The ancients knew a good thing when they saw one. And Corfu, the setting of so many classical legends, hasn’t looked back since. Haloed by beautiful beaches and with a spine of hills dotted with remote villages, it’s a work of art. The island’s capital also happens to boast Greece’s most untypical UNESCO listing and former palaces of Austrian, German and Greek royalty. What’s more, Corfu’s location means that day trips to the mainland, Albania and the islands of Paxos and Antipaxos are just short hops away.
Top six things to do in Corfu
1. Visit the Achilleion Palace
As one of Corfu’s most popular attractions, the Achilleion Palace is best visited as part of a skip-the-line tour. This elegant retreat was built by tragic Empress Sisi of Austria and later bought by Germany’s last Kaiser. Climbing up the elaborately decorated main staircase is like stepping back in time to the Belle Époque. While the statue-studded terraced gardens offer views of Corfu city, the Ionian Sea and mainland Greece.
2. Cosmopolitan Corfu Town
The island’s capital is a melting pot of cultures, as can be seen in its impressive architecture. Ruled by Venice for centuries before coming under French and then British control, it wears its cosmopolitanism on its sleeve. This eclecticism has earned it the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site – all other UNESCO sites in Greece are either classical or religious. The two Venetian fortresses are must-sees as are the French-era Liston and the British-built Palace of St Michael and St George. And just outside the Old Town is the Mon Repos Estate, birthplace of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
3. Head to Paleokastritsa
Northern Corfu is all hills and rustic villages with a coastline that’s a medley of long sandy beaches, secluded coves and steep cliffs. But even among all these natural attractions, there’s one spot that stands out from the crowd. Paleokastritsa is a little gem. It’s built around three coves sheltered by tree-studded headlands. The star turn is the hilltop monastery, where flowery pergolas and arched passageways vie for your attention with Orthodox icons and eye-popping coastal views. It’s easy to see why medieval monks found it heavenly.
4. Hop on the boat to Butrint
Just a short ferry trip away from Corfu is Albania, one of Europe’s most enigmatic countries. It makes for a fascinating day trip but best of all, you come across one of its top attractions almost the moment you land. UNESCO-listed Butrint boasts archaeological remains from the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian eras. Tours from Corfu bring you to the site and usually include stops in nearby villages.
5. Go on an excursion to Paxos and Antipaxos
The islands of Paxos and Antipaxos to the south of Corfu are the embodiment of laidback Greek island life. Paxos, the larger of the two, is all secluded coves and waterfronts of pastel-coloured buildings. Sipping on a drink watching the boats glide in at a harbourside taverna in Gaios, the largest village, is one of life’s little pleasures. While tiny Antipaxos has about 20 full time residents and offers some of the prettiest beaches in the Ionian Sea. Tranquillity down to a T.
6. Ionian idyll
The sheltered harbour village of Sivota on the Greek mainland is bathed by some of the clearest waters in the Ionian. Four tree-clad uninhabited islands lie just off Sivota, each hosting some of the best beaches around. Many boat trips take in the most enticing of these, such as Bella Vraka – which can be waded to from Sivota as the water is so shallow – and the jewel in the crown, Blue Lagoon beach. Secluded and backed by a dense forest, it can only be reached by boat.
