Given its nickname, the Queen of the Ionian Sea, it’s no surprise that many of the top things to do in Corfu involve sun, sea, and sand. From swimming in the turquoise shallows of romantic Canal d’Amour to sunbathing on Issos’ near-endless sands, Corfu’s coastal credentials are innumerable.
Yet, as with much of Greece, Corfu is also a land of myths, legends, history, and eye-pleasing architecture. Explore the island beyond the beach and you’ll discover the legacy of the ancient Greeks, Byzantines, Venetians, French, and British rulers and invaders. All of these have left their mark across fortresses, monasteries, museums, and Old Corfu Town.
Whether you want to splash on sensational shorelines, visit whitewashed villages, or taste local specialties in traditional tavernas, these are Corfu’s best experiences.
Explore the Old Town of Corfu
Old Town of Corfu
Pastel-hued, photogenic, and humming with action, the Old Town of Corfu is one of the most beautiful places in Greece.
Unlike many other whitewashed Greek island settlements, Corfu Town is a colorful medley of vivid Venetian townhouses, elegant porticos, and highly embellished Greek Orthodox churches.
Weighted in affluent history, as first referenced in Homer’s Odyssey, the Old Town of Kerkyra, to use its Greek name, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The best quarter to start is Campiello, the medieval labyrinth-like district. Stroll the narrow, pedestrian streets between quaint yet grand palazzi and aim to get lost—it’s all part of Corfu’s charm. Seek out Evraiki, the former Jewish quarter, to visit Scuola Greca, the only synagogue that survived World War II.
Church of St. Spyridon
Some of the best things to do in Corfu are within the Old Town, including visiting the island’s architectural standout, the Church of St. Spyridon.
Housing the relics of Saint Spyridon, who is said to have saved Corfu from both the plague and an Ottoman siege, the church dates from the 1580s, though its most impressive feature, the ceilings decorated with murals depicting Spyridon’s life, was painted in 1727.
Once you’ve found your way out of the historic maze, saunter along breezy Liston. This chic French-built, portico-covered entrance fronts it all and is an excellent spot to enjoy a classy cocktail overlooking Spianada Square and the mighty Old Fortress of Corfu.
Take in Paleokastritsa Monastery’s Panorama
Paleokastritsa Monastery
Located on the island’s northwest, visiting the cosmopolitan area around Paleokastritsa is one of the best things to do in Greece. Backed by vegetation-clad cliffs and awash with gorgeous swimming bays and trendy restaurants—including the much-loved La Grotta Bar—it’s the perfect setting to while away a day.
It’s also home to one of Corfu’s top attractions, the Paleokastritsa Monastery. Perched atop a cape and surveying Paleokastritsa’s shimmering bays, the colorful 15th-century structure is as handsome as it is historic.
A scenic walk links the monastery with the village, providing plenty of photo spots on the ascent. Inside the mustard-yellow space, relish the serene flower-decorated courtyard, take in the endless sea views, and see the small but impeccable collection of Byzantine treasures.
Hike to Lakones
Lakones
While Paleokastritsa might be most famed for its coastal jewels, the inland area promises equally enchanting panoramas.
Follow the old donkey track from the village, passing the mountain’s olive groves and in under an hour, you’ll be appreciating the far-reaching views from high above.
Slightly further, the mountain-shrouded hamlet of Lakones is a frozen-in-time delight, with flower-lined streets flanked by typical stone houses. You can reach Makrades, one of Corfu’s oldest settlements, in another hour or so.
Read: Best Places to Go Hiking in Greece
Pick Your Perfect Beach
Paleokastritsa
Fringed by sensational shorelines that range from pebbly swimming hotspots to sweeping, lake-backed sands, Corfu is known as one of the best Greek islands for beaches.
There’s no need to stray far from Corfu Town to lay out your towel. Undersized Faliraki Beach, underneath the Old Town walls, and Vidos Island are both quick and easy to access.
However, you’ll need to venture further afield to see Corfu’s best beaches. Popular bathing spots include the side-by-side bays of Kalami and Agni and the sandbar beaches of Halikounas and Issos, backed by Korission Lagoon, known for its bird life.
Paleokastritsa
Hiring a self-drive boat is one of the top things to do in Corfu, as those under 30hp don’t require a license. Picking up a vessel in Gouvia Bay and Paleokastritsa is straightforward. However, you’ll want to take a ferry to visit the slightly further-flung Diapontian Islands, an idyllic archipelago with sugar-sand coves.
Tour Corfu Town’s Pair of Venetian Fortresses
Old Fortress
Imposing, impressive, and almost impenetrable, Corfu’s two Venetian-built fortresses have guarded the Old Town for centuries. Spending a few hours poking around the pair serves as a history lesson to Corfu’s various sieges and settlers.
Of the two, the island-like, hill-topping Old Fortress is the most intriguing. Constructed in the 15th century, the citadel fronts the Old Town, separated from leafy Spianada Square by a thin strip of moat, the Contrafossa.
Most attractions are architectural and al fresco, including the colonnaded Church of St. George, built by the English in 1840, and the original Venetian prisons, adapted into barracks by the British.
