Traveling to Corfu: what to see and how much does it cost?

The island is truly surrounded by greenery, and the architecture of the towns and the local atmosphere are more reminiscent of provincial Italy. This is not surprising, as Corfu, or Kerkyra, as the island and its capital are called by the locals, was under the rule of the Venetian state for several centuries, which influenced the formation of the local culture, customs, and the aforementioned architectural style. The top best places to visit are listed below, but first, let's talk about how to get to the island.

How to get to Corfu

You can reach the island from mainland Greece by ferry, and there are buses from Athens and other cities. You can also rent a car.

But we, like most tourists, chose air transport.

You can book a hotel in Corfu with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

What to see in Corfu

First impressions. Corfu is not as popular among our tourists as Crete, for example. And that's great! When you arrive in Corfu, you immediately feel like you are in good old Europe with beautifully dressed, tolerant people. Walking through the old town, you really feel like you are somewhere in clean and well-kept Naples or Venice, albeit without the canals.

In Corfu, there is no need to rush around trying to see everything at once; just enjoy the city. Wander around the Museum of Asian Art, climb to the top of the old Venetian fortress, walk along the central streets, and peek into the narrow alleys.

I also recommend visiting the birthplace of Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip. The park is home to the royal mansion Mon Repos, which offers a nice view. In the same direction, you can walk to the pier at the airport runway, where you can take pictures with a plane landing above your head. The island of Pontikonisi is also located here, which you can reach by boat for a couple of euros and a couple of minutes. On our first night, we stayed at the hotel of the same name in the town of Perama, from where you can reach the island on your own. This is the best place to stay if you like watching planes flying a few dozen meters from your window.

You can travel around the island itself by rented transport, expensive taxi, or local intercity buses. You can check the schedule and prices on the website greenbus.gr

If you look at the map, you will see that the island is quite small, but there is really a lot to see in Corfu.

Sidari

First, we headed to the northwest of the island, to the town of Sidari. The main attraction here is the Canal of Love. I don't know in whose honor this little canal is named, probably the locals, given the huge number of tourists who have taken a liking to this location. However, the place is really beautiful, but I recommend taking a walk to other rocks that are very close by and have far fewer people.

Near Sidari is the incredibly beautiful Cape Drastis. We got there by taxi for 10 euros. And it was worth it, because the place is just awesome.

From the cape, it's a 15-20 minute walk to Sunset Beach and 7th Heaven Cafe with a glass bridge over a high cliff. The cafe tables offer an amazing view of the sunset, and somewhere in the distance you can see the Italian heel region of Apulia.

Agios Georgios Pagon

From the cliff, we called a taxi again and drove to the town of Agios Georgios Pagon, where we spent the next few nights. During the high season, there are buses running between small towns (summer special routes), but when we were there, taxis were the only option besides walking.

Вообще в разных городках на острове видна разница между отдыхающими. В Сидари это в основном британцы, в Пагоне немцы, а в самом южном Кавосе тусит британская молодежь и датчане, хотя кроме баров там особо делать нечего.

Our people are most often found on the east coast, where package tours are most often sold, although half of it is just a puddle. But more on that later.

Let's return to our Agios Georgios Pagon (not to be confused with another popular place simply called Agios Georgios).

Porto Timoni is a must-visit place here. It is a cape with beaches washed by azure water on both sides. You can get here on foot along a path or road. The first option is definitely suitable for people with at least a little hiking experience.

This place will definitely remain in your memory for a long time. I have never seen such beauty before!

Paleokastritsa

The next stop on our journey was the village of Paleokastritsa. From the name alone, it is clear that this is an incredibly authentic Mediterranean place, imbued with all the most beautiful things on the island. If I were asked where I would be willing to spend a quiet, leisurely vacation, I would definitely choose this village.

It has everything you need for a perfect island vacation. There are good hotels to suit every taste and budget, from campsites to luxury hotels. There are also many taverns and restaurants serving delicious Greek cuisine and seafood at reasonable prices. I recommend having dinner at Taverna Limani, as well as enjoying the evening and a couple of cocktails at La Grotta bar, which is located in a real grotto, with night lighting of the rocks and water (take your swimming trunks with you, there is a cool place for night cliff jumping here).

Water taxis are a popular form of transportation in the village. For €15, we sailed to one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen—Paradise Beach. It is a place with white sand, crystal clear water, and beautiful views.

At sunset, it is worth climbing up to the local monastery, which is simply surrounded by flowers and plants typical of this region. There is a path from the monastery to the main observation deck. The views from there are incredibly romantic.

We liked this part of the island so much that after visiting the southernmost town of Kavos — which, in my opinion, is not worth visiting unless you want to get drunk and party until morning — we returned to Paleokastritsa. There, we stayed for one night in the most budget-friendly accommodation on the island — a campsite that is more like glamping with proper beds in tents. It cost only €17 for two people.

Near Paleokastritsa is the authentic village of Liapades, with perfect beaches and dense olive groves. Visit Limni Beach, Παραλία Κληματιά, and Liapades Beach itself. From the latter, you can quickly walk along a mountain trail to Paleokastritsa.

Prices and accommodation in Corfu

When it comes to prices, Corfu cannot be considered a cheap island. Budget accommodation ranges from €50 per night during the high season, but there is no upper limit. In my opinion, Corfu is worth visiting for its views and nature, but the standard of hotels here is significantly lower than in Egypt or Turkey, for example, when comparing the same price categories.

By the way, if you decide to go to Corfu on a package tour, I strongly recommend choosing hotels on the western part of the island. There are several reasons for this. Since the island is close to the mainland, on the eastern side there is only a strait through which you can see nearby Albania and Greece. In some places, it feels like you are swimming in a salt lake rather than the sea. The second reason is the authenticity of the settlements.

In the east, the towns are filled with package tourists, and this affects the atmosphere, because everything there is designed for the boring consumer. On the west coast, there is a feeling of wild nature and, at the same time, affluent Europe, where everyone takes their time, creates, and enjoys life. The water is a little cooler here, but there is the open sea and stunning sunsets.

In summary, the island of Corfu is suitable for true connoisseurs of nature, the Mediterranean mood, and active beach holidays. I would not recommend traveling here with a package tour. Ideally, you should rent a car to see all the most beautiful locations scattered around the island. But no matter how you choose to travel, once you see even a couple of the locations mentioned above, Corfu will not leave you indifferent!