Overview & Vibe
Corfu (Kerkyra) is the most Venetian of the Greek islands — 400 years under Venetian rule left an indelible mark on the architecture, the cuisine, the culture. The old town (Kerkyra Town) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a maze of narrow lanes (kantounia), Venetian campaniles, and French-built arcades. Lawrence Durrell called it one of the most beautiful places on earth and wrote about it in Prospero's Cell.
The island is more than the town. The north coast is dramatic; the interior is olive groves and cypress trees; the south is quieter and less developed. A half day in the old town and a half day driving the north coast is the ideal day structure.
Port to Town Logistics
- New Port is at the edge of Kerkyra Town — 10-minute walk to the old town core.
- Old Town is fully walkable — the Spianada (esplanade), the two Venetian fortresses, and the Liston arcade are all within 500 meters of each other.
- Car rental: Available at the port or in town. Essential if you want to explore the north coast (Paleokastritsa, Sidari). Half-day rental ~€30-40.
Viking Excursions
- Corfu Town & Achilleion Palace Included variant — The Achilleion was built by Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) as a private retreat. Neoclassical, theatrical, dramatically situated on a hillside above the sea. The statue of Achilles is one of the most extravagant things you'll see on this voyage.
- Paleokastritsa & North Coast Optional — The most beautiful part of the island. Medieval monastery on a headland above turquoise coves. Accessible independently by car.
Independent Options
- Old Venetian Fortress (Paleo Frourio): The 15th-century fortress on the eastern point of the old town. Views across to Albania and the Albanian Alps on clear days.
- The Liston: The French-built arcade on the Spianada esplanade, modeled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Have a coffee here at a table in the arcade — a rare chance to sit in a genuinely elegant public space.
- Paleokastritsa by car: 26km north of town. The most beautiful part of the island — a Byzantine monastery on a rocky headland, azure coves below, olive groves on the approach. The drive through the island interior is itself beautiful.
- Kanoni Peninsula & Mouse Island: The iconic Corfu postcard — a tiny chapel on a tiny island in the lagoon, accessible by a causeway. South of the old town, 20-minute walk or taxi.
Hidden Gems
The Jewish Quarter (Evraiki) — a small, quiet district of the old town with a well-preserved 16th-century synagogue, one of the oldest in Greece. Almost no tourists visit. The community history is sobering and worth knowing.
Corfiot olive oil — the island has 4+ million olive trees, most dating back to the Venetian period (Venice required every landowner to plant 100 trees). The oil is exceptional. Buy it at a local shop, not a tourist outlet.
Best Eating & Drinking
- To Dimarchio: In a small alley off the main square. Traditional Corfiot cooking — sofrito, pastitsada, bourdeto. The real thing.
- Venetian Well: Elegant, in a courtyard restaurant in the old town. The best upscale option in Kerkyra Town. Book ahead.
- Coffee at the Liston: Expensive, worth it once. The most civilized public space in the Ionian Islands.
Local Specialties
- Sofrito: Veal cooked in white wine with garlic, vinegar, and parsley. The definitive Corfiot dish, unmistakably Venetian in character.
- Pastitsada: Slow-cooked cockerel (or beef) in a spiced tomato sauce, served with thick pasta. Sunday dish, available in better restaurants during the week.
- Kumquat liqueur: Corfu is the only place in Europe where kumquats grow commercially. The liqueur is bright orange, sweet, and uniquely local. Worth trying; makes a compact gift.
- Bourdeto: Scorpionfish in a spicy red pepper sauce. A fishermen's dish with genuine depth of flavor.
What to Skip
- The resort areas (Kavos, Benitses, Sidari) — built for British package tourism, nothing to do with the Corfu worth visiting.
- Restaurants directly facing the Spianada — the location premium isn't justified. Walk two streets back.
Time Tips & Suggested Flow
Old town first: Venetian Fortress, the kantounia (the narrow lanes — get lost intentionally), the Liston for coffee. Lunch at To Dimarchio. Afternoon: car to Paleokastritsa (if you rented), or walk to Kanoni and Mouse Island (if not). Achilleion Palace is between town and the south coast — 20 minutes by taxi, worth the stop. Back to ship. The departure north through the Ionian Sea — with the Albanian coast to the east and the island behind you — is beautiful in the late afternoon light.