# Corfu

An Ionian island of olive groves facing Albania, Venetian for four centuries. The old town, between two fortresses, has been a World Heritage Site since 2007; the west coast has cliffs and coves reached by boat, and the Corfu Trail crosses it on foot from end to end.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/ionian-islands/corfu · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## How do you get there from Spain?

By plane, with a connection. The route list for Corfu airport shows none from Spain, not even seasonal. The practical option is to fly to Athens and connect with Aegean, which flies all year, or with Ryanair in summer: the Athens–Corfu flight takes around 1 h 15. In summer Rome (ITA Airways, Wizz Air) and Milan (Wizz Air, Neos, Ryanair) also work as connections. The airport is 2–3 km from the old town, and the blue line 15 bus links it with San Rocco Square and the port roughly every hour.

## And by ferry, from Igoumenitsa or Italy?

From Igoumenitsa, on the mainland, car ferries leave for the town's port: Kerkyra Lines and Kerkyra Seaways, with up to 25 departures a day in high season and a crossing of 1 h 10 to 1 h 30. The adult fare starts at about €5–6; the car is paid separately. For the south of the island there is a shorter crossing, Igoumenitsa–Lefkimmi, of about 50 minutes.

If you are coming from Epirus or Thessaly by car, Igoumenitsa is about 130 km from Papingo, in Zagori, and Meteora is about 100 km and an hour and a half from Ioannina along the Egnatia. From Italy, in summer: Bari with Superfast Ferries and Ventouris (8–10 h), Brindisi with Grimaldi Lines (about 6 h), Ancona with Grimaldi and Superfast (17–19 h) and Venice, once a week and about 25 h.

## Do you need a car?

For the town, no: the old quarter is covered on foot and a car gets in the way. For the island, it helps, but is not essential. The green KTEL Kerkyras buses leave from the station on Eptanisou Avenue for Paleokastritsa (about 50 min, €2.80), Kassiopi (1 h 15, €4.30) or Agios Gordios (40 min, €2.70). The blue city buses go to the airport, Kanoni and the Achilleion from €1.30. If you hire, take a small car: many roads are narrow with an uneven surface, and the insurance doesn't always cover the underside.

## When to go and what closes in winter?

Average maximums run from 24 °C in May to 31.5 °C in August, and fall to 23 °C in October, which is already the second rainiest month after November and December. From 1 November to 31 March the Old Fortress opens from 8:30 to 15:30, the Achilleion from 8:00 to 16:00 and Angelokastro closes. The ferries to Italy only run in summer, the campsites open from April or May to October and the green buses switch to the winter timetable from 31 October.

## Dónde está
- Cerca: Zagori (a 77.3 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Old town, Liston and Spianada** (2 h 30 · All ages · On your own · free): What it is
Corfu's old town is explored on foot in a morning and costs nothing. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 for its Venetian architecture: Corfu was under Venice from 1386 to 1797, withstood the great Ottoman sieges of 1537, 1571, 1573 and 1716, and was never conquered by the Turks. The result is narrow streets, tall multi-storey houses and two fortresses that enclose the old town, the Old and the New. On top of that you can feel the passage of the French and the British, who left the square, the arcades and the cricket.
The route, step by step
1. The Spianada. Start on the great esplanade facing the Old Fortress, the largest square in Greece. It has two parts. The upper one, to the south, is a garden with flower beds, the Maitland Rotunda and the bandstand where the town's philharmonic bands play. The lower is a flat meadow with the cricket ground, a legacy of the British protectorate (1814–1864).
2. The Liston. On the west side of the Spianada runs the Liston, the arcaded gallery built in 1807 by the French imperial commissioner Mathieu de Lesseps, inspired by the rue de Rivoli in Paris. It is a pedestrian street and a continuous terrace of cafés: the place to sit and watch the town go by.
3. The Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George. North of the Spianada, the most important building of British rule, from 1818–1823, was the residence of the High Commissioner. Today it houses the Museum of Asian Art, unique in Greece, with 15,000 pieces from China, Japan and other countries. It is open 8:00 to 20:00 from April to October and 8:30 to 15:30 in winter, except Tuesdays; entry costs €10 (reduced €5).
4. Saint Spyridon. Behind the Liston, enter the maze of lanes to the church of Saint Spyridon, of 1589, the best known on the island. It holds the remains of Corfu's patron saint in a chapel to the right of the iconostasis, in a double wooden sarcophagus with silver decoration. Its bell tower, of 1620, is the tallest in the Ionian Islands. It is a working church: enter with shoulders and knees covered and in silence.
5. The lanes. From there, let yourself drift along the streets that run down towards the old harbour and the New Fortress. The inner squares, away from the Liston, are the quietest.
Pontikonisi and Kanoni
For the postcard of Corfu you have to leave the old town. Blue line 2A leaves from the Spianada stop, beside the Liston, and reaches Kanoni, at the tip of the peninsula. From the viewpoint you see Pontikonisi, the islet with the Byzantine chapel of the Pantokrator, of the 11th or 12th century. The blue city buses page has prices and tickets.
How long and when
Allow two to three hours without going into museums, and half a day if you add the Old Fortress. In summer go first thing or at dusk: at midday it is hot and the centre fills with groups. It is all flat and works well with children and a pushchair, although some lanes have steps.
On Holy Saturday, at 11:00, the custom of the botides is celebrated: from the balconies of the Liston and the centre, clay pots full of water are thrown to the sound of the philharmonic bands. If you coincide, find a spot early.
Getting there and where to eat
If you stay outside, leave the car outside the old town: the streets are narrow and parking is scarce. The blue buses reach San Rocco square, a short walk from the Spianada. For eating, in the centre you have Rex, with Corfiot cooking, and Pitta Pappou for something quick. Sleeping inside the old town, at the Bella Venezia, puts the stroll at your door.
- **Corfu Old Fortress** (1 h 30 · €10 · reduced €5): What it is
The Old Fortress occupies the rocky peninsula that closes Corfu town on the east, facing the Spianada. Its two peaks, koryfi in Greek, gave the town its name: Koryfo, from which Corfu comes. The Byzantines first fortified the eastern peak, the Old Castle or Sea Tower. The Venetians, from the 15th century, dug the moat that turned the peninsula into an artificial island, fortified the western peak, the Land Tower, and reinforced the whole complex.
It worked: the fortress withstood three Ottoman sieges and was never taken. Its worst destruction came not from the Turks but from the explosion of the Old Castle's powder magazine in 1718, which killed hundreds of people and flattened almost all the buildings. It then passed through French, Russian, British, Italian and German hands, and after the Asia Minor catastrophe it sheltered refugee families. It is run by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corfu.
What you see inside
Before going in, on the Spianada, the statue of Count von der Schulenburg, by the sculptor Antonio Corradini, who defended Corfu in the siege of 1716, the last Venetian victory against the Ottomans. Then you cross the bridge over the sea moat and pass the main gate.
Inside:

The church of Saint George, of 1840, in Georgian style, built as an Anglican church during the British protectorate and later Orthodox, with an iconostasis brought from Saint Spyridon.
The British barracks and the Venetian prisons.
The Latin chapel of Our Lady of Carmel, from the early 17th century.
The winged lion of Saint Mark on the half-moon of the Land Tower.
The summit: climb to the highest point. On one side you have the Ionian Sea; on the other, the rooftops of the old town.

If you hear music, do not be surprised: the old British officers' barracks houses the Music Department of the Ionian University. Other buildings hold the Corfu Historical Archive, the Public Library and the Byzantine Collection.
Opening hours

1 April to 31 August: 8:00 to 20:00.
September: until 19:30 in the first half and until 19:00 in the second.
October: until 18:30 in the first half and until 18:00 in the second.
1 November to 31 March: 8:30 to 15:30.

Open every day; last entry is 20 minutes before closing. Closed on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Orthodox Easter Sunday and 25 and 26 December.
Tickets
General admission costs €10 and reduced €5. Buy at the box office or online on the Hellenic Heritage ticketing website. It is free on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March.
Getting there
On foot, it is five minutes from the Spianada: if you stay in the old town, you need nothing more. By bus, blue line 2A stops at the Platia – Liston stop. By car it is about ten minutes from the airport and the port, but parking in the centre is difficult: better leave the car outside and walk in.
How long and tips
Allow an hour and a half or two hours to walk round unhurried and climb to the summit. There are slopes, stairs and uneven stone floors; with a pushchair you see the lower part, but not the summit. In summer go early or late to avoid the midday heat.
It fits into the same day as the stroll through the old town, the Liston and the Spianada. If you stay for lunch, Rex is in the centre, beside the Liston.
- **Paleokastritsa caves and coves by boat** (4 h · Families and groups; to hire without a skipper you must be 18 · Desde 50 € per person): What it is
The Paleokastritsa coast, in western Corfu, is a succession of cliffs, caves and small coves, and many can only be reached by sea. Tradition places the land of the Phaeacians here, where Odysseus landed and met Nausicaa. To see it you have two options from Alipa harbour: a shared boat with a skipper that tours caves and beaches, or a boat you drive yourself without needing a licence.
The shared boat: caves and Porto Timoni
Seahorse Boat Rental, a company at Alipa harbour, runs a 4-hour outing for €50 per person on a boat shared with other passengers. The route, according to its website:

Saint Nicholas cave, seen from the boat.
Kastelli beach, with a stop for a swim.
Porto Timoni, the double beach at Afionas, with time to swim and rest.
The Blue Eye, a cave of very clear water.
Return to Alipa harbour.

The website also mentions a last stop at a quiet beach chosen according to the day's conditions; confirm when booking. The outing needs a minimum of 4 passengers: if it is not reached, it does not run and you are refunded or offered another service. The specific boat depends on availability.
Licence-free boat: the coves on your own
If you prefer to go at your own pace, the same company hires boats of up to 30 hp, which do not require a licence. You only need to be over 18 and carry ID or a passport. The 3-seaters, 4.30 m long, start from €100; the 6 to 8-seaters and over 30 hp start from €150 and do require a pleasure craft licence.
Fuel is not included. When booking you choose a fixed fuel rate or paying what you use when you return to the harbour. A deposit may be requested. All boats carry life jackets for adults and children, an anchor and a first-aid kit.
How to book and cancel
Book on Seahorse's website or by phone, on +30 693 722 6459; they answer from 8:00 to 23:00 online and by phone. In high season book in advance. To cancel, do so in writing at least three days beforehand; otherwise the full amount is charged, and there is a €20 handling fee. If bad weather forces the outing to be suspended, you are refunded or it is moved to another day.
Getting to Alipa
Alipa harbour is in the centre of Paleokastritsa, about 50 minutes by car from Corfu town. Without a car, the green KTEL bus goes from the town to Paleokastritsa in about 50 minutes for €2.80; timetables are on the green bus station page. If you sleep at the Camping Paleokastritsa, you are a short walk from the harbour.
When and what to bring
It is a swimming-season activity, from late spring to early autumn. Choose a calm-sea day: in a swell, the company may change the route or suspend the outing, and in a small boat it is very noticeable.
Wear swimwear, and bring a towel, water-resistant sun cream, a hat, water and something to eat. A diving mask gets a lot out of the water in the caves. For the camera, a waterproof case.
With children
The shared boat is the comfortable option for families: there is a skipper and children's life jackets. On the licence-free boat, you are the skipper: do not go far from the coast and turn back if the wind rises.
Before or after
Climb to the Paleokastritsa monastery, of 1225, at the top of the peninsula, with a small museum. And if you have time left, the Angelokastro castle is a few minutes by car, above Krini.
- **Achilleion, Sisi's palace** (1 h · €7 · reduced €5 · free up to age 5): What it is
The Achilleion is the palace that Elisabeth of Bavaria, Empress Sisi, had built at Gastouri, in the hills south of Corfu town. She came to the island fleeing the Viennese court and her misfortunes, above all after the death of her son Rudolf, and found refuge here. The palace was finished in 1891 and she filled it herself with art inspired by Greek mythology and history. She dedicated it to Achilles, the hero of the Iliad she admired most; hence the name.
After Sisi's assassination in Switzerland in 1898, the palace stood empty for nine years. In 1907 it was bought by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who remade the gardens with rare trees and plants that are still there. In both world wars it was a barracks and hospital, and it was looted. Since 1919 it has been owned by the Greek state and today is run by the Public Property Company (ETAD).
What you see now
The palace is undergoing restoration works and only the outdoor spaces and the imperial gardens can be visited. You cannot enter the rooms: neither Sisi's chapel nor her rooms nor the Kaiser's.
What you do see is the most photographed part of the complex:

The gardens, in terraces above the coast, with statues of Zeus, Hera and other mythological figures.
The Peristyle of the Muses, a courtyard of Ionic columns with statues of the nine muses, Hermes and Apollo, and thirteen busts of ancient philosophers and poets, plus one of Shakespeare.
The Dying Achilles, the palace's most valuable sculpture: the hero tries to pull the arrow from his heel.
Achilles Triumphant, the enormous statue the Kaiser had placed, at the moment of victory.

The marbles in the gardens have been restored in recent years, and the museum has announced that the restoration and enhancement of the palace is already out to tender. With only the exteriors open, the visit takes an unhurried hour.
Opening hours and tickets
Open every day:

1 April to 31 October: 8:00 to 20:00.
1 November to 31 March: 8:00 to 16:00.

General admission costs €7. Reduced, €5, is for children aged 6 to 18, students, members of large families, the unemployed and over-67s, with documents, and is bought only at the museum box office. Children up to 5 and people with disabilities with a companion enter free. General admission can also be bought online through the museum's e-ticket system.
Getting there and parking
Gastouri is about 10 km south of the town. By car you climb a winding road. By bus, blue line 10 leaves the town from the stop on Mitropolitou Methodiou Street and reaches the Achilleion; timetables and tickets are on the blue city buses page. Buy your ticket before boarding: on board it costs more.
In summer it is a regular stop on organised tours: first thing, when it opens, there are fewer people.
With children and accessibility
The gardens are stepped in terraces linked by stairs: with a pushchair, count on stretches carried. Children enjoy the story of Achilles and his heel in front of the statue. There is not much shade on the upper terraces: bring water and a hat in summer.
Combine it
The Achilleion fits into half a day through the south of the town: the palace in the morning and then the Kanoni peninsula to see Pontikonisi, or the drive down to the Benitses coast, where Klimataria is. If you have not yet seen the town, continue with the old town and the Liston.
In August and early September the museum organises concerts in the gardens; in 2026 they were from 17 to 23 August and from 31 August to 6 September. Check the museum's website for next summer.
- **Angelokastro Castle** (1 h 30 · Good legs; the climb is short but steep and in the sun · €10 · reduced €5): What it is
Angelokastro is a Byzantine castle hanging from the edge of a cliff, at the highest point of Corfu's north-west coast, about 300 m above the sea. Its position made it almost impregnable: the west side was not even fortified, because the wall drops almost vertically. It is one of the most important Byzantine castles in Greece and the one that gives its name to Paleokastritsa, the “old little castle”.
Its name is attributed to Michael I Komnenos, Despot of Epirus. In 1272 it passed to the Angevins and, during Venetian rule, from 1386 to 1797, it was the seat of a local governor, the castellan. Today it is run by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corfu.
What you see at the top
The visit is short and the landscape is what counts. At the highest point of the rock is the church of the archangel Michael, with an inscription on the lintel saying it was rebuilt in 1734 by the castellan Aloysius Regginis. A little further on, the chapel of Saint Kyriaki is almost carved into the rock and preserves wall paintings of the 18th century. Between the two are remains of the walls.
From the top you see the whole west coast of the island and the open sea towards the southern Adriatic. On clear days you reach the Paleokastritsa coves on one side and Agios Georgios bay on the other.
Opening hours and tickets

1 April to 31 October: 10:00 to 18:00, every day except Tuesdays, when it is closed.
1 November to 31 March: closed.
Last entry 20 minutes before closing. Also closed on 1 May and Orthodox Easter Sunday.

