Corfu Town, or Kérkyra: A Corfu Must-See for All Audiences
Kérkyra is Corfu’s Greek name. Both the island and the capital have the same name and you will find them both on the road signs, written in Greek and Latin characters.
Corfu’s capital city is located halfway down the island’s east coast. If you come by car we recommend you park at the Old Port or by the Garitsa areas. Parking in Corfu Town is almost impossible during the summer season. Walking for ten or fifteen minutes will save a lot of fuel, your patience will be intact and your mood won’t suffer!
Which are the Must-See Places in Corfu Town?
It depends on what you like to do. Sightseeing, shopping, cultural learning, eating, Instagram posing… everything is possible in Corfu Town.
Cultural Must-See Places in Corfu Town
Stroll down its winding lanes packed with restaurants, bars, and shops, and visit some of Corfu Town’s many museums and churches. Take a trip to the Andivouniótissa (Byzantine) Museum, full of unusual pieces from the 15th to 18th centuries. Don’t forget the excellent Asian Art Museum, with plenty of unexpected trinkets and beautiful art on display.
Your Corfu things-to-do list should also include a trip to the 14th-century Venetian-built Paleo Frourio (Old Fortress). Admire its architectonical phases, climb up to the tower for some superb views, or have a coffee at the local cafeteria to relax while watching Garitsa Bay.
Corfu Archaeological Museum reopened in 2022 after a thorough renovation. It houses an exceptional collection of archaeological artefacts found in Corfu Town, dated from the 7th Century B.C. onwards. A real Corfu-must see if you love Ancient History and Greek Archaeology!
Corfu’s Many Churches, Two Cathedrals, and a Synagogue
Religion is paramount for the Greeks. Only in the Old Town of Corfu, you will find at least twenty Orthodox churches. The most important ones are Saint Spiridon Church, inside the Old Town, and Agia Theodora’s Metropolitan Cathedral, at the entrance of the Spilia neighbourhood. Agios Basilios is also worth a visit: We recommend you enter this one or any other churches you will see on your way around the city. By the way, photos are forbidden on the inside.
Let’s not forget La Scuola Greca, the impressive Synagogue, still in use and open to the public in the morning from Monday to Friday in the Jewish Quarter. This monument has a memorial to the 2,000 Corfiot victims of the Holocaust.
Plateia, the Great Central Square
If there’s a place where everybody fits it is in Plateia. This area used to be a battlefield but was turned into a gardened area by the French at the end of the 18th Century. Today, it’s a lovely place where children can play freely, students lay on the grass and play guitars, lovers speak of love, and the hungry can have a coffee, a pizza, or some fresh fish at one of the surrounding cafes and restaurants.
In the summer evenings, you will also be able to enjoy live concerts by the local philharmonic orchestras at the central kiosk.
Ta Kantounia: the Charming Venetian Neighbourhoods With the Best Restaurants and Shopping
Take your time and stroll around the labyrinthic alleys known as kantounia. Their narrow streets are full of charm, Venetian heritage, lovely restaurants and plenty of retail shops. Trattorias, typical Greek taverns, bakeries and small cafes share the little space with stores of all kinds. Chic boutiques, handcrafted goods, leather sandals and even hairdressers’! The roads are covered with bougainvillaeas and jazmin, antique lamps lit at night and call the visitor until late in the evening. Which one is our favourite kantouni? To Kantouni tou Bizzi, of course!
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Paleokastritsa Bay: Beach, Landscapes, and a Monastery
You can’t miss this beautiful landmark during your holidays in Corfu! Paleokastritsa is, indeed, a Corfu must-see place. The area has many things to do -snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing, swimming, horse riding, and sunbathing…, and it’s famous worldwide for the colour of the sea and its resemblance with Capri. The crystal-clear emerald-blue waters of the Ionian are much more beautiful from close, and if you take a boat ride to see the secluded beaches and the caves, you will never forget the trip!
