Corfu, and the Greek islands in general, are very popular, especially in the summer. But what are the best things to do in Corfu, if you’re going in spring? I went to this Greek island at the end of March and it was great and tourist free. So let’s talk about what things to do in Corfu, what to see and whether it was worth it. There is a direct easyjet flight from Belfast wwhich takes you to Corfu in three and a half hours, so not too far away.
Introduction
As always, this article is full of places that I have personally visited, so I can recommend them with a clear conscience. I have read several articles of what things to do in Corfu, and unfortunately managed to visit just handful of them. We’ll also talk about some interesting facts about Corfu as this Greek island was occupied by many nations for centuries, was not always Greek, and the various influences are very visible.
Many nations as the British, Italians, French or Turks (many more) thought about claiming Corfu in the past. And certain influences, mainly in cities, can still be found today. You’ll also hear Italian a lot here, which was a surprise to me, but on the other hand, it means they make pretty decent pizza here. So I suppose that’s a good thing?
Fun fact: It is actually thanks to the Venetians that Greece is known for its olive oil. The Venetians paid a lot of money for it, and thanks to this, its cultivation spread quickly, although it was not popular at all at first. According to several sources, there are around 3 million olive trees in Corfu and some of them are even several centuries old. Olives are really everywhere and if you rent a car you will be warned that if it rains the road can be slippery. And that’s thanks to the olives that have just fallen on the roads.
How to get to Corfu?
Before getting into things to do in Corfu, let’s first talk about how to get to Corfu. I flew to the airport in the capital. What was very surprising to me is, that you can walk from the airport to the city center. In the off-peak season, you can only get from the airport by taxi, there weren’t any buses available. However, it will take you about half an hour on foot, and I recommend walking around the sea, towards the Old Venetian Fortress, which you really cannot miss. This way you can get to Corfu, or also callled Kerkyra in Greek, very easily and you can have an iced coffee along the way.
Best things to do in Corfu
I was in Corfu for two and a half days, so these are the places I visited and can recommend. I would like to say that the end of March is ideal, given that there are no tourists here, on the other hand, most of the restaurants will be closed. Therefore, never trust google maps, and if you go around the island by car, have something small to eat. Finding an open restaurant is not always easy. Without further do, let’s talk about things to do in Corfu, and let’s begin in the capital that we have just reached by foot.
The capital of Corfu
As I already mentioned, Corfu was long under the rule of the Venetians, who occupied the island for four centuries. You can definitely feel their influence, and they also had several walls and fortresses built to protect against Turkish invasions. In 2007, Kerkyra was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Sightseeing
As far as major cities go, Kerkyra is fairly small, but it’s easy to get lost here. Many alleys and residential blocks are connected by stairs and another small alleys, which does not help orientation. But when it comes to the most important sightseeing spots, you can find them relatively easily. The two fortresses, the old and the new, will certainly be the most visible. So let’s start with the old fortress.
Old Venetian Fortress (Paleo frurio)
If you’re only going to do one thing in Corfu, it should be the Old Fortress. You really can’t miss it, and if you come along after 5pm, the entrance is free. The fortress stands on a small island, which is connected to the mainland by a steel bridge. Very small bridge.
The fortress itself is interesting for its shelters and tunnels. At the highest point there is a lighthouse, the first of its kind in all of Greece. The Byzantines built the first fortifications in the 6th century, the gate was built by the British in the 17th century. The Venetians also fortified the second peak in the 15th century and built the aforementioned shelters and tunnels.
Church of St. George
The British then built the church of St. George, where Prince Philip was baptised at in 1921. The church is huge, unfortunately it was closed at the time of my visit. There is also a library in the fortress, which is freely accessible to pass holders.
Esplanade (Spiniada)
Esplenada is one of the largest squares in the Balkans, and you will be captivated by the architecture on one side, and the view of the fortress and the sea on the other. One of the best things to do in Corfu is definitely stopping here for a drink or a coffee and enjoy this moment. There is a large area of greenery where children and adults play various games, and the square is a meeting place for business meetings. So anyone is welcome here.
The interesting thing is that this area used to be built up with houses, and the Venetians had everything demolished because they wanted to relocate their cannons to the old fortress during the Ottoman invasion. During French rule, the square was modified, planted with trees, and cultivated.
