In the east of the island of Corfu, the former Venetian occupiers have created a pastel-colored sea of houses, which is more reminiscent of an Italian town than a Greek island capital. Meanwhile, Corfu Town has a population of over 40,000, which swells in the summer months with the arrival of numerous holidaymakers and cruise tourists.
»When walking through Corfu Town, you will quickly be enchanted by the rustic charm of the old Venetian houses. Between the colorful houses, laundry dries in the wind, and swifts circle above them.”
We spent four nights in Corfu’s old town, explored the pretty colorful alleys, enjoyed the magical evening atmosphere and the omnipresent call of the swifts.
Enclosed we take you on an individual city tour through Corfu Old Town and show you the best Corfu Highlights in the city on a day trip.
🏖️ Dream beaches & hidden bays
🍽️ Restaurants, tavernas & cafés
🏛️ Must-see highlights & ancient sites
🗺️ Worthwhile spots & insider tips
🚘 Practical info like rentals & parking
♾️ Lifetime access & updates
#1 Nikiforou Theotoki Promenade
The historic old town is at the heart of Kerkyra — that’s what the Greeks call their charming capital. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 and can be discovered on a day trip on foot. The special flair of the winding streets is best experienced in the morning or evening, when a large part of the day tourists have left.
The old port of Corfu is the ideal starting point for a tour of the old town. With a bit of luck, you can also get a parking space here and then head directly for the archway that leads to the “Nikiforou Theotki” promenade.
Along the main shopping street of Kerkyra you will pass countless boutiques, souvenir shops and cafés. Even in the narrow side streets, there are many interesting photo motifs hidden. During the siesta (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.) some shops remain closed in Corfu Town. In the evening, the island’s capital is bustling with activity!
It is also worth taking a short detour from the shopping street to visit the beautiful Town Hall Square in Corfu Town. Here, you can admire the architectural style of the historic old town and linger in one of the many restaurants.
The Pane e Souvlaki is the place to go for delicious souvlaki, falafel and Greek salad, perfect for those with a small appetite. With a bit of luck you will get a balcony seat on the upper floor with a view over the hustle and bustle.
Coffee break in Corfu Town
Our beloved Micro Café is tucked away in a pretty side street alongside the promenade, offering a shaded spot to relax under a canopy of green leaves. Here you can enjoy a Freddo Cappuccino or a delicious freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
Corfu 10 Day Tours – Your Guide to a Stress-Free Holiday!
In our Corfu Guide 10 eventful day tours full of highlights await you: beautiful beaches, exciting sights, charming villages and authentic taverns. Included: routes, maps for navigation and many personal tips: ➜ To the Corfu travel guide
#2 Liston and Esplanade
After enjoying a snack or drink, we continue our tour along the promenade. This leads to the Arcade houses, which were built by the French in the 19th century in the Empire style. The striking row of houses is also called Liston and is a meeting place for a relaxed drink day and night. Along the promenade, the motto is: see and be seen.
The large cricket field of Corfu Town, a relic of the English occupation (1815–1864), is located directly behind the arcaded houses. When there is no eager to play batting ball, the meadow is often used by local families as a picnic area.
The cricket field is adjoined by the green lung of Corfu Town. The Esplanade (Spianada) is a park-like facility with plenty of shady seating that invites you to take a short breather. Two neat pavilions are distributed in the city park, where concerts take place sporadically in the evening hours.
💡 Corfu Insider Tip: Want to see Kerkyra from a different perspective? From the roof terrace of the Cavalieri Hotel & Restaurant you can look out over the illuminated Corfu Town and large parts of the city park in the evening. The special backdrop justifies the high drink prices! (open from 7 p.m.).
#3 Corfu Town Fortresses
For 500 years, Corfu was under the patronage of Venice. Due to the ever-increasing threat to the Ottoman Empire, the Venetians had mighty fortifications built, which still characterize the cityscape today. In contrast to the rest of Greece, Corfu was never ruled by the Ottomans.
