25 Best Things to Do in Corfu: The Ultimate 2026 Guide
Corfu (Kerkyra) is the greenest of Greece's Ionian islands – a place where a UNESCO-listed Venetian Old Town, an empress's neoclassical palace, dozens of turquoise bays and lush mountain villages all sit within an easy drive of one another. Whether you have three days or two weeks, this guide rounds up the 25 best things to do in Corfu, with honest local tips and links to in-depth guides for each one, so you can build a trip that balances culture, beaches and food without wasting a single day.
We've organised everything by theme – Corfu Town, beaches, nature, villages, food, day trips, family fun and nightlife – and finished with practical advice on how to get around and when to come.
Why Corfu is special
Corfu has been shaped by centuries of Venetian, French and British rule, and that layered history shows up everywhere – in the arcaded streets, the cuisine, even the island's love of cricket. It is also famously fertile: Corfu is carpeted with millions of centuries-old olive trees, and olive groves blanket much of its countryside. That lush, green landscape is exactly why Corfu feels so different from the bare, sun-bleached Cyclades. You get the Greek sea and light, but framed by cypress, olive and a mild, almost Italian softness.
Corfu Town & culture
The island's UNESCO-listed capital is the obvious starting point, and you could happily spend two days here alone.
- Explore Corfu Old Town – lose yourself in the Venetian kantounia (narrow alleys), the elegant Liston arcade and the vast Spianada Square. Our full self-guided route is in the Corfu Old Town walking guide, and you can read our deep-dive on the UNESCO Old Town.
- Climb the Old Fortress and New Fortress for sweeping views over the rooftops and out to the mountains of mainland Greece and Albania.
- Visit the Church of Agios Spyridon to see the silver casket holding the relics of the island's beloved patron saint, carried through town in four annual processions.
- Tour the Achilleion Palace – Empress Sisi's romantic retreat just south of town; see our Achilleion Palace visitor guide.
- See the Museum of Asian Art inside the Palace of St Michael and St George – the only museum of its kind in Greece, with a remarkable collection of Chinese and Japanese art.
Beaches & coast
Corfu has over 200 km of coastline, and the variety is the point – sandstone coves in the north, golden west-coast sand, dramatic cliffs and hidden pebble bays.
- Paleokastritsa's six bays – turquoise water beneath cliffs and a cliff-top monastery; full details in our Paleokastritsa guide.
- Canal d'Amour at Sidari – wind-carved sandstone coves wrapped in a romantic legend (Sidari & Canal d'Amour guide).
- Glyfada and Myrtiotissa – the island's sandiest, most beautiful west-coast beaches (west coast beaches guide).
- Hike to Porto Timoni – a stunning double bay reached on foot from the village of Afionas.
- Find a secret cove – Rovinia, Chomi and other off-the-radar spots in our Corfu hidden gems guide.
For a ranked rundown of the very best, see our pillar guide to the 15 best beaches in Corfu.
Nature & adventure
- Climb (or drive up) Mount Pantokrator – at 906 m it's the island's highest peak, with a 360° panorama that on clear days reaches Italy.
- Walk a stretch of the Corfu Trail – a long-distance path crossing the island from south to north through olive groves, villages and ridgelines.
- Kayak or paddleboard the calm northeast coast around Kalami and Agni.
- Snorkel the clear water at Paleokastritsa, the coldest and clearest on the island.
- Catch the sunset at Cape Drastis or Loggas Beach near Peroulades, where white cliffs glow gold at dusk.
Villages & countryside
Rent a car for a day and the green interior opens up.
- Wander Old Perithia, the island's oldest village – a heritage-protected "ghost village" on the slopes of Pantokrator, now home to a handful of family tavernas famous for stifado.
- Stop in Doukades and Lakones for village squares, mansions and the Bella Vista balcony over Paleokastritsa.
- Visit Pelekas and the Kaiser's Throne for one of Corfu's best sunset viewpoints.
More inspiration in our guide to the most beautiful villages in Corfu.
Food & drink
- Eat your way through Corfiot cuisine – pastitsada, sofrito and bourdeto are Venetian-Greek classics you won't find done the same way elsewhere. See our guide to traditional Corfu food.
- Taste local olive oil and kumquat liqueur, two island signatures, on a producer visit.
- Have a long taverna lunch by the water in Agni or Kassiopi, then linger over a Corfiot ginger beer (tsitsibira).
When you're ready to book a table or a food tour, browse the listings in our dining & food directory.
Day trips & family fun
- Take the Paxos, Antipaxos & Blue Caves boat trip – the island's flagship excursion to impossibly blue water; full details in our Corfu day trips guide.
- Cross to Albania for a day to see the UNESCO ruins of Butrint and the seaside town of Saranda.
- Spend a day at Aqualand – one of the biggest water parks in Europe and a guaranteed kid-pleaser; see our Corfu with kids guide.
Nightlife
- Go out, your way – sophisticated cocktail bars and the buzzing Liston in Corfu Town, cliff bars at Paleokastritsa, or full-on clubbing in Kavos. Our Corfu nightlife guide breaks it down by area.
How to get around to see it all
Most of these sights need transport, and choosing the right option saves you time and money. Corfu has a genuinely useful bus network – blue (urban) buses around the capital and green (KTEL) buses to the rest of the island – but for flexibility most visitors hire a car or book a transfer. Compare every option in our getting around Corfu guide, browse car hire, taxis and private transfers, or let someone else do the driving with a guided tour or excursion.
Plan your trip
Decide when to come with our best time to visit Corfu guide, pick the right base in where to stay in Corfu, and slot it all together with our ready-made 3, 5 and 7-day Corfu itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top things to do in Corfu?
The essentials are exploring the UNESCO-listed Corfu Old Town and its two Venetian fortresses, visiting the Achilleion Palace, swimming at Paleokastritsa and the west-coast beaches, seeing the Canal d'Amour at Sidari, taking the Paxos and Antipaxos boat trip, and eating traditional Corfiot dishes in a mountain or seaside village taverna.
How many days do you need in Corfu?
Three days is enough for the highlights – Corfu Town, the Achilleion and one or two beaches. Five days lets you add a boat trip and the north of the island, and seven days gives you time for villages, hiking and hidden beaches without rushing. See our 3, 5 and 7-day itinerary for ready-made plans.
Is Corfu good for a first-time visit to Greece?
Yes. Corfu combines a walkable historic town, easy beaches, good food and plenty of day trips, all with a well-developed tourism infrastructure and an international airport. It's especially easy if you base yourself in or near Corfu Town and take guided excursions.
What is the best time of year to visit Corfu?
May, June, September and early October offer the best balance of warm weather, swimmable sea and smaller crowds. July and August are hottest and busiest, while spring brings Orthodox Easter celebrations that are among the most spectacular in Greece.
Do you need a car in Corfu?
Not for Corfu Town, which is walkable, and the bus network reaches the main resorts and beaches. But to explore the mountain villages, hidden coves and the west coast freely, a car (or a private transfer for day trips) makes a big difference.
