Fall in love with Corfu Old Town: 23 Wonderful Experiences

Corfu Old Town, also known as Kerkyra was one of the highlights of our visit to Corfu Island. We loved the colorful buildings decorated with flowers within the narrow streets that are wonderful to wander through. And the views from the ancient fortress are just stunning.

We highly suggest planning one full day to visit this beautiful town. Or better yet, spend a night or weekend in one of the many wonderful accommodations to experience Corfu Old Town to the fullest.

Here we have listed everything you need to know to plan your visit to Corfu Town. Usually, we always suggest moving around and staying in different places during your holiday.

This is also the case for Corfu Island. However, located quite central we can imagine that Corfu Town is perfect as a base. The island highlights are often within 1,5 hours by car, motorscooter, or public bus.

Pin It Now, Read It Later

pinterest pin with text discover beautiful corfu old town greece

Corfu Old Town is the perfect Weekend Get-Away Destination throughout the year, especially in the low season.

History of Corfu Old Town

statue located on a square with old colorful buildings with shutters, which are common in corfu old town — The Plakada t’Agiou square, a central point in town

To understand the diversity and beauty of the main town on the Greek island of Corfu, all you need to do is look at its location.

Its strategic position in the Ionian Sea enabled this island to flourish over many thousands of years. The Greeks settled here in the 8th Century BC creating an important prosperous trade and naval base. (source: Unesco)

The town continued to thrive during the Roman (229BC) and Byzantine Empire (4th to 13th Century) creating a blend of Greek and Roman influences.

marble statue of a man located in a small park with the old fortress of corfu in the background — Statue of Count Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831) facing the old fortress.

However, the most significant period in Corfu’s history was under Venetian rule which started in 1386 and lasted for over four centuries. The Venetians fortified the town with impressive defensive walls and buildings, many of which still stand today.

During this period the Venetians defended Corfu from several attacks of the Ottoman Empire, one of the most powerful empires in history. The Venetian era left a lasting mark on the town’s architecture and culture.

small street in Corfu town with yellow, ochre and light red buildings with a balcony and shutters. In the far distance there is a church tower rising above the rooftops — One of the many enchanting streets in Corfu

The French and British were briefly in Corfu at the beginning of the 18th Century. In 1864 Corfu island, along with the rest of the Ionian islands was united with Greece.

Today Corfu is a vibrant blend of its rich history and modern influences, which attract thousands of tourists from all over the world. The old town and its fortresses are listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site preserving the Venetian, French, and British architectural heritage.

Highlights Corfu Old Town

historical buildings of corfu town along the water front, with a boat at the docks — View of Corfu town and its old port when approaching the ferry terminal

A town like Corfu Town doesn’t need a map or a long list of must-see sights. It is one of those towns where no matter where you go, it is a place where every corner or street is beautiful.

And that is what we highly suggest doing.

Just walk along the waterfront and through the little streets. Don’t stick to a map too much. Instead, look around, marvel at the little details, and have no fear of getting lost (which is impossible by the way).

Still, there might be a thing or two you don’t want to miss. We have listed the best things to see and do right here…

1. Architecture and Little Streets

shops display the products in the narrow streets of corfu — The Campiello is a medieval part and the heart of Corfu Town

Some say the streets and buildings of Corfu Old Town remind you of Venice. It might not have canals, but it does have narrow streets and tall buildings.

The Venetians have mostly created the old town we see today. I don’t think they necessarily wanted to copy Venice. However, they already had the experience of tackling the increase in population in a small area.

You see, the old town of Corfu was built within the two ancient fortresses that protected the city from attacks. While the number of inhabitants grew, they were pretty much forced to create these narrow streets and tall buildings within the little space they had.

small narrow streets with a couple sitting at a restaurant

alleyway with a green and ochre red building in corfu town

narrow stairs leading you pass shops and restaurants in corfu town

Today it feels like an open museum to wander around. The colored-painted houses, cobbled narrow streets, and the arches that connect buildings are unique. No wonder it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.

As mentioned earlier, take the time to wander around aimlessly through the streets, one narrower than the other.

2. Spianada

a part of the largest square in greece with the old fortress towering in the back — View of the large square with the old Fortress in the back

Today the Spianada square is a meeting point and probably the first thing you will pass when entering Corfu Old Town by car or motor scooter. However, in the past, this part of town was fully built until the Venetians decided to clear the area around the fortresses for defense purposes.

Through time, the French built the Liston residence complex along this square, while the British left their mark on the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George.

view of a row of historical buildings location along spianada sqaure in corfu old town — Stroll through the gardens of the square while admiring the impressive buildings

The Spianada Square is the largest in Greece, and the Balkans, and even on the list of one of the largest squares in the world.

