Greece
Overview
Corfu does not look like the white-and-blue Greece of the Cyclades. The island is green, covered in olive and cypress trees, and Corfu Town feels Italian, with Venetian buildings, narrow lanes and a big square where people play cricket. It is a mix of Greek, Venetian, French and British history in one walkable old town, with beaches all around the island.
In Greek mythology Corfu (Kerkyra) was the island of the nymph Korkyra, and Homer's Odysseus washed up on its shores. Venice ruled it from 1386 to 1797, and thanks to its fortresses Corfu was never conquered by the Ottomans, which is why it looks so different from the rest of Greece. Then came the French (who built the Liston arcade) and the British, who ruled from 1815 to 1864 and left cricket and ginger beer behind. Corfu joined Greece in 1864. The Old Town became a UNESCO site in 2007.
How long to stay: 3 to 4 days: 1 to 2 for Corfu Town and the Achilleion, and 2 for the beaches. Add a day trip to Sarandë in Albania.
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Facts
Location
The northernmost of the Ionian Islands, off the northwest coast of Greece and just 2 km from Albania at its closest point.
Budget
Per person, per day.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | €30–45 ($34–51) | €90–160 ($102–181) | €250+ ($283+) |
| Food | €20–30 ($23–34) | €40–55 ($45–62) | €80+ ($90+) |
| Getting around | €3–6 | €30–50 (car rental) | €80+ |
Daily total €55–80 ($62–90) €160–265 ($181–299) €410+ ($463+)
Things to Do
A maze of narrow lanes (kantounia) between tall Venetian houses with green shutters and laundry hanging between balconies. Get lost on purpose, then find your way back to the Spianada.
Price: free · Time needed: half a day · Tip: try kumquat liqueur, a Corfu speciality, and sofrito (veal in white wine and garlic).
The Spianada is the largest square in Greece, where cricket matches are still played. Along one side is the Liston, an arcade built by the French in the early 1800s and modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, full of cafés.
Price: free · Tip: coffee on the Liston is expensive but worth it once.
The Venetians turned a rocky headland into a fortress, cutting a sea canal (the Contrafossa) to separate it from the town. It survived several Ottoman sieges, including the great siege of 1716. Inside there is a British-built church in the style of a Greek temple and a lighthouse with a great view.
Price: about €10 · Time needed: 1.5 hours.
The red-domed bell tower is the tallest in town. Inside are the relics of St Spyridon, the island's patron saint, who is credited with saving Corfu from plague and from the 1716 siege. His relics are carried through the streets four times a year.
Price: free · Tip: dress modestly.
Built in 1890 for Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi), who loved Corfu and the hero Achilles, then bought by the German Kaiser Wilhelm II. The gardens have the huge statue of Achilles and views over the coast.
Price: about €10–13 · Time needed: 1.5 hours · Getting there: blue bus 10 from town, about 30 minutes.
The classic view of Vlacherna Monastery on a tiny islet connected by a causeway, with Pontikonisi (Mouse Island) behind it. Planes landing at the airport fly very low right overhead.
Price: free · Tip: plane spotters love the café at the top.
A park with an elegant villa where Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born in 1921, and ruins of the ancient city of Kerkyra.
Price: park free; small fee for the museum.
A set of small coves with turquoise water and caves on the west coast, with a 13th-century monastery on the hill. Take a boat trip into the sea caves.
Getting there: green KTEL bus, about 45 minutes · Tip: combine it with the viewpoint at Bella Vista.
Sandstone cliffs carved by the sea into channels. Legend says couples who swim through the canal together will stay together.
Getting there: green KTEL bus, about 1 hour.
The ferry crosses to Sarandë in 30 to 70 minutes. Keep in mind that Albania is one hour behind Corfu, and you need your passport. See the Sarandë guide.
Transit Tips
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By air: many direct flights from Europe in summer and from Athens all year.
Airport: blue bus 15 to San Rocco Square and the port, €1.30 (Zone A, from March 2026). Taxi about €15–20.
By ferry: from Igoumenitsa on the mainland (about 1.5 hours), from Sarandë in Albania, and from Italy (Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, Venice).
Blue buses (city): €1.30 in Zone A and €1.80 in Zone B; buy before boarding, it is cheaper.
Green KTEL buses: from the station near the New Fortress to the beaches and villages.
Taxis: from ranks; app coverage is limited on the island.
Car or scooter rental: the best way to see the island's beaches.
The island is bigger than it looks: driving from Corfu Town to the far north takes about 1.5 hours on narrow roads.
Helpful Words
A few basics in Greek (English widely spoken in tourist areas) can make everyday conversations much easier.
Where to Stay
Plan & Book
Explore accommodation options and open hotel details directly from the map.
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