Photo ↑ by @spidercancello
Visiting Corfu will provide plenty of opportunities, whether you prefer a history tour, stunning beaches, nature walks or amazing landscapes. Your exploring capabilities depend on how long you are in Corfu for, as well as your transportation and location.
Whether you pick the old town or perhaps a nice village close to the coast, transportation will mainly depend on buses, taxis or a hire vehicle. Just because you are in Corfu for a few days only, you can still have a great time, even if you pick the old town for accommodation.
Here is a simple plan that will bring in a bit of everything.
First Day
Start your day with a coffee and a sweet bakery breakfast. Since you are in the old town, you do not have to search for too long. Keep in mind that most places open up around 9AM, yet some others open earlier.
There are places offering both bakery items and beverages, but you can also get them separately. There are a few popular bakeries in the old town. You can just take a quick walk and explore or simply look up Google Maps to find straightforward directions.
Get a selection of items and head to Liston. There are a few benches to sit and enjoy the old town waking up.
Once you are done with breakfast, it is time for coffee. Again, there are lots of places out there. You can find something around Liston, where you can watch people. But at the same time, you can also find local and more traditional cafes around the narrow streets of the old town, far from the main pathways.
Just a matter of personal preferences.
Now that you are loaded and full of energy, it is time to start exploring.
Since you are already in the old town, there are a few museums and galleries worth some attention:
Give each of these places anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour.
By the time you are done, it is time for lunch.
Again, your options are quite varied here. You can pick a restaurant or just have a quick meal on the go. Restaurants for tourists are more expensive, so it might be a good idea to avoid places in the best locations. A restaurant tucked away behind the old town could be better value for money.
Plus, the food is usually better.
You can also find sandwich or takeaway shops around the old town. Get a gyros, grab a beer or a different cold drink and refill.
Head back where you live for your afternoon nap. If you visit during the summertime, it could be a bit too hot. You can also ditch the nap and just spend more time at one of the local cafes, yet you may want to recharge your batteries.
If you do go for a nap, you can go out again in the evening. It is cooler and more comfortable to be outside.
Start your evening with a walk around the old town. You do not need a map here. Turn left, then right, then left, then right, just get lost. Simple as that. You do not need directions, any part of Corfu is extremely safe, so there are no risks whatsoever.
If it looks like you are getting out of town, you can walk back in and take a different path.
Such a nice walk can easily take more than an hour. Enjoy the hustle and bustle, walk into a few shops, just keep busy.
When it comes to dinner, your options are just as varied as during lunchtime. You can get a gyros from any small shop, but you can also sit down at a restaurant, enjoy a nice meal and perhaps a bottle of wine.
Once done, take another quick walk to stimulate the digestion, hang around Liston, enjoy the vibe and then head back where you live.
Second Day
The second day will go in a slightly different direction. Fancy a bit of sunshine? Tan? Cocktails in the sun? You do not necessarily need to get a taxi or a bus to a nearby beach, yet beaches from the west coast are relatively close, usually less than half an hour away.
However, you can also explore some of the few town beaches.
Start the day in the same manner. Try a different bakery this time, then have your coffee in a different cafe. There is nothing wrong with experimenting in Corfu.
Now, pack your beach stuff and get walking. There are not too many town beaches, but they are alright if you want a bit of sunshine.
- Faliraki is popular and just by the old town.
- Kontra Fosa is by the Old Fortress, close to a canal.
- The Old Fortress has a small beach by the sailing club.
- Anemomilos is a 15 minute walk away from the old town, close to a picturesque windmill.
- Mon Repos is not that urban, but about a 30 minute walk away from the old town.
Some hotels also have their own swimming pools. If you go to one of the urban beaches, do not expect the cocktails and serving you would have on a regular beach. In fact, you will most likely have to bring your own snacks and drinks.
You can easily spend about three hours on such a beach. Get a good book with you and enjoy it.
When done, have lunch somewhere in the old town or perhaps in a tavern by the beach. If you did not need a nap the day before, chances are you will need one after spending so many hours in direct sunlight.
As for the evening, stick to the usual. Take a walk around the town, then have something to eat.
Unless you finish too late, you can sit down and watch people in town once you are done. For example, the area around the Museum of Asian Art is great. If you are in the mood for some drinks, head to Faliraki, there are a few nice places to enjoy a few drinks while being close to the water.
Third Day
This third day aims to bring in a different thing. You have spent the first day visiting a few museums. Those were only a few recommendations, but there are many other things you can see. The second day was about getting a bit of tan. The third day is more about views and photography.
Start the day with the classic bakery and a coffee. You can also spend the morning understanding more about the religious culture of Corfu.
The island is mainly Orthodox Christian, but it had a big Jewish population prior to World War II. Here are a few options:
- The Saint Spyridon Church is the most famous church in Corfu and hosts the relics of Saint Spyridon.
- The Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher is quite attractive in terms of architecture.
- The Tempio Greco Synagogue keeps the Jewish spirit alive in Corfu.
Furthermore, you can also visit a few landmarks in the old town, since you are on a walking spree.
Liston and Maitland Rotunda are close to each other and have benches to sit down and relax. Spend more time around the Spianada Square too and don’t forget about the Holocaust Memorial while walking around.
If you do not feel like wasting time, walk to the British Cemetery for a bit of tranquility. Chances are you will find plenty of tortoises in the wild too. Mon Repos is nice for a visit too, but you can also take a bus or taxi to Achilleion.
Chances are you do not have time for all of them, so research them and see which one looks better.
By the time you finish all these, you will be starving. Back to the old town, get something to eat and perhaps another coffee.
Your walking day is not over yet. Get a ticket for the Old Fortress and enjoy the hike all the way to the top. It is one of the best places for panoramic views of the old town. Make sure you have plenty of battery on your phone or camera.
When done, it is time for one last meal for dinner and another relaxing walk around the old town.
This quick tour over three days should give you a decent idea about what Corfu is about. While there is much more to explore on the beautiful island, this tour will keep you busy if you only have three days in the old town.
You can obviously mix the day plans or even adjust them according to your need and preferences. If you travel with kids, you may need to reduce the exploration, as certain things could be exhausting for youngsters.