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Corfu: the green island of the Ionian
The back story
About Corfu: the green island of the Ionian
Corfu is the greenest and most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands, shaped by Venice, France and Britain rather than by the Ottomans.
Venetian Corfu
Venice ruled Corfu for about four centuries and fortified it so well that it never fell to the Ottomans. The old town, with its fortresses and kantounia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
French and British
The French built the Liston arcades; the British left cricket on the Spianada and ginger beer. Corfu joined Greece in 1864. The Durrell family lived here in the 1930s, inspiring Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals.
Corfu is the island where Greece meets Venice.
The island
Olive groves cover the hills, Paleokastritsa has emerald coves, and the Achilleion recalls Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Our advice: stay in or near Corfu Town for culture, or on the north-east coast for quiet coves; visit at Easter for the island’s famous celebrations; and fly in, as there are no ferries from Piraeus.
Why it's on our list
- Read before you go
- Who the island suits
- Our honest advice
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Corfu: the green island of the Ionian before you go.