Corfu holidays

Paradise Beach, Corfu (Chomi Beach) & Boat Trip

Offering sandy beaches, traditional town squares and resorts to suit every mood, holidays to Corfu cover summer holidays from every angle.

The Emerald Isle

From the stripes of the national flag to its sugar cube villas and sparkling seas, Greece wears a uniform of blue and white. But Corfu throws an extra colour into the mix – green. Known as the Emerald Isle, the second-largest of the Ionian Islands is covered in cypress trees, olive groves and wild flowers.

Low-key towns

Where you choose to stay will depend on the atmosphere you’re after. Gouvia and San Stefanos, in the north, are two of the quieter resorts. There’s plenty of space on the wide sandy beaches here, and the candle-lit tavernas tend to be family-run affairs.

Pick 'n' mix beach resorts

In Sidari and Roda, the pace picks up with the introduction of karaoke bars and cafés serving British breakfasts. That said, you’ll still find quiet coves on the coast when you need a bit of down-time. Kavos is even more lively, while Aghios Ioannis flaunts a waterpark.

Popular hotels in Corfu

Top things to see and do in Corfu

Beaches

The 200k coast

Corfu has more than 200 kilometres of coastline to its name, so beaches are easy to come by. The best-know beach resorts top and tail the island. You’ll find Sidari and Roda on the north coast and Kavos on the southern tip. Gouvia, Corfu Town and San Stefanos sit comfortably in between.

The big beach

At 5 miles long, Kavos is a pretty big beach by Corfu standards. It’s fully facilitated with sunloungers, umbrellas and watersports. If you like your bands of sand busy, this is the place to go. If you’re looking for more of a family feel, try San Stefanos Beach. It’s smaller than its southern counterpart, but it’s really popular with mums and dads.

The secret beach

None of Corfu’s beaches are completely hush-hush, but Sunset Beach in Sidari is probably one of the quietest. You can watch the sunset from the sand or one of the cosy tavernas by the beach. The taxi ride here from the centre of Sidari takes roughly 5 minutes and costs about 10 euros

Shopping

Bargain buys

Kumquat liqueur is a cheap and very cheerful souvenir. You’ll find bottles of it in most supermarkets, but if you want a Corfu-branded bottle, you should head to a gift shop. There are some good ones on Agion Doulon-Rodas in Roda and along the main strip, Lefkimmis-Kavou, in Kavos. Alternatively, take home some locally-made soap. Patouni is the big-name soap producer and you’ll find their official shop in Sanrocco Square in Corfu Town.

Mid-range buys

Bearded by olive trees, the Corfiot woodland is a gift horse to local craftsmen. And that’s why you’ll find an olive wood shop in every island town. You can pick up a hand-carved salad bowl for around £30, and a set of wooden wine glasses for around £70. The duel-level shopping centre on Karousadon-Sidariou in Sidari has a cluster of olive wood shops, as does Christoforou Kontokaii in Gouvia, and the road that connects the main street to the beach in San Stefanos.

Designer buys

Corfu has a proud tradition of jewellery design. You’ll find the best collection of stores around Liston Square in Corfu Town. Some shops here go down the traditional route, making Byzantine designs from 18-carat gold, and other stores keep it modern with contemporary silver pieces. You’ll also find some jewellery designers around Kapodistriou Street in the downtown area.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

If you’re staying in San Stefanos, ease yourself into the evening by watching the sunset at one of the cocktail bars on the beach. Then head to the main street to watch live music or Greek dancing with a frosty Mythos beer. In Gouvia, nightlife revolves around al fresco eating and drinks on taverna terraces. You’ll find some of the best eateries and cafés branching off from Ethiniki Odos Palaiokastritsis.

Lively evenings

Kavos rules the nightlife roost in Corfu. Shots, shorts and cocktails flow thick and fast on the main strip, Lefkimmis-Kavou, which runs parallel to the beach. At the opposite end of the island, nightlife is quieter but it’s not dead. Pub quizzes, live music and the odd DJ set are available on the main roads in San Stefanos and Roda. In Sidari, meanwhile, Karousadon-Sidariou delivers cocktail, karaoke and live music bars.

Food & drink

Sofrito

Sofrito is Corfu’s flagship dish and, as such, you’ll find it on the menu of almost every tavern on the island. It’s made from a veal fillet, which is simmered in white wine, garlic, parsley and marjoram. The finished product is usually served with a generous helping of rice or mounds of crispy roast potatoes.

Pastitsada

A combination of saucy pasta and casserole, pastitsada is Corfiot soul food at its best. It’s made by slow-cooking beef with red wine, cinnamon, tomatoes and onions, and baking the tender stew in the oven with pasta. It’s served in an earthenware pot with lashings of mozzarella cheese on the top.

Bianketa

These bite-sized pastries are the ultimate sweet treat. They’re made from a mixture of crushed almonds, tangerine juice and sugar, which is made into a paste and moulded into little balls. Sometimes they’re served with melted bitter chocolate in a type of ultra-indulgent fondue.

Ginger beer

Decades ago, most of the Ionian islands brewed their own ginger beer. Today, Corfu is the only one still flying the flag for the spicy fizz. The drink is brewed in large cauldrons and distributed to Corfiot cafes between Easter and autumn.

Kumquat

Bizarrely, Corfu’s national drink is made from a Chinese fruit. The kumquat has been cultivated in Corfu since the 1800s and, today, the sweet alcoholic drink is sold all over the island. Traditionally, it’s served neat but it can be poured over ice-cream for a real treat.

Average Weather in Corfu

Facts about Corfu

Currency
Euro
(EUR)
Language
Greek
Time zone
GMT +2
Flight duration
3 hours from Gatwick

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