The Perfect 5-Day Corfu Itinerary
Planning a trip to the gorgeous Greek island of Corfu and not sure where to start? After exploring nearly every corner of Corfu, I’ve put together this perfect Corfu itinerary to help you see the best of the island in just 5 days.
From beautiful beaches and coastal villages to scenic hikes and olive mill tours, this itinerary covers a bit of everything.
In this guide, you’ll find daily itineraries with the best activities, sights, and restaurants to help you make the most of your five days in Corfu, Greece.
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5-Day Corfu Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Corfu Town
Day 2: Paleokastritsa & West Side
Day 3: Boat Rental & East Side
Day 4: Olive Mill Tour & Achilleion Palace
Day 5: Porto Timoni Hike & North Coast
Day 1: Corfu Town
On your first full day, explore Old Town Corfu, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007!
Walk through the winding streets flanked with warmly painted buildings from the Venetian era, check out the local shops, enjoy some of the best food you’ll ever eat, and take a cruise along the historic coastline.
Breakfast at Favella No.17
Winding, narrow streets in Old Town Corfu lead to a small plaza where you’ll find Favella No.17. It has vibrant bougainvillea adorning the facade and customers sitting outside often have plates of Favella’s famous pancake stacks or giant waffles.
We’ve visited Favella multiple times during our trips to Corfu and enjoy their menu, outdoor seating, and friendly service. I especially love the kitty who happily jumped into my lap after a couple of snaps during our first visit.
They offer both savory and sweet breakfast options, extensive tea offerings, smoothies and juices, and even cocktails/spirits!
Though they shine best at breakfast/brunch, you can eat at Favella No. 17 from morning until midnight.
Tour the Old Fortress of Corfu
The Old Fortress is set on a large piece of land jutting out from Old Town Corfu towards the east. The history of Corfu’s rule is apparent in the Old Fortress, with each group adding to it during their reign over the island.
It was originally built in the 6th century by the Byzantines, but what you see today was built by the Venetians during their rule. Later, when the English ruled over Corfu, they added to the fortress, building new military structures.
The Old Fortress can be toured today for 10€ per person. The fortress is large with stunning architecture, a Byzantine museum, a church, and Venetian prisons.
It is surrounded by the sea on three sides with sweeping views of the surrounding area. You can see Albania and mainland Greece across the sea, as well as the nearby island of Vido!
Have Lunch at a Local Restaurant
Corfu Town has some incredible restaurants, much like the rest of the island. Sagrado and Diporto are two of the best ones for lunch or dinner!
Sagrado serves unique tapas at affordable prices in a charming alleyway shared with other restaurants, all with outdoor seating and string lights. The owner/servers are friendly and the service is fast.
They have plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. I love their mushroom bao buns — perfectly tangy and spicy!
Diporto was the first restaurant I ever ate at during my first visit to Corfu. It has authentic, traditional Greek dishes and is family-run. Their Greek salad is fresh, flavorful, and prepared with love, as are all their dishes.
There are a couple of tables outside, but most of the seating is in their cozy, inviting interior. The service is friendly and they are happy to walk you through the menu!
Shop at the Local Stores
Old Town Corfu has some shops where you can get local goods like handmade leather sandals, jewelry, and clothing, among other, more touristy shops with knick-knacks.
You can find the shops by locating Hotel Konstantinoupolis and walking down the street to the right of it. As you continue right, you’ll come upon the various shops, restaurants, a pharmacy, and a supermarket.
Past the old town is a more modern area of Corfu’s downtown. It has large chain shops like Sephora, as well as a small square (Saroko Square), cafes, and restaurants.
Outside of the main town area, near the cruise ship port, is Ocean - Diving & Spearfishing Shop. This is where you can rent snorkeling gear for the week! They also offer excursions around the island if that interests you.
If you want an in-depth look at Old Town Corfu, take a walking tour with a knowledgeable guide!
Take a Sunset Cruise on a Pirate Ship
The most exciting thing I saw during my first trip to Corfu was a black pirate ship sailing across the sea. I spotted it from the window of our lovely apartment and couldn’t believe my eyes!
I’m a massive fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and pirates in general — I even went to the filming location of the POTC movies for my 30th birthday in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
If you like pirates or just enjoy unique activities, take a ride on the Black Rose Pirate Ship. They offer multiple cruises along the Corfu coastline each day at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m., with the crew dressed as pirates.
The cruise lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes, with views of the major landmarks in and around Corfu Old Town. There’s also a Pirate Bar on board if you fancy a drink.
