Visit Corfu : One week road trip on the island of Corfu in Greece
Greece is one of my favorite destinations in Europe ! There are many islands, 6,000 in total, of which about 300 are inhabited. Until now, I had dedicated my trips to Greece to the Cyclades. You can find our travel guides on Santorini, Milos, Mykonos, Paros and Crete by clicking here. For this solo trip, I decided to change the location and visit Corfu for a week. So what to do on the island of Corfu ? Find in this article a complete road trip itinerary.
What to do in Corfu during a week ?
One week to visit Corfu is the ideal time ! This destination is conducive to relaxation and will delight beach lovers. Corfu belongs to the Ionian Islands, of which there are 7.
Practical information for your road trip to Corfu
How to get to Corfu ?
Being an island, the most convenient way to get there is by plane :
✈️ To book my plane tickets, I always use the French flight comparator Ulysse. The customer service is very responsive in case of problems. Get a 10€ discount by signing up via this link.
⛴️ The ferry : you can reach Corfu from Greece or Albania. Book your tickets online at Ferries In Greece.
How do you rent a car for your week in Corfu ?
I didn’t rent a car because I booked this trip last minute and rental prices had skyrocketed, so don’t make the same mistake I did. I made do by renting a quad bike and a car for 4 days from a small rental place next to my accommodation. I also took the bus, which is very well connected on the island of Corfu. So you can consider this trip if you don’t have a driving license. You can find the info and timetable of the Green Buses Line on the official website.
Anyway, it is more convenient to have your own vehicle to carry out my route. I advise you to compare the offers and book via Skyscanner.
Budget for a one week road trip to Corfu ?
Here are the details of my expenses for my trip to Corfu :
- ✈️ Flights Lyon – Corfu : 70€ AR + 25€ Volotea luggage per person
- 🚗 Car rental : 200€ for the week
- ⛽️ Gasoline expenses : 40€
- 🏨 Accommodation : 434€ per week in a studio with sea view
- 🍽️ Restaurants : 30€ per day per person for 2 restaurant meals.
Total for a 7 night trip = 1,074€, or 537€ per person, excluding activities.
This budget can vary depending on the price of car/plane rentals and the standard of accommodation you choose. You can also save a lot of money on food by cooking in an apartment-hotel as I did or by eating a snack at lunchtime.
When to go to Corfu ?
☀️ The weather is favorable from May until October. I don’t recommend the summer months when the island’s crowds explode, which inevitably makes the trip less enjoyable. Personally, I left at the beginning of October and it was great! Few tourists, the sea at 23°C, a great weather… the ideal conditions for an Indian summer.
Can you travel as a woman in Corfu ?
This was my second solo trip and I felt safe on the island. Of course, basic safety rules apply as they do everywhere (for example : avoid walking alone at night). For those of you who have been following my Instagram stories, I didn’t have any bad experiences, except for a heavy flirt at the car rental place.
Visit Corfu (one week itinerary) : What to do ?
- Arrival in Corfu (Day 1)
- Visit the North Coast (Day 2)
- The old town of Corfu (Day 3)
- Visit the West Coast (Days 4 and 5)
- Excursion to Paxos and Anti-Paxos (Day 6)
- Bonus : Other excursions or the South of the island (Day 7)
🏨 Where to stay in Corfu ?
The island of Corfu is small enough that you can visit it from one place to stay. I enjoyed the stay even more and was able to relax, without having to unpack and repack every night. I would recommend staying in the northwest part of Corfu. I found an accommodation on the beach of Agios Georgios Pagon with a great value for money, very clean, well located literally 30 seconds from the sea. Here is the link to book.
If it is not available, you can find other accommodation nearby on Booking. Otherwise, I recommend Bouganville in Paleokastrítsa, which offers beautiful accommodation close to the most beautiful beaches of Corfu. If I had to do it again, I would stay there !
Day 1 : Arrival in Corfu
As I arrived late, I dedicated my first day to transportation and to the entry in my accommodation. So I leave you this day free to take your marks according to your arrival time.
If you did not rent a car, you can take the bus or the cab from the airport to get to your hotel or apartment. The cab cost me 55€ for a one hour trip and I asked the person at my accommodation to organize the transfer for me to make it easier.
Day 2 : Beaches and North Coast of Corfu
Today, put on your best swimsuit and don’t forget water and sun cream !
