Posted by Corfu is the northernmost and most famous Ionian island. The island is almost 600 km² in size and, with around 120,000 inhabitants, is densely populated by Greek standards. Corfu lies just a few kilometers off the Albanian coast. There is a lot of tourism from Corfu. The majority of tourists are package tourists. As the island of Corfu lies in the north of Greece, winter is somewhat colder here than in the rest of Greece. Unlike southern Greece, it can rain here in summer, although this is rather the exception. The second important economic factor alongside business with holidaymakers is olive growing. The inhabitants of Corfu are called Corfiots.
Corfu has an impressive variety, ranging from picturesque beaches to a charming old town, and offers something for everyone. The lush nature and green hinterland give the island a very special character. However, in high season it can seem overcrowded due to the heavy tourism, which reduces the authenticity in some places. Nevertheless, Corfu remains a fascinating destination with a unique mix of culture, nature and relaxation.
Image: Aliona – Fotolia.com
It is about 100 kilometers by road from the north to the south of Corfu. The coastline is over 200 kilometers long. There are also stretches of coastline on Corfu that are almost untouched by tourism.
There are few large mammals in the fauna of Corfu. Smaller animals in this group include foxes, various species of martens and hedgehogs. The largest of the numerous lizards and geckos on Corfu are the green lizards, which are striking because of their enormous size and color. In total, over 15 species of snakes inhabit the island. The most dangerous snake on the island of Corfu is the horned viper (also known as the sand viper). It is a poisonous snake whose venom is not harmless to humans. There are many different birds on Corfu, for example the flamingos and herons. Two different species of turtles and poisonous scorpions also inhabit the island.
Most of the island’s area is used for agriculture. By far the most important product on the island is olive oil. There are currently around 4 million olive trees on the island. Statistically, every resident has over 30 olive trees. In general, Corfu is a very green and rainy island for Greece. There are also forests made up of pine, oak and elm trees, for example. Corfu is known for many types of wild flowers, such as many different orchids. Some of the species only occur on this island, so they are endemic.
Excursions from Corfu to other islands / mainland
Excursions by boat to other islands are very popular among tourists on Corfu. Such day trips can be booked online.
A good tour goes to the small islands of Paxos and Antipaxos and to the famous Blue Grottos: More information and booking
Another popular day trip by boat goes to the mainland, to the Blue Grottos and snorkeling: More information and booking
In Greek, the name of the island is Kerkyra. But the name Corfu (English Corfu) is also understood and sometimes used.
The capital Kerkyra
The capital of Corfu has two names. The official name is Kerkyra, but many also simply call it Corfu Town. Kerkyra has almost 50,000 inhabitants, almost every second Corfiot lives here.
Image: eyewave – Fotolia.com
Kerkyra is worth seeing. After Rhodes Town, it is, in my opinion, the most interesting capital of all the Greek islands. The old town, the winding streets with many small shops, and the two castles that tower over the town are particularly worth seeing.
Outside the town, the villa of Empress Sisi (Archillion) and the Pondikonissi monastery attract many tourists. In the town, you should definitely go to the mighty, old fortress (opening times: daily except Monday until 3 p.m.). The island of Vido off the capital Kerkyra is worth a day trip (small ferries run every hour in summer). There are good beaches on Vido. You can walk around the island.
Other places and sights on Corfu
Lefkimmi: The second largest town on Corfu in the south. The town with its narrow streets does not attract too many tourists and has remained very Greek. Lefkimmi is a ferry port for ships to Paxos and Antipaxos.
Paleokastritsa: The village in the north of the island is probably the most beautiful area on Corfu. Great beaches, dense forests, the absolutely worth seeing Paleokastritsa Monastery and a good viewing point called Bella Vista are the highlights around Paleokastritsa. The village of Paleokastritsa is the hometown (birthplace) of the German-Greek pop singer Vicky Leandros. The beach in Paleokastritsa is considered to be one of the most beautiful on the island. The surrounding landscape with high cliffs and caves in the sea is impressive. Paleokastritsa is one of the largest beach resorts on Corfu.
Image: Roman – Fotolia.com
The Achilleion Palace is located about 6 km south of the capital. It was built by the Austrian Empress Sisi at the end of the 19th century. Due to Sisi’s great popularity through the well-known films, the Achilleion Palace (often called Sissi’s Palace in Greek tourism) is particularly popular with German-speaking tourists.
