Corfu Travelers Recommend

With three days on Corfu, there’s ample time to get acquainted with its sights and charms and explore beyond its shores. Admire the Venetian architecture of Corfu Old Town; roam palaces, museums, and tranquil countryside; and cruise to nearby islands and the Greek and Albanian mainland. Here are your options for a 3-day stay.

Day 1: Corfu Town and Highlights

On your first day, explore Corfu Old Town—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the island’s other main sights on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. See the Old Town’s main draws and take in the nearby views over Mouse Island. Alternatively, opt for a wider island tour on a private or shared-group basis. All combine brief sightseeing in Corfu Old Town with visits to attractions such as the splendid 19th-century Achilleion Palace and the west coast town of Paleokastritsa, home to six exquisite coves and a charming medieval monastery.

Day 2: Nearby Islands and Beyond

Now that you know Corfu a little better, today is prime for exploring farther by boat. Take a day trip to Saranda, one of Albania’s major beach resorts and just across the narrow Straits of Corfu, and opt to tag on a visit to nearby Butrint, where the remnants of a 6th-century BC city nestle in woodland. If you prefer a regular swim-and-scenery boat trip, book an all-day sailboat cruise to swim and snorkel in secluded bays, or go island-hopping to Paxos and Antipaxos just south of Corfu to enjoy their aquamarine waters. Other popular options include cruises to mainland Greece: to Syvota to bathe in its electric-blue lagoon, to the pretty town of Parga, or to the rock-pinnacle monasteries of Meteora.

Day 3: Get Under Corfu’s Skin

Devote your last day on Corfu to experiences of specific interest to you. Outdoor enthusiasts might want to hop on a Vespa to zip along the winding coastal roads of Paleokastritsa. Foodies can choose a private Corfu Town food tour and sample meze tidbits, flaky pies, and other specialities strolling the old quarter’s lanes and markets. Wine aficionados might combine a countryside tour with tastings at one of Corfu’s oldest wineries, while beach fans can spend the day lounging on Glyfada Beach. Whatever you choose, wrap up your stay in relaxed style, with a guided evening stroll to absorb Corfu Town’s nighttime vibe and lit-up landmarks. Forage for souvenirs in the alleyways, admire sights such as St. Spyridon Church, and finish with a cold drink at the illuminated Liston.

High on the list of Greece’s most visited islands, Corfu is crammed with crowd-pleasers—picturesque beaches, Byzantine ruins, pretty villages, and faded palaces, topped off by Corfu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you only have a day to explore, here are our tips for experiencing the island in just 24 hours.

Morning: Explore the Sights

Corfu’s relatively large size makes a guided all-island tour a great idea. A custom half- or full-day tour will ensure you see highlights such as Corfu’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and Paleokastritsa’s Angelokastro castle and also lets you personalize your itinerary. Otherwise, take a bike to breeze around town landmarks such as the French-built Liston arcade and the nearby lush Kanoni Peninsula. Alternatively, a hop-on hop-off bus tour lets you craft your own schedule and spend however long you wish at sights such as Mon Repos Palace and the Old Fortress.

Afternoon: Boats and Beaches

If you love exploring by boat, finish any morning activities early to join a cruise around Corfu’s gorgeous northeast coast. Bask in the sunshine and views from deck, stopping for a barbecue meal and dips in blue-green bays and caves. Beach lovers, meanwhile, might prefer a private excursion to Glyfada Beach—one of Corfu’s loveliest—to relax and bathe in its clear seas. If you prefer a cultural outing, book a half-day trip that calls at the statue-filled Achilleion Palace. This neoclassical 1890s mansion on the east coast was home to Sisi, Austria’s much-loved Empress Elisabeth, and commands magnificent coastal views from its exotic gardens.

Evening: City Lights

Corfu Old Town comes into its own after dark, when its narrow streets and pedestrianized squares fill with locals and twinkling lights. Drink in the lively atmosphere with a private evening tour that eliminates any transportation worries. Capture photos of the island’s most celebrated view—down over Mouse Island from Kanoni—and then venture into the Old Town to stroll, shop for souvenirs, and sip cocktails or refreshing Corfiot ginger beer under the Liston’s arches—a quintessential Corfu experience.

Two days on Corfu provides enough time to discover the island’s must-sees and dip into its other attractions, from lounging on its sweeping beaches to taking scenic boat trips. Here are our recommendations for a perfect 48 hours on this charming Greek isle.

Day 1: Essential Corfu

**Morning:**Experience as much of Corfu as possible on a private customizable or shared-group tour: Covering the must-sees off the bat will free up time to pursue any specific interests later. Most all-island tours visit Corfu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with beauty spots such as Paleokastritsa’s coves and Angelokastro castle, so you’ll come away having experienced both urban and rural Corfu in one.

**Afternoon:**If you skipped an all-island day trip, take a deep dive into Corfu Old Town this afternoon. For self-guided forays, board a hop-on hop-off bus and alight at Kanoni to visit monastery-topped Mouse Island, a Corfu showpiece. Alternatively, choose a guided excursion that includes the 19th-century Achilleion Palace just south of the town, the onetime home of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.