Paleokastritsa Monastery
The Theotókou Monastery in Paleokastritsa is one of the Corfu must-see places among locals and tourists. Its pastel-hued exterior, its lush gardens, and its breathtaking coastline location are enough to travel many centuries back in time. Founded during the 13th century and rebuilt after a fire, this monastery is inhabited by six monks. Their monastic life remains almost unaltered despite the thousands of visitors!
The Caves in Paleokastritsa is a Corfu Must-See!
There’s nothing like seeing the “actual” locations where myths and legends took place. If we believe what tour guides tell us, Paleokastritsa is the place where Odysseas woke up after he shipwrecked on his way back from the Troy War toward his kingdom in Ithaca. They say that he met Princess Nausika, a smart royal who helped him host him in her palace, and her father’s, King Alcinous. Would you like to visit the cave where this story started? Sail to the caves and enjoy the captain’s tour description while you enter these magical places.
Paleokastritsa Beaches: Paradise Beach, Giali Beach, Kasteli, Rovinia, Limni…
If you have three hours to spare let me suggest the perfect plan: tell your captain to sail forward and take you to these incredible coves and beaches. You can stay there for as long as you want, and he will come back to pick you up and take you back to the port. You can also rent a boat without a skipper and do it yourself!
If you want to know more, visit this blog and learn about many of those paradisiac coves and beaches.
Lakones and the Gods’ Balcony Will Take Your Breath Away
Save your breath for one of the most incredible views in the World. Its name, The God’s Balcony, has a reason and you will agree with it. No matter if the road is windy and narrow, Lakones is first in our Corfu must-see list.
The village is cute and centenary, and neighbours greet you from their windows while you pass from very close. Coming to Lakones by bus is such an experience! You think the vehicle won’t fit -but it does!
Once you drive past the narrow streets you will find several areas where you can stop to admire the panorama or visit a local tavern for a drink or a meal. Take your time to admire the blue emerald landscape framed by cliffs and coves, where the green olive groves descend towards the Ionian Sea in harmony and beauty.
More Natural Landmarks in Corfu You Cannot Miss: The Canal D’Amour and Porto Timoni
The popular resort of Sidari is home to coastal sandstone cliffs that have slowly been eroded over time by wind and water into spectacular shapes. The Canal d’Amour remains its most famous, despite the rocky arch long since crumbled. If you’re looking for love, legend states that a swim through the turquoise-blue channel will help you find it. There are plenty of small coves with sandy beaches nearby too, that are ideal for sunbathing or snorkeling.
Porto Timoni is another amazing natural spot you cannot miss, one of the best Corfu must-see places! Its double bay can be visited on foot, by walking down the hill from the picturesque village of Afionas. Take into account that the uphill walk is not suitable for all, but it’s worth it -especially if you come here to admire the sunset!
If you prefer to reach the place by boat, you should sail from Saint Georges Ton Pagon or Paleokastritsa. You can spend here a whole day, or stop during one of the exciting Sea Safari tours that take place daily during the summer season.
Pelekas and The Kaiser’s Throne
Located in the centre of the island, Pelekas is a typical Corfiot village where time seems to have stopped decades ago. The place overlooks the West coast of Corfu, and it’s well protected by the surrounding hills, very close to the beach of Kontogialos. The views are some of the best on the whole island, and the bohemian atmosphere in the village attracts many visitors all year round: one of the Corfu must-see spots you should visit.
In the year 1907, when the German Emperor Wilhelm II bought the Achilleion Palace from Princess Elizabeth of Austria’s daughter, he built an observatory on a huge rock located on the highest hill in the area. Every time he visited Corfu, it was said that he liked to sit on this rock to get away from the city and clear his mind, allowing the tranquillity of the surroundings to carry him away.
The 360° view is one of the best ones on the whole island, a must-see with no doubt! We recommend you come here during sunset, or also on a clean summer night to admire the stars and the island’s lights.
Private Day Tours in Corfu
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