The Achilleion Palace of Sissi on Corfu
Not only the Achilleion Palace itself, but also the garden are a sight to behold. Empress Sissi herself spent a lot of time on Corfu until her death in 1898. Her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph, however, never stayed in the Achilleion Palace. A few decades ago, the building with around 40 rooms was extensively renovated for EU summits. Absolutely worth seeing!
The highest mountain on Corfu is the Pantokrator, at 900 meters high. From the top you have a gigantic view over Corfu and the surrounding islands. You can drive by car on a paved road almost to the top of the Pantokrator. Of course, conquering the mountain by bike or on foot is a greater challenge. You have a great view from the top of the mountain and, in good weather, you can also see parts of Albania.
Pelekas in the west of Corfu is one of the most famous places to watch sunsets in Greece. The German Emperor Wilhelm II was also a fan of the sunsets in Pelakas, which is why the viewpoint is also called Kaiser’s Throne (Kaiserth
Top 10 Corfu Sights and Attractions
Old Town of Corfu (Kerkyra)
The historic old town with its narrow streets, Venetian buildings and charming cafes is a must.
Achilleion Palace
The magnificent palace, once the summer residence of Empress Sisi, impresses with its architecture and gardens.
Paleokastritsa
A dreamlike region with crystal clear water, sandy beaches and the famous Panagia Theotokou Monastery.
Angelokastro
The impressive castle ruins on a mountain offer breathtaking views over the island and the sea.
Kanoni and Mouse Island (Pontikonisi)
The iconic view of Mouse Island and the Vlacherna Monastery Church is a highlight.
Corfu Fortress (Old and New Fortress)
Both fortresses offer insights into the history of Corfu and great panoramic views.
Sidari and the Canal d’Amour
This unique rock formation is said to bring couples luck in love and is perfect for swimming.
Corfu Tragedy (Pantokrator)
The highest mountain on the island, ideal for hiking, with spectacular views and a monastery at the top.
Mon Repos
A historic estate with a magnificent park that combines the history and nature of Corfu.
Kassiopi
A picturesque fishing village in the north of the island, known for its harbor, small coves and relaxed atmosphere.
How big is Corfu?
Corfu (Greek: Κέρκυρα, Kerkyra) is one of the Ionian Islands and has an area of 592.9 km². This makes it the seventh largest island in Greece. Corfu is about 62 km long and about 28 km wide at its widest point. The island has a coastline of about 217 km.
Flights to Corfu
The international airport is served by many charter companies (summer) and also by Lufthansa (all year round) directly from Germany. There are several daily flights with Olympic Airways to Athens, and several weekly flights to Thessaloniki and other Greek cities and islands. Corfu Airport is only about three kilometers from the center of the capital. The runway is spectacularly built out into the sea. There are direct flights from Germany from many airports to Corfu Airport, including Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Berlin, Erfurt, Dresden, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Munich, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Cologne. You can also fly directly from Austria to the island with the palace of the former Empress Sissi (departure from Vienna, Linz or Salzburg). From Switzerland you can fly from Zurich, Basel or Geneva.
Map of the island of Corfu (Greece)
| Corfu is one of the most beautiful and largest islands in Greece. It is only a few kilometers from the mainland.
The small island of Othoni north-west of Corfu has 400 inhabitants and is rarely visited by tourists. Othoni is the westernmost point of Greece |
Ferries Corfu
During the day in summer, ferries run approximately every hour from Corfu Town to Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland. The southern island of Paxos can also be reached by ferry. There are ferry connections to nearby Italy several times a week in high season, including Bari, Ancona and Venice, depending on the year. This is why many visitors to Corfu are Italian. Even more tourists come from Great Britain. Ferries also run from Corfu to Albania, which are mainly used by day-trippers.
Buses on Corfu
There is no railway on the island of Corfu, so buses are the only means of public transport. City buses also run in the capital Kerkyra (Corfu Town). A city bus is called a Blue Bus on the island, while an intercity bus on Krofu is called a Green Bus. Most city buses leave from the central square of the island’s capital, San Rocco. The bus station for the intercity buses (Green Buses) is a little outside the center towards the airport.
The bus system on Corfu is well developed. There are more buses in summer than in winter, but you can get almost anywhere even outside the tourist season. Lines A1 to A18 run from the capital in the north of the island, bus lines B1 to B18 in the south. The bus lines that only run in summer start with the letter S (S1 to S6). Buses that leave the island by ferry start with X (for example, X1 goes to Athens, line X3 to Thessaloniki).
