Corfu Holiday: 11 important things to know for your trip

The beautiful island is less than three hours away from Germany by plane. Among connoisseurs, it is considered the ideal introduction to Greece. You can search for blue and white cube houses on Corfu, but you will be in vain. Instead, you will be greeted by a magnificent Venetian architectural style with pastel-colored houses.

Nevertheless, Corfu is also typically Greek! Fantastic beaches, delicious Greek cuisine and incredibly warm inhabitants inspire every holidaymaker. On the second largest island of the archipelago in the Ionian Sea, there is a lot to do in your Corfu Holidays. Enclosed you will receive the most important Corfu information from us.

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#1 Where is the island of Corfu?

The island of Corfu (Greek: Kerkyra) is located in the Ionian Sea, a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The northern part of Corfu is located at the level of the Albanian mainland. Corfu does not have any large neighboring islands in the immediate vicinity. Only the island dwarfs of the Diapontian Islands (including Othoni) in the north, as well as Paxos and Antipaxos in the south are accessible for islandhoppers.

Corfu is one of the most popular islands in Greece. The island has long been a popular holiday destination, even Sisi, the former Austrian empress, had a summer residence (Achilleion) built here. Today, 100,000 people live on Corfu, also known as Kerkyra. Greece connoisseurs particularly appreciate the lush vegetation.

➲ To the guided island excursions (on GetYourGuide)*

#2 Does Corfu have an airport?

The Corfu International Airport is located in the center of the island. Kerkyra International Airport CFU (also known as Ioannis Kapodistrias) is a real curiosity due to its location. The runway was built as an artificial island in a lagoon. Airplane fans can marvel at the take-offs and landings of the jets from a jetty.

There are direct flights to Corfu several times a day from May to October. Almost all major airlines fly to the island in the Ionian Sea. Even smaller German airports such as Hanover or Nuremberg have Corfu in their flight program. The cheapest offers are e.g. with Ryanair from Berlin.

How long does it take to fly to the island of Corfu?

• Berlin to Corfu Flight time: approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Frankfurt to Crete Flight time: approx. 2 hours and 35 minutes
• Munich to Crete Flight time: approx. 2 hours and 5 minutes

→ With our partner Skyscanner* you can find the best flight deals to Corfu and check prices directly:

➲ To cheap flights to the island*

#3 How big is the island of Corfu?

The island of Corfu has a length of 64 km and a maximum width of about 30 km. At its narrowest point, Corfu is only 5 km wide. With an area of 585 km², Corfu is considered to be seventh largest Greek island. The Pantokrator (906 m) is the highest island mountain. From north (Sidari) to south (Kavos) it takes about two hours by car.

#4 Are there beautiful beaches in Corfu?

There are a variety of beautiful beaches to discover on Corfu. As a holidaymaker, you can choose between fine golden sand and light pebbles. The sandy beaches are located on the west coast, in the east there are only pebble beaches. Even in the high season, there are still quiet beaches on Corfu. Provided you have a certain mobility.

The beautiful sandy beaches and bays in the north near Sidari and Acharavi, as well as in the west at Glyfada and Paleokastritsa are heavily frequented in summer. Often the access roads to the popular beaches are then quickly congested. Relatively undisturbed bays can be found in the southwest of Corfu.

Beautiful beaches in Corfu

• Agios Stefanos Beach (Avliotes)
• Agios Georgios Beach (Avliotes)
• Porto Timoni Beaches
• Coves around Paleokastritsa
• Gardenos Beach
• Megas Choros Beach
• Halikounas Beach
• Bataria Beach
• Beaches of Erimitis

#5 What is the capital of Corfu called?

The capital of Corfu is also called Kerkyra, or Corfu Town. Kerkyra is located on the east coast in the center of the island. Today, almost 40,000 people live in the capital of Corfu. It has an unmistakable architectural style due to the centuries-long rule of the Venetians. The city knows how to charm and is worth a visit at any time of the day.

City travellers will feel at home in Corfu Town straight away. In the narrow streets, charming hotels and holiday apartments invite you to stay longer. In addition, most of Corfu’s sights can be easily explored from Corfu Town.

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#6 Who is a Corfu holiday suitable for?

Corfu is a very varied island and is suitable for a relaxing bathing or hiking holiday. Most of Corfu is covered with mountains. Even short distances by car can take their time. Only in the south is the island profile flatter. Corfu is very rich in vegetation, green and blooming on the island all year round. For us, Corfu is a paradise for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts.

On Corfu, there are numerous sandy and pebble beaches available to sun worshippers. Many of the sandy beaches in the west slope very gently into the sea – perfect for a relaxing couple vacation or Corfu holidays with children. Greece connoisseurs are drawn to the mountainous region around the Pantokrator. Here you can still feel the original Corfu in the charming mountain villages.

You won’t find the blue-and-white Greek look typical of travel catalogs like in the Cyclades on Corfu. If this bothers you, you should rather book a Santorini Holiday 😉 Nevertheless, especially newcomers to Greece feel at home right away. Corfu offers a very good infrastructure and a large selection of hotels in all price ranges.

