10 Things to See and Do in Corfu

This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the 8th century B.C. and served as a hub of maritime trading. Its three forts have been rebuilt multiple times but the housing in the city that stands today mostly dates back to the Venetian period and the 19th century when the island was under British control. 

The Old Fortress on the edge of Old Town is was built by the Venetians in the early 15th century. It survived several sieges and was bombarded by the Italian Air Force in the 1900s during the Corfu Incident and occupied by the Nazis during World War II. Today, visitors can tour the fortress, which is home to a library and cultural exhibits. 

This large square in the city of Corfu, Greece is one of the largest in Greece. It is located in front of the Old Fortress of the city of Corfu and fronts the Old Town. It's home to restaurants, gardens and monuments.

The church of St. Spyridon is locate in the heart of Old Town Corfu. It was constructed in the 17th century with a bell tower built in the Italian style and resembling the Greek Church St. Giorgio’s Del Greci bell tower in Venice. The remains of Saint Spyridon are located in the church and housed in a shrine that was made in Vienna. 

The Achilleion Palace is one of the most famous royal mansions in Europe and one of Corfu's most important architectural landmarks. It is home to lush gardens and interiors adorned by frescoes painted by important artists. 

Beyond palaces and fortresses, Corfu is home to magnificent seaside destinations, including the popular Palaiokastritsa Beach. 

In Paleokastritsa, visitors can rent a boat in the harbor to see nearby coastal caves and see fabulous scenic coastal views of the area, including the monastery. 

Visitors shouldn't miss the views and the history of the Paleokastritsa Monastery. This working monastery is open for visitors. It is a peaceful and picturesque area where guests can observe the lives of working monks. The monastery dates back to the 13th century but much of the current structure was built in the 18th century. 

This is a particularly fun spot for visitors and photographers. Kanoni is a neighborhood on a hillside that overlooks the church of Panagia Vlacherna and Mouse Island in Corfu. A narrow passageway connects the passageway and the church. The real excitement, however, are the planes that fly in from behind the church, over the island and land just feet away on the runway for the airport in Corfu.

One of the best ways to discover the island Corfu is to tour the island. On a recent Viator tour, A Taste of Corfu Private Tour, we stopped at all of these destinations on the island and had the chance to not only experience the sights, but the food and the wine of the island. Our group stopped at the Carburi Estate where we sampled locally produced olive oil, honey, a variety of preserves as well as traditional liqueurs and wine produced by the family-run estate. 

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