Luxury hotels in Corfu

Corfu guide

Corfu: the Venetian old town and the Ionian coast

A UNESCO old town of arcades and fortresses, the bay of Paleokastritsa and the Achilleion palace.

Corfu's old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shaped by four centuries of Venetian rule, with its two fortresses, the arcaded Liston and the Spianada square, is the island's most cited sight. Its blend of Venetian, French and British influences makes it unique in Greece.

The bays of Paleokastritsa, with their monasteries and sea caves, are the classic beach day, and the Achilleion, the palace built for Empress Sisi of Austria, overlooks the coast. Hidden coves in the north-east and boat trips to Paxos complete a stay; May, June and September are ideal.

The Achilleion and the villages of the north

The Achilleion, the palace Empress Elisabeth of Austria built in the 1890s and dedicated to Achilles, is one of Corfu's most cited sights, with gardens overlooking the sea and a famous statue of the dying Achilles. It is about twenty minutes from Corfu town.

The north-east coast, facing Albania, is lined with villages such as Kalami, where Lawrence Durrell lived, Agni and Kassiopi, with tavernas by the water. Old Perithia, an abandoned Venetian village on Mount Pantokrator, is lovely for lunch.

Paxos and Antipaxos by boat

Paxos and its smaller neighbour Antipaxos, south of Corfu, are the most cited boat excursion from the island: water of an extraordinary turquoise at Voutoumi beach on Antipaxos, sea caves and the Tripitos arch on Paxos' west coast, and the harbour villages of Gaios, Loggos and Lakka.

A private boat from Corfu takes about an hour and allows swimming stops in empty coves. Paxos also produces some of the finest olive oil in Greece. The best months are May, June and September.