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We will give you some  of the best information, tips and recommendation for Corfu island and town.

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Corfu Guide

INDEX

1)Corfu Town or Kerkyra

2)Paleokastritsa

3)Gastouri and Achilleion Palace

4)Pelekas

5)Kanoni

6)Other Villages

7)Museums

8)Churches-Monasteries

9)Fortresses

10)Palaces

11)Top Beaches

12)Why go?

13)Best Times to Visit Corfu

14)Tips for Corfu

15)Corfu Attractions

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1)Corfu Town or Kerkyra: is as pleasant a major holiday centre as you will find anywhere in Greece. Venetians, French and British have all had a hand in developing the town and the results are both impressive and attractive, especially since 1994 when public buildings were given a major clean-up in preparation for a EU summit. It is dominated by double forts. The 13th century Neo Frourio (New Fort) with its dungeons, cellars and impressive turret battlements is much more interesting to visit than the older but less exciting 6th century Paleo Frourio (Old Fort).Liston is built by the French in the same style as those in Rue de Rivoli. Cricket was playing on the pitch opposite the Liston.

                       Corfu Liston

                                  Corfu Town

2)Paleokastritsa: is a village on the west coast of Corfu island and consists of six beautiful caves with sandy beaches, surrounded by green forests and olive trees. Local tavernas are renowned for serving up the town’s delicious lobster catches. Also has a castle and a monastery.

Achillion Palace Corfu

Palekastritsa in Corfu

3)Achillion: is the summer residence that was build in name of the Austrian empress Elisabeth between 1889 and 1892 on the Greek island of Corfu. After Elisabeth had visited Corfu in the sixties on several occasions for health reasons, she became very interested in Greek mythology. She travelled to Greece on a regular basis.

4)Pelekas:13 kilometres west of the town, a lovely village set on a rocky hill, whose summit – according to the Corfiots say – is the best place to watch the sun go down. Not far from Pelekas in the Ropa Valley is situated Corfu’s excellent golf course.
Sidari & Canal d Amour (1 hour): its location is 36 km north west of Corfu Town. Its the famous coves of Canal d’Amour are situated at the west of Sidari, on the northern side of the island. It is one of the most impressive and photographed spots of Corfu.

Sidari Village Corfu

Pelekas Village Corfu

5)Kanoni: is world famous Kanoni is situated south of the Palaiopoli peninsula. It was named Kanoni (cannon) after the battery of artillery established by the French in 1798. One of the battery’s cannons still stands at the tourist kiosk. In front of Kanoni is the Monastery of Vlaherna, linked to the mainland by a cement dock and built in the 17th century. From there one can visit Pontikonissi.

Corfu Map                                   Pontikonissi (mouse island)

6)Other Villages: Kassiopi, Ipsos, Dassia, Sinies, Acharavi, Barbati,Kouloura, Ag. Georgios NW, Lakones, Gouvia, Benitses, Moraitika and Arillas

7)Museums:
*Corfu Archaeological Museum (address: Vraila Armeni street, close to the bay of Garitsa)
*Museum of Asian Art(address: near Liston promenade, Espianada square)
*Nomismatic Museum of Corfu(address: old town)

8) Churches-Monasteries:
*Saint Spyridon(address: located in the Old Town of Corfu, right behind Liston)
*Paleokastritsa’s Monastery(address: paleokastritsa hill)
*Monastery of Platytera (address: near new town and old hospital)
*Panagia ton Xenon(address: near Liston promenade, old town)

9) Fortresses:
*Fortress Of Saint Mark or New Fortress(address: old port of Corfu)
*Old Fortress(address: next to Spianada square and Liston)
*Aggelokastro(address: Paleokastritsa)
*Gardiki(address: on a hill between Agios Mathaios and Messongi)

New Fortress

Aggelokastro Fortress

10) Palaces:
*Achillion Palace or Sisi Palace (address: Gastouri village)
*The Palace of St. Michael and St. George (address: Corfu old town)
*Mon Repo(address: Garitsa bay near Corfu Town)

11) Top Beaches:
*Glyfada(address: down of Pelekas village)
*Ag.Gordios(address: down of Sinarades village)
*Dassia(address: dassia village)
*Barbati(address: Barbati village)
*Benitses(address: Benitses village)