British Commissioners Palace / Asian Art Museum
The Palace of the British Commissioners is also worth mentioning as it’s one of the main buildings on this square. As the name suggests, the building was occupied by the British, at the instigation of Commissioner Thomas Maitland. The palace is decorated with 32 Doric columns, replicas of the Pantheon in Rome. The palace also served as a summer residence to the Greek royal family, after World War II it was used as a library and an archive. Collections of Byzantine and Asian art were also housed here, and as a result is the Museum of Asian Art today which is meant to be very rich and a good touristic spot for rainy days.
The Metropolitan Church (Panagia Spileotissa) and St. Spyridon
There are many churches in Corfu, one of the most important one is the Metropolitan Church, also known as Panagia Spileotissa, which was built in 1577. Here are the remains of St. Theodora stored, and at the same time this church of St. Spyridon is considered one of the most important on the island. The street from it is one of the most popular for tourists, there are many souvenir shops.
New Venetian fortress / port
The new Venetian fortress is new only in name. It was fortified in the 16th century and the city walls that protected the entire city ended here. If you walk to the harbour around the seas, you can see the fortress. I recommend having a glass of wine in a bar and enjoying the view.
Best things to do in Corfu with a car
First, let’s talk about how you rent a car. I decided on the Sunrise Car Corfu rental company. 10/10 for me. In the off-season, the prices are more than affordable, you can pay extra for a Full Damage Waiver – meaning that if you crash, you won’t pay anything. This is definitely worth paying extra for in Corfu, given the condition of the roads and the way people drive. Gas stations are on every corner, so you won’t have a problem with refueling. This rental company also has the advantage that you don’t have to have a credit card and you don’t have to pay a deposit.
The roads in Corfu are narrow, full of potholes and you don’t always know exactly where you are going. If you’ve googled the places you want to see, keep in mind that the trip will take longer. Some roads are so narrow that if you are passing a car, one of you will have to reverse. Indicating isn’t very popular here, and you really have to be on your toes. Yes, it’s worth it for the beautiful views and places you’ll see, but you really have to be careful.
Agios Spiridon Beach + Monastery of Paleokastritsa
The Monastery of Paleokastritsa in Corfu is located on top of a hill, which you can walk to or easily reach by car. There is a traffic light which is great because otherwise I don’t know how two cars would fit on that very narrow and winding road up the hill. Below the hill there is an aquarium and a bar with a nice view of the sea. Of course, there is also Agios Spiridon beach which was completely empty at the time of our visit (end of March). Unfortunately, the monastery was closed, but it is said to be one of the island’s landmarks.
Cape Drastis
Cape Drastis, with its spectacular sculpted white cliffs jutting out into the turquoise Ionian Sea, is a charming, spectacular, pristine and wild natural cape scenery. It is not easily accessible, but it is worth a visit. It is an ideal place for relaxation, swimming, snorkeling and cliff jumping.
However, I did not go down at the time of my visit due to the strong wind. The cape is located in the northernmost part of the island of Corfu, just behind the village of Peroulades. Cape Drastis is on every list of things to do in Corfu and I can see why. However, I’ll warn you again, be aware driving here takes lots of patience and really being aware.
Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna
It wouldn’t be a complete list of things to do in Corfu if I didn’t mention the one and only Vlacherna monastery. This place is located on the outskirts of the capital, so you can easily walk here. It is an iconic point of the island and one of the most famous and photographed locations in Corfu, used by film producers in Greece and abroad. You can also find it on the postcards and magnets. The Holy Monastery of Blachernae (Vlacherna) was built in the 17th century.
Belonging to the Halikiopoulos-Mantzaros family in 1799, it functioned as a nunnery for years until 1980. The building of the Vlacherna Monastery is characterised by an unusual shape, a tiled roof and intense white walls. It’s one of those instagram friendly spots.
In conclusion
Describing things to do in Corfu is difficult as I have only seen some of the northern part. I am yet to discover the rest of the island. It is a beautiful island with beautiful nature, diverse history and there is something to do in every season. Definitely worth a visit. But beware of locals who live out of tourism and thus they will sell you absolutely everything and anything, or perhaps throw a few euros on the top of your bill!
Corfu is a tourist island, which is a bit of a shame, on the other hand, everyone speaks English and it is easy to communicate. I am definitely glad that I visited outside the peak season, also thanks to the fact that the prices were still relatively cheap, the gates to the toilets were still being built, and there were not many people around.