Corfu is one of the most beautiful and famous Greek islands. Head here for beautiful scenery, unusually green landscapes and beautiful beaches.

The ideal length of a holiday on the island is 7-10 days.

Beaches and swimming

The coastline covers approximately 200 km and the beaches here are very diverse. You will find both sandy and pebble beaches. Most of them are easily accessible. 32 beaches have been awarded the blue flag for water and beach cleanliness.

Moreover, Corfu's beaches are very diverse.

While the southern part of the island is dominated by long sandy beaches on flat terrain, the northern part is much more rugged with predominantly pebble beaches (but you will also find a sandy beach in Sidari, for example).

The west of Corfu is then lined with high cliffs and hills falling steeply into the sea, creating beaches with spectacular views.

The most beautiful beaches in Corfu

Travellers heading to Corfu often ask what the best beaches on the island are and where to head. Our selection of the TOP 6 most beautiful beaches in Corfu is subjective, but you won't go wrong by visiting these beaches. Click on the name of the beach for detailed information.

• Paradise Beach - A deserted beach in the west of the island that can only be reached by boat for an uninterrupted experience in a natural environment.
• Canal d'Amour Beach in Sidari - A small beach in a beautiful rocky cove with a cave.
• Beaches in Paleokastritsa - Several smaller beaches in the beautiful setting of the rugged coastline around the town of Paleokastritsa.
• Agios Gordios Beach - One of the most popular beaches on the beautiful west coast with high hills falling steeply into the sea.
• Porto Timoni Beach - A so-called double beach with access to the sea from both sides.
• Chalikounas Beach - A long and natural sandy beach where you will always find your peace.
• Agios Georgios Beach - A very well-known, yet beautiful sandy beach in a large horseshoe-shaped bay.

Prices of sunbeds and umbrellas

You can rent a sunbed and umbrella at practically all beaches in Corfu. How much does it cost to rent a sun lounger? Prices across the island are around 10 eur per day for a set of 2 sunbeds and one umbrella, and variations are at most within 2 eur up or down.

Water attractions and sports

Corfu's beaches are ready for all adrenaline-seeking visitors, and in every even slightly larger resort you'll find a variety of water attractions and sports on offer. The most popular are traditionally inflatable banana rides or circles, water-skiing courses, parasailing or renting jet skis, pedal boats or paddleboards. You don't usually need to book in advance, but it is advisable to book your rental or course as early in the morning as possible.

Examples of prices:

• Waterskiing 30 minutes: 40 eur
• Parasailing: 50 eur
• Banana boat or circle ride 30 minutes: 20 eur
• Paddleboard or pedal boat hire 1 hour: 20 eur

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Although the underwater life in the Ionian Sea around Corfu isn't as abundant as in Malta or the Aegean, it's definitely worth packing a snorkel, and enthusiasts will welcome the opportunities for real diving, including courses for beginners.

The underwater world of Corfu offers, in addition to the classic Mediterranean fish, smaller octopuses or jellyfish and shells, mainly beautiful rock formations, underwater caves and several shipwrecks. In addition, the waters around the island boast excellent visibility of around 50 metres or more on average.

The best beach for snorkelling in Corfu

The most beautiful spots are where there is a rugged coastline with many bays and rocky bottoms. The most popular snorkelling spots in Corfu are definitely the bays around Paleokastritsa or in the north at Kassiopi or Sidari. You can buy a snorkel and fins in every resort around 15 eur.

Various dive centres along the coast offer snorkelling boat trips, with prices around 30 eur for 4 hours.

Diving in Corfu

Corfu is one of the best places for diving in the whole of Greece thanks to its underwater caves. Almost all along the coast you will find dive centres offering courses for beginners and organised dives for more experienced divers.

The best diving spots in Corfu can be found around Paleokastritsa and then all along the northern coast from Sidari to Kassiopi to Barbati.

