Areas of Corfu
Places to go in Corfu
Corfu is, without doubt, one of the most famous, popular, and important of the Greek Islands. Temples, castles and a wide variety of architectural styles testify to the island’s long, often traumatic history that has been characterised by wave upon wave of invaders, including the Venetians, who stayed from the 13th to the 18th century and whose influence is still evident.
Today Corfu welcomes visitors with open arms and, thanks to its superb beaches, its unspoilt mountainous interior and its fabulous climate, tourism is the mainstay of the economy. The capital city, Corfu Town, is a fascinating network of streets with many fine Italianate buildings, an impressive Venetian citadel and plenty of excellent shops, restaurants, bars and nightlife.
An international airport with direct flights from all over Europe makes Corfu easy to reach, while the hedonistic atmosphere, the friendly locals and the overall feel-good vibe ensure that visitors want to come back for more. Our villas, amongst the most desirable on Corfu, are situated in the go-to, upmarket area of the northeast coast of the island, where you will find clear waters, charming villages and plenty of superb local tavernas.
Corfu in three parts
Corfu can quite handily be split into three parts: the north, the centre, and the south. The north is delimited from the centre by an imaginary line running on an east-west axis between Paleokastritsa and bottom of Barbati beach. The central section runs from here down to Agios Gordios in the west and the Achilleion Palace in the east. Beyond those points, it is the south all the way.
Corfu North
The north of Corfu is dominated by Mount Pantokrator, which rises to over 900m. Its foothills, along with a range of smaller peaks and Arcadian valleys to the west, are a study in fertile green hues, where noble cypresses and expansive Mediterranean pines tower above an infinity of ancient olive trees. Striking views open up when you least expect it, and welcoming villages enjoy a gentle pace of life, far from the hustle and bustle of the coast below.
Of particular interest on the northern slopes of Mount Pantokrator is Old Perithia, a virtually uninhabited village that has been preserved as a kind of open-air museum. After exploring, you can choose from one of a handful of tavernas for some lunch.
The northeast coast has been sculpted by sea and wind over millennia and is home to a sequence of gorgeous sandy-shingle beaches with seafront tavernas, idyllic little bays, and picturesque villages. These include Barbati, Nissaki, Kaminaki, Krouzeri, Agni, Kalami (once home to Lawrence Durrell), Kerasia, Agio Stefanos, and Avlaki.
After Avlaki, one comes to Kassiopi, the main town of northern Corfu. A lively tourist hotspot with a good selection of shops, boutiques, cafés, bars, tavernas and clubs, Kassiopi is also home to a busy harbour-marina, a Byzantine castle and a couple of beaches.
Lining the northern and northwestern coasts of Corfu are the beaches and resorts of Archiravi, Sidari, Agios Stefanos, Arillas and Agios Georgios. After this last, the coast becomes more rugged as cliffs plunge into the sea, semi-islets cling to the mother island via narrow strips of rock, and idyllic sandy bays attract swimmers and boaters. Anyone visiting this area should not miss Angelokastro - a castle of Byzantine origins sitting atop a 300m-high outcrop above the sea - and the early 13th-century monastery of Paleokastritsa. The coves below the monastery are steeped in myth and legend, for it was here that Odysseus encountered Nausicaa and the Phaeacians.
Corfu Centre
The highlight of central Corfu has to be Corfu Town, the island's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its impressive fortresses, its weave of pretty pedestrianised streets, its shops, bars, cafés and tavernas, and its intrinsic historical interest make it a great place to spend a day or two.
Moving up the coast from Corfu Town one soon comes to the bustling marina of Gouvia and the headland of Kommeno. Just to the north is Ypsos, a long strip of tavernas and bars looking out onto a stretch of pebbly beach.
A few kilometres south of Corfu Town is the Achilleion Palace, once the holiday home of Empress Sisi of Austria. With its beautiful sculpture gardens celebrating the Greek hero Achilles and its fabulous views over Corfu Town and the sea, the palace is a great place in which to spend a couple of hours, especially for fans of James Bond: several scenes of For Your Eyes Only were filmed there.
The hinterland rising behind Corfu Town is home to a succession of pleasantly authentic villages, while the west coast is largely wild and unspoilt, with just a few beaches, such as those of Glyfada, Avramis and Agios Gordios.
Corfu South
Our southern section of Corfu begins with an upside-down horseshoe of hills, many of which rise to above 400m. A few villages cling to the upper slopes, while at the centre is a fertile plain.
On the east coast is the attractive resort town of Benitses, with its lovely shingle beach, while on the west, the hills relax into a flat coastal area dominated by Lake Korission, a salt-water lagoon connected to the sea by a narrow channel and flanked by sand dunes and beaches. A conservation area, Lake Korission provides a unique habitat for a wide variety of flora – including orchids, Phoenician Juniper, water lilies and tamarisk - and fauna – from flamingos to tortoises, turtles and snakes. It's a great spot for nature lovers and one that Gerald Durrell adored.
The southwestern coast of Corfu can become quite dramatic when westerlies blow, with waves crashing against the cliffs. However, when the weather is fine (as it usually is), there are plenty of long sandy beaches to enjoy, such as the one at Agios Georgios.
Rounding the southern tip, one heads up the east coast to Kavos - party central - but away from here, visitors will find a relaxed, rather untouristy atmosphere with plenty to explore and enjoy.