#7 Do you have experience with a Corfu holiday?

We were in Corfu for a month in July 2020. With our car (Fiat 500) we took the ferry from Italy to Corfu. This type of arrival is very practical if you plan to visit the island on an individual basis and want to do a Corfu road trip for a few weeks. More information about the crossing from Italy can be found in our article Getting to Greece.

Corfu is now heavily occupied by tourism. Personally, we liked it best in the northwest (Agios Stefanos), as well as in the southwest (Korission Lagoon). We have found originality in charming mountain villages such as Klimatia, Sokraki or Chlomos. On the other hand, there is hustle and bustle in Sidari, Paleokastritsa and Kavos (party village).

Spread over the whole island we found very well organized beaches. The water was crystal clear in many places. Corfu Town is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece for us. In the alleys of the old town, numerous photo motifs await visitors and many cafés and taverns invite you to linger.

The most striking thing for Corfu are the omnipresent mighty olive trees. It is estimated that up to 4 million trees thrive on the island. The oldest specimens are close to 1,000 years old. As a holiday souvenir of Corfu, we can recommend olive oil (e.g. Mavroudis family) or kitchen accessories carved from olive wood.

#8 How do I find good and cheap Corfu hotels?

Corfu has the highest density of hotels in the whole of Crete Greece. In all price categories you will find beautiful hotels for a relaxing Corfu holiday. You can choose from luxury hotels, family hotels, clubs and resorts. For our trip, we found beautiful Corfu accommodations through platforms such as Airbnb.com and Booking.com*:

➲ To beautiful hotels on the island*

The direct resorts south and north of Corfu Town are located in the airport’s flight path. Also in Corfu Town the noise level is very high in the evening. Do you want to avoid aircraft noise and have relaxing Corfu holiday? Then you should definitely pay attention to the location when looking for accommodation.

→ Here are our recommendations for nice hotels on Corfu (Links to Booking.com* or Holidaycheck*):

Agios Gordios Beach Resort (Ag. Gordios)

Popular hotel in Corfu located above the beach of the same name. Fantastically located, with a wonderful sunset from the hotel room, good value for money.

➲ Book Agios Gordios Resort (Booking.com)*

Delfino Blu Boutique Hotel (Ag. Stefanos)

Oasis of well-being on the west coast of Corfu, directly above the beach of Agios Stefanos. Very friendly owner family, cozy rooms with sea view and very good food.

➲ Book Delfino Blu Hotel (Holidaycheck)*

MarBella Nido Suite Hotel & Villas (Messongi)

Luxurious hotel on the east coast of Corfu, located directly above the sea. Helpful staff, modern rooms and high-quality food.

➲ Book MarBella Nido Hotel (Holidaycheck)*

→ About Booking.com* you will find many accommodations on Corfu and you can check prices here:

#9 Do you have any tips for beautiful Corfu holiday homes?

Corfu holiday homes are spread all over the island. Many are located near the sea, some even with a pool. In the quiet mountain villages, there are holiday homes for the whole family. There is a supermarket, cafés and taverns in almost every town. On Booking.com* you will find beautiful Corfu holiday homes and apartments for every taste:

➲ To beautiful holiday homes on the island*

#10 Does Corfu have vacation packages and all-inclusives?

Friends of package tours will also find a suitable holiday offer in Corfu. Along the north coast between Sidari and Acharavi, as well as between Benitses and Mesongi, there are many all-inclusive Corfu hotels. About 30 minutes from Corfu Town, in Gouvia and Dassia, there are also package holiday hotels.

➲ To cheap package tours on Holidaycheck*

#11 Do you have any more travel tips for your Corfu vacation?

A Corfu holiday alone is not enough to discover all the sights of Corfu. For extensive exploration, it is recommended to rent a car for a few days. For short discovery tours, a scooter or quad bike is sufficient. The distances in Corfu and the mountainous terrain should not be underestimated. We use the portal Discover Cars* to find suitable vehicles:

→ Compare prices now*

💡 Car rental tip in Corfu: The route finding of navigation devices or software (including Google Maps) is not very reliable on Corfu. The navigation system also led us a few times into very narrow streets and dead ends. It is best to drive to your destination according to traffic signs. These are all in Latin.

 

Corfu is one of the most popular islands in Greece, not only among Germans. Numerous Britons and Italians are also drawn to the island every year. Nevertheless, there is always a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle. Many travellers are so enthusiastic after their first holiday in Corfu that they return to the island all the time.

Corfu Youtube Video

Impressions of the island can be found in the video by Thomas Polasek © :

→ Here you can get more useful information for your holiday planning, as well as interesting Travel tips for your Corfu holiday:

• Corfu Highlights
• Best Corfu Hotels
• Corfu Town – Tips for a day trip
• Canal d’Amour – Important information for your visit
• Vlacherna Monastery – Postcard motif of Corfu

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