What to see in Corfu, plus 8 day trips around the island: Milan’s tips

I’ve been to Corfu twice, and Porto Timoni is the most beautiful beach I’ve seen in Europe. Prices were roughly a third of what I paid on Mykonos. I’d go between June and September, and for the coast I’d take a small car or a scooter rather than anything bigger.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

How many days

At least a week; the roads are narrow and winding, and everything takes longer than you’d expect

Airport to the centre

About 3 km, 30 to 40 minutes on foot; taxis cost more and buses are infrequent

Where I stayed

Mon Repos Palace, an adults-only hotel in Corfu Town; in summer I’d look for a beach or a pool

Getting around the island

A small car the first time, the Green Bus the second; next time I’d hire a scooter

Porto Timoni

About half an hour’s steep walk from the car park; I did it in flip-flops, but I’d wear sturdy shoes

Not worth it

Overcrowded Paleokastritsa; a fishing boat to hidden beaches saved the day, about €30 per person

What is there to see in Corfu? Having been twice, I can tell you it’s not only about the beaches: there are Venetian fortresses, fishing villages and even beaches you can only reach by boat.

I’d give Corfu at least a week. The island isn’t big, but the roads are narrow and winding, so every journey takes longer than the map suggests. The best time to go is June to September, when the sea is warm enough for swimming.

How to get to Corfu: cheap flights from Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest

There are direct flights to Corfu from Vienna and, in season, from Bratislava, and when there’s a sale on, fares start at a few dozen euros one way. It’s also worth comparing flights from Vienna and Budapest. I bought my ticket on a complete whim about a week before departure, and it was one of the best decisions I made that year.

The flight from Vienna takes just under two hours, and the landing itself is an experience. Planes come in low over the lagoon by the Kanoni peninsula, and I felt as if I could see into people’s living rooms. That’s why I sat by a window on the right-hand side of the plane (facing forward). If you want to photograph planes landing, put this car park into your maps app: the view from there is excellent.

• Tip from Milan If you’re staying in Corfu Town and don’t have much luggage, you can walk from the airport to the centre. It’s roughly 3 km through streets of small houses, about 30 to 40 minutes on foot. Taxis cost more, and buses from the airport don’t run very often.

Where to stay in Corfu

I stayed at Mon Repos Palace, an adults-only hotel in Corfu Town. When choosing where to stay, I looked for either a beach or a pool. Summers here are hot, and without somewhere to cool off it would have been hard going. Popular places to stay are the area around Corfu Town, the north of the island with Agios Georgios beach, and the south near Lake Korission.

Sea temperature in Corfu and when to go

The sea around Corfu is ideal for swimming in summer. It’s warmest in August, at around 26°C. In winter it drops to about 15°C. The north of the island has cooler water even in summer, so bear that in mind if you’re staying there.

Getting around Corfu by car, scooter and bus

On my first visit I had a hire car. Greek drivers, though, often don’t give way, and the roads are narrow and steep. So I always picked the smallest car I could, so as not to knock the wing mirrors off in the narrow streets. When I came back to Corfu, I found that you can get around perfectly well by bus too. Next time I’d go for a scooter instead.

If you do hire a car on Corfu, a small one is worth it in the narrow lanes, and in high season it’s better to book ahead. I compare prices on Discover Cars, where I can see offers from several hire companies at once. On narrow roads, full cover with no excess is worth having, so that a single scratch doesn’t cost you hundreds of euros. In my article on hiring a car on holiday I explain how to find a cheap car and what to watch out for with insurance.

You’ll find trips and tours on Corfu here:

Getting around Corfu by Green Bus

The buses between towns on Corfu are green and go by the name Green Bus. They leave from the main bus station, the Green Buses Terminal KTEL. It took me a while to find my way around their website, but once I had, I got to every place in this article. I bought my tickets at the station window, where you can also pay by card. On board you pay the driver in cash, and it costs more. I always asked for a return straight away.

In Corfu Town itself you’ll hardly need a bus: it’s small and you can walk everywhere. If you’re staying outside the centre, the Moovit app will plan your route. Janka Travelhacker has more tips on getting around the island by bus in her article about a holiday on the Greek island of Corfu (in Slovak).

