Corfu Island, Greece

corfu_beach

Corfu Island is the second largest of the Ionian Islands.

It has lovely beaches, beautiful scenery, great food and a rich history and culture to explore.

Travelling to Corfu Island

Corfu is right at the northwestern edge of Greece and overlaps the coast of Albania.

It is close to the ‘heel of Italy’ and well-linked with ferry services from Italy and Greece.

Most tourists arrive on the island by plane, landing at the International Airport – aka Ioannis Kapadistrias – and there are minimal services to the island throughout the year, with the majority only operating during the summer months.

Once landed, there are taxis and public buses to take you into Corfu Town.

The Major Destinations of Corfu

Corfu is significantly smaller than Crete, so you’ll find far fewer destinations here.

That isn’t to say there’s nothing to see or do, but it is a quieter island, and this serenity will likely appeal to some visitors more than others.

Corfu Town, known locally as Kerkira or Kerkyra, is by far the main destination on the island.

Its historic old town is a major attraction and, as the home of both the airport and the main port, most of the island’s visitors arrive here.

The old town has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can easily see some architectural influences from past foreign powers such as the Venetian and the British.

Two other popular destinations are Benitses and Paleokastritsa, as well as Kavos, which is a livelier resort town right at the southern end of the island.

Corfu Town, A UNESCO World Heritage Site

To most visitors, it is known as Corfu Town, but in modern-day Greece, the main city on the island of Corfu is known as Kerkyra.

Either way, this is the main destination for the entire island and serves as a regional capital for the whole archipelago of the Ionian Islands.

It’s a great place to stay if you want to enjoy the more lively side of the island, or come here for a couple of day trips from one of the smaller towns or resorts, as there are always buses travelling this way.

When to Visit

Corfu is more rainy than you might expect, but the great thing is almost all of the rain falls outside of the summer.

This means if you visit during the summer, you’re almost guaranteed hot and sunny days with barely a cloud in the sky!

June, July and August are by far the driest months of the year, and the temperature in June is a warm 28C (average high).

July and August are several degrees hotter at 31C, and although it drops back to 28C in September, this is a wetter month.

By October, when many Greek islands would still be very nice for visiting, this island receives heavy rainfall, peaking in November and December.

This makes it an unfavourable destination for winter travel, and in the spring, it is better to wait until May for pleasant temperatures and less rain.