Don’t miss the small central gate museum, which displays Corfu’s Byzantine Collection, a clutch of basilica-relocated mosaics and frescoes. Then, continue your tour to the elevated fortifications, the Land and Sea Towers, before ending atop the rock for sweeping views of this Greek city.
New Fortress
Across town, the northwest New Fortress is new in name only. It dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. While a large part of the dominating defensive complex is visitable, much remains closed to the public, with the main sights being added later to the English-built structures.
Walk From Afionas to Porto Timoni
Afionas
Combine two of the most magical things to do in Corfu by hiking between the whitewashed village of Afionas, arguably one of Corfu’s loveliest, and the cinema-worthy beaches of Porto Timoni.
Delightfully stuck in time, clifftop Afionas is that typical Greek postcard village: a cluster of narrow streets, crumbling walls framed by trailing, bright bougainvillea, and sensational sea views.
From the village, a somewhat challenging 40-minute trail descends to the photogenic twin beaches of Porto Timoni, a strip connecting the mainland to Cape Ákra Arílla. Be sure to bring swimwear to take a dip and water shoes to enjoy the breathtaking but pebbly Greek beaches.
Marvel at the Corfu Museum of Asian Art
Corfu Museum of Asian Art
Of all Corfu’s attractions, the Museum of Asian Art is perhaps the most unexpected. Yet, this Sino-Japanese collection is so captivating that it warrants a break from the beach.
Consisting of Greek diplomat Gregorios Manos’ personal collection and a later-added array of Indian sculptures, more than 15,000 pieces pack out the space. The Chinese lacquerworks and the Japanese silk scrolls adorned with calligraphy are particularly interesting.
Adding additional allure is the palatial setting. Housed within the one-time regency-style residence of the British Lord High Commissioner, embellishments such as Maltese stone columns and elegant chandeliers ensure the architecture rivals the exhibitions.
Feast on Local Flavors
Greek salad
Olive oil-soaked feta salads, succulent casseroles, fresh-from-the-boat grilled fish, and triple-scoop-worthy gelato—eating is undeniably one of the most enjoyable things to do in Corfu.
For a quick introduction to the island’s bounty, start your culinary tour at Corfu Central Market, flitting between stalls stacked high with the morning’s catch, locally produced honey and liqueurs, and seasonal fruits such as melons, apricots, and freskamentas, or prickly pears.
Gyro
After meeting those who farm, harvest, and catch the island’s crop, settle into a traditional taverna and indulge in a feast of meze, the Greek word for small sharing plates.
Alongside the cheese that Greece is famous for, feta, a crumbly sheep’s milk cheese—Corfu’s spiced version makes a flavorsome dip, tyrokafteri—you’ll want to sample local lianolia olives and melitzanosalata, an eggplant dip.
For something more hearty, order sofrito, veal sauteed in garlic and parsley, pastitsada, stewed beef on a bed of pasta noodles, or grilled fish bianco style, with lemon and garlic.
Linger Over a Koum Quat Liqueur
Koum quat liqueur
After devouring all of Corfu’s delicious dishes, a digestif is practically mandatory—especially on an island renowned for its homegrown Koum Quat Liqueur.
Introduced to the island from China in the 19th century, Corfu’s tangy, citrusy kumquats have since earned PGI—protected geographical indication—status. Yet they are rarely eaten. Instead, Corfiots started distilling the fruit into the island’s ubiquitous liqueur.
Best sipped and savored, Koum Quat is usually served neat and near-frozen. If you’d prefer a longer drink, order your liqueur with Tsitsibira, Corfu’s equally cherished signature ginger beer.
Climb to Angelokastro Castle
Angelokastro Castle
Reaching the island’s hilltop former capital can feel like a herculean task in the midday sun, yet a hike to Angelokastro Castle is one of the top things to do in Corfu for good reason.
Believed to have been occupied since the Byzantine period, records indicate the citadel was constructed around the 13th century before reigning over the island as the Governor’s residence between the 14th and 16th centuries.
With the hard uphill work done, it’s impossible not to be left in awe when you reach the top. From the 1,000-foot-high vantage point, the panorama is phenomenal, with much of the island visible, all backdropped by the Ionian’s cerulean palette.
Swim in the Canal d’Amour
Canal d’Amour
Suitably romantic sounding, taking a dip in the “Channel of Love” is one of Corfu’s top experiences for couples—not least because of the legend that swimming here will guarantee eternal love.
Found on the craggy northwest coast, Canal d’Amour’s steep headland-wedged waterway is as dreamy as its name would suggest: a thin strip of shallow turquoise waters snaking away from a pocket-sized beach.
After splashing around in the namesake channel, explore some other rock pools nearby, either on foot or by boat. The ethereal Cape Drastis is just west, a dramatic coastal scene of clay-like cliffs sheltering teeny coves at Corfu’s northwesternmost point.
Read: Most Romantic Places in Greece
Lunch in Corfu’s Oldest Village
Old Perithia
Constructed during the 14th century, Old Perithia, or Paleá, is considered Corfu’s oldest village. Set on the dramatic slopes of Mount Pantokrator and fringed by dense vegetation, it’s a time capsule of mainly derelict buildings. It’s also a reminder of how, in bygone times, the safety—and food security—of the mountains took precedence over being located on the coast.
