
Paleokastritsa, Corfu © Corfu Xenos
The island of Corfu, best known of the seven Ionian islands that
lie off the north-west coast of Greece, differs markedly from the
other popular Greek islands because not only is it green and lush,
but also very developed with tourist resorts and hotels. Summer
time is hectic on Corfu, with charter flights arriving daily from
European cities, ferries disgorging travellers from Italy, and
cruise ships docking.
There is plenty to draw visitors to this magical island. Modern
Corfu Town is upbeat and cosmopolitan, offering an exciting
conglomeration of Greek, Italian, French and British influences.
The old town was laid out by the Venetians in the 14th century and
features narrow alleys lined with multi-storeyed pastel-coloured
buildings with red tiled roofs, creating a scene reminiscent of
Italy. The hub of activity in the town centre is the Liston, an
arcaded row of cafes and restaurants, copied from the Rue de Rivoli
in Paris.
Those wishing to escape from the melee in the town can head for
the interior to enjoy some spectacular scenery and greenery. Corfu
has, for instance, 43 different kinds of orchids growing wild in
the countryside, and there are countless olive groves. Finally
there are, of course, the beautiful beaches washed by the sparkling
Ionian Sea, and it is still possible to search out a secluded cove
or two even in the busy season when the over-developed resorts on
the east coast are awash with package tourists.
Resorts
See our separate guides to the following Corfu holiday resorts: Paleokastritsa, Kavos and Sidari
Attractions

Hermes at Achilleion © Jennifurr-Jinx
Achilleion
The villa of Achilleion was built for Empress Elizabeth of
Austria in 1890 as a memorial to her son, Rudolf, after his death
by suicide. The villa, Neoclassical in style, features numerous
statues and motifs associated with Achilles both inside and out.
The gardens...
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Aqualand © www.aqualand-corfu.com
Aqualand Water Park
A fun day out for the whole family, Aqualand Water Park is one
of the best ways to cool off for kids on holiday in Corfu. With a
wide variety of slides, rides and pools to enjoy such as the Black
Hole, Four...
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Archaeological Museum © Tasoskessaris
Corfu Archaeological Museum
Like all good Greek towns, Corfu Town has its Archaeological
Museum, on the boulevard along the waterfront. Although it is
small, it is worth visiting particularly to see the pediment from
the Temple of Artemis that is housed there. The temple dates from
590...
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Horse Riding in Corfu © katsommers
Corfu Horse Riding
What could be more fun than saddling up and seeing Corfu on
horseback with the family? Riders have the option of trekking
through woodland to the village of Ano Korakiana and down through
olive groves, wide dirt tracks, vineyards, and pastures. Afterwards
children can...
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Glass-bottom boat © kate nev
Kalypso Star
This is one attraction not to be missed by families travelling
in Corfu with small children. A glass-bottomed boat which runs
every hour from Corfu's Old Port takes visitors around Vidos Island
where they can view the underwater world. The highlight of this
trip...
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Kanoni © snoopaki
Kanoni
South of Corfu Town is the clifftop terraced view site of
Kanoni, overlooking an inlet that contains two tiny islands. One of
the islets can be reached via a causeway and bears the Monastery of
Vlakherna. The other islet is known as Mouse...
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Museum Of Asian Art © Hellenic Ministry of Culture/Museum of Asian Art
Museum of Asian Art
The building housing this collection of Chinese and Japanese
works of art is a beautiful neoclassical structure built by the
British in 1820 when the Ionian Islands were ruled by Britain. The
museum is a peaceful oasis exhibiting Chinese porcelain and art
through all...
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Star Beach Kids area © www.starbeach.gr
Star Beach Water Park
Not your average water park with rides, Star Beach Water Park
features traditional water activities such as jet skiing, scuba
diving, waterskiing and banana boat rides, to name a few. There are
also a few pools and rivers for lazy sun worshippers and...
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