The Saturday sunset cruise is 2 hours long, starting around 7 p.m., and includes one drink and optional swimming off the boat. In addition to the Corfu coastline, it also stops at Vidos and Pontikonisi: two small islands off Corfu.
Not a fan of pirates? There are plenty of other sunset cruises to book in Corfu!
Dinner & Dessert in Corfu Town
Find a cozy local taverna in Corfu Town for a home-cooked meal to end your day. You can go to one of my recommended restaurants, Sagrado or Diporto, or discover your own!
After dinner, head to Papagiorgis Patisserie-Gelateria or Loretto Gelato for a sweet treat. Enjoy your gelato as you walk around the town illuminated by lanterns protruding from the buildings.
Alternatively, you can get dinner closer to your accommodation if you aren’t staying in Corfu Town!
Day 2: Paleokastritsa & West Side
Spend the day on the stunning west side of Corfu and visit some of the best beaches on the island, jump off the famous diving board into the sea, and tour the Greek Orthodox Monastery.
Want a guided tour of Paleokastritsa? There are a few half or full-day tours that include time in Paleokastritsa and other parts of the island.
Breakfast at Tango_Cafe Bar
Start your day with a stop at Tango for some fresh coffee and a well-rounded breakfast. Their healthy bowls (vegan options) are a perfect, fresh breakfast if you want a light bite.
Their varied menu also includes a few breakfast dishes, including English and Continental breakfast, and 2-person meals. Their Cappuccinos are lovely — coming from someone who doesn’t usually like coffee!
The interior is decorated elegantly with tropical decor, but the patio is the best place to sit. It has gorgeous views of Paleokastritsa Bay from above, as well as the nearby neighborhoods.
There is not a dedicated parking lot for Tango, but you can likely find street parking in the morning. Afternoons would be much more difficult to park, so get here early!
Swim at La Grotta Beach Bar
La Grotta Beach Bar is a hot spot in Corfu with an outdoor bar serving food and drinks, beach chairs, and a diving board into the sea. We like to get there as early as possible as it gets pretty crowded during the high season around 11 a.m.
You can easily spend a few hours here swimming in the sea and enjoying the sunshine!
La Grotta is a short walk up the road from Tango Cafe! The entrance is at the top of the road with dozens of stairs all the way down to the bar and beach chairs.
Explore Paleokasatritsa
If you have more time before you’re ready for lunch, explore the highlights of Paleokastritsa!
The Monastery of Paleokastritsa is located at the top of a hill on a piece of land that juts out from the coast. It’s reachable by car and has a parking lot, but if you prefer, you can also hike there (it has beautiful views!).
It’s free to enter the monastery, though there is a souvenir shop if you want to purchase something. Women must have their shoulders and thighs covered — they provide scarves for this if you do not have your own.
After visiting the Monastery, you can park in the paid parking lot and continue exploring Paleokastritsa.
Agios Spiridon Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in Corfu. It’s a wide, sandy beach that has easy access from the road, beach chairs available for rent, and beautiful views.
You can also rent pedal boats, paddleboards, and kayaks at this beach. It can get crowded here, especially in the afternoon. I find it’s best for a quick dip in the sea vs. relaxing at the beach.
Of all the beaches we’ve swum at in Corfu, this one had the coldest water by far! It’s refreshing on a sweltering day, though.
The Corfu Aquarium is another activity in this area if you want to see some animals from both the sea and land. I didn’t enjoy it as the animal’s enclosures seemed too small and dirty, but it gets great reviews, so I feel obligated to mention it.
It’s exceptionally crowded on rainy days with people trying to get out of the rain — that’s why we were there! The employees seem knowledgeable, or at least have a detailed script memorized, about many of the animals there.
The aquarium is tiny but does have some unique animals like axolotls, iguanas, and snakes.
Lunch in Paleokastritsa or Giannades
I don’t have any personal lunch recommendations, as the restaurant we like to go to in Paleokastritsa, Flavor, is now only open for dinner.
Since it’s a slightly more touristy area due to the gorgeous beaches and abundance of accommodations, the restaurants aren’t as high-quality in Paleokastritsa. You can still find some well-reviewed restaurants, though!
If you don’t mind driving out of Paleokastritsa for lunch, Apomero is a truly authentic Corfu restaurant with incredible food, friendly service, and a relaxing atmosphere among green trees and plants.
Apomero is 15 minutes away (13 km / 8 miles) from Agios Spyridon Beach and, in my opinion, is worth the extra driving time (30 minutes round trip).
