There’s more to Corfu than its comely beaches. Dig deeper and you will uncover many centuries of history in and around the cobblestoned old town capital, dating from antiquity to the present day. One of Greece’s most lush islands, this Ionian jewel is made for hiking enthusiasts and there are marked trails everywhere you look. On the western and northern coasts strikingly sculpted cliffs, some bare and others verdant, plunge down to cerulean seas. Visit a functioning hilltop monastery that enjoys eye-wateringly beautiful sea views. In an isolated inland village see age-old olive groves and learn how to identify high quality extra virgin olive oil.
For further Corfu inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants, beaches and nightlife.
Find things to do by area:
- Corfu Old Town
- North-east Corfu
- North-west Corfu
- Northern Corfu
- Southern Corfu
- East Corfu
- Nearby islands
Corfu Old Town
Old Fortress
Scale a fortress for unrivalled views
Built by the Venetians in the 14th century and expanded by the British, the Old Fortress is strategically situated on a peninsula with twin craggy peaks at the mouth of the Adriatic Sea. Not only does it represent notable military engineering, but the views of the surrounding sea and Old Town from the taller of its two towers are spectacular.
Insider’s tip: When the weather is warm, join locals taking a dip at tiny Limanaki beach at the foot of the monument. Afterwards, enjoy a cool beer or juice at the nearby Corfu Sailing Club and admire the sailboats moored at Mandraki port.
Contact: odysseus.culture.gr
Prices: £
Old Town of Corfu
Peel back the layers of time
Four centuries of Venetian rule mostly shaped the Old Town of Corfu into the Unesco World Heritage-listed stunner it is today. Lose yourself in the alleyways of the atmospheric Campiello neighbourhood, where laundry hangs between pastel-coloured dwellings; pay your respects to the isle’s patron saint at Agios Spyridon church; and linger in the shade of trees at a café in the elegant Liston Arcade.
Insider’s tip: Go for a sunset stroll along the coastal road from the old port past the Mouragia area and see neoclassical buildings bathed in golden light. Conclude your walk at sprawling Spianada Square, which comes alive with youthful laughter every evening.
Corfu Museum of Asian Art
See 15,000 works of art
Not what you might expect in Corfu, this fascinating museum was established in 1928, thanks to Gregorios Manos’ generous donation of his Sino-Japanese collection to the Greek state. Housed in the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Corfu Museum of Asian Art has since expanded with more donations totalling more than 15,000 works of Asian art on display.
Insider’s tip: Keep an eye out for occasional temporary exhibitions, featuring works ranging from Korean landscape paintings depicting the country’s rugged mountains and flowing rivers to the intricately-weaved saddle bags of Central Asia’s Baluch nomads dating to the 19th century.
Contact: matk.gr
Prices: £
Old Town food tours
Unearth a rich culinary heritage
For an in-depth exploration of Corfu’s Venetian-influenced culinary heritage, look to island-born and -raised siblings Ariti and Nausica Katsarou, who run engaging small group and private food tours of the Old Town. Down tiny backstreets you’ll meet gastronomic vanguards who explain how delicacies like cold cut nouboulo, a nod to Italian prosciutto, are produced. Reserve room for tasty meze and sweet delights from an old-school dairy.
Insider’s tip: If you visit during Easter, the Katsarou sisters will go into detail on the traditions involved in the island’s colourful celebrations, such as pot-smashing. While you’re there, pick up fogatsa or kolombina, two types of local brioche made for the annual holiday.
Contact: corfuwalkingtours.com
Prices: ££
Palaiopolis-Mon Repos Museum
Visit a palace built atop an ancient city
British Lord High Commissioner Sir Frederick Adam built a palace, later named Mon Repos, in 1831 as a summer residence for his Corfiot wife, Diamantina Palatianou. Today, the neoclassical villa functions as a museum comprising 14 halls, whose key attraction is a bounty of rare finds from the 8th century BC city of Paleopolis, the remnants of which are evident throughout the densely-vegetated estate.
Insider’s tip: With tall trees for shade, this is the perfect spot for a picnic on a hot summer’s day. Don’t miss the Doric temple of Kardaki, one of Corfu’s best preserved ancient sites, and seek out the eponymous hidden beach nearby.
Contact: odysseus.culture.gr
Prices: £
North-east Corfu
San Stefano Boats
Drop anchor in a secluded bay
No visit to Corfu is complete without hiring a motorboat to explore the coastline at your own speed – San Stefano Boats is one pick amongst many. The northeastern coast in particular is blessed with endless sheltered beaches, bays and coves, some of which are – gloriously – only accessible by sea. Find a tranquil location where you can dive into emerald waters before heading for lunch at a waterfront taverna.