Examples of prices:

• Scuba Diving for beginners: 50 eur per dive
• PADI Scuba Diving Course: 290 eur
• PADI Open waters diving course: 380 eur
• 1 trip (2 dives) for certified divers: 90 eur

There are many diving centres in Corfu, examples of the most famous ones are listed below:

• Achilleon Diving Center (Paleokastritsa)
• Corfu Divers (Kassiopi)
• Appolosub (Kassiopi, Ipsos, Nissaki and Barbati)
• Scuba Diving Sidari (Sidari)
• Corfu Dive Club (Corfu Town)

Hiking

Hiking on the Greek islands is a rather marginal affair, with most visitors heading here primarily for the sea.

In the case of Corfu, however, it would be a shame to focus only on water activities. Not for nothing is Corfu nicknamed the "Emerald Isle". It is one of the greenest areas in Greece, the hills are densely covered with pine, olive and cypress trees and hiking takes on a whole new character.

You won't find marked trails like here, but you can go on the famous 220 km long Corfu Trail

Corfu Trail

This trail stretches 220 km from one end of the island to the other and can be completed in about 8-10 days. Prepare for a dirty gravel road rarely maintained but all the more adventure, adventure and solitude.

Pack repellent and water purification tablets, which may come in handy. Invest in and purchase a good map guide and ideally book accommodation in advance.

The Corfu Trail will offer all the 'best' of the island. You'll visit the sand dunes in the south, be mesmerised by the views of sunsets and the beautiful coves in the north.

The trail starts at the southernmost point of Corfu called Asprokavos, follows the western coastline and crosses the mountainous northern half of the island to reach the resort of Agios Spyridon at the northernmost point of the island.

Day trip to Albania

If you're planning a longer stay in Corfu, take a ferry to nearby Albania, whose coastline is about 2km as the crow flies from Corfu's shores at its narrowest point.

In case you only want to go on a day trip, it's best to take advantage of one of the many local tour operators you'll come across around Corfu town centre (Kerkyra). Day trips include a cruise to the Albanian resort of Saranda (sailing takes about 45 minutes) and a visit to the national park and ancient town of Burtint, about 20 km away.

Prices for similar trips range between 50 and 60 eur and usually include transfers, entrance to the ancient site at Butrint and lunch.

Of course, you can also go to Albania on your own. Details of the regular ferries can be found in the How to get here chapter.

What to see in Albania, how to get there, what currency to exchange and other practical information can be found in our guide to Albania.

Gastronomy and typical specialities

The local cuisine is very strongly influenced by the Venetians. Tomato sauces and fish stews are typical. Smoked ham, numbulo or burduni are some of the traditional Corfu dishes that you really won't find elsewhere in Greece. Corfu is also famous for its kumquat fruit, which resembles a small orange and is used to make a liqueur of the same name.

We recommend a visit to the excellent bakery in Kerkyra, Panetteria Starenio, which bakes amazing cakes made from spinach, cheese and aubergine. Of course, during your visit, visit one of the traditional Greek tavernas, such as the Rouvas Taverna in Kerkyra.

Sights and history

Unlike the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, Corfu is not full of ancient monuments and sites from the time of ancient Greece. While Corfu is all about nature, there are still plenty of monuments and historical buildings to enjoy.

Especially as a one-day diversion to beach and water activities, the sights of Corfu are perfect.

The largest concentration of historical sites is in the largest town of Corfu (Kerkyra). The local Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the influence of the Venetian Republic is particularly evident here, with buildings in a flamboyant Italianate style dating mostly from the 14th to 17th centuries.

You can also visit the Achillion Castle, built in the 19th century by the Austrian Empress Sisi.

The 10 best hotels in Corfu

Plane-spotting

Corfu is a place promised not only for lovers of heat and sea, but also for aviation enthusiasts. The local airport is a renowned spotting spot and will excite even those of you who aren't that interested in planes in depth.

The airstrip starts on the outskirts of Corfu Town and runs along an artificial causeway towards the bay, ending near the famous Vlacherna Monastery.

Planes almost always land from the south, in the direction of the monastery, near which you will find the best viewing spots. From the Vlacherna Monastery, a narrow concrete causeway leads across the bay, which is easy to climb and where planes will fly overhead just a few metres above your head.

A legendary spotting spot is the Café Royal in the nearby restaurant complex, where you can watch the planes from the top with a beautiful view of the entire bay.