Things to do in Corfu: Attractions and places to visit

1. old town

The historic Old Town of Kérkyra (Corfu City) is a World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. It is a city where Italian history is palpable. The city combines present and past, a city full of contrasts and lots of flair. Corfu City is lively and offers a delightful mix of historical sights and modern times.

The city is largely free of cars. Old, narrow, cobbled alleys, arcades, small shops, nice cafés and pubs, taverns offering Corfiot dishes, all this merges into a lively hustle and bustle. In the summer there is often a lot of hustle and bustle, among other things by the tourists, who also come with cruise ships and go ashore in this wonderful metropolis.

The Esplanáda is located between the Old Town and the Old Fortress. This spacious square, which today serves as a park, was a drill ground under British rule. Here you can feel many influences of the British protectorate. Behind the Esplanáda begins the oldest old town quarter, the Kambiello, built at the beginning of the 14th century. A labyrinth of winding alleys, small squares and archways can really inspire.

2. Achille ion

Located about seven kilometres south of Kérkyra in the small village of Gastrouri, this castle is one of the most visited sights on the island. It is known as the “Sisi Castle” because it was commissioned by Sisi, the Austrian Empress Elisabeth, between 1889 and 1891. She loved Greek mythology and revered Achilles, the Greek hero. In his honour she had the sculpture “Dying Achill” made, which can be seen in the castle park.

The later owner of the castle, Emperor Wilhelm II, had the “victorious Achilles” set up as a counterpart on the hill of the castle park. From the beautiful garden you have a wonderful view of the sea. The empress spent much time in this magnificent castle until her death. Later it was bought by the heirs of Emperor Wilhelm II. It was a military hospital, a base of German occupiers and is now a museum open to the public.

3. Mouse Island Pontikonisi and Monastery Vlacherna

If one is lucky enough to have a window seat in the plane, one can already admire this sight during the landing approach to Corfu. The motif adorns almost every Corfu postcard. The popular destination is Cape Kanoni, a peninsula of the same name, about five kilometres from Kérkyra. The island is only about 100 by 100 meters small.

According to Greek mythology, the island was created from a phaea boat that Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, is said to have turned into stone. The small island can be reached via a narrow footbridge. There is the 17th century Vlachérna Monastery. The inner courtyard is worth seeing and in the tiny one-room chapel you can see icons and many beautiful, well-preserved murals.

4. Old fortress

Korfu’s capital is bounded by two fortifications. To the east lies the Old Fortress, which is the landmark of the city. The imposing bulwark was built in the 16th century by the Venetians. It is separated from the city by a seawater canal, which was excavated to secure the fortress. Within the walls, many buildings were erected under British rule, such as the church of Agios Geórgios. The garrison church resembles a temple in Doric style.

In front of the entrance to the fortress is the imposing monument to Matthias Johann Freiherr von der Schulenburg. The German, who lived from 1661 to 1747, was in the service of Venice. He was a gifted strategist to defend Corfu against the Turks. He succeeded. Moreover, Saint Spiridon is said to have appeared to the besiegers at night. Then the Turks panicked and fled. The Corfiotes worship the Imperial Count from the Schulenburg to the present day. From the highest point of the fortress, the visitors enjoy a magnificent view and great photo motifs arise.

5. New fortress

The New Fortress was also built under Venetian rule in the 16th century. She was supposed to protect the city from the northwest. It is said to have been connected to the Old Fortress by underground passages, which are not open to the public. The new fortress of Corfu is one of the most beautiful sights on Corfu.

Visitors are rewarded for the climb up the steep stairs with a magnificent view of the old harbour and the old town and the opportunity to observe very low flying aircraft approaching. If the weather is nice and clear, it is even possible to look as far as Albania and see the Greek mainland. Exhibitions and various concerts take place in the New Fortress.

6. Castle and Park Mon Repos

In the castle there is a museum with archaeological finds, historical documents and information about the botany of the island. The enchanting castle was the summer residence of British governors. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of the British Queen, was born here in 1921. The park, in which the remains of two ancient temples are located, is also worth seeing.

7. Church Agios Spiridon

Saint Spiridon was a bishop and the patron saint of the island of Corfu. According to legend, he was born 270 AD in Cyprus and his body is said to have been brought to Corfu by a priest. The island saint is kept in a side chapel of the church with the striking bell tower near the Esplanáda and can be seen and worshipped there.

Spiridon is carried through the city four times a year. Once a year he gets new shoes, because the old ones are broken by his nightly walking in the city. Inside the church there are precious incense vessels, candelabras, as well as magnificent ceiling paintings and icons.

8. Palace St. Michael and St. George

This neoclassical palace stands at the northern end of the Esplanáda and is the only building in the Mediterranean that was built in the style of King George IV’s time. The building was the summer palace of the Greek royal family from 1846 to 1913.

Today the castle houses the Museum of Asian Art and an art gallery, which exhibits mainly works by Corfiot painters from the 19th and 20th centuries. From the shady, small park there is a wonderful view of a promontory with a chapel, the Faliráki complex.

9. Angelokastro Fortress

There are of course also places of interest outside the capital of the island. The Angelokastro fortress, the angel castle, is one of them. The fortress was built in the 13th century under the rule of Michael Angelos as the base of an Orthodox Greek principality. The rocks, up to 160 metres high, are surrounded by the sea and are only connected to the mainland by a narrow path.

In the northwest of the island lies the small village Krini. From there a footpath leads to the Byzantine fortress high above the famous bay of Paleokastritsa. One of the most beautiful panoramic views of Korfu awaits the visitor there.

10. Pantokrátor

A natural attraction is the Pantokrator, the highest mountain on the island of Corfu with a height of 906 meters. The inhabitants of the island also call the mountain the “All-Ruler”. In the 5th century, violent civil wars took place here. At the top is the monastery Ypsilós Pantokrátoras.

It was built around 1374 by inhabitants of the surrounding villages, later destroyed by the Turks and rebuilt in 1689. In the monastery church every year on August 6 the consecration of the church is celebrated and many pilgrims visit the monastery.

Best time to visit Corfu

We recommend the following months as best time to travel for exploring the attractions and acivities of Corfu:

May, June, July, August, and September

You can find more information about the weather, including all climate data, on our climate page for Corfu.