Things to Do in Corfu, Greece

Old Town of Corfu (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

The Old Town of Corfu is a living historic centre where Venetian, French and British layers interweave across narrow lanes, tall townhouses and public squares. Key features include Venetian fortifications and loggias, the arcade-fronted Liston and the wide, lawned Spianada, whose cricket pitch and rotunda reflect British-era civic tastes.

The area reads as an urban palimpsest: carved lintels, shuttered windows and lion motifs reward close observation, while cafés and shops sustain everyday life alongside heritage.

Practical visiting notes: the Old Town is compact but hilly in places and best explored on foot. Many museums and churches lie within short distances, yet opening hours and temporary exhibitions change—check official sources before planning specific indoor visits.

Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio)

The Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio) occupies a rocky peninsula and showcases how defensive architecture adapted to Corfu’s maritime setting. Enlarged by the Venetians from medieval foundations, the complex includes bastions, curtain walls and vaulted passages.

Walking the ramparts offers commanding views over the harbour and town, while internal courtyards and covered galleries reveal successive construction phases and later additions such as a British-era Doric chapel.

Allow time for slow exploration: uneven stone surfaces and exposed steps require sturdy footwear. The fortress’s outlooks change with light, making sunrise or late-afternoon visits especially rewarding for photography and quiet observation.

Check official channels for access to interior exhibitions or temporary uses before visiting.

Achilleion Palace

Achilleion Palace, built in the 1890s for Empress Elisabeth of Austria ("Sissi"), is a neoclassical estate themed around the hero Achilles. The palace combines Pompeian-inspired planning, Italianate detailing and late‑Victorian tastes; its gardens stage sculptures, formal terraces and axial walks that frame wide views toward Corfu’s coastline.

Statues of Achilles and mythological ornamentation give the site a theatrical, curated character that blends architecture, sculpture and landscape design.

The palace later passed to Kaiser Wilhelm II and has layered historical uses. Reaching Achilleion requires a short uphill drive from Gastouri and involves paved garden paths and steps—comfortable footwear is recommended.

Verify access to interior rooms and temporary exhibitions on the official site before going.

Paleokastritsa Monastery

The Monastery of the Virgin at Paleokastritsa sits on a rocky headland above turquoise coves, combining Orthodox devotional life with dramatic coastal scenery. The compact complex includes chapels, cloisters and a small museum showing icons and manuscripts that reflect the monastery’s long continuity.

From the hilltop terraces visitors enjoy commanding views over the bays and sea caves that define Paleokastritsa’s landscape.

Practical tips: approach paths include steps and uneven paving, and the site remains active for worship—modest dress and quiet behaviour are expected inside chapels. Confirm museum access and visitor rules with official sources before planning a visit.

Pontikonisi (Mouse Island)

Pontikonisi, or Mouse Island, is a petite, tree‑covered islet off the Kanoni headland crowned by the small Byzantine Church of Pantokrator. From the Kanoni viewpoint the islet’s dark cypress silhouette, white chapel steps and shoreline setting form one of Corfu’s most reproduced images.

The composition—trees, chapel and sea—has deep cultural resonance and frequent photographic appeal.

Visits normally take place from shore viewpoints or by short boat trips; there is no fixed road access. If you plan to land expect steep steps, very limited walking space and no visitor facilities.

Be aware of aircraft noise from the nearby runway at Kanoni and verify boat availability and any access restrictions before arranging a landing.

Vlacherna Monastery (Kanoni)

Vlacherna Monastery sits on a low islet joined to Kanoni by a narrow causeway, presenting a whitewashed chapel ensemble that reflects quietly on still days. The interior contains a carved wooden iconostasis and traditional hagiography typical of Orthodox liturgical spaces.

From the causeway, the monastery frames views toward Pontikonisi and across the Halikiopoulos lagoon, making it a popular short excursion and photographic spot.

The site remains an active place of worship, so modest dress and respectful behaviour are expected. Access involves uneven paving and limited space on the islet; check local or municipal sources for any visitor rules or boat-trip options before you go.

Liston and Spianada Square

Liston and the Spianada form Corfu Town’s social heart: an elegant arcaded promenade faces one of the island’s largest open greens. Laid out during the French administration to echo Parisian colonnades, the Liston’s ground-floor arches host cafés and restaurants while the Spianada’s broad lawn, planted promenades and a small cricket pitch reflect British civic influence.

The contrast between the arcade’s stone facades and the green esplanade creates strong photographic compositions.

Visitors typically sit at a café under the arches for people-watching, cross the square to see the rotunda and stroll toward the Old Fortress. The space can be crowded on festival days and cruise ship arrivals—check municipal sources for any special events or temporary arrangements.

Mon Repos Palace and Park

Mon Repos is a late 19th-century neoclassical villa set in landscaped grounds on Corfu’s northeastern shore, known for garden walks, archaeological remains and royal connections. The estate combines formal terraces and shaded promenades with pockets of native Mediterranean planting, producing repeated seaside viewpoints that illustrate how landscape design frames coastal perception.

Archaeological finds in the park and small museum rooms add historical depth beyond the villa’s architecture.

A rewarding visit mixes terrace viewpoints with quieter shaded tracks to discover small ruins, memorials and water features. Paths include gentle slopes, gravel tracks and some steps; confirm access to interior rooms and guided-tour offerings with the estate’s official museum before visiting.

Archaeological Museum of Corfu

The Archaeological Museum of Corfu traces the island’s human story from prehistoric settlements through Late Antiquity, concentrating on material from Corfu town (ancient Korkyra) and nearby sites. A central highlight is the large stone pediment from the Doric temple of Artemis at Palaiopolis, including an archaic running‑Gorgon composition.

The galleries also display funerary monuments, terracottas, sculpture and inscribed stone that illuminate religious and maritime roles across centuries.

The museum’s chronological layout encourages a one‑to‑two‑hour visit depending on interest. Small interpretive labels and reconstructions aid non‑specialists; confirm guided‑tour offerings and temporary exhibitions with the museum’s official sources before you go.

Official Archaeological Museum of Corfu website →