Hike to the beach of Porto Timoni
This is a mini hike that will lead you to the most beautiful landscape of Corfu, according to an international ranking decreed by myself. The start of the hike is at this GPS point. I recommend you to go there in the late morning, when the sun starts to rise !
Access : 15 minutes to get down and 20 minutes to get back up. I highly recommend putting on sneakers as the trail is rocky and sandy. You can park along this street for free or go to the secure pay parking lot if there is no more room.
Lunch in the village of Afionas
After enjoying the beach, I invite you to take a walk in the tiny village of Afionas. It won’t take long because it is only composed of a few alleys, but it is cute.
For lunch, I recommend the Anafoufou Coffee Bar & Restaurant. Besides the decoration which is hot, the sea view is just as hot !
Walk to Cape Drastis, a must for your road trip to Corfu
The cliffs and sandbanks of Cape Drastis make it exceptional. In front of it, you can admire the mountains of Albania. I loved this place! Small caves have formed over the years, you can visit them by boat or canoe when you arrive at the bottom of the footpath. Allow about 15/20 minutes to get to the bottom.
🚗 Parking is free. GPS point
The Canal of Love
Not far from Cape Drastris, you will find the Canal d’Amour, a very touristy place in Corfu. You will understand that there are many people here, with lots of hotels and restaurants. By the way, I find that this very “built” side taints the beauty of the landscape a bit.
According to the legend, those who swim across the Canal d’Amour meet the love of their life or get married with their current love. So it’s worth going there just for that.
🍽️ If you want to have lunch or dinner nearby, my favorite address is Katerina’s Taverna : nice typical decoration and absolutely delicious dishes.
Sunset in Corfu
There are many spots to watch the sunset on the island of Corfu. I certainly saw one of the most beautiful of my life from the beach of Agios Georgios Pagon, right in front of my accommodation. You can also see it from Loggas Beach or any beach on the northwest and west coast.
Dine at a Fisherman’s Cabin
Another option to admire the sunset and feast on fish fresher than ever, head to the Fisherman’s Cabin restaurant. I warn you that the road to get there is a bit chaotic, but it’s no problem if you drive carefully. The menu changes regularly according to the catch of the day and the setting is enchanting, with the added bonus of great value for money. Reservations are recommended during the high season.
Day 3 : Visit Corfu and its old town
Corfu Town, the capital
Corfu Town boasts beautiful Venetian architecture, which has earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To start your visit, you can lose yourself in the colorful alleys of the old town which are full of shops and small cafes.
The Old Fort
Started in the 6th century, the construction of the Old Fort of Corfu was completed during the Venetian era to protect the island. Apart from the interest of the buildings and the historical side, this visit offers beautiful views of the Ionian Sea and the city.
Ticketing on site, 6€ per person. Count between 1h30 and 2h30 on site, it depends on if you visit the museum. Don’t forget to go all the way to the top to see the best views.
The monastery of Panagia Vlacherna
From the Old Fort, I recommend you to walk along the coast to the monastery of Panagia Vlacherna. This place is right next to the airport, so you can watch the planes taking off from very close. However, the monastery itself is sublime.
Cultural activity in Corfu
To complete this day, I recommend one of these activities to discover more about Greek gastronomy.
Where to eat in Corfu city ?
The restaurants To Tsipouradiko and Abakas were highly recommended to me by a traveler on Instagram (thanks Fanny if you’re passing by).
Days 4 and 5 : visit the west coast for your week in Corfu
Paleokastrítsa, its monastery and its beaches
⛪️ Visit the monastery of Paleokastrítsa
I recommend you to go there relatively early so you don’t get too hot and avoid the crowd. You can park for free right at the top of the hill. I saw a lot of people walking up the road, but it is not very interesting. The access to the monastery is free.
Boat trip to swim in the caves
Paleokastrítsa is full of beautiful beaches and caves ! The best way to discover them is by boat. The rental company Alipa Boats by Yiannis offers guided tours but also boats without a license to enjoy independently – so I recommend the second option if you are several. ☀️ Take a picnic with you, water for the day and don’t forget your mask and snorkel. Don’t hesitate to contact him on WhatsApp 1 or 2 days before to book your boat if you go in high season.
Apéro sunset at La Grotta
To end the day on a high note, head to La Grotta bar after returning your boat. This place is outstanding. I was solo during my week-long trip to Corfu and this is the only time I wish I had been accompanied to enjoy the atmosphere even more. The bar was built into the rock and the layout is very nice.