Bus tickets on Corfu are generally inexpensive. A ticket for the longest route to Kavos in the south costs just 4.80 euros one way from the capital (journey time 90 minutes, about 10 times a day in both directions in summer). In the north, buses go to Sidari (journey time 75 minutes, fare under 5 euros, frequency around 10 times a day). Attractions such as the Aqualand water park can also be reached by bus. Around eight buses a day travel to other destinations in Greece, four of which go to Athens and two each to Larissa and Thessaloniki.
Excursion to Albania
Excursions from Corfu to Albania are interesting and are offered everywhere on Corfu. The ferry without an excursion package costs around 40 euros there and back. In summer, 1-2 ferries run daily to the Albanian city of Saranda (around 20,000 inhabitants). The fast ferries cover the distance in less than 30 minutes, but there are also slower car ferries (just over an hour). Saranda is one of the most important seaside resorts in Albania. However, it is difficult to continue from Saranda to Tirana, the capital of Albania. The roads in Albania are bad, there are no trains in the area. The bus takes 6-8 hours from Saranda to Tirana.
Accommodation
There are many hotels, holiday homes, room rentals and campsites on Corfu. Other good campsites are Camping Village Dionysus and Camping Kontokali (a few kilometers north of the capital).
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The Pink Palace is perhaps the most famous “youth hostel” in Europe. The huge hostel can be booked with breakfast or half board. There is a party atmosphere 24 hours a day, there is a whirlpool, billiards, table tennis and much more. If you are looking for a party, this is the place for you, if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is probably not the place for you. There is usually a minibus at the ferry port that takes guests to the Pink Palace free of charge. Breakfast, 3-course dinner and the transfer to and from the port or airport are included. There are double rooms for around 50 euros.
Hotels in Kerkyra (Corfu Town) are usually a little more expensive than in the tourist resorts on the island. In the capital, you should expect to pay at least 60 euros for a double room in summer. In this price range, the Hotel Atlantis or the Hotel Dalia can be booked online. For those with higher demands, there are also 5-star hotels in Corfu Town. The Corfu Palace is well-known and close to the old town.
Well over 1,000 hotels and other accommodations on the island of Corfu can be booked on the Booking.com website. You can almost always find real bargains here, both in high season and low season.
Snakes Corfu
The sand viper (also called the horned viper) is the most dangerous poisonous snake in Europe and is found in large parts of Greece on Corfu. A snake bite in Corfu is therefore a medical emergency. There are also common non-venomous snakes on Corfu such as the whip snake. More information about snakes in Greece: Click here
Sharks Corfu
A topic of fear among tourists. Attacks by sharks on people are very rare in Corfu and the whole of Greece. More on the subject of sharks Corfu and Greece here
Nature
The nature on Corfu is impressive and diverse, which makes the island a paradise for nature lovers. Here are a few special features:
Lush vegetation:
Corfu is one of the greenest islands in Greece, characterized by dense olive groves, cypresses and pine forests. Over four million olive trees, many of which are several centuries old, cover the landscape.
Beaches and coasts:
The island offers a variety of beaches – from long sandy beaches such as Glyfada to hidden bays such as Porto Timoni. The clear, turquoise water makes them ideal for swimming, diving and snorkeling.
Hinterland:
The mountainous inland of Corfu is ideal for hikes and excursions into untouched nature. The Pantokrator, the highest mountain on the island (906 m), offers spectacular views over Corfu and the Ionian Sea.
Wetlands and lakes:
The Korission lagoon in the south is an important wetland, home to many bird species and unique flora, including orchids.
Flowers and plants:
Corfu is often called the “flower island” because colorful wildflowers such as anemones and bougainvillea decorate the landscape here, especially in spring.
Hiking:
The Corfu Trail is a 220 km long hiking trail that reveals the beauty of the island from north to south and leads through olive groves, mountains and coastal landscapes.
Climate, travel time and weather on Corfu
Corfu is further north than most other Greek islands. Only the eastern Greek islands of Thassos and Samothraki are further north. Nevertheless, Corfu is further south than, for example, Naples or Madrid. Due to its northern location, the season on Corfu begins a little later than on the southern islands of Greece such as Crete. At Easter there is usually not much going on on Corfu. The best time to travel to Corfu is from June to October. These are also the months with water temperatures of over 20 degrees. The summers in Corfu are rather rainy and sunny. In the mild winter (typical daytime temperatures in January 13 degrees) it rains a lot more.
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