10 Best Things to Do This Summer in Corfu

The Old Town of Corfu is a UNESCO World Heritage site and holds many remnants of its Venetian past. Instead of the typical white-walled and blue-domed houses, you’ll see colourful buildings painted in yellows, oranges, and reds.

From Venetian fortresses and Greek Orthodox churches to art museums, the historic centre has a lot to offer visitors who want to know more about the culture and influences on the island. As you explore its labyrinth of narrow alleyways, you’ll find many cafés and restaurants spilling out onto the cobblestone streets where you can stop for refreshments.

Canal d’Amour, which translates to ‘the channel of love’, is an interesting spot in Sidari. Between towering cliffs lies a narrow channel and a tiny beach where you can swim and sunbathe.

Legend has it that couples who swim here will stay in love forever and singles who swim the entire length of the channel will find true love. If you can’t swim, you can simply toss a coin into the sea and wish for true love. If you’re in Corfu in summer, you’ll find the sea very calm. You can even jump off the cliffs and explore sea caves.

Angelokastro, also called the Castle of Angels, is a Byzantine castle located 300 metres above sea level. One of the most interesting remnants you’ll discover in the archaeological site is the ancient church of angels Gabriel and Michael, which is constructed inside a cave.

You’ll have to drive up a winding path to reach the castle, with free parking available at the top. You can buy tickets at the booth and perhaps some refreshments at the café. From there, you’ll have to go on a 15-minute hike up a rocky path. Once you reach the peak, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the blue Ionian Sea, the Greek mainland, and Albania.

There’s no better way to explore the Ionian coast than on a boat. You can go for a bareboat rental and be your own captain if you have a sailing license. If you don't, you can still hire a catamaran, a yacht, or a sailboat, then whiz along the gorgeous coastline. You can even visit the neighbouring islands.

You can sail from Gouvia Marina, then make your way to the islands of Sivotas, Port Gaios, and Lefkas. You can sail to Meganisi and visit the Papanikolis sea cave, which is only accessible by boat. Head out in time for sunset if you want to make the experience more romantic.

Vlacherna is a small monastery located on an islet off the Corfu coast. Although it’s still called a monastery, only the church and a souvenir shop occupy the small island. Inside, there are beautiful religious icons and paintings.

You can walk along a narrow stone pier from the mainland to get to this destination. From there, you’ll have great views of the bay, which often has planes flying over as they land and take off from the airport. You’ll also see Mouse Island, which is only accessible by boat. It’s believed to be one of the ships of Odysseus that was turned into stone by Poseidon.

Ropa Valley spans over 1,000 hectares across central Corfu. Some areas have been developed for tourism, where you can go horseback riding, golfing, and wine tasting.

One of the main attractions in the area is Theotoky Estate. You can sign up for a guided tour, which starts with the family’s history in winemaking. You’ll have a chance to visit the cellars, where they keep their red, rose, white, and vintage wines. Towards the end of the tour, you’ll go to a courtyard where you can sample their local specialities, including their wine, feta cheese, olive oil, and more.

Gouvia is a village located on an ancient Venetian harbour on Corfu’s east coast. In the summer, the calm seas and winds make it a great sailing destination. Tourists from all over the world dock their yachts at the marina then head off into the town to explore. Some of the attractions you can visit in the town include Church Ipapantis, The Venetian Arsenal, and the WWI Serbian Soldiers’ Memorial.

If you aren’t into sailing, you can explore the easily accessible and child-friendly beaches of Gouvia. You may also enjoy visiting the olive groves and citrus plantations in the village.

Paleokastritsa Monastery is perched on top of a cliff on the northwest side of Corfu. It’s surrounded by a lush forest of olive and cypress trees, which you’ll have to pass through to reach your destination.

Inside the monastery, there’s a museum that houses Byzantine icons, relics, and a traditional olive oil press. While the architecture is quite a sight, it comes second to the sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. Admission to the monastery is free, but guests can donate to show their support. You can purchase their handmade olive oil from their souvenir shop, too.

On the west coast of Corfu, you’ll find a rocky double beach called Porto Timoni. Since it’s not as famous as other beaches, it won’t be packed with tourists. It’s a great place to relax. It’s quite a remote location, without any facilities around, so you’ll need to bring water and food with you. In the summer, there won’t be any shade either, so take an umbrella with you.

You can reach the beach on foot from Afionas village. It’s not the easiest to access, but that makes it more special when you get there. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to reach it on foot. If you’re renting a boat, it will be easier for you to reach Porto Timoni Beach.

If you’re renting a boat from Corfu, you can reach the blue caves of the neighbouring Paxos and Antipaxos islands. There are full-day cruises that can take you to them and you can then enter the sea caves on a smaller boat.

Depending on the tour, you might get to swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters. Some of the caves that you can explore on a boat include Ipapanti and Ahai. They are so huge that even bigger boats can enter the blue caves with ease.