This area of Corfu is much less traveled and gives you insight into a different side of Corfu — one of farms, large plots of lush land, and a peacefulness you won’t find on the popular beaches of Paleokastritsa in summer.
Swim at Rovinia Beach
Heading back towards Paleokastritsa, your next stop will be at one of my favorite beaches in all of Corfu: Rovinia Beach in Liapades.
It’s a decent-sized beach with small rocks instead of fine sand, crystal-clear water, and a small cave — perfect for a unique photo!
The road to the parking lot is narrow and can be steep in some areas. Though I’m a confident driver, I won’t drive down this road and prefer to park further away and walk down instead.
If it’s not too crowded, you can usually find street parking in this area. There’s street parking near Village Market. From there, you can walk up the path (next to Villa Birlis), which joins with the path down to Rovinia Beach.
The path to the beach has stairs in some areas, so bringing a stroller, beach trolley, etc., is not recommended. I’ve seen people do it, but it wouldn’t be an easy trip down to the beach.
Dinner at Flavor
If you plan to stay in Paleokastritsa for dinner, then Flavor is my recommendation. The service is slow, but the food is worth the wait!
Flavor is located up in the hills above Paleokastritsa, though you don’t have to drive far to reach it. There’s a small parking lot down a driveway next to it and limited street parking.
This family-run restaurant, tucked away in a neighborhood, has a lovely atmosphere with a covered outdoor patio. It’s a laid-back place to reflect on your day, plan the next one, and enjoy each other’s company while you wait for your food.
Day 3: Boat Rental & East Side
This day will be spent traveling up and down the east coast of Corfu. Experience Corfu by boat on your own, check out the beaches, or explore Corfu town, and enjoy meals at some of my favorite restaurants on Corfu.
Breakfast at Coffee Lovers
Make your way to the charming town of Barbati for the most delicious breakfast at Coffee Lovers: my favorite place for breakfast in Corfu.
Coffee Lovers offers a large menu with generous portions, incredible coffee, and friendly owners. Maria and Fiorella opened Coffee Lovers in 2021 and have been thriving ever since! We love to visit them when we’re in Corfu.
A trip to Corfu is not complete without a breakfast (or brunch) at Coffee Lovers. I especially love their open-faced toasts with avocado, smoked salmon, and scrambled eggs.
Rent a Boat in Nissaki
In Corfu, you can rent a boat without a boating license and drive it yourself! This, of course, comes with risks, and I don’t recommend it if you’re not comfortable with driving a boat.
If you prefer having an experienced boat captain to take you around the coast, consider booking a private boat tour!
The best place to rent a boat in Corfu is Nissaki Rent a Boat (Danny’s Boats). Danny has reliable boats and really takes the time to explain everything to you before you head out for the day. He came highly recommended by the owner at Ocean when we were renting our snorkel gear.
There are different types of boats to choose from, though we arrived in the afternoon and only the largest boat was available. It was more expensive, but we loved having a bigger boat! It is recommended to book online in advance to ensure there will be a boat available.
You can travel up the northern east coast of the island, stopping at the various beaches and Blue Caves and swimming in the sea along the way.
The earlier in the morning, the better, as you’re more likely to have calm seas and non-windy conditions.
What to Bring/Wear
Snorkel, goggles, and flippers
Swimsuit
Snacks
Picnic lunch (optional)
Boat Picnic Lunch or Terra Corfiata
For lunch, you can either pack lunch to eat on the boat or have a fancier lunch at Terra Corfiata after you return the boat.
If you choose to have lunch on the boat, you can either order something to-go from Coffee Lovers or go to a supermarket to get snacks and sandwich makings. Joy Market or Super Market Katerina’s are both good options.
Danny’s Boats provides you with a cooler with ice, so you don’t need to worry about that!
If you choose to have lunch at Terra Corfiata, return the boat and drive up the coast (about 5 minutes). Terra Corfiata has excellent food with just as wonderful views! It opened in 2024 and is owned by Mario, the brother of Fiorella (one of the owners of Coffee Lovers).
We had an incredible hosted dinner here and took photos for them to use on their website and social media. Although it was a hosted dinner, my recommendations and opinions are still completely honest and true — I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t truly love it.
Barbati Beach or Corfu Town
Head to Barbati Beach for fish-filled clear water, perfect for snorkeling. This sprawling beach is just below Coffee Lovers, in case you need an afternoon pick-me-up (their Freddo Cappuccino is delicious).