Walking around the many abandoned heritage-protected homes of Old Períthi is one of the most fascinating things to do in Corfu to peek into times of yore. Thanks to some passionate restoration, the settlement is no longer a ghost village, with tavernas set in a handful of old stone buildings, ideal for lunch.
Meet the Winemakers
Wine
Boasting ancient indigenous grape varieties and viticulture dating back millennia, Corfu’s wines are rightly revered at restaurant tables across the island.
Yet for all of Corfu’s historical wine-making certifications, wines produced from the local Kakotrygis and Skopelitiko grapes can be challenging to find abroad. Make the most of having access to the local makers and bottles by joining a tour and tasting on a family-run estate.
Ambelonas Winery is one of the island’s most acclaimed. With a bucolic setting on a working farm endowed with olive groves, it’s also one of the most eye-pleasing.
After enjoying a stroll and history lesson amongst the wines and pressing rooms, settle in for the all-important tasting paired with homemade products.
Admire Archaeological Discoveries
Spianada Square
A short stroll from the city’s Spianada Square, the Archaeological Museum of Corfu paints a more insightful picture of the island’s protracted history.
Exhibiting excavations from across the island, the collection concentrates on the ancient settlements of Corfu Town, Thesprotia, and Kassiopi. While the museum spans millennia, the most intriguing exhibits cover BCE discoveries, including terracotta statues, ancient religious stone carvings, and the famed Lion of Menecrates funerary sculpture.
Anemomilos Windmill
Further south, just beyond Garitsa Bay’s pretty Anemomilos Windmill, a handful of fascinating archeological attractions await around Paleopolis, the city’s oldest suburb on the Kanoni Peninsula.
Dive into an overview at the Museum of Palaiopolis housed inside the Mon Repos Mansion. An eclectic space, the rooms here are separated into those covering British Rule, the estate’s vast gardens, archeological discoveries of Palaiopolis itself, and the city’s Roman Baths.
The Paleopolis Archeological Site is best explored with a guide to better understand the ancient walls and temples, dating to the seventh century BCE.
Visit Vlacherna Monastery
Vlacherna Monastery
Practically floating on the Ionian Sea, Vlacherna Monastery occupies an islet at the end of the Kanoni Peninsula. Reachable by a short bridge, it’s easily combined with a visit to Palaiopolis.
While you won’t need long to see the whitewashed monastery, visiting 17th-century Vlacherna is considered one of the best things to do in Corfu because the building is an icon of the island.
From the pier-like bridge, boats depart to tranquil Pontikonisi Island, home to a second church and resident peacocks—though, the trip’s highlight is arguably seeing Vlacherna from another angle.
Go Offroading in the Mountains
Mount Pantokrator
Topping out at 2,972 feet, Mount Pantokrator is Corfu’s loftiest peak. Promising panoramas of the sparkling Ionian Sea and even Albania beyond, it’s one of the island’s most cinematic settings.
If tackling the intense trail doesn’t appeal, one of the most unforgettable things to do in Corfu is to join a 4×4 adventure, taking in the rugged north coast around Pantokrator and bouncing across landscapes coated with Mediterranean scrub, pines, and olive groves.
Not only will you be able to relish harder-to-reach viewpoints, but most offroading tours combine nature with rural life, calling at historical hinterland villages such as semi-mountainous Sokraki.
Tour an Olive Oil Factory
Olive oil
With a history of olive tree cultivation dating back to around 5000 BCE, the Greeks have been perfecting their Mediterranean liquid gold production for millennia. Corfu is no exception and today, the island harvests around 33 million pounds of olives annually.
Tour one of the island’s groves and factories to taste the Corfiots’ oil at source and learn more about its history and production methods.
You’ll find small olive oil museums at two of Corfu’s most celebrated producers, The Governor’s Olive Mill and Mavroudis. On a tour of either family estate, you’ll see ancestral stone grinding devices alongside more modern production techniques before visiting the groves. The most delicious part is sampling their acclaimed extra virgin olive oils.
Amble Around Achilleion Palace
Achilleion Palace
Set your sights on the Achilleion Palace’s Imperial Gardens for a serene and shaded afternoon. Only a short drive from Corfu Town, an amble around the museum and well-manicured grounds of this 19th-century stately palace is one of the most relaxing things to do in Corfu.
A genuine European affair, the palace was constructed at the behest of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Enthralled by Greek mythology, she decorated the halls and grounds with statues and ceiling artworks depicting mythical scenes and named her new retreat after the Greek hero, Achilles.
Sadly, less than a decade after the palace’s completion, the empress was assassinated. After a brief period of ownership by the German Emperor Wilhelm II, who hired agriculturalists to turn the grounds into a glorious garden of unusual and tropical plants, the palace fell into disrepair.
Thankfully, intensive renovations began in 2020 to restore the palace’s interior to its former glory. Many of the original frescos were revealed during the process, finally returning the estate to the Empress’ original vision.
Corfu Town
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