Perhaps more practical than interesting: there is a lot of parking space here, especially around the cricket ground. Perfect if you are coming by car.

3. Old Fortress

the old fortress with an impressive wall, surrounded by water where now sailboats dock — Old Fortress viewed from the North

The Old Fortress is perched on a cliff located on the east side of Corfu Town. It is perfectly located to keep enemies at bay and to see as far as your eyes can see.

It’s an impressive fortress, especially when you realize it was built over 15 centuries. The fortifications started during the Byzantine period and the Venetians improved it even more to defend the island from the Ottoman Empire.

stunning view of Spianada square, historical buildings of old corfu, the new fortress and the mountains of corfu far beyond — View from the Old Fortress of Corfu Town and the New Fortress

A bridge connects the old Venetian fortress with the mainland. At the fortress, there are various buildings such as the church of St George, a chapel, barracks, a former military hospital, and a prison. Additionally, there is a historical archive and a collection that dates back to the Byzantine period.

You can easily spend a couple of hours wandering around the Old Fortress. The views of the ocean and Corfu Town are one of the best.

4. Liston

view of the liston buildings in corfu town known for its arches where you can find restaurants — The famous Liston

people enjoying food and drinks at the many restaurants in the liston building corfu — The famous Liston

The Liston building is one of the famous landmarks in Corfu Town and is located along Spianada Square. It was built around 1807 during the French occupation. Rue de Rivoli in Paris inspired the French engineer to create this multi-story building with an elegantly shaded arcade.

Initially, it was the residence for the aristocratic classes, who were only allowed to walk and dine under the arches.

Today this European-styled building is lined with cafes and restaurants and is a popular spot for locals and tourists to have something to eat or drink.

a square located next to the liston with many historical buildings in corfu town — Beautiful square at the end of the Liston

5. Town Hall

Just a 3-minute walk around the Liston you have the beautifully preserved Corfu Town Hall, known as ‘San Giamoco’. It was constructed from 1663 to 1693 under Venetian rule. Initially, the building was used as a theater for nobility and was known as the ‘Nobile Teatro di San Giamomo’. In 1903 it was converted into the Town Hall.

The building and its historical archives were severely damaged during the 1943 Second World War Bombings. Over the years it was renovated and the building at Town Hall Square is now an example of Corfu’s rich historical past.

6. New Fortress

view of the fortress and its heavy walls from the water — The new fortress is just as impressive as the old

With the increasing threats of Ottoman invasions, the Venetians built an impressive fortification between 1576 and 1645 on the hill of St Mark, known as The New Fortress. The new Venetian fortress was constructed to complement the Old Fortress. Both fortresses were connected with a thick defense wall.

Within the New Fortress walls, a network of tunnels made it easy to move around quickly while the high walls provided strategic control over the land and sea routes.

one of the many entrances to the new fortress in corfu town — The thick walls of the New Fortress

Today the fortress remains mostly intact. Some parts have been modernized for cultural events, but when you visit this impressive structure you will realize its importance in Corfu’s history.

7. Saint Michael and Saint George Palace

full side view of the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in corfu town — Corfu Museum of Asian Art is now located in this building

Along the north of Spianada Square lies the Palace of St. Michael and St. George. It stands pretty much by itself and is surrounded by a garden. While I could tell it was a grand building, I felt like it was a bit out of place compared to the rest of the old town.

Understandably considering this palace was built between 1819 and 1924 under British rule. The neoclassical building with the grand Doric columns and stone carvings reflects the British colonial style.

statue in front of the Palace of St. Michael and St. George

detailed picture of the columns of the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in corfu town

It served as the residence of the British Lord High Commissioner. Additionally, it housed the order of St. Michael and St. George, an order of chivalry created to honor distinguished service in the Mediterranean.

The palace is blessed with beautifully decorated rooms with high ceilings and chandeliers. In the past official receptions and ceremonies were held here. Today it houses the Museum of Asian Art with over 10.000 artifacts from China, Japan, India and beyond.

8. Churches

the striking red panagia antivouniotissa church in corfu town — **Metropolitan** **Church of Panagia Antivouniotissa**

the bell tower with the red tip of saint spyridon — **Metropolitan** **Church of Panagia Antivouniotissa**

Throughout town, you will find churches set within the narrow streets. The greek orthodox church of Saint Spyridon with the prominent bell tower is the tallest in Corfu. You will see this when approaching Corfu by boat or admiring the town’s skyline.