**Evening:**Get the most from any hop-on hop-off ticket by returning to the bus for a late-afternoon look at Corfu Old Town—just as the sunset paints everything gold. Disembark at the Old Fortress and stroll the Esplanade gardens before people-watching and dining at an alfresco restaurant.

Day 2: Day Trips and Beaches

**Morning:**Day two is ideal for discovering Corfu’s nearby islands—and Albania across the water. Join a boat trip to the picture-perfect islands of Paxos and Antipaxos to swim in their aquamarine waters, or cruise to Albania to discover the seaside resort of Saranda or the antiquities of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

**Afternoon:**Unless you’re on a full-day cruise, now’s the time to widen your explorations on Corfu. Venture to west coast Paleokastritsa to admire its stunning coastal scenery and enjoy a wine tasting en route, or opt to laze on the golden sands of Glyfada beach.

**Evening:**Corfu Old Town is at its most atmospheric come evening, so finish your stay with a private nighttime tour. Scour the honeycombed lanes for souvenirs and admire the floodlit Palace of St. Michael and St. George as you sip drinks at the lantern-lit Liston.

With its rugged mountains, glassy waters, and peaceful olive groves, Corfu is ready-made for outdoor activities. While many visitors stay put on its beaches, there’s plenty to get you out and about on land and water. Here are our tips for active tours and adventures.  

Snorkeling, Swimming, and Scenic Boat Trips

Corfu is known for its coves, gin-clear waters, and proximity to the Greek mainland and the nearby islands of Paxos and Antipaxos, so it’s no surprise that boat trips abound, from big-boat cruises to private yacht charters. Absorb the sea breezes as you chug to Antipaxos to snorkel in its electric-blue waters, or swim in the luminous shallows of Syvota’s Blue Lagoon on the mainland. Other trips head for Parga or drop anchor in secluded bays for time to snorkel and swim.

Scuba Diving

Popular with scuba divers, Corfu’s waters host corals, sculpted rocks, and rich marine life from barracuda and grouper to tiny reef fish. Many boat trips cater to beginners and certified divers alike, transporting them to hot spots such as Kruzeri reef for professionally guided dives or introductory trips that ease novices into the underwater world.

Cycling and Mountain Biking

Cycling is a popular way to explore Corfu, and the island is honeycombed with lanes and mountain paths suitable for casual and serious bikers. Hop on a mountain bike to cycle around villages and the foothills of the island’s highest peak, Mt. Pantokrator. For a gentler option, pedal around Corfu Town’s backstreets and landmarks as you soak up its charms.

Scooter Tours

Corfu’s villages and olive-clad hills are perfect antidotes to its busier areas, and there’s no easier way to discover them than by scooter. Don a helmet to zip along country roads, explore sleepy villages, and check out Byzantine-era monasteries and castles nestled in the hillsides.

4WD Excursions

4WD expeditions are an exhilarating way to reach some of Corfu’s beauty spots and farthest-flung regions. Board a chauffeured 4WD to roam southern Corfu—less developed than the north. Bump along off-road tracks and mountain trails to encounter stone hamlets and whitewashed churches perched on lonely hilltops. Alternatively, choose a 4WD tour of north Corfu, following winding trails up rocky Mt. Pantokrator for unforgettable views over to the Albanian mainland.

With more than 130 miles (209 kilometers) of Ionian coastline, Corfu island has more beautiful beaches than any 2-week traveler can ever hope to explore. But, before you settle for any old stretch of sand, read our picks for the best beaches in Corfu.

Issos

This dune-lined stretch of golden sand is situated in Agios Geórgios on the southwest edge of the Korission Lagoon and famously featured in the 1981 James Bond film,For Your Eyes Only. Lifeguards watch over the shallow waters, which draw in swimmers and water sports enthusiasts, while the golden sands are a magnet for sunbathers.

Paleokastritsa

Located about 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Corfu Town, Paleokastritsa is home to a series of six beaches set around a bay, some of which can only be accessed by boat. A common thread between them all is their crystal-clear waters, which makes them ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Boat trips carry beachgoers out to sea caves here.

Porto Timoni

Set near the village of Afionas, this double beach straddles either side of a narrow strip of land and is not only one of the most picturesque in Corfu but also in Greece as a whole. Its difficult-to-access location keeps crowds at bay: You can get here either by taking a boat or by hiking down a rocky, hillside path. The walk from Afionas should take about 30 minutes.

Ágios Geórgios Págon

Curving along the northwest coast of the island, this U-shaped sandy beach is bordered by cliffs that rise from the water. Try windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, or just floating in the tie-dye blue waters. This stretch usually remains uncrowded, even in the height of the season.

Glyfada

One of the closest beaches to Corfu Town, Glyfada is known for its soft golden sand and the tree-covered cliffs that surround the beach. Most popular with younger crowds, the beach has all the basic amenities, as well as water sports facilities, shops, and beach bars.

Canal d’Amour

Located near the resort town of Sidari on the north coast, the Canal d’Amour (Channel of Love) is one of Corfu’s most famous beaches. It’s small, but perfectly formed, with striking rock formations creating a network of coves and canals. Tradition dictates that if a couple swim through the narrow canal, they will soon be wed.