agios Gordis, with a view over the rocky islet of Tholetos. Myrtidiotissa beach is hard to reach (it can be approached with a 4x4 or on foot, after a walk of about 20 minutes), but is worth making the effort for its cool waters and golden sand.

In the north there are more organised beaches, with Arachavis, with its shallow waters, and Roda being the most central.

The scenery changes slightly in the northeast, with a series of small natural coves, such as Barbati and Kouloura, and the more touristic options of Ypsos and Dasia, where a clear horizon allows a view over the Albanian mountains.

The south side of the island is considered the most developed in terms of tourism, the beaches and resorts of Benitses and Mesongi being the most noteworthy.

The cuisine of Corfu

Corfu’s gastronomic culture is very high on the list of things to do when on the island. Consequently, a trip to Cofu must be combined with a dish of pastitsada with meat (braised beef with tomato sauce) or fish, spicy bourdeto with scorpions or cod with its origins in Venice, sofrito (with beef) with plenty of garlic and parsley, lemony white fish, otherwise known simply as bianco, cod with agiada (garlic dip made of almonds, bread, oil and vinegar.

These are just some of the traditional dishes that have made Corfu known all around the world and that are served as specialities in tavernas or restaurants in the centre of Corfu town and in the peripheral provinces.

You must try the refreshing local drink of tsitsimbira (i.e. lemon juice made with natural lemon oil and ginger) and, of course, the products of the kumquat tree (liqueur, spoon sweets, etc.), which the English conquerors brought to the island from Japan.

Nightlife of Corfu

In the evenings, Corfu town has a wide range of atmospheric cocktail bars and popular hotel roof gardens with a fantastic view over the port. You can also find similar possibilities for a relaxed drink outside of the town, at Kanoni or Gouvia and at Ypsos, which is usually preferred by Italian visitors to the island. Corfu has a vibrant club scene, mostly concentrated in the region of Emporikos.

Shopping in Corfu

The heart of shopping in Corfu beats in the Old Town, a tradition that is preserved from the Venetian period. Wandering through the narrow lanes one will find a prevalence of workshops making wooden items – with plenty of choices for wooden household utensils – textiles and ceramics, alongside shops selling jewellery and leather goods. Here you will find many businesses that can supply you with genuine traditional island products, such as excellent local wines, cold meats, green soap and kumquat desserts and liqueur.

Getting from the airport to Corfu town

Corfu International Airport is located less than 3 km from the centre of Corfu town. It is relatively easy to reach Corfu town thanks to the regular departures of bus #15, which connects the airport to the centre of Corfu town and to the island’s port, from where there are bus connections to all other destinations. Finally, taxis are available to take you to and from Corfu International Airport 24 hours a day, for a charge of around 10 euros.