Like most of the beaches on the east side of Corfu, this one has pebbles instead of sand. I recommend getting some water shoes to wear for comfort (you can find water shoes and more on my Corfu packing guide).
Barbati Beach has umbrellas and sunbeds for rent, but you can also just bring your own towel and sit directly on the beach.
If you’re all beached out after a day on the boat, Corfu Town is a great antidote. You can go back to your accommodation and shower/get ready before heading out on the town.
My favorite thing to do in Corfu Town is to meander through the charming old streets while saying hello to the local cats roaming around and popping into any stores that interest me.
Corfu Old Town is the best area to explore since it has older architecture and none of the major modern stores that the newer part of Corfu Town has.
Dinner in Corfu Town or Dassia
End your day with dinner at a nice restaurant in Corfu Town. Alternatively, if you’re staying in Dassia and heading back that way for the night, get dinner there!
In Corfu Town, my previous recommendations stand: Diporto, Sagrado, or Artisti Italian Restaurant. Other highly rated restaurants I haven’t been (yet!) are To Tsipouradiko, Bellissimo, Elia, and Ampakas.
Though part of the fun of travel is discovering new places! If you see a place that looks good, pop in and give it a try! The only places I don’t recommend doing this are near the cruise ship terminal, where tourists come in off the boat for the day. The restaurants tend to be lower quality in this area.
In Dassia, you’ll find some of the best restaurants on the island serving authentic, high-quality Greek cuisine.
If you’re staying in Dassia, try to have at least one meal there! Akos Farm is one of the best restaurants along the main drag in Dassia and is my top recommendation.
Day 4: Olive Mill Tour & Achilleion Palace
Venture into the inland villages of Corfu to tour an award-winning olive oil mill, eat at traditional tavernas in small towns, and visit the Achilleion Palace.
Breakfast at HM Bread & Coffee
This small coffee shop is an easy stop along the route to the olive oil mill if you’re coming from the east side. It has delicious coffee and pastries, which you can get to go if you are in a rush.
It has a large parking lot and is next to an excellent pharmacy if you need anything from there. The coffee shop also has a restroom you can use, as there won’t be another chance until you get to the olive mill (~20 minutes away).
Tour an Award-Winning Olive Oil Mill
The Governor’s Olive Mill produces some of the finest olive oil in the world. It has won many awards and has even been used in clinical studies examining the positive health effects of olive oil with a high polyphenol content.
When you book the tour on their website, you will select a specific date and time. You can choose a shorter tour (90 minutes) or a longer one (210 minutes). We chose the shorter one, but would have loved to do the longer one.
If you book through Viator, it includes transportation to and from the Governor’s Olive Mill!
Both the short and long tours begin with an in-depth history of the production of olive oil in Greece and specifically, Corfu. We learned about how olives were harvested throughout history, how they were and are processed, and toured the inside of the production area.
Once inside, we sat at tables and got to taste different olive oils and learn about what to look for when shopping for high-quality olive oil. We then went into the small shop and bought a few bottles of their olive oil to take home, as well as some olive oil-based skincare!
This is where the shorter tour ends. People who are on the longer tour will stay at the mill to continue in a more intimate group of max 8 people. This part of the longer tour includes a visit to Gardikios Castle and a tour of the olive tree grove.
This is one of the best things to do in Corfu that’s not beach-related and a unique experience on the island!
Other olive mill tours
Lunch at George & Elena’s
Not far from the Governor’s Olive Mill is the town center of Agios Mattheos. It’s a local town that doesn’t seem to get many tourists.
There are multiple restaurants with outstanding reviews! We chose to eat at George & Elena’s. The food was fresh, delicious, and homemade.
It’s a true traditional taverna run by an older couple who clearly care about serving quality food and taking care of their customers. They were lovely and we enjoyed the local cats hanging around the outdoor seating area.
Visit The Achilleion Palace
Heading back toward the east side, assuming you’re staying in Corfu Town or Dassia, Achilleion Palace will be your next stop on this itinerary.
While the palace is under construction, the gardens are still open for tours. They’re lovely, lush, and well-maintained with statues and viewpoints overlooking the sea.
We first visited Corfu in 2021 when the palace was fully open, but it has since closed for renovations without a reopening date. I’ve included photos of both the gardens and the interior of the palace, but note that you cannot currently tour the interior.
Near the Achilleion is a small pottery shop, Tsami Ceramics, with lovely handmade ceramics and pottery, some of which are still displayed in my home years after I bought it!