Insider’s tip: Head north to the little-visited, thickly-forested Erimitis headland, an area of outstanding natural beauty. There you’ll come across a sextet of serene beaches and three small lakes. Keep an eye out for the Kaparelli lighthouse, built on a rocky islet.
Contact: sanstefanoboats.com
Prices: ££
Corfu Trail
Hike the island
Hilary Paipeti is something of a local legend. In 2001, she established the Corfu Trail, the island’s 137-mile (220km) waymarked route, after years spent exploring and discovering the diversity of the island's countryside and coastline. The trail, painstakingly documented in a book, extends from Arkoudilas in the south to Cape Agia Ekaterini in the north. Spring is ideal hiking season in Corfu.
Insider’s tip: Expert guides Alexandros Gogas and Dimitris Ionas, of Corfu Sea Land Activities, offer varied hiking experiences for all fitness levels. They’ll lead you through olive groves, past chapels, beneath mighty Mount Pantokrator and along cobbled footpaths.
Contact: corfuactivities.com
Prices: £
North-west Corfu
Corfu Donkey Rescue Centre
Pay a visit to rescued donkeys
Founded in 2004 by the late Judy Quinn, the Corfu Donkey Rescue Centre has taken in and provided care and a home for over 500 unwanted or abandoned donkeys. Situated amid olive trees, it’s open year-round to visitors, strictly between 10am and 4pm. Come give the donkeys a cuddle and a brush-down. Donations to cover daily needs and medication are welcome.
Insider’s tip: If you’re particularly smitten and willing to put in some serious physical work for the cause, including quite a bit of time collecting poo, the rescue centre accepts volunteer applications. Alternatively, show your support by “adopting a donkey” for £76 per year.
Contact: corfu-donkeys.com
Prices: Free
Paleokastritsa monastery
Take in heavenly views from a monastery
Wherever you stay in Corfu, the leafy resort town of Paleokastritsa is a must-see. Visit its hilltop monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was built in the 13th century. From there, take in jaw-dropping views of sweeping bays, coves and fertile bluffs that rise up from a turquoise Ionian Sea. There is a museum displaying rare Byzantine icons and relics, and a shop on-site too.
Insider’s tip: Morning mass, open to the public, is held 7am-8.30am and offers a moment for quiet contemplation before the cruise crowds show up. Wait until the monastery closes at 1pm to access the two main viewpoints, reached by a dirt path.
Contact: 00 30 26610 39912
Prices: Free
X Adventure Club
Uncover a hidden lake
Take a break from driving the island’s winding roads and let Yiannis and Sakis, the guides behind X Adventure Club, show you around the Corfu they know and love on a six-hour jeep tour. Pick the northwest option, which takes in the villages of Lakones and Afionas, views of Paleokastritsa and Porto Timoni’s twin beaches, along with the dramatic spires of Cape Drastis.
Insider’s tip: You’ll make a brief stop at Kavourolimni (Crab Lake), little known even among Corfiots. Surrounded by tall oak trees, this watering hole for local wildlife is home to freshwater crabs. In Spring the lake’s shores are ablaze with wildflowers.
Contact: jeepsafaricorfu.com
Prices: £££
Diving trips
Dive into living colour
Corfu offers some of Greece’s most spectacular scuba diving. Newbie and experienced divers will enjoy inspecting various dive sites with operatators such as Achilleon Diving, particularly on the western coast, offering visibility of up to 30 metres. Expect vibrant reefs, soft corals, caverns, caves, canyons, arches, steep drops, shipwrecks and narrow passages. You’re likely to encounter barracuda, moray eels, octopus, shrimp, grouper, crayfish and sea bream.
Insider’s tip: Don’t miss out on Colovri islet with its two remarkable outer reefs teeming with marine life such as tuna, jacks, anthia and nudibranch. There is a precipitous drop, a swim-through and a coral-covered plateau at a depth of 40m.
Contact: diving-corfu.com
Prices: Varies between dive centres
Northern Corfu
Cape Drastis
Witness the beauty of a natural sculpture
A 12-minute drive west of Sidari is Cape Drastis, a striking, untouched landscape of sheer sandstone cliffs shaped by the wind and aquamarine waters. It’s more impressive than the tourist-clogged Canal d’Amour and fewer people know of it or make the trek. Park your car and walk down a rough road to capture this incredible location, which is particularly worth viewing at sunset.
Insider’s tip: At the end of the road is minuscule Grava Cove, from where you can dive into cool, translucent waters from flat rocks. Alternatively, book a private boat tour with Sidari-based Fortuna Sea Tours, involving swim stops at Cape Drastis and Grava.