Built in 1589, the church is dedicated to the island’s patron saint. It is believed that the relics of Saint Spyridon miraculously saved Corfu various times from disasters such as the plagues and the Ottoman invasions.

two churches that are located next to each other, the yellow our lady of strangers church and the red St. Johns church — Our Lady of Strangers Church is next to the St John’s Church

The Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher (or the Catholic Cathedral of Corfu) was built in the 16th Century. The Venetian Catholic influences are evident here. Make sure you head to this church in Corfu town during Easter as it has become famous for its huge celebrations.

One of the oldest churches in old Corfu Town is the Metropolitan Church of Panagia Antivouniotissa. It’s a Byzantine church dating back to the 15th century. Today it is a museum where you can find post-Byzantine (Orthodox Christian) religious art.

9. Shopping

shops located within the historical buildings and narrow street in corfu town

boutique decorated with colourful red flowers

local products displayed outside such as shampoo and other oils

Well, I probably don’t need to add any info on this thing to do in Corfu town 😁. If you are into shopping or want to bring something home with you then Corfu’s old town is the place to be.

You can spend a whole afternoon browsing in the many little shops located in the narrow streets. From clothing, jewelry, and local products such as olive oil and Greek sandals to tacky souvenirs are found at the many souvenir shops.

You won’t have any trouble finding something to bring home with you…

Highlights Outside Corfu Old Town

There is more to see just outside Corfu Old Town. The best way is to hop on a motor scooter and head over there. This avoids a lot of hassle with the traffic. Here are a couple of great things to see within a 30-minute drive from town.

10. Kanoni Monastery & Ponitkonisi Island

view of the vlacherna monastry and mouse island near corfu town — Vlacherna Monastery with Ponitknonisi (Mouse Island) in the back

Located on the southern tip of Kanoni Peninsula you can find the Vlacherna Monastery. The picturesque 17th-century whitewashed monastery is found on a small islet and accessible by a small causeway.

While this monastery is small, it still attracts a lot of people for its unique setting and nice views.

From here you can find boats that will take you around the little rock island Ponitkonisi (Pontikos = Mouse, nisi = Island). On the island lies a Byzantine chapel of Pantocrator from the 11th century.

11. Airplane Spotting

airplane flying very low over the water while approaching corfu airport — You can almost touch the approaching planes…!

Head to Kanoni Peninsula if you want to experience being as close as possible to a flying airplane. Here planes fly low above the water (and your head) as they approach or leave the runway of Corfu Airport.

It’s an exciting experience and the place to be for those crazy about aviation.

12. Mon Repos Palace

a big mansion with a balcony, columns and garden now houses a museum near corfu town — Mon Repos Villa

excavations surrounded by walls and vegetation — Mon Repos Villa

Just south of Corfu Town, you can find the historic villa Mon Repos. The British Commissioner Frederick Adam built this villa in 1828.

Initially, it was the summer residence for his wife. Later it became a retreat for the Greek royal family and is also known as the birthplace of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Mon Repos is now a museum called the Museum of Palaiopolis. It showcases artifacts of Corfu’s ancient history. The museum is surrounded by a huge park with lots of walking trails that lead to ancient ruins. You can easily spend a whole day hiking these trails.

The Mon Repos Beach, located just outside the big park is a great spot to end your visit to this villa.

13. Anemomylos Windmill

view of anemomylos windmill, it seems it is almost floating on the water

close up of anemomylos windmill on corfu island

The Anemomylos Windmill is located at Garitsa Bay, just south of Corfu Town. Anemomylos means windmill in Greek and it dates back to the Venetian era. It was used to grind grain however today it is a beautiful historical landmark.

Towards the end of the day walk along the waterfront to admire this historic windmill together with the views of the bay and the Old Fortress.

14. The Achilleion Palace

large multiple story mansion with several balconies set within a beautiful garden near corfu town — The Austrian Empress Sisi’s mansion

The Achilleion Palace is located a 1 hour 15 minutes drive south of Corfu Old Town. The neoclassical mansion was built in 1890 for the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, more known as Sisi. She named the palace after the Greek hero Achilles.

The Empress loved the Greek culture and mythology and the statue of the ‘Dying Achilles’ shows her admiration for the hero.

A lush garden surrounds the Palace. Today it is a museum where you can wander through the grand rooms and admire the art.

15. Danilia Village

cat sleeping between the plants in corfu island greece — Everybody needs a rest now and then…

Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to visit Danilia Village. But if you love historical villages with traditional architecture set along charming cobblestone streets head to this quaint village just an 18-minute drive from Corfu Town.

The village depicts a traditional Corfu village as it was in the 1930s. Initially, you will be amazed at how well this village has been preserved, but it isn’t all authentic.

