How to Spend 1 Day on Corfu

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.