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Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa, Corfu

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Corfu

Updated 1 October 2026 · 16 things to do

Pictured: Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa

Corfu is the greenest of the Greek islands, a lush, hilly place of olive groves and cypresses, rimmed with coves of impossibly clear water. Unlike most of Greece, it was never ruled by the Ottomans: Venetians, French and British came instead, and they left an elegant capital of arcades, fortresses and pastel palazzi, plus a lingering taste for cricket and ginger beer.

The island has plenty of lively resorts, but it is easy to escape them. Spend a day in Corfu Town, swim in the bays of the west coast, drive up into the mountains of the north-east, and take a boat to Paxos. Fans of the Durrells will find their Corfu still very much alive.

Don't miss

  1. 1Corfu Old Town
  2. 2Paleokastritsa
  3. 3Achilleion Palace
  4. 4Kanoni and Mouse Island
  5. 5Paxos and Antipaxos

Corfu Town

A UNESCO-listed old town that feels more Venetian than Greek.

  1. Corfu Old Town

    Neighbourhood

    The church of Saint Spyridon in Corfu's Old Town
    Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Corfu Town's old quarter is a warren of narrow, flagstoned lanes called kantounia, overlooked by tall, shuttered Venetian houses in faded ochre and rose. Wander past little squares, churches and shops selling olive-wood carvings and kumquat liqueur, and look for the red-domed bell tower of St Spyridon, the church of the island's much-loved patron saint.

    Tip: Visit in the evening, when the cruise passengers have left and the squares fill with locals.

  2. Liston and the Spianada

    Landmark

    The arcaded cafés of the Liston in Corfu Town
    Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl

    The Liston is an elegant arcade of cafés built during French rule and modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. It faces the Spianada, one of the largest squares in Greece, where cricket, a legacy of British rule, is still played on summer weekends. Order a coffee or a ginger beer and watch the world go by.

  3. Old Fortress

    Landmark

    The Venetian Old Fortress on its promontory beside Corfu's Old Town
    Photo: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Cut off from the town by a sea moat, the Venetian Old Fortress sits on a rocky promontory with two hills. Climb to the top for the best view over Corfu Town, the bay and the mountains of Albania across the water.

  4. Kanoni and Mouse Island

    Landmark

    Vlacherna monastery on its islet, with Mouse Island beyond
    Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY 3.0

    Just south of town, the Kanoni viewpoint looks down on one of the most photographed scenes in Greece: the little white monastery of Vlacherna on an islet joined to the shore by a causeway, with tree-covered Pontikonisi, Mouse Island, behind. Planes landing at the nearby airport skim low over the lagoon.

    Tip: Walk out along the causeway to Vlacherna, where small boats run across to Mouse Island in summer.

Palaces, mountains and villages

  1. Achilleion Palace

    Landmark

    The neoclassical Achilleion Palace built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria
    Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0

    Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the famous 'Sisi', built this neoclassical palace in the hills south of town as a romantic retreat in the 1890s, dedicated to the Greek hero Achilles. Its terraced gardens are full of statues, including a giant Achilles, and the views over the coast are superb.

  2. Old Perithia

    Neighbourhood

    High on the slopes of Mount Pantokrator, this old village of stone houses was abandoned as islanders moved down to the coast. Some of its houses have been restored, and a handful of tavernas now draw visitors up to its quiet lanes for long lunches in the mountain air.

  3. Mount Pantokrator

    Nature

    Corfu's highest mountain rises above the north-east coast, with a monastery on its summit. A narrow road winds almost to the top, and on a clear day the panorama takes in most of the island and stretches across the sea to Albania.

  4. Kalami

    Beach

    A small, pretty bay on the north-east coast where the writer Lawrence Durrell lived in the 1930s, in the White House on the water's edge. It is a lovely spot for a swim and lunch, with the coast of Albania just across the strait.

Beaches and bays

The west coast has the sandy beaches and sunsets; the north-east has pebbly coves and calm water.

