Corfu (Kerkyra in Greek) is the northernmost island of Eptanissa and the second largest after Kefalonia. It lies at the entrance of Adriatic Sea, close to the coast of Epirus.

Corfu, the island of Pheakes according to Homer, is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean. Its gentle but rich nature, the splendid sandy beaches and its plethora of points of interest, have made it one of the most important and most popular tourism centres of Greece.

With enchanting landscapes, intense vegetation, long beaches, many traditional villages, Byzantine churches, a large number of museums and impressive Venetian castles, the island of Corfu attracts many visitors year after year.

The town of Corfu (Kerkyra) is a beautiful town with majestic buildings, a town internationally renowned for its unique colour and unprecedented charm. The old part of the town, the jewel of the island, maintains very well its Venetian character, as it is characterized by wide highways, large squares, tall buildings and small little streets, the Venetian "cantounia".

In the centre of the town lies Spianada, the largest and most beautiful square in entire Greece. East of Spianada rises the old castle with a beautiful view to the sea and the mountains of Epirus. On the north side are the palaces of the knights of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. In the rooms of the palace, besides the room of the throne, one can visit the Historical Museum of Corfu, the Archive of the Ionian Senate, the Public Library and the Museum of Asian Art.

One of the most important and best preserved Venetian buildings is the City Hall, also known as San Jiacommo building. Opposite that building rises the palace of the Latin archbishop, a Venetian building as well, which was rebuilt after the war and since then it has been home to the local branch of Bank of Greece.

One of the best known and most beautiful points of Kerkyra is the place called Kanoni, with a view to Pontikonissi, a small island which has become the symbol of Corfu, with the small church of Pantokratoras and the picturesque church of Vlaxerna. The island is connected to the coast via a narrow strip of land.

Mon Repos is a park of splendid natural beauty with rare species of trees, where the summer residence of the English commissioner of the island used to be.

The Archaeological Museum of Corfu is home to a large part of the archaeological treasures of the island. Very interesting are also the temple of Korkysian Appolo in Mon Repos, the temple of Artemis in the area Agioi Theodoroi, as well as the circular cenotaph of Menecrates in the area of Garitsa.

Kerkyra also has many important churches. Among them worth visiting is the metropolitan church, a building of the 16th century, dedicated to Panagia (Virgin Mary) "Spilliotissa", located at the square bearing the same name, next to the harbour. In the metropolitan church are kept in a silver larnax the relics of Agia Theodora, the wife of the Byzantine emperor Theophilos. The church is decorated with important icons of the "Cretan school of art". Do not omit to visit the church of Agios Spyridon , the patron saint of the island, the reliquaries of which is kept in a golden plated larnax. The bell tower of the church is the tallest in Corfu.

You can also visit the Byzantine church of Saints Iason and Sosipatros in the area of Anenomylos, the Monastery of "Platytera" in Mantouki to admire the important portable icons of the Cretan and Eptanissian schools of art, as well as the church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) "Antivouniotissa" in the old district "Kampielo" where the Museum of Byzantine and Post Byzantine Art is housed.

Paleokastritsa, the most famous tourist resort of the island, is special for its natural beauty, with vast olive groves, hills thickly vegetated with pine trees, rocky coastal areas, as well as great beaches with crystal clear turquoise waters. While being there you can visit the monk monastery of Panagia (Virgin Mary) "Paleokastritsa" and enjoy the panoramic view to the Ionian Sea from the area of Bella Vista.

Hermones is a tourist resort combining the dense forest with sandy beach and blue sea. In Dassia, 13 km north of Corfu, are the facilities of Club Meditteranee, where you can enjoy unforgettable times of joy.

Lefkimmi is a small town maintining its traditional character. Just 8 km southeast of Lefkimmi lies Kavos, a very well known tourist resort of Corfu.

You should also visit the Achilleion palace in Gastouri, the church of Saint Gordios with its Venetian bell tower, the area of Kassiopi, where in the ruins of a temple dedicated to Zeus is the church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) "Kassopitria", the church of Agios Mathaios and the area of Gardiki with ruins of Byzantine castles, as well as the area of Sidari with ruins of a Venetian fortress.

Kerkyra also boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the Ionian Sea. You can enjoy the sun and the sea in a variety of pebbly or sandy beaches, all with crystal clear waters. Most beaches are well organized and offer water-sports facilities. There are, however, many remote beaches as well, offering a sense of tranquillity and privacy.

The best known beaches of the island are: Roda, Paleokastritsa, Ipsos, Sidari, Acharavi, Kontokali, Benitses, Mesoggi, Kavos.

The island of Corfu (Kerkyra), with the enchanting landscapes, its historic tradition, the picturesque Venetian town, the traditional villages, the exquisite beaches, the intense nightlife and the warm hospitality of its people is an ideal vacation destination, all year round. Get to know it for yourselves and live unforgettable times!

How you can get there

Roadly - Coastally: To visit the island of Corfu (Kerkyra) you should first get to the port of Igoumenitsa by road and then take the ferry to Kerkyra. There is frequent daily service to Igoumenitsa with KTEL busses to and from Athens, Thessalonica, Patras and other large cities.