General admission costs €10 and reduced €5. Buy at the box office or online on the Hellenic Heritage website. It is free on the last weekend of September and on 28 October; the free winter Sundays do not count here, because in winter it is closed.
Getting there and parking
The castle is above the village of Krini, about 50 minutes by car from Corfu town. From Paleokastritsa you drive up to Krini and, past the village, to the box office, where you leave the car as best you can: space is scarce in summer. From there you climb on foot in a quarter of an hour, along a cobbled path and steps, quite steep and in the sun.
Without a car, the green KTEL bus reaches Paleokastritsa; from there the climb to Krini is long and by road, so a taxi is the practical choice. The station and fares are on the green buses page.
If you are walking, the stage of the Corfu Trail between Liapades and Agios Georgios passes through Krini and lets you detour to the castle.
How long and when
Allow an hour and a half for the climb, the visit and the descent. Go at 10:00, when it opens: in summer the path has no shade and in the mid-afternoon the sun hits the rock head-on. In spring and in October the light is cleaner and the climb easier. In strong wind, keep away from the cliff edges.
With children
The climb is short but steep, and at the top there are drops beside the cliff: hold little ones by the hand. It is not for pushchairs or wheelchairs. With teenagers it fits well into a day along the west coast with the boat to the Paleokastritsa caves or an afternoon at Porto Timoni.
- **Climb to Mount Pantokrator** (Small car or motorbike; tight bends and narrow stretches · On your own · free): What it is
Pantokrator is the highest mountain on Corfu, 906 m, in the north-east of the island. You can drive right to the summit, and at the top you see the whole island and, a stone's throw away, the coast of Albania. On the clearest days you can even make out Italy, about 130 km away. On the summit there is a monastery, a café for visitors and a telecommunications station with antennas, whose largest tower stands over a well.
The monastery
The first monastery on the summit was built by the Angevins in 1347 and destroyed around 1537. The present church dates from about 1689 and is dedicated to the Transfiguration; the facade was redone in the 19th century. It is a place of worship: enter with shoulders and knees covered.
The road, stretch by stretch
To Strinilas. From the north-east coast or from the north, mountain roads with many bends climb towards the villages on the slope. The starting point of the final stretch is Strinilas.
From Strinilas to the summit. It is 4.6 km of tarmac, with about 260 m of ascent and ramps of up to 18%. The road is narrow, with no crash barriers and with consecutive hairpin bends. Drive up slowly, in first or second gear on the ramps, and sound the horn on blind bends.
At the top. Parking is scarce and many people leave the car on the verge, which leaves the road down to a single lane. The sensible thing is to turn round at the summit before parking, so you are already facing the descent.
Descent. You can return the same way or go down the other side towards Petalia and the north coast, closing a circuit.
For this route a small car or a motorbike with mountain experience is best. If you hire, take the most compact model: the car hire page explains it.
On foot from Palea Perithia
At the foot of the mountain is Palea Perithia, the oldest village on Corfu, from the 14th century, with about 130 houses and eight churches, almost uninhabited. Its residents helped build the first monastery with local timber and limestone. From the village, climbing to the summit and back takes about two hours on foot. The stretch from Spartilas to the summit is part of the Corfu Trail.
If you walk, set out early and bring water. Return in daylight: some paths are poorly signposted at dusk.
When to go up
You can go up all year, but visibility is what counts. Choose a clear day without haze: in mist you will see neither Albania nor Italy, and a cloud on the summit hides everything even if the sun shines below. In strong wind or a storm, do not go up: the road has no protection.
How long and how to combine it
Allow half a day for the climb, the summit and a stop at Palea Perithia. It fits well into a day through the north of the island: come down afterwards for lunch at Kassiopi, a fishing village with the ruins of its Byzantine castle above the harbour, or continue west and end the afternoon with a horse ride at Roda.
- **Corfu Trail from Liapades to Agios Georgios** (4 h · 13 km · Walkers with some experience · On your own · free): What it is
It is stage 7 of the Corfu Trail, the long-distance path that crosses Corfu from end to end, about 178 km in 11 stages, from Asprokavos in the south to Agios Spyridon in the north. This stretch links Liapades, beside Paleokastritsa, with Agios Georgios bay, in the north-west: 13 km, about 350 m of cumulative ascent and four hours' walking, according to the official route. It is one of the most varied stages of the trail: cliff above the sea, cobbled paths among olive trees, mountain villages, a viewpoint over Paleokastritsa and a zigzag descent to the beach.
The route, step by step
1. The headland above the sea. You leave Liapades along a path that crosses a promontory high above the sea. The trail itself describes it as difficult: it is narrow, stony and exposed. It ends at the Paleokastritsa road.
2. Climb to Lakones. You cross the main road and start climbing on cobbled paths among olive trees. In about an hour you reach the historic village of Lakones. Here you have to walk nearly a kilometre along the village road, with traffic: keep to the edge and in single file.
3. The Bella Vista viewpoint. At the exit from Lakones is the Bella Vista viewpoint, with Paleokastritsa and its coves at your feet. It is the best place to stop for something to eat.
4. Krini and Angelokastro. The path continues to Krini. From here you can detour to Angelokastro castle, a quarter of an hour's climb from its box office; it is open April to October and closed on Tuesdays. It adds a good hour to the day if you go in.
5. The Valley of the Lilies and the descent. Then you cross the Valley of the Lilies and come to the most spectacular stretch: a steep zigzag descent down the cliff.
6. On to Agios Georgios. At the end, a track among olive trees and the seashore bring you to Agios Georgios, the long beach of the north-west bay. From here, Porto Timoni is on the other side of the Afionas promontory.
Difficulty and who it is for
It is a medium stage by distance and ascent, but with technical stretches: the path at the start and the final descent require sure footing and boots with a good sole. It is not for small children or for dogs unused to the mountains. With teenagers who walk, yes. If you only want a piece, the most rewarding is from Lakones to Bella Vista and Krini.
When to go, water and shade
Spring and autumn are the best seasons: mild temperatures and, in September and October, the sea still warm on arrival. In July and August set out at dawn, because the headland and descent stretches are in the sun. The olive groves give shade, the promontory and the cliff do not.
Lakones and Krini are the villages on the way; between them and outside them do not count on springs: carry at least two litres per person. If a storm threatens, do not enter the headland stretch or the cliff descent, which are slippery in mud: from Lakones or Krini you can call a taxi.
How to start and get back
Liapades is beside Paleokastritsa. If you go by car, leave it in Liapades and come back from Agios Georgios by taxi, because the two ends are on different branches of the coast. If you stay at the Camping Paleokastritsa, you are almost at the start.
The green KTEL buses reach Paleokastritsa from the town; check timetables on the green bus station page.
With accommodation sorted
If you want to do the whole Corfu Trail or in sections, Anna Aperghi Travel & Tourism, the Corfu agency that maintains the trail's website, organises self-guided programmes with accommodation booked at the end of each stage, and also guided departures in spring. It does not publish prices: you have to ask for a quote.
- **Porto Timoni from Afionas** (Good legs: Afionas is high up and the return is uphill · On your own · free): What it is
Porto Timoni is two back-to-back coves, joined by a narrow spit of land, at the far north-west of Corfu. Each faces one side of the Afionas promontory, so you can swim in one or the other depending on where the wind blows from. You cannot get there by car: either you walk down from Afionas or come by boat from Paleokastritsa.
Afionas, the starting point
Afionas is a village at the top of a promontory, 37 km from Corfu town, with views of the Ionian Sea and the Diapontia Islands to the north-west, and Agios Georgios bay to the south-east. It has old houses, cobbled streets and the parish church of Agios Ioannis Lampataris, of 1636. Between the village and Porto Timoni are ruins of medieval fortifications that protected residents from pirates, and a Neolithic settlement was found in the area, whose remains are in the Archaeological Museum of Corfu.
The village streets are narrow: leave the car before entering the village, where there is room, and continue on foot.
The path, step by step
1. Start. A path leaves the village towards the south-west, towards the tip of the promontory.
2. Descent. It is about 20 minutes down a path, with steep stretches. On the way you pass the ruins of the old defences.
3. The coves. You arrive from above at the spit of land and see both beaches at once. Choose the one more sheltered that day.
4. Return. It is all uphill and in the sun for a good part. Allow somewhat longer than on the way out, and more with children.
The Corfu Trail stage ending at Agios Georgios leaves you at the foot of the promontory, in case you want to link them.
By boat
The other way is by sea. From Alipa harbour, in Paleokastritsa, a 4-hour shared boat leaves, stopping for a swim at Porto Timoni and Kastelli and passing the caves, for €50 per person. You can also hire a licence-free boat there and arrive on your own. That saves you the climb back, although you will have less time on the beach.
When to go
For swimming, May to October. In July and August go early: during the day the excursion boats also arrive and the spit fills up. The afternoon is good for light, but then the climb back hits the sun head-on. In spring and autumn the path is better walked, and September water is still warm.
What to bring and safety
Wear shoes with a sole for the path, not flip-flops. Plenty of water, food and an umbrella or something to give shade: do not count on facilities or trees on the sand. They are open coves: in a swell, swim on the sheltered side and do not swim far from the shore. Take your rubbish back with you.
With children or a dog
With children who already walk well, the path is doable; with a pushchair, no. The climb back, in the heat, feels long to them: take it calmly. With a dog, the path is easy for it, but in summer the heat on the stone and the lack of shade are the problem.
Nearby
If you come by car, it fits an afternoon after the Angelokastro castle, which closes at 18:00. To sleep on this coast, the Camping Paleokastritsa is the nearest base among those we list.
- **Horse riding through olive groves and along the beach at Roda** (1 h 15 · Beginners and practised riders · Desde 30 € per person): What it is
A horse ride along the north coast of Corfu, beside Roda. It is run by Katreena Horse Riding, a small riding centre founded by Nate, an instructor with years of experience in the north of the island. Its routes combine two landscapes: shaded paths among olive trees and the open seashore. It is a quiet, walking-pace activity, designed to be enjoyed by someone who has never ridden and also by someone who has not been on a horse for a long time.
The centre says it works with all ages and levels, and that its horses are used to people and groups. It is not a riding lesson: it is a guided ride in which the instructor sets the pace.
What outings there are and how much they cost
Prices per person, according to the centre's experiences page:

Beach and nature ride: 1 h 15, along the beach and the surroundings of north Corfu. €30. It is the one to choose if it is your first time.
Sunset ride: 1 h 30, with sunset from the coast. €45.
Swim with the horses: you go into the sea with them and ride in the water. €65.
Advanced ride: more demanding, for experienced riders. €65.
Riding week: seven days with accommodation, airport transfer, breakfast and riding all day. €1,000.

The first three are booked online on their website. The advanced ride and the riding week are not: you have to write through the contact form or call +30 694 482 9461.
Where it is and how to get there
The centre gives as its address a street in Roda, near the village taxi rank. Roda is on the north coast, between Sidari and Acharavi. From Corfu town, allow nearly an hour by car on the north road. The website does not say whether the ride starts at that same address: confirm it when booking and ask for the exact location for your map.
It fits well into a day devoted to the north, for example with the climb of Pantokrator in the morning and the sunset ride.
When to go
The founder speaks of routes for summer, and the centre does not publish opening dates. The prudent thing is to count on the tourist season, spring to autumn, and check beforehand if you travel in April or October. In July and August the sun is fierce: the sunset ride is the most pleasant, and the stretch through the olive trees gives shade.
With children
The centre says it designs outings with the safety of the whole family in mind, but its website does not publish a minimum age, maximum weight or whether it lends helmets. Ask when booking, especially if you go with small children. With teenagers, the swim with the horses is usually the one they like most.
What to bring
Comfortable long trousers and closed shoes with a bit of heel; flip-flops are no good for the stirrup. Sun cream, a hat that fits under the helmet and water. For the swim with the horses, swimwear under your clothes and a towel in the car. Leave in the car what you do not want to lose: the phone is best in a zipped pocket.