  1. Paleokastritsa

    Beach

    The main beach at Paleokastritsa on Corfu's west coast
    Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0

    A cluster of small, wooded coves on the west coast with water in every shade of turquoise, overlooked by a monastery on the headland. Little boats leave the beach for trips to the sea caves along the coast, and the ruined Byzantine castle of Angelokastro is a short drive away.

    Tip: The bays get busy in summer. Arrive early, or explore by boat.

  2. Porto Timoni

    Beach

    The double bay of Porto Timoni from the air
    Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0

    Near the village of Afionas in the north-west, a narrow spit of land creates two beaches back to back, each with its own little bay. Reaching it involves a steep walk down a rough path, which keeps the crowds smaller.

    Tip: Wear proper shoes for the path and take water; there are no facilities on the beach.

  3. Glyfada

    Beach

    The long sandy sweep of Glyfada Beach from the air
    Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0

    One of the best sandy beaches on the island, a long golden stretch on the west coast backed by green hills. It has sunbeds and beach bars, and the sunsets are spectacular.

  4. Canal d'Amour

    Nature

    Sandstone rock formations at the Canal d'Amour in Sidari
    Photo: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0

    At Sidari in the north, the sea has carved the soft sandstone cliffs into channels, coves and arches. Legend says that couples who swim through the main channel together will stay together forever.

Eat and drink

  1. Pastitsada and sofrito

    Food

    Corfiot cooking shows its Venetian roots. Pastitsada is beef or rooster slow-cooked in a spiced tomato sauce and served with pasta; sofrito is veal simmered in white wine, garlic and parsley. For fish, look for bourdeto, a fiery stew with red pepper.

  2. Kumquat

    Food

    Potted kumquat trees at a kumquat distillery on Corfu
    Photo: Hassocks5489 at en.wikipedia, Public domain

    Introduced by the British, the little orange kumquat is now Corfu's emblem, grown in the north of the island and turned into a sweet liqueur, preserves and candied fruit that fill every souvenir shop.

Day trips

  1. Paxos and Antipaxos

    Day trip

    The harbour of Gaios on Paxos
    Photo: Philippe Teuwen, CC BY-SA 2.0

    South of Corfu, little Paxos is all olive groves and pretty harbour villages, Gaios, Lakka and Loggos. Many boat trips also stop at neighbouring Antipaxos, where the beaches have water as clear and blue as anywhere in the Ionian.

  2. Butrint, Albania

    Day trip

    Ruins of the Triconch Palace at the ancient city of Butrint
    Photo: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A ferry from Corfu Town crosses to Saranda in Albania, a short drive from Butrint, a UNESCO-listed ancient city of Greek, Roman and Venetian ruins set among woodland and lagoons.

    Tip: Take your passport, and check entry rules before you go.

Where to stay in Corfu

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Corfu →

Getting around

A hire car is the best way to explore, though roads in the north and west are narrow and winding. Green KTEL buses link Corfu Town with the main resorts, and boats leave the old port for Paxos, Antipaxos and Albania.

When to go

The season runs from May to October, with the hottest, busiest weather in July and August. Spring is green and full of wild flowers, and autumn brings warm seas and quieter beaches. Corfu's Easter celebrations are some of the most famous in Greece.

Questions about visiting Corfu

What is Corfu best known for?
Its Venetian Old Town, lush green landscapes, beautiful bays like Paleokastritsa, the Achilleion Palace, and its connection with the Durrell family.
Is Corfu worth visiting?
Yes. It combines beaches and resorts with a beautiful historic capital, green mountain scenery and easy boat trips to Paxos and Albania.
What is there to do in Corfu with kids?
Sandy beaches such as Glyfada, the water park at Agios Ioannis, boat trips from Paleokastritsa, and the boats to Mouse Island.
Do you need a car in Corfu?
Not if you stay in Corfu Town or a resort on the bus routes, but a car makes it far easier to reach the west coast bays, the mountains and the villages.

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