For those who want to swim, you can access the crystal clear waters from the bar. There is a diving board and a rope to climb the cliff to make your best jump ! For others who just want to drink and eat, that’s also possible while enjoying the loungers and music.
Road trip in Corfu : continuation on the west coast
For this second day on the west coast of Corfu, we are going to discover some beaches, one of which is a real nugget. But, first of all, wear sneakers on your feet today and a mask/tuba (only in the water of course, unless you want to start a fashion).
🌊 Liapades Beach
This pebble beach with clear waters is a must see. While its deckchair/parasol setup is unfortunate, it’s still gorgeous with its cypress-populated cliff. Go to the right side of the beach to admire beautiful fish !
🚗 Access : by car, the road goes down to the beach.
Rovinia Beach
Right next to Liapades Beach is another pretty beach, preserved from any development. This one reminded me a lot of the calanques back home! To get there, park here (price : 3€) or continue down the road if you have a small car / quad. Be careful though, the road is more like a stony path, so drive carefully. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the beach.
♥️ Yiali Beach, favorite of my week in Corfu
So there, I was glued in front of the beauty of this beach! It is in my opinion the most beautiful in Corfu and it is not visited much compared to the others, because the pedestrian access is rather rough. ? That said, the effort is more than worth it, whether for the scenery during the hike or for the beach itself. See for yourself in the photos…
🚗Park on this small (free) parking lot and walk down the trail to the sea. Be careful, I don’t recommend this hike for small children or frail people. At the end of the trail, it goes downhill dry but there are ropes to help you.
Once there, I saw that there were boat shuttle services that dropped people off and brought them back (cheaters !). However, I have no idea where they come from.
Angelokastro
If you still have some juice and if it’s not too late, I recommend you to visit Angelokastro, one of the major Byzantine fortresses of the country. The castle is located on a hill by the sea and offers a panoramic view. The entrance ticket costs 3€ per adult, you can find the opening hours on Google Maps.
🍽️ Dinner at Sunset Taverna
To end the day on a high note, go eat and enjoy the sunset at Sunset Taverna restaurant, located 4 minutes drive from Angelokastro. The view is sublime… Reservation advised in high season !
Day 6 : excursion to the islands of Paxos and Anti-Paxos
It’s time to take the sea to discover other Ionian islands, for a day. I loved this excursion ! The boat was great, with bar/snacks and DJ on board for the atmosphere in the afternoon.
Here is the activity description :
- Departure from the port of Corfu around 9am
- Sailing to Paxos for an arrival around 11:30 am. During this time, you will have the pleasure to admire the coastal landscapes with explanations of the guide who speaks many languages (including French)
- Free time of 2 hours in the village of Lakka to go to the beach and have lunch
- Discovery by boat of the wonderful “Blue Caves” of Paxos
- Barbecue on the boat for those who have not eaten or are still hungry 😋
- Swimming in Anti-Paxos, in a clear water worthy of the Caribbean
- Return to Corfu around 7pm with Greek dance demonstration on board.
I recommend this excursion without hesitation, especially at the end of the season (October) when the boat was not filled to its maximum capacity. So you will have space on board and less people in the points of interest.
Day 7 : End of the one-week road trip in Corfu
As a bonus, if your flight is late in the day, you will still have time to visit Corfu and its must-sees ! Here are some suggestions to complete this last day.
Visit the south of Corfu
We didn’t go to the south of the island during this itinerary, but there are still some nice places to see (traditional villages, monasteries, beaches…). Need some ideas? Here are some, to be found on Google Maps :
Water activities
You also have the possibility to book great activities in Corfu to (re)discover the sea, by water or by air. My recommendations for the best activities in Corfu :
Excursion to Parga, Sivota and discovery of the blue lagoon
I have saved the best for last, namely an excursion to the beautiful villages of Parga and Sivota, located on the Greek mainland. As a bonus, you can swim in the crystal clear waters of the blue lagoon.
This is the same organizer as the excursion I did in Paxos, so I recommend it with my eyes closed !
I hope this one week road trip to Corfu will allow you to enjoy and visit the island in the best conditions. Feel free to tag me on your stories / posts @amoureuxdumonde on Instagram or share your photos with me in private message.
Looking for more travel ideas ? Check out my travel guide to Gran Canaria or even Tuscany.
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