## Dónde comer
- **Rex** (Restaurant, Corfu Town, €€€). Qué pedir: the house dishes of the island: veal sofrito, cockerel pastitsada and fish bourdeto.
- **Klimataria** (Restaurant, Benitses, €€€). Qué pedir: the fish of the day arriving from the Corfu market; it has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
- **Etrusco** (Restaurant, Kato Korakiana, €€€€). Qué pedir: the day's menu the kitchen proposes, with produce and herbs of the island.
- **Pitta Pappou** (Takeaway, Corfu Town, €). Qué pedir: a club pita or a portion of kebab to eat on the Spianada.

## By car: The whole island, one coast a day
With a car you reach what the bus does not: Angelokastro, Pantokrator, Palea Perithia and the inland villages. You can bring it on the ferry from Igoumenitsa or hire it at the airport. Do not drive inside the old town: park outside and walk.
Presupuesto orientativo: 90–150 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Corfu Imperial** (Hotel): A Grecotel hotel on the Kommeno peninsula, north of the town, with restaurants and a seafront walk and views of the old town's Venetian skyline. It closes in winter: the next season opens on 21 April 2027.
- **Ikos Dassia** (Hotel): All-inclusive resort on the east coast, at Dassia, with Greek, French, Italian and Asian restaurants and the option of dining out at restaurants in the area at no extra cost.
- **Camping Paleokastritsa** (Campsite, desde 4.8 € / tent and two people): Campsite about 19 km from the old town, with large pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes under ancient olive trees. In 2026, a small tent costs €4.80 and each adult €6.20 in May, June, September and October, a little more in July and August; electricity, €5. Liapades, the start of stage 7 of the Corfu Trail, is a walk away.
- **Corfu Camping Village Dionysus** (Campsite, desde 4.9 € / tent and two people): A campsite on the east coast, north of the town, with pitches for tents, cars, caravans and motorhomes, 2- and 4-bed bungalows, drinking water, free hot showers and a restaurant. Tent from €4.90 and adult from €6.60 in low season, with electricity at €5.50 (the website does not state the year of the rates).
### Servicios
- **Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport**: 2–3 km from the old town · blue line 15 between the airport and the port, timetable at astikoktelkerkyras.gr · flights to Athens
- **Corfu port**: To Igoumenitsa with Kerkyra Lines and Kerkyra Seaways · up to 25 sailings a day in summer · 1 h 10 – 1 h 30 · summer ferries to Bari, Brindisi, Ancona and Venice
- **Lefkimmi port**: South of the island · ferry to Igoumenitsa in about 50 min
- **Car hire at the airport**: Desks at the airport and local companies · booking online is usually cheaper · a small car is better

## Car-free: Without a car: the town on foot and the green bus to the coast
Corfu works well without a car. The airport is 2–3 km away, with a bus every hour, and the ferry from Igoumenitsa drops you at the town port. The old town, the Old Fortress and Kanoni are reached on foot or by blue bus; Paleokastritsa, Agios Gordios and Kassiopi by green bus.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–120 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Bella Venezia Historic Boutique Hotel** (Small hotel): A neoclassical mansion on Zampeli Street that was a residence, consulate, National Bank branch and girls' high school before becoming a hotel in 1988. From here you do everything on foot, and if you book seven nights directly with them the airport transfer is included.
- **The Pink Palace** (Hostel): A historic hostel on the Agios Gordios cliff, on the west coast, open every summer since 1965. It has shared and private rooms, and organises kayaking, paddleboarding, boat trips, walks and parties. The green bus B10 reaches Agios Gordios from the town in about 40 minutes.
- **Sunrock** (Hostel): A hostel above Pelekas beach, on the west coast, with breakfast included and home-cooked meals from its vegetable garden. Pelekas is the end of stage 5 of the Corfu Trail. Without a car: blue line 11 from San Rocco to the Muhas bend, every two hours, and a 15-minute walk; or their shuttle from the airport and port, with advance notice.
### Servicios
- **Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport**: 2–3 km from the old town · blue line 15 between the airport and the port, timetable at astikoktelkerkyras.gr · flights to Athens
- **Corfu port**: To Igoumenitsa with Kerkyra Lines and Kerkyra Seaways · up to 25 sailings a day in summer · 1 h 10 – 1 h 30 · summer ferries to Bari, Brindisi, Ancona and Venice
- **KTEL Kerkyra green bus station**: Eptanisou Avenue · to Paleokastritsa €2.80, Agios Gordios €2.70, Kassiopi €4.30 · ticket office 6:30 to 21:00
- **Blue city buses**: From San Rocco square · zone A €1.30, zone B €1.80, day ticket €5 · dearer on board · lines to the airport, Kanoni, Achilleion and Pelekas
- **Bella Venezia private transfer**: From the airport to the hotel · included when booking 7 nights or more directly with the hotel

## Luxury: Resorts on the north-east coast and a dinner at Etrusco
The big hotels are on the coast between Kommeno and Dassia, a few kilometres from the town and the airport. From there you go out to dinner at Etrusco or in the old town, and hire a boat with or without a skipper at Paleokastritsa.
Presupuesto orientativo: 300–600 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir in style
- **Corfu Imperial** (Hotel): A Grecotel hotel on the Kommeno peninsula, north of the town, with restaurants and a seafront walk and views of the old town's Venetian skyline. It closes in winter: the next season opens on 21 April 2027.
- **Ikos Dassia** (Hotel): All-inclusive resort on the east coast, at Dassia, with Greek, French, Italian and Asian restaurants and the option of dining out at restaurants in the area at no extra cost.
### Servicios
- **Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport**: 2–3 km from the old town · blue line 15 between the airport and the port, timetable at astikoktelkerkyras.gr · flights to Athens
- **Bella Venezia private transfer**: From the airport to the hotel · included when booking 7 nights or more directly with the hotel

