Corfu Travel Guide

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Corfu

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... see full details

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... see full details

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... see full details

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... see full details

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... see full details

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... see full details

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... see full details

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... see full details

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