Itineraries for Your Trip to Corfu
3 Days in Corfu for First Timers
Whenever I plan a Med break, I always seem to end up hitting a sunlounger in Corfu or its little sister, Paxos. For an affordable beach, scenery, and scrummy-food getaway, this verdant island is hard to beat. I love its hospitable people, lively tavernas, eclectic beaches, and the clarity of its stained-glass waters. Providing you choose the right place and right time, this Ionian-island beauty is a great idea. And with three days in Corfu, you have scope to enjoy UNESCO–listed Corfu Town, visit beauty spots such as Mt. Pantokrator, take sightseeing cruises to Albania or mainland Greece, and more. Read on for a recommended three-day itinerary packed with top Corfu experiences.
When a day here looks set to be super hot, take off on a cruise to soak up the sea breezes.
If you only have time for one thing, make it trawling through the tavernas, museums, and shops of Corfu Old Town.
Begin your stay in Corfu Old Town. This inexplicably underrated district is all shady lanes, green-shuttered townhouses, and interesting landmarks. Get a sense of Corfiots’ deep religious faith at atmospheric St. Spyridon Church; chart 19th-century local life at Casa Parlante, and stroll the Spianada (Esplanade) to the Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio). Go sightseeing via hop-on hop-off bus or take a walking tour for a guide’s insight.
This afternoon, leave the capital for the nearby Achilleion Palace. Built in 1890 for Austria’s Empress Elisabeth, this grandiose residence boasts Pompeian-style statuary and gorgeous sea-view gardens. Finish today back in Corfu Town sampling local dishes such as pastitsada on a food tour before sipping nightcaps in the open-air bars along the Liston.
Corfu is renowned for its lush landscapes and picture-perfect beaches, and this morning is prime for wider exploration. Join a panoramic tour that includes Paleokastritsa’s monastery and idyllic beaches—and the option of a sea-cave boat ride—along with time in traditional villages and a stop for Greek meze and ouzo.
This afternoon, see Corfu from a fresh perspective: its translucent waters. Book a private boat trip for the ultimate luxury: enjoying the rays and snorkel stops as you waft by Corfu Old Town, Vidos Island, and much-photographed, chapel-topped Mouse Island (Pontikonisi). Alternatively, enjoy a siesta—called a mesimeri by locals—before an early-evening cruise to watch the sunset from the sea.
Now you’ve crossed off Corfu’s musts, help yourself to some local culture or adventure. Tune into the island’s olive-oil making heritage with a tour-and-tasting combo at a generations-old olive mill; sail to the dreamy islands of Antipaxos and Paxos; or up the pace on an outdoor escapade such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safari.
If you haven’t taken a day trip, spend this afternoon learning the secrets of Corfiot cuisine in a cooking class, crafting classics like taramosalata and baklava while tutored by a local cook. As a last-evening encore, dive into Corfu Town’s animated tavernas and bars for dinner and drinks serenaded by bouzouki music and plate-smashing.