## Backpacking: Hostel on the west coast and the green bus
Two hostels on the west coast, in Agios Gordios and Pelekas, and daily buses to the town. What you enjoy most on Corfu is free: the old town, Kanoni, the stages of the Corfu Trail and Porto Timoni.
Presupuesto orientativo: 35–60 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're backpacking
- **The Pink Palace** (Hostel): A historic hostel on the Agios Gordios cliff, on the west coast, open every summer since 1965. It has shared and private rooms, and organises kayaking, paddleboarding, boat trips, walks and parties. The green bus B10 reaches Agios Gordios from the town in about 40 minutes.
- **Sunrock** (Hostel): A hostel above Pelekas beach, on the west coast, with breakfast included and home-cooked meals from its vegetable garden. Pelekas is the end of stage 5 of the Corfu Trail. Without a car: blue line 11 from San Rocco to the Muhas bend, every two hours, and a 15-minute walk; or their shuttle from the airport and port, with advance notice.
### Servicios
- **Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport**: 2–3 km from the old town · blue line 15 between the airport and the port, timetable at astikoktelkerkyras.gr · flights to Athens
- **Corfu port**: To Igoumenitsa with Kerkyra Lines and Kerkyra Seaways · up to 25 sailings a day in summer · 1 h 10 – 1 h 30 · summer ferries to Bari, Brindisi, Ancona and Venice
- **KTEL Kerkyra green bus station**: Eptanisou Avenue · to Paleokastritsa €2.80, Agios Gordios €2.70, Kassiopi €4.30 · ticket office 6:30 to 21:00
- **Blue city buses**: From San Rocco square · zone A €1.30, zone B €1.80, day ticket €5 · dearer on board · lines to the airport, Kanoni, Achilleion and Pelekas

## Camping: Tent among olive trees, in the west or beside Gouvia
Two campsites with tents: one in Paleokastritsa, on the west coast, and another beside Gouvia, north of the town. They open from spring to October. In Greece wild camping is prohibited outside authorised campsites (Law 4403/2016, art. 31), including on beaches.
Presupuesto orientativo: 20–40 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're camping
- **Camping Paleokastritsa** (Campsite, desde 4.8 € / tent and two people): Campsite about 19 km from the old town, with large pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes under ancient olive trees. In 2026, a small tent costs €4.80 and each adult €6.20 in May, June, September and October, a little more in July and August; electricity, €5. Liapades, the start of stage 7 of the Corfu Trail, is a walk away.
- **Corfu Camping Village Dionysus** (Campsite, desde 4.9 € / tent and two people): A campsite on the east coast, north of the town, with pitches for tents, cars, caravans and motorhomes, 2- and 4-bed bungalows, drinking water, free hot showers and a restaurant. Tent from €4.90 and adult from €6.60 in low season, with electricity at €5.50 (the website does not state the year of the rates).
### Servicios
- **Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport**: 2–3 km from the old town · blue line 15 between the airport and the port, timetable at astikoktelkerkyras.gr · flights to Athens
- **Corfu port**: To Igoumenitsa with Kerkyra Lines and Kerkyra Seaways · up to 25 sailings a day in summer · 1 h 10 – 1 h 30 · summer ferries to Bari, Brindisi, Ancona and Venice
- **Lefkimmi port**: South of the island · ferry to Igoumenitsa in about 50 min
- **KTEL Kerkyra green bus station**: Eptanisou Avenue · to Paleokastritsa €2.80, Agios Gordios €2.70, Kassiopi €4.30 · ticket office 6:30 to 21:00

## On foot: The Corfu Trail, 178 km in 11 stages
The Corfu Trail crosses the island from south to north, from Asprokavos to Agios Spyridon, with 5,400 m of cumulative ascent. Stages run from 11 to 23 km and from 4 to 7 hours. You can do it all, in halves or in day sections.
Presupuesto orientativo: 60–110 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're on foot
- **Sunrock** (Hostel): A hostel above Pelekas beach, on the west coast, with breakfast included and home-cooked meals from its vegetable garden. Pelekas is the end of stage 5 of the Corfu Trail. Without a car: blue line 11 from San Rocco to the Muhas bend, every two hours, and a 15-minute walk; or their shuttle from the airport and port, with advance notice.
- **Camping Paleokastritsa** (Campsite, desde 4.8 € / tent and two people): Campsite about 19 km from the old town, with large pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes under ancient olive trees. In 2026, a small tent costs €4.80 and each adult €6.20 in May, June, September and October, a little more in July and August; electricity, €5. Liapades, the start of stage 7 of the Corfu Trail, is a walk away.
### Servicios
- **Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport**: 2–3 km from the old town · blue line 15 between the airport and the port, timetable at astikoktelkerkyras.gr · flights to Athens
- **Corfu port**: To Igoumenitsa with Kerkyra Lines and Kerkyra Seaways · up to 25 sailings a day in summer · 1 h 10 – 1 h 30 · summer ferries to Bari, Brindisi, Ancona and Venice
- **KTEL Kerkyra green bus station**: Eptanisou Avenue · to Paleokastritsa €2.80, Agios Gordios €2.70, Kassiopi €4.30 · ticket office 6:30 to 21:00

