Corfu old town & the Liston
Venetian streets and a French arcade · UNESCO
Lose yourself in the kantounia, the narrow lanes, then sit under the Liston's arches facing the Spianada square.
KerkyraFreeUNESCO
Corfu, Greece
Ideal: 4–5 daysBest: May–Jun, SepPrice: Expensive
In 60 seconds
Corfu in 60 seconds
Corfu is the greenest of the Greek islands and the least like the Cyclades: four centuries of Venetian rule, followed by the French and the British, left it with an old town of tall pastel houses, arcaded streets and two fortresses, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Have coffee under the Liston arcade, built by the French in imitation of the rue de Rivoli, and watch cricket — yes, cricket — on the Spianada, the great square below the Old Fortress. Inland are olive groves planted by the Venetians and hill villages; on the coast, the coves of Paleokastritsa on the west, and the quieter bays of the north-east facing Albania. Eat pastitsada, sofrito and kumquat liqueur, the island's own. Four or five days, ideally May, June or September.
IslandOld TownUNESCO
Best for
- Beaches
- History
- Food
Known for
- Corfu old town
- Liston arcade
- Paleokastritsa
- Pastitsada
Skip if
You want stark white cubes and bare islands — Corfu is lush, Venetian and busy with package holidays in its southern resorts.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Corfu fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Old Fortress
InexpensiveVenetian fortress on a double headland
Cross the moat into the fortress and climb to the lighthouse for the view over the town and the strait.
KerkyraFortressView
Achilleion
ModerateEmpress Sisi's palace
A summer palace built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria in honour of Achilles, with terraced gardens over the sea.
GastouriGardensPalace
Paleokastritsa
Coves and a monastery on the west coast
Six small bays of green water under wooded cliffs, with boat trips to sea caves and a monastery on the headland.
West coastBeachBoat trips
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Rex
ModerateCorfiot classics beside the Liston
A long-established restaurant for pastitsada, sofrito and bourdeto just behind the arcade.
KerkyraClassicPastitsada
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
The north-east coast
Quiet bays facing Albania
Pebble coves, cypress-clad hills and fish tavernas by the water, with the mountains of Albania across the strait.
Kassiopi to AgniCoastSwimming
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Campiello
The oldest quarter
Stepped alleys, washing lines and small squares with wells, between the cathedral and the sea.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Corfu town
ExpensiveHotels in and around the old town
Stay in town for evenings in the lanes, and drive out to the beaches by day.
FerriesWalkable
North-east coast
ExpensiveVillas and small hotels by the sea
The calmer side of the island, for swimming from the rocks.
Car neededQuiet
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Corfu's airport is on the edge of town; ferries run from Igoumenitsa on the mainland and from Italy.
- Getting around
- Green buses serve the villages and blue buses the town; a car is far more useful.
- When to go
- May, June and September; July and August are hot and crowded. Easter here is famous — pots are thrown from balconies on Holy Saturday.
- Taste locally
- Pastitsada, sofrito, bourdeto fish stew, ginger beer (tsitsibira) and kumquat liqueur.
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1386–1797
Venice rules Corfu, which never falls to the Ottomans.
- 1814–1864
The British rule the Ionian Islands and leave cricket and ginger beer behind.
- 1864
Corfu joins Greece.
- 2007
The old town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Paxos
A small island of olives and sea caves
Gaios harbour, the arch at Tripitos and turquoise caves; or stay over in summer.
1 hr by fast ferryBoatIsland