Dinner in Anemomilos
Continuing on your route back to your accommodation, stop for dinner in the charming town of Anemomilos. We stayed in this town with views of the windmill from our apartment and enjoyed looking out over the sea.
The restaurants here are lined along a central park, where the outdoor seating for each restaurant is. We had some incredible meals with friendly service at these restaurants.
This area is much more low-key than Corfu Town or Ipsos and has a pleasant atmosphere for a laid-back dinner with high-quality, authentic Greek & Corfiot cuisine.
My recommendations for dinner with Mikri Garitsa (we went here twice!) and Mesogeios. Both are just a few doors down from each other and have 10/10 food and service!
Day 5: Porto Timoni Hike & North Coast
Head back to the west side of Corfu to hike to Porto Timoni’s picturesque dual bays, visit the charming town of Sidari, swim through the Canal d’Amour, and take in the sweeping views from Cape Drastis.
Prefer a full-day guided tour with transportation?
Corfu’s Northern Coast Tour: This tour includes visits to Barbati Beach, Kassiopi, and Canal d’Amour in Sidari! It does not include a hike to Porto Timoni.
Corfu Private Beach Tour: This tour includes visits to Canal d’Amour in Sidari, Agios Stefanos Beach, and Porto Timoni Beach.
Breakfast Near Accommodation
Start with a quick breakfast, either nearby or at your accommodation, before driving to Afionas on the west side of the island. Ideally, you’ll want to arrive in Afionas before 8 a.m. to get free street parking and start your hike before it gets too hot and crowded.
If you are a super early riser and have time for a sit-down breakfast before driving across the island (assuming you’re staying on the east side), there are a few coffee shops with excellent reviews that open by 6 a.m. in Corfu Town: Kerkira, COZY, and Coffee Lab Corfu.
Hike to Porto Timoni’s Dual Bays
Porto Timoni is a beach with unique dual bays that is reachable by a downhill, steep, rocky hike OR water taxi from Saint George Beach. We did the hike and enjoyed the breathtaking views from the various viewpoints along the way!
I had once seen the beach on the opposite side of Porto Timoni beach called Pirate Beach, though I’m not sure where I saw it. Regardless, I will forever refer to the beach as Pirate Beach due to my aforementioned obsession with pirates. I’ve also seen it called “Limni” beach.
Parking can be tricky, as there is limited street parking and the parking lot is 10€ for the day with an awful, unfriendly owner (according to reviews). We easily found street parking as we arrived early in the morning, but just a couple of hours later, cars were driving around looking for spots.
Getting here as early as possible is key to an enjoyable experience with parking, hiking, and relaxing at the beaches. Porto Timoni is a popular spot and people start arriving in droves by 9 a.m.
I highly advise you to wear comfortable shoes—NOT sandals—for the hike to and from Porto Timoni. The path is not paved, there is loose gravel, and the ground is uneven. I wore Allbirds and they were great, but trail shoes would have been even better.
I’ve created a full guide to what to wear in Corfu, which includes shoes for this trail!
Lunch in Sidari
After working up an appetite on that hike, drive north to the quaint town of Sidari for lunch. Though the town is small and unassuming, Sidari has some of the most popular sights on the island: Canal d’Amour and Cape Drastis.
Sidari has a wonderful selection of traditional tavernas to choose from! The meal we had at Katerina’s Taverna was one of the best meals I’ve had in Corfu.
Katerina’s is a family-run restaurant with lovely indoor and outdoor seating with traditional, vintage decor that pairs well with their delicious dishes and friendly service. Their food is high-quality, yet their prices are incredibly affordable.
Swim Through Canal d’Amour
Canal d’Amour makes my list of the best beaches in Corfu not due to the sandy beach itself, but because of the canal itself.
Canal d’Amour, or the Canal of Love, is a narrow beach flanked by tall pieces of land that create the canal. Legend has it that swimming through the canal with your partner means you will be happily in love forever!
There is also a cave that goes through one of the tall pieces of land. It has plenty of space for many people to swim through at once and is above the water — no underwater swimming to get to the other side.
The beach is a popular one and will likely be pretty crowded by the time you arrive in the afternoon. Nonetheless, it’s worth visiting to swim through the canal, even just once!
Visit Cape Drastis
If you have time and energy left, you can visit nearby Cape Drastis to admire this natural formation sculpted by winds eroding the white limestone.