Contact: fortunaseatours.com
Prices: £
Horseback riding
Ride a horse on mountain trails and beaches
When it comes to horse riding in Greece, Corfu ticks all the boxes. Routes wind through olive groves, cypress, oak and pine forests and traditional villages down to beaches with sapphire waters. Choose from trail and beach rides, lessons and even swimming with horses. Whether you’re a novice or experienced, North Corfu Horses has a trusty steed at the ready, with names like Hercules and Iro. Based near Perithia village, Ilias Siriotis lovingly maintains a herd of 25 horses, many of them rescues. His team offers rides of between 10 minutes for young children and a full day.
Insider’s tip: Five-day horse riding holidays encompass natural horsemanship seminars and, for the advanced, show jumping and cross-country jumping.
Contact: northcorfuhorses.com
Prices: £-££
Southern Corfu
Olive oil tasting
Learn the secrets of olive oil
Brothers Spyros and George Dafnis have single-handedly put Corfu and its Lianolia olive variety on the extra virgin olive oil map. Book a tasting tour of their estate, The Governor, and see how the third-generation olive oil producers have married tradition and technology to create premium EVOO. You’ll visit olive groves, see a 15th-century mill and sample the exquisite golden elixir.
Insider’s tip: After learning how to recognise great olive oil, you can buy a limited edition early harvest oil, also available from The Olive House in Corfu Town, certified for its health-enhancing properties.
Contact: thegovernor.gr
Prices: ££
Achilleion Palace
See the home of Empress Sissi
Built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sissi, the Achilleion Palace served as a refuge for the liberal-minded royal, who faced tragedy throughout her life. She decorated it with works of art inspired by Greek mythology. Following Sissi’s unfortunate death in 1898, Kaiser William II of Germany acquired the building, however, a war of his own bidding prevented him from residing in the palace.
Insider’s tip: Restoration works at the palace have revealed neo-Pompeian style decorative elements. It remains closed to the public but the Imperial Gardens are open daily from 8am to 4pm. Before you arrive, take a virtual tour of the palace online for a look inside.
Contact: achillion-corfu.gr
Prices: £
East Corfu
The Durrells filming tour
Follow in the footsteps of the Durrells
The Durrells devotees shouldn’t miss the opportunity to take in the illustrious filming locations of the much-loved series on a cinematic tour offered on private-basis only by The Corfu Experience. From the Kanoni peninsula, you’ll see the 17th-century Vlacherna Monastery and Mouse Island. Visualise Countess Mavrodaki strolling around Mon Repos Palace and a young Gerry examining the plant and bird species of Antiniotissa Lake.
Insider’s tip: Lunch is on the water at the White House in Kalami, where Lawrence Durrell and his wife Nancy resided in the 1930s. Peruse the faded photographs and treasured memorabilia gracing the elegant restaurant’s indoor section.
Contact: thecorfuexperience.com
Prices: £££
Central Corfu
Ambelonas Estate
Taste test local olive oil and wine
Owner and chef Vasiliki Karounou welcomes guests into her home and shares the intriguing history of Ambelonas estate and vineyard, where vines and olives have been cultivated for four centuries. Pore over pre-industrial equipment used to produce olive oil and wine then pay a visit to the onsite restaurant and sample seasonal farm-to-table fare, such as Corfiot-style prosciutto, known as noumboulo, and Jerusalem artichoke tart.
Insider’s tip: Learn about the principles and techniques of Corfiot cuisine in a hands-on cooking class using local ingredients such as wild fig, olives and goat cheese. If you prefer to simply eat, you’re welcome to join the fun, at a discounted rate.
Contact: ambelonas-corfu.gr
Prices: ££-£££
Nearby islands
Chartered sailing trips
Sail off into the sunset
With its protected anchorages and calm waters, the Ionian Sea has long been a magnet for sailing enthusiasts. Schedule a day charter or week-long skippered sailing trip aboard 50-foot Icarus with Celebration Charters, run by Scottish couple Robert and Veronica Queen, and see what it’s like to cast across the big blue, powered by Aeolus.
Insider’s tip: The diminutive, lesser-known Diapontia islets of Erikoussa, Othoni and Mathraki, which lie north of Corfu, are a dream sailing destination. Sandy umbrella-free beaches, sleepy villages, herb-scented hills and an exotic aquamarine playground await.
Prices: £££
Contact: 00 30 698 669 0908; facebook.com/celebrationcharters1
How we choose
Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Greece expert Helen Iatrou is an unabashed Ionian island aficionado. By day, she goes sailing off the northeast coast and swimming at remote Porto Timoni beach. By night, she seeks out soul vibes in Corfu Town’s coolest bars.