The Best Spots To Visit In Corfu, Greece
Before getting into the best spots to visit in Corfu, it should be noted that choosing Corfu over other, more popular destinations in Greece is a choice to make in itself. I think this is a destination better suited to people who want a series of relaxing beach days over historical endeavors. Because the beaches of Corfu really shine as some of the most beautiful in the world.
I think it is also very easy to travel to Corfu as an English speaker. My family and I had no difficulty during our trip with being able to communicate. And we easily found an AirBNB host that speaks English, with many more available if we had not gone with out first choice.
There were numerous scenic spots that we were able to visit during our 5 days in Corfu and this is just a sampling. But I do think that this list encompasses the most beautiful places on the island, mixing sites for relaxation and sites to explore some of the history of the island.
Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna
This monastery is one of the most interesting I have seen in my word travels. Not only is it right on the water, but it is near the airport. So you get to see planes landing very close to you, which makes for some stunning videos. There are also restaurants near by so you can have lunch with a view of the monastery.
And the monastery is pretty easy to get to by tour bus, rental car, or even via a foot bridge.
Anemomilos Windmill
I know I am a big windmill fan in general. Probably a bigger fan than the average person. But I still think this windmill is worth the visit because it is within walking distance of Corfu Town. And it has a beautiful walkway where you can see the surrounding water.
We also had lunch at the restaurant just behind the windmill, which has a very thrifty BBQ platter for two that included a lot of food for just the equivalent of 19 euros between two people.
Corfu Pirate Ship Black Rose
Our trip on the Corfu pirate ship cost only 12 euros a person, and lasted a little over an hour. We sailed around the island to see the main sites from the water, especially those in and near Corfu Town, which is where the ship takes off from.
Having said that, depending on the season you visit Corfu, you should cushion a lot of time to find parking. There is no designated parking for the pirate ship and we were just one minute shy of missing the boat because it took us half an hour to find a spot to park.
But this is one of the most family-friendly activities in Corfu, as there is a bar on the ship serving both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. And there is a whole set of props for children (or adults) to use to dress up as pirates.
And the musical numbers chosen to play on the ship’s speakers during the journey were on point.
The Achilleion Palace
This palace has stunning views of the island from its lookout point. Honestly, my expectation when I first entered the palace grounds was that I would be disappointed because when we went, the inside of the palace was completely closed down. So we could only visit the outside of the palace, and still had to pay a few euros for entry to do so.
And when you first walk into the palace grounds, the view for the front of the palace is pretty obstructed. But, once you start walking to the back of the palace, the views are absolutely gorgeous. And the statues places all throughout the palace grounds are intricate works of art that peek into the history of the palace and island.
Palaiokastritsa
My last recommended stop in Corfu is what I view as the perfect beach day stop. Because this part of the islands includes a hiking trail, a beach, souvenir shops, restaurants, and even a beach club. So it can fit pretty much any vibe you are looking for on your beach day.
I personally find it a little boring to completely relax on a beach day, so I took a hike to the viewpoint that you can see in the picture above. Then I walked along the road back down to the beach (of which, there are sort of two separate parts). I had lunch at a restaurant on the beach. Then I perused through some souvenir shops. Ultimately I was even going to take a cruise to one of the caves nearby via a boat offering such services, but the water was a bit too rocky on the day I was visiting, so I decided not to.
If you are planning a European vacation, check out my recommendations for apps to use to find the best plane, train, and bus prices.