Planning a trip to Corfu and don’t know where to start? After exploring the island, I’ve put together the perfect Corfu itinerary to help you make the most of your time there.
In this guide, you’ll find my daily itinerary including my restaurant suggestions. You will notice that I like to spend the majority of my time on the beach, especially when on a Greek island. The beaches are unlike anything else so I love spending us much time on them as possible.
WHEN TO VISIT CORFU
- June and September are probably going to be the best time to visit. The weather is warm and the crowds aren’t as heavy. This also means it’ll be a bit cheaper for you too.
- July and August are high season so it’ll be very hot, crowded and more expensive.
- April, May and October are the cheapest time to go but the weather is going to be hit or miss so you may not be able to visit the beaches while you’re there.
- November to March it is pretty cold so I would avoid going during these months.
HOW TO GET TO CORFU
There are two ways to get to Corfu, flight or ferry. I was coming from Zakynthos so the best option for me was flight. There is an international airport that you can catch flights from Athens or many other islands.
GETTING AROUND CORFU
I strongly recommend renting a car and you will definitely need to if you plan to follow this itinerary. Although everything isn’t too far away it does take longer to get to with all the winding hilly roads.
Alright, now for the actual itinerary I followed while I was in Corfu.
DAY 1:
I arrived in Corfu in the early afternoon and headed straight to pick-up my rental. Once you’ve picked up your rental you can head to your hotel to check-in or park. Depending on the time, you may not be able to check in yet. You can leave your luggage in the car or check it with hotel staff. I stayed at the Bella Venezia hotel for the duration of my stay. It is located in Corfu town so it’s a short walk to all the restaurants and shops.
Once I parked at the hotel, I headed straight to lunch at Margherita Pizza. This is a great little pizza place to stop at for a quick but delicious lunch.
Next, you’ll want to wander through the cobble stone streets of Corfu town and enjoy the beauty of the winding streets. There are tons of cute shops and restaurants for you to explore. I stopped in at one of the sandal shops and had a pair of sandals made for myself and my mom. This is also a good time to see the Old Fortress and the Holy Church of Saint Spyridon.
After spending the afternoon exploring Corfu town you’ll want to head back to your hotel and finally check-in. Depending on the time of day you can take a short nap and freshen up before heading to dinner. You will then want to head to dinner at Avli Restaurant, a traditional Greek tavern. Make a reservation in advance as this restaurant is quite busy. I chose to walk to the restaurant as that’s how I prefer to get around when I’m travelling as I find I see more than I would if I chose to drive. It is a 20-minute walk so if that’s too long then grab your rental and head over. This is a great restaurant for your first night in Corfu and if you can get a table on the terrace, grab it.
On your way back to the hotel, stop at Papagiorgis Patiserie – Gelateria for some delicious gelato or a sweet treat!
DAY 2:
This is the one day you’ll want to ensure you get an early start and a good breakfast. Because you want to get an early start, I recommend stopping at a grocery store and picking up some breakfast to have at your hotel or on your drive to Porto Timoni Beach. You will have to hike to this beach so make sure you eat a high protein breakfast.
Porto Timoni Beach is probably the most popular beach on the island but it is definitely the hardest to get to. It was definitely the toughest hike I have ever done. The path down to the beach is steep and rocky and you will be in direct sun the whole way up and down so make sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat.
You will get to enjoy the views of the dual beaches the whole way down and the beach once you get down there. Once you’re at the beach, you can grab a spot and enjoy the clear water and stunning views for as long as you want. Make sure to pack snacks and lunch, depending on how long you plan on staying as there won’t be anywhere to eat once you get down to the beach.
There is street parking near the trailhead but I can fill up quickly so you’re best to park in one of the paid lots before the trailhead.
If you don’t plan to stay past lunch, I recommend heading to San George Food Bar. It’s a short drive from the beach and the food is great. There is also tons of restaurants around where you’ll be parking if you would prefer to eat right away.
After you finish lunch, you’ll want to make your way to Cape Drastis. Cape Drastis is one of the most picturesque places to see in Corfu. Located at the norther point, you will see stunning view of clear blue water and white-washed cliffs. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Greece and should not be missed.
It is really only reachable by car, scooter or quad with a tiny parking lot or parking along the road’s edge. Once you park you can walk down to the viewpoint and you certainly won’t be disappointed. The beach below is only accessible by water taxi.
After enjoying the view at Cape Drastis, head over to Canal d’Amour to spend the rest of your day at the beach. The legend says that if you swim through it with your partner, you’ll be in love forever! It is a very tiny beach surrounded by rocks where you’ll find most people laying out sunning. There is a small staircase leading down to the beach. Because this is a popular spot it will be pretty busy no matter what time of day you are there.
There is parking on the surrounding streets or you can opt to park in a paid lot and walk up to the beach.
For dinner, I recommend grabbing a meal at La Famiglia. I rarely pass up an opportunity for a good Italian meal but if you’d like to stick with the Greek cuisine, I would head to Pane e Souvlaki for some of the best souvlaki on the island! No night is complete without a stop at Papagiorgis Patiserie – Gelateria for some delicious gelato.
DAY 3:
As today will be a more laidback beach day, I recommend grabbing a good breakfast in town before heading out. Walk over to Favela N°17 for breakfast. This café has so many good breakfast options to choose from and is a great way to start the day.
Once you’ve finished breakfast, start making your way to Agio Spiridon Beach for the morning.
If you are looking for a sandy beach then this is definitely the beach for you. It’s a pretty big beach and the water gets deep pretty quick. There are some chair rentals available but your best bet is to bring a towel and grab a spot on the sand. As this is another popular beach, it can get quite busy.
There is a large paid parking lot within walking distance of the beach. This will probably be the easiest place to park. You will also find restaurants all around the area and other touristy shops.
Once you’re ready for lunch, pack up and head to Bella Vista Taverna. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the view, which is absolutely breathtaking. The food is good but the view is even better and is great way to enjoy your lunch.
After lunch, head over to Rovinia Beach. Rovinia Beach was actually my favourite beach that I visited while in Corfu and probably the beach I spent the most time at. It is quite large so it doesn’t feel too crowded. The water is crystal clear and the views are stunning. There is a bit of a trek down to the beach but nothing compared to Porto Timoni and should be manageable for most people.
There is a paid lot with people directing you where to park but it can fill up pretty quick. The road leading down to the lot is quite narrow so you’ll want to take it slow as there will be times you have to move over to make room for cars coming the opposite direction.
Dinner tonight will be at Bellissimo, another great restaurant in Corfu town. There is so many great dishes on this menu, you’ll have a hard time picking what you want to try. Everything is super fresh an so tasty.
DAY 4:
This is the perfect time for a day trip to Paxos & Anti Paxos. You can catch one of the ferries or you can book a tour. I like the ease of a tour but if you prefer to go at your pace then grabbing the ferry is the best option. This will take you away from Corfu for the whole day so you won’t be back till closer to dinner. I recommend heading back to the hotel to freshen up and then head to dinner at Ninos. Ninos is a small restaurant serving up delicious food. The gyros here are delicious and different than any gyro you’ve ever had. Gyros in Corfu are made with a special red sauce that sets them apart from the other Greek islands.
DAY 5:
This day really depends on when you are departing from the island. I was heading to the airport in the early afternoon so I grabbed some breakfast and walked around Corfu town until I had to check out and head to the airport.
I hope you enjoy your time in Corfu and would love to hear what your favourite thing about Corfu was!
