ALL THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CORFU

After visiting so many Greek islands, I’m always shocked that most people only flock to Mykonos and Santorini. They are beautiful, but there is so much more to see of Greece. Corfu won me over and comes in at a close second or maybe even a tie as one of my favorite Greek islands I’ve explored thus far.

The interesting part about Corfu is not only its proximity to Italy but that it used to be under Venetian rule. This is why it feels more like an Italian Island than a Greek one. The Venetian architecture of the old town is stunning and really sets this island apart.

Corfu is located on the Ionian Sea off the West Coast of Greece’s mainland. The landscape is nothing short of amazing with the gorgeous limestone cliffs and grottos lining the sea coupled with the backdrop of the mountains lined with Cyprus trees. It’s truly incredible and should definitely be added to your list of must-see Greek islands.

Getting to Corfu

Getting to Corfu can be done by either a direct flight from multiple different departure points or by hopper flight from Athens or another Greek island. It can also be reached by ferry from many different ports such as Igoumenitsa port in Igoumenitsa Greece, Bari port in Italy, Saranda port in Albania, and a few others. Ferry tickets can be bought online ahead of time on Ferry Hopper or IS Ferry, but it’s cheaper to buy them from the ticket office at the port if you have time.

We rented a car in Athens and drove to Corfu, so we could stop and see some of Greece’s mainland along the way.

How long do you need on Corfu

The four days we spent there only allowed us to scratch the surface of all this island has to offer. You can see a lot in four days, but I’d do a week to really get to know the island and not feel rushed.

Where to Stay

I found the coolest Airbnb in Palaiokastritsa that I can’t recommend enough. I would absolutely stay there if it fits your budget. It’s right on the water, has a private beach and a big yard with a private pool and lounge area. The best part is, it comes with a free boat rental to cruise around Corfu! The owner of the place owns the boat rental company next door and lets her guests use the boats for free. You don’t need a license or anything to use the boat and it was the best experience we had in Corfu!

If you prefer to stay in town, we stayed in an adorable Airbnb right in the center of the old town, walking distance to everything! We stayed 3 nights in Palaiokastritsa and one night in Corfu Town. This is my personal preference because I prefer more time on the beach than in the town.

Things to Do

There is so much to do on Corfu and so much I still can’t wait to see. Here are some must-see spots from my visit.

La Grotta

This is my favorite place to spend the day on the island (other than beach hopping by boat). This incredible swimming grotto is stunning with crystal clear turquoise water surrounded by huge rocks and cliffs with a bar at the top! There’s a diving board and designated cliff jumping spots. You can easily spend the entire day sipping spritz, basking in the sun, diving off, and swimming every few minutes to stay cool. It is incredible!

Rent a Boat for the Day

Our incredible Airbnb came with a free rental (since the owner owns the boat rental next door). If you need to rent a boat, there are tons of places to rent on the west side of the island. The boats are around 80 Euros for a half-day plus petrol. This is a good deal compared to other more well-known islands. You can explore all the hidden caves, coves, grottos, and beaches that are only accessible by water, and stop to snorkel and swim wherever you’d like. It’s incredible and you don’t need a license to rent one.

Canal D’ Amour

Canal d’ Amour is a cool formation of sandstone inlets, beaches, and caves is on the northern part of the island in Sidari. It’s an hour’s drive from where I stayed in Paleokastritsa and an hour from town as well. This’s a great place to take a picnic and spend the day sunbathing on the rocks, swimming, cliff jumping, and snorkeling through the caves.

Porto Timoni

Porto Timoni is a beautiful overlook of two beaches separated by a sand bar in the center. The 15-minute hike will take you from the little village of Afionas to the overlook for pictures. If you want to continue down to the beach it will be another 15-20 minute hike down. I would suggest only coming here if you have half or a whole day to spend swimming on the beaches and exploring the area. We were pressed on time, so it wasn’t worth the drive just for the overlook. If you go, be sure to wear good shoes for the hike. Sneakers are perfect or some strap-on sandals with good grip on the bottom.

Imabari Corfu

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go to this awesome spot, but I’d love to check it out! It’s right on the water- outside the walls of the old town. This beautiful bar/restaurant and swimming spot looks like the perfect place to spend the afternoon swimming until the sunsets while sipping cocktails! Check it out!

Explore the Venetian Architechture and local shops of Old Town Corfu

The architecture of the old town is really interesting and so different than any other Greek island. It looks like an Italian island because it used to be! Corfu was originally under British, French, and Venetian rule before it finally became part of Greece. The architecture is predominately Venetian in the old town. I love exploring these beautiful medieval alleyways and popping out onto bustling little fruit and baklava-lined streets. The local shops here are perfect for souvenirs!

Take a day trip to Paxos and Anti-Paxos

You can take a ferry or private/semi-private boat trip to Paxos and Anti-Paxos for a day trip or spend a few days there. These are two stunning islands with insanely blue water and are known to be the home to one of the bluest bays in the world.

Where to Eat

The Village Taverna

This family-run restaurant has been around for decades. The whole family works together and treats you like family. The wife cooks everything, the husband greats the guests and runs the place, the sons and daughters serve the tables. You simply feel like you’re invited to dinner at their house. The food and wines here are incredible!!! The father kept bringing things out for us to try without even asking and the dishes were exactly what we wanted. Homemade, authentic, incredibly fresh Greek food.

The restaurant’s village is called Moraitika Old Village. It’s quite a drive from where we stayed in Palaiokastritsa (an hour to be exact) and about 30 minutes from Old Town Corfu. Either way, it’s more than worth it! I would’ve eaten here every night if possible!

Marina’s Taverna

Marina’s Taverna is one of the most popular tavernas in town. You’ll need to make a reservation because it does book up quickly. It’s only a few steps away from the awesome Airbnb we stayed in, and right in the center of the beautiful old town. It’s known for its pasta and the seafood is incredible as well!

Getting Around

You’ll need a car or ATV to thoroughly explore the island. I would suggest a car since the island is so big. You can rent a car at the airport and multiple other car rental places scattered around the island. I rented my car through Ryan Air this time and got it for half the price of the competitors. The rental company’s name was Volta4u. I rented it in Athens and drove to Corfu, so the available companies in Corfu may differ.

There are busses for public transportation, but it limits you and takes longer than if you have your own car.

Remember that you need to get your international driver’s license before getting to Greece if you’re going to rent a car or ATV. You can easily get this at any of your local AAA offices.

Have A Blast when you Go!

If you have any Corfu questions, leave them in the comments below, and as always, have a blast when you go! If you’re interested in other incredible islands to add to your Greek Island itinerary, check out my Milos, Zakynthos, Paros, Santorini, Mykonos, and Ios blogs! Have a blast exploring one of the most beautiful countries in the world!

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