Explore Corfu Old Town

Corfu Old Town is the island’s essential first stop. Walk the Liston and Spianada, wander the kantounia side streets, visit churches and small squares, and allow time simply to follow the architecture rather than racing between landmarks. The town reflects centuries of Venetian, French, British and Greek influence, which is one reason it feels different from many other Greek island capitals.

If you prefer an organised introduction, the Corfu Highlights tour combines the historic center with Kanoni and Achilleion, while the evening boat trip to Corfu Town approaches the capital from the sea and gives you free time in town.

Walk the Old Fortress

The Old Fortress is one of the defining silhouettes of Corfu Town and gives valuable context to the city’s strategic importance at the entrance to the Adriatic. Combine it with the Spianada and Liston rather than treating it as a separate day. UNESCO’s official documentation is the best external reference for the Old Town’s heritage significance.

Spend a day in Paleokastritsa

Paleokastritsa is one of Corfu’s most famous coastal areas, and it earns its reputation through a mixture of wooded hills, bright water, small bays and high viewpoints. Swimming is only part of the appeal: a visit can combine beach time, the monastery, a small local boat trip and a stop above the coast at Lakones.

Travellers without a car can compare the Paleokastritsa & Paradise Bays experience or the Sidari & Paleokastritsa tour, which also includes Bella Vista and the north coast.

Take a boat trip to Paxos & Antipaxos

If you choose one major sea excursion, Paxos and Antipaxos is the classic. The appeal is the complete day: Ionian cruising, Paxos sea caves, vivid water around Antipaxos and time in a small island settlement. It suits couples, families and first-time visitors who want a full-day experience beyond Corfu itself.

See the current itinerary, departure details and included services on the Paxos & Antipaxos boat trip from Corfu.

Swim at the Blue Lagoon and explore sea caves

For travellers who care more about swimming, caves and a relaxed day on the water than visiting another island town, the Blue Lagoon route is a strong alternative. It combines clear-water stops with dramatic coastal scenery on the mainland side of the Ionian Sea.

Compare the route with the Blue Lagoon & Caves boat trip. If you are deciding between this and Paxos, choose Paxos for the broader island-day experience and Blue Lagoon for a swim-and-cruise emphasis.

See Sidari and Canal d’Amour

Sidari is very different from Paleokastritsa. Its sculpted sandstone coast and the Canal d’Amour create one of the north’s most recognisable landscapes, while the resort itself has plenty of food and beach options. It works especially well as part of a full north-and-west day rather than a stand-alone drive from the south.

Stop at Lakones and Bella Vista

One of the best ways to understand Paleokastritsa is to see it from above. Lakones and the Bella Vista viewpoint reveal the shape of the bays and the steep green landscape around them. Build this stop into a west-coast road trip or choose the Sidari & Paleokastritsa excursion, which includes a panoramic stop.

Visit Kanoni, Vlacherna and Mouse Island

The view from Kanoni over Vlacherna Monastery and Pontikonisi is one of Corfu’s classic postcard scenes. You do not need a full day: combine it with Corfu Town, Mon Repos or Achilleion. The Corfu Highlights tour is designed around exactly that combination.

Discover Achilleion Palace

Achilleion is associated with Empress Elisabeth of Austria and is one of the island’s best-known historic estates. Visit for the story, gardens and setting rather than expecting it to occupy a whole day. Pair it with Kanoni and Corfu Town to create a balanced cultural itinerary.

Cruise the South Lagoon and sandbank

South Corfu is quieter than many of the headline northern resorts. A half-day cruise here is a good fit for families and travellers who prefer a slower pace. Messonghi Travel’s South Lagoon & Sandbank boat trip departs from Messonghi River and focuses on swimming, coastal scenery and the lesser-visited south.

See Corfu Town by boat at sunset

A daytime visit tells you the history; an evening visit shows you the city’s social side. Arriving by sea also changes the perspective, with the Old Fortress appearing as part of the skyline. The evening Corfu Town cruise is especially useful for travellers staying in the south who do not want to drive and park at night.

Take a Grand Island Tour

If you have only a few days or do not plan to rent a car, an island tour can efficiently connect viewpoints, historic locations and major coastal areas. The Corfu Grand Island Tour is designed as a full-day overview and is a practical first excursion before you decide where to return independently.

Relax on Glyfada Beach

Glyfada is a straightforward choice when you want a broad sandy beach and a full beach day rather than sightseeing. Because Corfu’s two coasts can feel very different, visitors staying on the east side often enjoy dedicating one day purely to the west coast.

Swim at Barbati

Barbati combines clear water with the dramatic backdrop of Mount Pantokrator. It is a useful contrast to the sandy west-coast beaches and can be paired with a drive toward Kassiopi and the northeast.

Spend time in Kassiopi

Kassiopi works well for travellers who want a lively harbour town without committing to Corfu Town. Explore the waterfront, walk to nearby coves and use it as the anchor for a northeast-coast day.

Hike to Porto Timoni

Porto Timoni is one of Corfu’s most photographed natural settings, but it rewards preparation. The path can be hot and exposed in summer, so sturdy footwear, water and an early start matter. This is better for active travellers than families looking for an easy-access beach.

Drive up Mount Pantokrator

Corfu’s highest mountain gives a completely different sense of the island’s geography. Make the drive part of a northern road trip and stop in traditional villages rather than rushing to the summit and back.

Explore traditional villages

The fastest way to make a Corfu holiday feel less generic is to leave the resort roads. Mountain and inland villages offer old houses, small squares, cafés and a slower rhythm. Choose one or two that fit your route instead of trying to collect villages as a checklist.

Visit Benitses

Benitses is easy to combine with Messonghi, Moraitika, Achilleion or Corfu Town. It is a useful lunch or evening stop with a waterfront setting and convenient position on the southeast coast.

Use Messonghi and Moraitika as a base

For visitors staying in South Corfu, Messonghi and Moraitika give easy access to beaches, tavernas and organised excursions without needing to sleep in Corfu Town. Many Messonghi Travel departures and pickup routes are designed around the south, making this area particularly convenient for travellers who want several day trips.

Browse all available excursions to compare duration, departure point and current operating days.

Take a day trip toward Parga

Parga adds a mainland dimension to a Corfu holiday: colourful waterfront scenery, hills and an easy sense of being somewhere different without a long overland journey. It is particularly attractive to repeat Corfu visitors who have already done the classic island highlights.

Check the current Corfu boat trips for Parga and Blue Lagoon departures.

Visit Meteora from Corfu

Meteora is not a casual excursion—it is a long full day—but for travellers who may not otherwise visit mainland Greece, the landscape and monasteries can justify the early start. The Meteora day trip from Corfu combines ferry and coach travel with monastery visits. Treat this as a major day in your itinerary and keep the following morning light.

Try Corfiot food, not just generic Greek dishes

Look for local dishes such as sofrito, pastitsada and bourdeto, and try products associated with Corfu such as kumquat. A simple rule works well: choose at least one taverna away from the most obvious seafront strip and ask what is cooked locally that day.

Rent a private boat for your own route

A private boat makes most sense when flexibility is the priority: couples wanting secluded coves, families who need a shorter day, or groups who want to avoid a fixed excursion schedule. Start by comparing public cruises in the boat trips category; if those routes do not match your pace, ask about private options.

Leave one day unplanned

Corfu rewards flexibility. Weather, sea conditions, heat and simple discoveries can change what feels appealing. Leave at least one half-day or full day open for a beach you noticed from the road, a second visit to Corfu Town, a late lunch in a village or a boat trip moved because of conditions.