A businessman built this village in the 1970s. While it isn’t exactly the real thing, you should consider it an open-air museum. It must be beautiful because this is also the film location for the James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” and the British TV series “The Durrells.”

Corfu Town Beaches

Most of the beaches in Corfu Town are set around the Old Fortress. Honestly, we don’t really think they are worth the visit.

Nevertheless, these beaches are a great option if it is warm and you feel like cooling off after exploring beautiful Corfu Town. So bring your bathing suit just in case you feel like jumping in.

16. Corfu Old Fortress Beach

a small patch of beach is visible just outside the walls of the old fortress in corfu town — The beach is located just along the fortress walls

17. Marina Beach (south of Old Fortress)

a couple of people lying on the concrete plateau at the edge of the marina where sail boats are docked — The ideal beach for those who don’t like sand between their toes

18. Faliraki Beach

people sitting on the edge of the water and swimming in the water close to the old fortress in corfu town — The most popular beach in Corfu Town

You can find more beaches just outside town and easy to reach if you have on your own wheels.

19. Beaches Near Corfu Town

Corfu is located quite central making it easy to visit a beach outside town for a day. There are a dozen to choose from and depending on the time of year, you can’t go wrong.

The beaches within a 30-minute drive north of Corfu Town are:

Gouvia Beach
Beaches at Dafnila Bay such as Spilios Beach, Dafnila Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach
Dassia Beach
Ipsos Beach and Pirgi Beach

sunloungers and a sun umbrella at the quiet pebbled beach with calm blue water — It is quiet at the very end of Pirgi Beach

All beaches are also easily accessible by public transport, so during the high season, it can get pretty busy at this strip of the island. But that is pretty much any beach in Corfu.

We particularly liked Pirgi Beach, because it was the most quiet. However, we were unable to head to Dafnila Beach but would have loved to go since it is a less developed beach and a sweet water river flows straight into the water here.

We don’t recommend heading to the beaches located within a 30-minute drive south of Corfu old Town. They generally are found right along the main road.

view of mouse island on the right and kanoni village on the pensinsula on the right — View from Pontikonisi Beach of Kanoni (left) and the island (right)

However, the Pontikonisi Beach is worth visiting. You can either take the road around Corfu town to reach it. Or you can head to Kanoni village, located at the end of the airport runway) and walk along the narrow causeway straight to the beach.

This is the place where airplanes fly closely over while approaching the runway. So make sure you can handle the noise. From this beach, you can also see Mouse Island (Pontikonisi Island) and the Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna.

Day Trips From Corfu Old Town

20. Full-Day Boat Cruise

white lime gliffs towering over the blue ocean and little boat near paxos corfu island area — Admire the impressive cliffs when heading to Paxos

This 10-hour boat cruise will take you from Corfu Town to two stunning little Greek islands Paxos and Antipaxos. Along the way, you will stop at the Blue Caves and of course, go swimming in the most beautiful water.

If you don’t want to be stuck on a boat with 200 or more people, double-check how large the groups are before booking.

21. Day Trip Meteora Mainland Greece

several monasteries found the the tip of impressive limestone cliffs on mainland greece — Monasteries perched on the tip of the cliffs

This is a pretty crazy yet spectacular day trip from Corfu. If you are for a longer period in Corfu Town and don’t mind being on the road for a whole day to see something unique, check this out.

Meteora is located on the mainland of Greece. You can find monasteries, perched atop pristine limestone pillars with breathtaking views. They have been inaccessible to the outside world for years, offering a secluded sanctuary for monks.

A tour of this UNESCO world heritage sight lasts more than 14 hours and includes a 2-hour ferry trip from Lefkimmi, Corfu to Igoumenitsa on the Greek Mainland.

22. Day Trip Albania

historical remains at the butrint national archeological park in albania — Butrint National Park

traditional houses built against the hills in gjirokaster albania — Butrint National Park

Ferries from Corfu and Albania go frequently during the summer months. And if you go by a fast ferry, you will be in Albania in 30 minutes. Many people do this day trip to Albania where they visit

the Butrint National Archeological Park and Ksamil beaches OR
the UNESCO site and the historical Ottoman town Gjirokaster.

We have traveled 11 days along the Albanian coast and honestly can not imagine doing this trip. We would at least spend the night.

The ferry is perhaps just 30 minutes, but this does not include waiting at customs, etc. Plus you will be on the road almost the whole day just for a 2-hour visit.

But that said, the beaches along the western coasts of Albania (not all!) and the mountain landscapes found more inland are amazing. When visiting Gjirokaster or Butrint NP you can experience it too. So if you don’t mind the wait then check out the options.