The old castle was built in the early 15th century. The new fortress was built in the late 16th century, hence the name. From both facilities you can enjoy fantastic views of Corfu Town. The new fortress looks like a compact bunker complex. The old castle is a bit more spacious. A tour takes about two hours.
New Venetian Fortress
In the afternoon, be sure to check out the New Fortress. At this time, the old town is beautifully illuminated by the sun and you can enjoy a magnificent view over the sea of houses of Corfu Town from the Venetian fortress! The ascent to the top takes about 10 minutes.
- Opening hours New Fortress Corfu: Wed.-Mon. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., 5 € admission (3 € reduced)
After the visit, you can return to the old town via Dionisiou Solomou Street with its many steps. Here is a nightlife district of Corfu, home to the hippest bars and restaurants, away from the crowds. At the end of the alley is the Catholic church Madonna del Carmelo (built in 1663), with its eye-catching red onion roof tower.
💡 Weekly market in Kerkyra: Before a city tour, it is worth taking a detour to the Corfu Central Market at the back of the New Fortress in the morning. The small weekly market offers all kinds of local products, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and delicatessen. Perfect for self-catering! (daily 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.).
Old Venetian Fortress
At the eastern end of the old town is the Old Venetian Fortress (Paleo Frourio). A narrow canal separates the massive fortress from the capital. The canal is protected by the so-called Promachonas Walls. On the grounds of the castle there is a museum and a café-bar with a panoramic view of the marina of Corfu.
- Opening hours Old Fortress Corfu: Mon.-Sun. 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., admission 10 € (reduced 5 €)
Very worth seeing and bizarre at the same time is the Church of Agios Georgios, which looks more like an ancient temple. Inside the temple church, built in 1824, there are Orthodox icons from all eras. In the summer months, concerts and cultural events are held on the square in front of the church.
Follow the footpath up to the highest point of the Old Fortress, the so-called Pirgos Xira. At the top is the Akra Sideros Lighthouse, which was built in the 19th century. It is considered the oldest lighthouse of its kind still in operation. From here there is a magnificent view over Corfu Town, large parts of the island and the Ionian Sea.
After visiting the old fortress, we will return to the maze of alleys of the old town. If you are now in the mood for a cool refreshment, you should stop at the Zacharoplasteio Papagiorgis. The ice cream parlour and patisserie offers countless different types of ice cream in the most delicious flavours.
It is also worth taking an organized tour through Corfu town. You will pass other beautiful corners on a guided city tour, bookable at GetYourGuide*:
#4 Agios Spiridon Church of Corfu
You can get a good insight into Orthodox church buildings in the main church of Agios Spyridon with its striking bell tower. This famous 16th-century church is dedicated to Agios Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu. His bones are kept in a reliquary here, having been brought from Constantinople.
Agios Spyridon Church is somewhat hidden in the old town alleys. The best thing to do is to go to the Banknote Museum at Platia Ir. Kipriakou Agona. The museum is located in the oldest bank building in Greece and is worth a detour. From here, an alley leads to the left directly to the honorable church with its distinctive red roof.
Easter in Corfu Town
The Orthodox Easter on Corfu is a unique experience and one of the most spectacular festivals in all of Greece. The festivities begin on the Saturday before Palm Sunday and continue during Holy Week with numerous church services, processions and musical parades.
The festivities in Corfu Town reach their climax on Easter Saturday. In the morning, the silver sarcophagus of Saint Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu, is carried in a large procession through the alleys of the old town.
Afterwards, huge clay jugs filled with water, the so-called botides, are thrown down from balconies and windows on the esplanade, including on the Liston. In the evening, the traditional Easter Mass begins, in which the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. On Easter Sunday, barbecues and celebrations are usually held in the family circle.