Cape Drastis is in Peroulades and is about a 10-minute drive from Katerina’s Taverna in Sidari. There are some small parking areas along the street to Cape Drastis, which are preferable over the small parking lot at the end of the road.
Once parked, you can walk the remaining distance to view Cape Drastis from a high vantage point. Be careful on these cliffs as the edges may not be stable (see: erosion) and the fall would be quite far.
Drive Back to the East Side
Assuming you’re staying on the east side, head back towards your accommodation after a full day on the west side of Corfu.
While on the way to the west side, it was all about arriving as early as possible; the way home can be leisurely and exploratory! Enjoy rolling through the small towns, stop at viewpoints, and check out any areas that interest you.
A few points of interest on or near this route:
Valanion Olive Tree Products: A lovely shop with olive wood, olive oil, olive soap, and other products made from local olive trees. We stopped here and were greeted by a small kitten at the entrance!
Pantokrator Monastery, Agios Athanasios: A nun monastery with friendly nuns who are happy to invite you into the monastery, explain the history, and share some sweet treats.
Corfu Pottery Ceramics Workshop: A small ceramics workshop and store selling handmade pottery made by a friendly owner. The perfect spot to get a meaningful souvenir that supports a small Corfu business!
Dinner at Lucciola Garden
Have dinner in a charming outdoor garden surrounded by trees and lush greenery at Lucciola Garden. It’s a small, family-run restaurant with a sizeable outdoor seating area, which of course has friendly local cats wandering around (always my favorite part!).
They have a varied menu with affordable prices and fresh, flavorful food. Their pasta is all freshly handmade! I love the portobello mushrooms stuffed with goat cheese, but everything is delicious!
Lucciola Garden will be on your route from the northern coast back to the east coast, whether you’re staying in Dassia or Corfu Town. It’s about 5 minutes from Dassia and 20 minutes from Corfu Town.
Where to Stay for a 5-Day Corfu Itinerary
There are three main areas to stay in Corfu that are enjoyable, have nice accommodations, and give you a well-located home base for exploring the whole island.
These villages are Corfu Town, Dassia, and Paleokastritsa.
I prefer staying on the east side of the island because it has the best restaurants, proximity to the airport, gorgeous sea views (though all coastal towns in Corfu have them), and tends to be less touristy than the west side.
The west side has the most beautiful sandy beaches and tends to be where many visitors stay, so there are plenty of accommodation options.
You can read my full guide to the best areas to stay in Corfu for more detailed information about each village and the best accommodations.
Best Places to Stay in Corfu
Best Overall: Mouragia Luxury Seaview Suite (Corfu Town)
Best 5-star Hotel: Ikos Dassia
Best Villa: Villa Stephanie (Paleokastritsa)
Best Budget: Thea Studios (sea views in Kassiopi)
View all the best places to stay in Corfu on my guide.
Corfu Itinerary FAQs
Is 5 days enough in Corfu?
Our first trip to Corfu was two weeks long, and we saw almost the whole island! It was enough time to see and do everything we wanted to, and even some things twice.
We spent 5 days in Corfu on the second trip, and though we lost some days to rain (end of September), we were still able to do plenty of activities and see the major sights.
Five days is a perfect length for a Corfu itinerary to check out the main attractions, enjoy the beaches, and indulge in the incredible food!
Do I need to rent a car in Corfu?
You do not absolutely have to rent a car to get around, as there are buses, but it’s highly recommended. Renting a car is the easiest way to explore the island and the best way to save precious time on your trip.
We’ve always rented from Explore Car Hire, but Sunrise Car Rental is also highly rated and where we plan to rent on future trips to Corfu!
If you absolutely do not want to rent a car and waiting for the bus doesn’t sound desirable, there are many phenomenal tours and day trips that include transportation!
Highest rated tours that include transportation:
What’s the best time to visit Corfu?
Corfu is a seasonal island with most restaurants and activities shutting down from November through March. If you visit during this time, you’ll likely have cold, wet weather and very few options for things to do or eat.
The summer months of July and August are crowded and exeedinly hot to an uncomfortable degree. If this is the only time you’re able to visit, plan to get out early in the morning and be indoors or in the sea during the peak temperatures midday.
May, June, and September are the best months to visit Corfu! These are the beloved shoulder seasons that make for perfect trips to Mediterranean countries (Italy is lovely during these months as well!).
Everything will be open by May and will still be open throughout September.
Early to mid-June would be the ideal time to visit, as it’s not too sweltering and the chance of rain is much lower. As I mentioned earlier, we did have a rainstorm come through when we visited at the end of September.