Beach on the west North side                                  Corfu old Fortress

12) Why go?
Corfu has figured in our consciousness since Edward Lear visited and painted while it was a British possession from 1814 to 1864. The Durrell brothers (and Henry Miller) lodged it even more firmly in the Anglo-Saxon psyche with their late-1930s sojourns, and subsequent rhapsodising in print. Today the island has a somewhat chequered reputation, due in part to its associations with Peter Mandelson/Jacob and Nat Rothschild (habitués of the north-east coast, popularly dubbed “Kensington on Sea”) but also the notoriously downmarket excesses of Kávos in the south.Yet there is plenty in between for the rest of us, on one of the greenest of the Greek islands – thanks to intermittent but torrential rains from September to June, and the thousands of olive trees that carpet the land-scape. It is also, perhaps surprisingly, one of the more rural, sleepy islands away from the touristic honeypots. Tourist development is quarantined on certain coastal patches, and once inland you really seem to be on another island, even another era. Secondary roads appear not to have changed (in width at least) since British times, and perennially rutted surfaces make driving a challenge, and some of the steep access tracks down to the beaches from main roads are white-knuckle jobs – not recommended for novice or nervous drivers.
In remote glades, Corfiot villagers still celebrate summer-and-autumn panigýria (religious festivals-cum-fairs) with music and merchandise stalls – watch for posters (usually Greek only) plastered onto olive trees, and don’t expect much action until after 8pm as a rule. Olive culture was traditionally rather desultory – the Corfiots for years didn’t prune, or pick the fruit, local patron saint Spyridon having forbidden the practices in a vision – and many groves still retain a romantically half-wild aspect. The old quarters of the east-coast capital, Corfu Town, have been designated a Unesco heritage site.

13) Best Times to Visit Corfu
The best times to visit Corfu are the spring and fall. Although there is never really a bad season in the Mediterranean, you’ll find that winter temperatures are too chilly to swim off the shores of Corfu, while the summer months draw hordes of tourists. The shoulder seasons, however, offer warm, sunny weather and plenty of open (and bargain-priced) hotel rooms, not to mention some exciting special events like Carnival.

Autumn in Corfu

Porto Timoni Beach Corfu

 Best Months to Visit

March-May
Sandwiched between the rainy winter months and the tourist high season, you’ll find pleasant weather and miles of sandy beaches free of fellow sunbathers. Although high temperatures only reach the 60s and 70s, clear skies make for a great backdrop to any hiking excursion or stroll along the coast. Keep in mind that this is the season of Greek Easter: Book your hotel at least two weeks in advance to ensure a place to stay for the celebrations.

June-August
With temperatures soaring into the upper 32s, you’ll have no choice but to spend time at the beach. But be aware that you’ll be sharing that stretch of sand with plenty of other visitors. Reserve your hotel room at least a month in advance to ensure availability and the lowest price possible. Also brace yourself for lines out the door at many of the best sites and restaurants.

September-November
For a relaxed Corfu getaway complete with prime beach weather and hardly any crowds, plan a trip for early fall. Average highs in September rest in the low 25s, perfect for a swim in the Mediterranean. However, you can expect temperatures to decline steadily as November approaches, with 20 marking the average low. It might be too chilly to don your trunks, but the weather is ideal for hiking and sightseeing.

14) Tips for Corfu

Wear good hiking boots. Footpaths are often broken at places with large potholes.
Boat trips do not start until towards end of April and ends late October.
People are friendly in general. If you are travelling with little kids, expect them to be cuddled by locals (especially old people). Please don’t be offended by this.

Shops open in the morning around 08:30-09:00 and then they close between 13:00/14:00 – 17:00/18:00 and then re open 18:00-21:00.
If you want good landscape photos, walk upwards from usual tourist spots.

15) Corfu Attractions

Pontikonissi (Mouse Island): One of the most popular and visited sites in Corfu is Pontikonissi. It’s a small rock island at the entrance of the Chalikiopoulos lagoon. The rock is a natural protected monument today with a tiny Byzantine chapel, but you can visit it by small boats.

Aqualand: One of the must see attractions in the island of Corfu is the Aqualand Park, placed near Agios Ioannis village. Covering over 75.000 square meters this is one of the most adventurous water parks in Europe and has free parking. With restaurants and shops available on-site, Aqualand is a fun and enjoyable attraction.

Saint Spyridon church Corfu

Aqualand water park in Corfu

The Church of Saint Spyridon: The Church of Saint Spyridon, suited in Old Town, is a typical church of the Venetian architecture. The locals have deep faith in Saint Spyridon, who considered the keeper of Corfu.

Achilleion Palace: Near the village of Gastouri, 10km’s south west of Corfu Town, it was built the Achilleon Palace by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria (known as ‘Sissi’). The statues that surround the palace of Achilleon inspired by ancient Greek mythology. At the outer areas of the palace there are the most valuable statue of the mythological Greek hero, the ‘Dying Achilles’ and the largest statue of Achilles the ‘Victorious Achilles’.