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Things to do in Corfu: Milan Bez Mapy’s picks

• Corfu Town, its fortresses and Mouse Island
• The Achilleion, Empress Sisi’s palace
• Agni fishing village and beach
• The Cape Drastis cliffs
• La Grotta bar and a jump into the sea
• Porto Timoni beach
• Paleokastritsa and a boat trip to hidden beaches
• Mirtiotissa nudist beach
• Nightlife in Kavos in the south of the island

Corfu Town and its fortresses

The capital shares its name with the island, but Greeks call it Kerkyra. The Venetians, the French and the British ruled the island in turn, and it was one of the few places in Greece that held out against the Ottomans. That’s why the architecture looks more Italian than Greek. The historic centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and two fortresses dominate it: the Old Fortress and the New Fortress.

What I liked most were the evening walks along the promenade, looking out at the yachts. If you have time, pop over to Mouse Island (Pontikonisi) as well, a tiny islet with a church just off the Kanoni peninsula.

• Tip from Milan At En Plo, a café by the sea, I had baklava-flavoured ice cream and a coffee at sunset. The view is worth it.

The Achilleion, Empress Sisi’s palace on Corfu

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi, used Corfu as an escape from the Viennese court and had the Achilleion built in the village of Gastouri. The palace is dedicated to the hero Achilles, and in the gardens you’ll find statues of him as well as fountains. It’s a popular sight, so I went early in the morning and bought my tickets online. The most famous room in the palace is Sisi’s bedroom. As of 2026, however, the palace is closed for restoration, and the work is scheduled to finish in June 2029. During the work, only the gardens are open to visitors.

Agni fishing village on Corfu and wine by the sea

Agni, on the north-east coast, is a small fishing village where nothing really happens, and that’s exactly why it’s great. The road down is narrow and steep, like every road on Corfu, but parking is free just a short walk from the beach. I sat on a terrace, ordered some wine and watched the boats come and go. I left Agni properly rested.

The Cape Drastis cliffs in the north of Corfu

Cape Drastis is a dramatic stretch of white cliffs in the north-west of the island, near the villages of Peroulades and Sidari. It’s especially popular with divers and photographers. The nearest place to leave a car is more of a dusty lay-by than a car park, and from there it’s still about a 20-minute walk to the cliffs.

La Grotta bar and Gran Aladino restaurant

I originally went to La Grotta for a glass of wine at sunset. It didn’t work out: the sun sets behind the rock, and the atmosphere wasn’t quite the same. It’s better to come in the morning or at lunchtime. It’s busy, and they serve drinks and light food such as salads or pizza. Take your swimwear: right below the bar there’s a diving platform into the sea. Nearby is Gran Aladino, a restaurant that readers recommended to me, though I haven’t tried it myself.

• Tip from Milan I parked right at the top, above the bar, where there’s plenty of space. I also saw cars parked under a sheer rock face with stones falling from it. It’s one way to get your adrenaline going, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

The best beaches in Corfu

Porto Timoni, the most beautiful beach on Corfu

Porto Timoni is a double beach on a narrow strip of land where two bays meet. It reminded me of beaches I know from Thailand. The catch is parking. I managed to park at the coordinates 39°43’26.2″N 19°39’36.8″E, but that’s not an official car park; the official one is a few metres further down.

From there it’s about half an hour to the beach on foot. The path is steep. I did it in flip-flops and wasn’t entirely at ease, so take sturdy shoes. There are restaurants with views along the way, and it’s a shame I didn’t stop at any of them.

Paleokastritsa and a boat trip to hidden beaches

Paleokastritsa is the beach almost every article online calls the most beautiful on Corfu. It disappointed me more than any other. When I saw how many people were crammed onto it, I wanted to turn round. Since then I’ve had a rule: when everyone keeps calling something THE BEST, it’s worth looking elsewhere.

What saved me was the idea of taking a boat to the nearby beaches that you can only reach by sea. For about €30 per person (the price when I was there), paid in cash, I arranged a fishing boat that took our small group around the hidden coves. The boats moor a short way from the Vrachos restaurant. I’d come here by bus: parking is a nightmare.

Mirtiotissa nudist beach on Corfu

I’d wanted to visit Mirtiotissa for a long time. Apparently it’s slowly disappearing: it used to be wide, and today it’s just a short strip of sand. The sea here is very clean, and I hired a parasol for €5 a day (the price when I was there). I took the bus to Glyfada and walked from there over the hill on a narrow, well-hidden path.

What to see in Greece besides Corfu

If Greece gets under your skin the way it got under mine, read my Mykonos itinerary or my tips on what to see in Athens.

Happy travels!