Corfu

Emerald isle of sun and history

Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea known for its lush green hills and whitewashed buildings. The coastline features calm waters, small fishing villages and pebbled beaches. Many visitors walk through old towns with narrow streets and stone pathways. Local markets sell fresh fruit, olives and handmade crafts. Daily life moves at a relaxed pace, with cafes serving coffee and pastries near the sea. Corfu’s mix of history, nature and culture makes it easy to enjoy both exploration and rest without feeling rushed.

Add to list Map view

Island in Greece

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.5

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	8

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and tourist areas, especially in Corfu Town and popular resorts. Most menus and signage are bilingual. A few Greek phrases are always appreciated.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Corfu Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Excellent for beaches and island scenery. Swim in turquoise bays, explore Venetian old towns, hike green hills and enjoy seaside tavernas.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Sea

Islands

Beaches

Walkable

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

❤️ 9

Couples

Greece – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in urban areas. However, many small shops and rural locations still prefer cash payments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Greece. In restaurants, 5-10% is typical, though rounding up is also common. Tipping taxi drivers is customary, and small tips for hotel staff are appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Greece, especially in designated areas or during festivals. However, it’s prohibited in some areas like public transport or near schools.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places. There are designated outdoor smoking areas in most restaurants and public buildings.

Easter (March/April)	Easter is a significant religious holiday, and many businesses close. Popular for family gatherings and church services.
Assumption of Mary (August)	A national holiday with parades and festivities. Expect crowded tourist areas and higher accommodation prices.
Christmas (December)	Christmas celebrations take place in many towns and cities, with lively events, though many businesses close for the holiday.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Beat, TaxiBeat, Uber
Other:	Greece is a popular tourist destination, particularly in summer, so be prepared for high demand for accommodation and services during peak months.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Corfu, Greece

🌦️

Jan

🌦️

Feb

☁️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

☀️

May

🔥

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

⛈️

Nov

⛈️

Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Most hotels, restaurants and beach facilities close November to April, main season May to October

Corfu is much wetter than most Greek islands, with rain from October to March

Orthodox Easter (April or early May): famous processions and Holy Saturday pot-smashing in Corfu Town, book far ahead

Don't miss

🏖️ Relax on the golden sands of Paleokastritsa Beach
🏛️ Explore Corfu Old Town and its Venetian architecture
🏰 Visit Achilleion Palace and admire its neoclassical statues
⛵ Take a boat trip to the turquoise waters of Antipaxos
🌅 Watch the sunset from Kanoni overlooking Mouse Island

You've been here?

Why travel to Corfu?

Corfu is perfect for anyone who loves a mix of culture, nature and relaxation. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is a maze of elegant piazzas, arcades and pastel buildings, while the coastline offers beaches for every taste – from sandy stretches to pebbly coves and romantic spots like Canal d’Amour. History buffs will love the island’s fortresses, palaces and monasteries, while foodies can dive into local specialties like sofrito and kumquat liqueur. Downsides? High season (June–September) can be crowded and hot and popular beaches fill up quickly. Some roads are narrow and winding – drive carefully, especially if you’re not used to Greek driving habits. Pickpocketing is rare but can happen in busy spots like Corfu Town or beaches, so keep an eye on your belongings. Tap water is technically safe but has a high mineral content, so most people prefer bottled water for drinking.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Achilleion Palace
2 Old Fortress
3 Museum of Asian Art
4 Church of Saint Spyridon Kotselas
5 Old Town of Corfu
6 Kassiopi Fortress
7 Monastery of Paleokastritsa
8 Pond of the Palace of Saint Michael and George

🎡Places for activities

1 Corfiot Gymnastics Club
2 Άνω Πλατεία (Λιστόν)
3 Old Town Marine (NAOK)
4 Boschetto Garden Fountain
5 Dassia Ski Club: Parasailing & Water Sports in Corfu
6 Kontogialos - Paragliding Takeoff

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Barbati Beach
2 Arillas
3 Sunset Beach
4 Corfu Trail
5 Porto Timoni
6 Paleokastritsa Bay
7 Gouvia Marina
8 Canal d'Amour Beach

🎈Events

Corfu Easter celebrations
Corfu Carnival (February)
Corfu International Festival
Corfu Beer Festival
Saint Spyridon processions
Ionian Summer Music Festival
Pot Throwing (Easter Saturday)
Corfu Trail Running Festival
Classical Music Concerts at Achilleion
Village panigiria (local fairs)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Rent a car or scooter; buses miss many beaches.
Base yourself by vibe: Corfu Town culture, north coves, west coast sunsets and surfier beaches.
Pack reef shoes; many coves are pebbly, with rocks slippery at entry points.
Visit Corfu Old Town at dusk for cooler lanes, Venetian fort views and better dining without cruise crowds.

How to travel to Corfu

Corfu International Airport (Ioannis Kapodistrias) has daily flights from Athens year-round and many direct flights from Europe in the summer. Ferries run from Igoumenitsa (mainland Greece), other Ionian islands and Italy (Brindisi, Bari, Ancona) in high season. Taxis, buses and car rentals are available at the airport and ferry port.

Access summary

From Corfu Airport (CFU): short taxi or local bus to town about 10–20 min.
From Athens: direct flights to Corfu usually about 1–1.25 hours.
From Igoumenitsa: mainland–island ferries to Corfu typically about 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Corfu

Corfu offers everything from luxury resorts and boutique hotels in Corfu Town to family-run guesthouses, beachside apartments and budget hostels. The Old Town is perfect for culture and nightlife, while the coast has options for every style and budget. Book ahead for summer and festivals. Some rural areas have limited options, so plan ahead if you want peace and quiet.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Corfu Holiday Palace

8.1

Cavalieri Hotel

8.7

Akrotiri Beach Resort Hotel - Adult Friendly

9.3

Corfu Imperial, A Resort to Live®

9.2

The Olivar Suites

9.5

Mythos Palace Resort - Adults Only

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Corfu

Corfu’s public transport is excellent, with city and intercity buses reaching most villages and beaches. Taxis are available but can be pricey. Renting a car or scooter is the best way to explore remote corners, but drive carefully on narrow, winding roads. Ferries connect Corfu Town to the mainland and nearby islands. The Old Town is best explored on foot and boat hire is popular for finding secluded beaches.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-25 %

Daily expenses in Corfu are around 25% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£44	£111	£291
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£49	£113
🍝 Food per day	£22	£55	£158
🚕 Transportation per day	£6	£8	£21

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£11
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.40
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£12
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£31
🤧 Cold medication	£5.50
💇 Basic haircut	£8

Safety information overview

General safety

Corfu is very safe, with low violent crime. Petty theft and pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas or on beaches — keep valuables secure. Be careful on narrow roads and avoid leaving items unattended on the beach.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good, with clinics and pharmacies throughout the island. Tap water is technically safe but has a high mineral content — most visitors prefer bottled water. Sunburn and dehydration are the main risks in summer.

Accessibility

Most main attractions, hotels and buses are accessible, but old towns and rural areas can have cobbled streets and steps. The island is hilly — check ahead for specific needs if you have mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water is technically safe but hard and not great tasting — most people use bottled water for drinking. Tap water is fine for brushing teeth and washing.