💡 Our Corfu insider tips: Get our Corfu travel guide now and benefit from our local experience: More info
#5 Northern part of Corfu Old Town
From the Agios Spiridon church you can get to the northern part of Kerkyra. This stretches from the old port to the Faliraki city beach and is bordered by the busy Arseniou road from the coast. In the winding streets there are numerous bars and restaurants, which are very popular with locals.
In the maze of alleys, numerous photo motifs are waiting for you. It is worth a visit to the idyllic Platia Kremasti, with its old Venetian fountain and the surrounding restaurants. The Faliraki beach and its cocktail bars are always well attended. At sunset, the old fortress is picturesquely illuminated.
Corfu Museum of Asian Art
A little south of Faliraki, the former governor’s palace houses a diverse collection of Chinese and Japanese art. The Museum of Asian Art is almost unique for Greece. The striking arcade offers great photo opportunities and the adjacent People’s Garden (Kípos tou Laoú) is a place of peace.
Behind the museum is another eye-catcher with the spiral staircase to the sea. Unfortunately, it is not accessible. Not far from the Museum of Asian Art stands the beautiful, picture-perfect pink St. Mary’s Church Mandrakinas. From here it is only a stone’s throw to the lively esplanade of Corfu Town.
#6 Beaches around Corfu Town
If you feel like cooling off after the city tour, then leave the capital to the south and make a stop at the Windmill Anemomilos. You can refresh yourself wonderfully in the wide harbour pier via a long jetty.
You can swim even more idyllically further south in the park Mon Repos at the old Repos Beach Dock. Only a few tourists get lost in these pretty spots of nature. In general, a visit to the park with the old royal castle, 2.5 kilometres away, is worthwhile.
In addition to the Mon Repos beach, many locals are drawn to the Faliraki Beach at the northeastern tip of the old town. The bathing opportunities are limited, but the small bay offers two beach bars and a restaurant.
→ You can find an overview of our top 10 swimming spots on the island here: Corfu Beaches
More Corfu Town Tips
Restaurant recommendations for Corfu Town
Numerous Greek taverns and modern restaurants are spread all over Corfu Town as far as the seaside resort of Anemomilos. You can immerse yourself in traditional Greek cuisine as well as enjoy Mediterranean and international dishes.
→ Our café and restaurant tips for Corfu Town We have summarized for you here:
- Mikro Café
- Bizou Café & Antiques
- Restaurant Anthos
- O Berdes (O Mperntes)
- Brisk Restaurant
- Favela Nº17
- Kourdisto Portokali Bar
Corfu Town Hotel Tips
Numerous hotels in Corfu Town as well as tasteful apartments and studios can be found on the portals Booking.com and Airbnb. For an extensive exploration of the city, we personally recommend planning 2-3 nights. Enclosed are our hotel recommendations for a relaxing stay in the capital, bookable via Booking.com*:
→ Via Booking.com* you can see all accommodations in Corfu Town on a map:
Here we stayed in Corfu Town
If you want to experience the lively evening and night hours and the quiet mornings in the capital, it is definitely worth planning at least one night in Corfu Town. We booked a modern apartment with a fantastic view over the old town for three nights.
The Corfu Sky Loft, owned by the friendly Vasilis, comprises five tasteful apartments, each with a kitchen, bathroom, air conditioning, mosquito repellent and panoramic windows — perfect for two to four people. You can book the beautiful accommodation directly on Booking.com*:
➲ Book Corfu Sky Loft Apartments*
How to get to the island of Corfu
You can travel to Corfu by plane or by ferry, either from Italy or from Igoumenitsa, a Greek port city located opposite Corfu. Especially for an extended Greece road trip and longer Corfu Holidays it is worth the ferry crossing by car. You can check connections and prices for suitable ferries here:
➲ To the ferry booking with Ferryhopper*
→ More tips on how to travel by sea from Italy to Greece can be found in the article: Getting to Greece
More Corfu Travel Tips and the most beautiful sights and beaches of the island of Corfu can be found here: Corfu Island Overview
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