Road trip Corfu

woman driving a motorscooter upill in a green landscape — You see so much more of Corfu Island on a motor scooter

The great thing about Corfu Town is that it is pretty much located in the center of the island. From here you can reach almost any village in an hour.

That said, we do not recommend staying in Corfu Town your whole stay. Instead of driving back and forth in a day, we encourage you to rent a car for a couple of days and stay at least 1 night somewhere on the island.

But if you just want to rent a car or a motor scooter from Corfu Town for a day and see the best highlights of Corfu, we suggest the following day trip:

23. Roadtrip West Coast Corfu

Corfu Old Town – Palaiokastritsa – Porto Timoni Beach – Cape Drastis – Corfu Town

Corfu to Palaiokastritsa (40 minutes drive) is known for its stunning sandy beaches with crystal clear blue water. Spend the whole morning exploring the various paths leading to different bays.

Palaiokastritsa to Porto Timoni Beach (55 minutes drive) is considered the most beautiful beach in Corfu. As you can expect, it can get extremely crowded in the summer months. Plus it involves a hike to get there. So make sure you wear comfortable shoes and prepare yourself for some exercise. You will be treated to amazing views and a unique beach.

Towards the late afternoon head from Porto Timoni to Cape Drastis (34 minutes drive). You need to hike about 20 minutes down a dirt road to get to the beach. Another option is to continue driving and check out the Canal d’ Amour.

From here it’s a 1h drive back to Corfu Town.

Corfu Moter Scooter & Car Rental

scooter and a row of cars parked at a rental company in corfu — Enough places in Corfu to rent a scooter or car

The list of rental car or motorscooter companies is huge in Corfu. Initially, we were looking for rental companies near the airport so we could pick up the motor scooters straight after arrival.

We also checked for rental companies near the ferry terminal, as we wanted to pick up and drop them off when heading to Albania.

But we soon discovered that it doesn’t matter where you rent your car or motorscooter as most rental companies in Corfu Town offer pick and drop off service.

For car rental, this is probably very common, but so far we never experienced this for motor scooter rental as well. So that’s very convenient.

Rent the iconic Italian scooter at Corfu Vespa, near Corfu Ferry Terminal

Until today it is still unclear to us what type of scooter you can rent with a regular driving licence. The first time we rented scooters we were only allowed to rent a 50cc scooter. What we don’t recommend doing. They usually have a 2-stroke engine which made a lot of noise and it was difficult to get uphill.

On our second rental attempt at Best Car Corfu, we were allowed to rent a 125cc with our regular driving license. We felt more safe driving in traffic with a stronger engine.

Best Car Corfu offers good motor scooters. They picked us up from the ferry terminal and dropped us off at the airport. That was great and the prices in the high season were reasonable compared to other rental companies around Corfu.

woman standing next to a motorscooter parked next to a mountain road on corfu island — A 125cc motor scooter will take you easily uphill

Places to stay in Corfu Old Town

We highly suggest planning one full day to visit this beautiful town. Or better yet, spend a night or weekend in one of the many wonderful accommodations to experience fully Corfu Old Town.

This will give you enough opportunity to discover this beautiful town untill late in the evening, head to your accommodation in a historical building or with views of the ocean. And straight after breakfast stroll around town before the crowd arrives.

beautiful narrow street in corfu old town with coloured houses and doors — It’s a treat to stay in Corfu Town

There are many beautiful accommodations in Corfu Town. Here are just a couple of suggestions:

Corfu Old Town Accommodation

Stay right in the heart of Corfu Old Town at Artemis Apartment
Sleep around the corner of the famous Liston at Dal Dottore
Stay in a historical building right on the narrow cobbled streets at Semeli Old Town Corfu Retreat
Enjoy stunning views of Albania and the ocean from your accommodation at Lighthouse apartment
Have a cup of coffee in your small garden, away from the crowd at The Hidden Garden
For more suggestions on the best places to stay in Corfu check our tips on where to stay in Corfu.

Final Thoughts On Corfu Old Town

woman on motor scooter driving through the streets of corfu town — The motor scooter makes driving through Corfu Town very easy

Corfu Town can easily fit into our list of the most beautiful towns in Europe. Not only were we drawn to the little streets and beautiful colorful buildings in Corfu town, but its location at the water is wonderful.

The mix of different architecture is very unique and we can guarantee you will not get enough of this historic town.

While Corfu Old Town is often included as a day trip when visiting this Ionian island, we can highly recommend it as a weekend destination alone. Of course, we recommend seeing at least more than just Corfu Town, as the island it self has incredible beaches and landscapes you should not miss as well.

Pin It to Save It