## By plane: Connecting Flight to Corfu and Car or Bus on the Island
Corfu airport's list of routes shows none from Spain: the practical way is to fly to Athens and connect, with about 1 h 15 of flying, or to change in Rome or Milan in summer. The airport is 2 or 3 km from the old town, with a blue bus to the port, and has car-hire desks for touring the island.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Corfu Imperial** (Hotel): A Grecotel hotel on the Kommeno peninsula, north of the town, with restaurants and a seafront walk and views of the old town's Venetian skyline. It closes in winter: the next season opens on 21 April 2027.
- **Ikos Dassia** (Hotel): All-inclusive resort on the east coast, at Dassia, with Greek, French, Italian and Asian restaurants and the option of dining out at restaurants in the area at no extra cost.
- **Bella Venezia Historic Boutique Hotel** (Small hotel): A neoclassical mansion on Zampeli Street that was a residence, consulate, National Bank branch and girls' high school before becoming a hotel in 1988. From here you do everything on foot, and if you book seven nights directly with them the airport transfer is included.
- **The Pink Palace** (Hostel): A historic hostel on the Agios Gordios cliff, on the west coast, open every summer since 1965. It has shared and private rooms, and organises kayaking, paddleboarding, boat trips, walks and parties. The green bus B10 reaches Agios Gordios from the town in about 40 minutes.
- **Sunrock** (Hostel): A hostel above Pelekas beach, on the west coast, with breakfast included and home-cooked meals from its vegetable garden. Pelekas is the end of stage 5 of the Corfu Trail. Without a car: blue line 11 from San Rocco to the Muhas bend, every two hours, and a 15-minute walk; or their shuttle from the airport and port, with advance notice.
### Servicios
- **Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport**: 2–3 km from the old town · blue line 15 between the airport and the port, timetable at astikoktelkerkyras.gr · flights to Athens
- **Car hire at the airport**: Desks at the airport and local companies · booking online is usually cheaper · a small car is better

## As a family: Fortresses, boats and horses among olive trees

Corfu works with children because it alternates short things: a fortress of an hour and a half, a palace garden, a boat to the caves. Choose one coast a day and leave the middle hours of summer for the water.

### What works best
The Old Fortress, beside the Spianada, on foot from the old town

Shared boat to the Paleokastritsa caves, 4 h with swims

A horse ride of 1 h 15 at Roda, for those who have never ridden

The Achilleion gardens, free up to age 5

### Where to sleep
Dionysus Camping, with 4-bed bungalows

Old-town hotels, to walk back in mid-afternoon

### Eating
Rex, with Corfiot dishes to try

Pitas to take to the Spianada

### Keep in mind
In July and August the average high is over 31 °C

The Achilleion reduced ticket, ages 6 to 18, only at the box office

Shared boats leave with a minimum of four people

### Qué hacer as a family
- Old town, Liston and Spianada
- Corfu Old Fortress
- Paleokastritsa caves and coves by boat
- Achilleion, Sisi's palace
- Angelokastro Castle
- Climb to Mount Pantokrator
- Horse riding through olive groves and along the beach at Roda

## With teenagers: Castles up high, coves on foot and a Corfu Trail stage

For a teenager Corfu offers short climbs with a reward and a bit of independence: Angelokastro, the descent to Porto Timoni or a stage of the Corfu Trail. The old town, better at night.

### What works best
Climbing to Angelokastro, 15 steep minutes from the box office

Walking down to Porto Timoni from Afionas

A stage of the Corfu Trail, such as Liapades – Agios Georgios, 13 km

Swimming with the horses at sunset at Roda, €65

### Where to sleep
Camping Paleokastritsa, near Angelokastro and Liapades

An old-town hotel, to get around on foot on their own

### Eating
Pitas in the old town

Prawns bianco or sofrito at Rex

### Keep in mind
To drive a licence-free boat you must be 18

Angelokastro closes on Tuesdays and from November to March

The reduced ticket for state monuments is €5

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Corfu Old Fortress
- Paleokastritsa caves and coves by boat
- Angelokastro Castle
- Corfu Trail from Liapades to Agios Georgios
- Porto Timoni from Afionas
- Horse riding through olive groves and along the beach at Roda

## Consejos

### The west-coast coves, by boat
From Alipa harbour, in Paleokastritsa, you can hire boats of up to 30 HP without a licence. You only need to be 18 and have ID.

### Angelokastro, before the heat
It opens at 10:00, from April to October, and closes on Tuesdays. From the ticket office it is a 15-minute climb in the sun.

### Blue bus with a ticket bought in advance
Buy it at the machine or the kiosk at the stop: on board it costs more. The day ticket is €5.

### Ferry in a day
Up to 25 ferries a day in summer between Igoumenitsa and Corfu: you don't need to sleep in Igoumenitsa to cross.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Are there direct flights from Spain?
No route from Spain appears in the airport's route list. The usual way is to connect in Athens, with a 1 h 15 flight to Corfu, or in Rome or Milan in summer.

### How many days do you need?
Four or five nights: one day for the town and the Old Fortress, another for Paleokastritsa and Angelokastro, another for the north and Pantokrator, and one for the beach or the Corfu Trail.

### Can you go without a car?
Yes. The town is covered on foot and the green buses reach Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, Sidari or Agios Gordios. What you miss are the inland villages and the climb to Pantokrator.

### How long is the ferry from Igoumenitsa?
From 1 h 10 to 1 h 30 to the town, with up to 25 departures a day in high season. To Lefkimmi, in the south, about 50 minutes.

### Can you camp wild?
No. In Greece camping outside authorised campsites is banned (Law 4403/2016, art. 31), including on beaches. There are campsites in Paleokastritsa and in Tzavros, next to Gouvia.

### Do you need a licence to hire a boat?
Not for those of up to 30 HP: you only need to be over 18 and carry ID or a passport. Above 30 HP a boat licence is required.

### Can you see the inside of the Achilleion?
Not at the moment: because of the restoration only the exteriors and the gardens can be visited.