Corfu F.A.Q.

Corfu is well-known for its rich history, cultural heritage as well as its beautiful beaches. There are many places to see, including forts, museums, and churches, spread across the greenest island in Greece. The Old Town of Corfu, influenced by Venetian rule, will charm you with its beautiful architecture, and you’ll also discover many traditional villages throughout the island. Many beaches provide opportunities for water sports, while the mountainous areas are perfect for exploring stunning landscapes. It’s an ideal destination for families with children, yet it also has nightlife for younger visitors. Corfu offers the perfect combination, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Through this guide, we’ll highlight the island’s best attractions and help you easily locate them with directions and maps.

The official language in Corfu is Greek. Since Corfu is a popular tourist destination, many signs are in both Greek and English, so there’s no need to worry. Staff in most shops speak English, so communication won’t be an issue. If you happen to know a few Greek words, they’ll smile and appreciate the effort!

Corfu is a popular destination for holidays. Summers attract many visitors, while winters are much quieter. Corfu Town is lively all year, but it gets very crowded in the summer. Most tourist resorts, however, close from late autumn to early spring. The majority of visitors come between June and mid-September, with the peak season being July and August.
During July and August, the island is very crowded, prices are higher, and the weather is quite hot, often over 35°C. It’s better to visit in June or September, when traffic is lighter, the temperature is closer to 30°C, and prices are slightly lower.
Some people also choose May or early October, which are also good times to visit. During these months, the weather is still nice, there are fewer tourists, and prices are more affordable. However, if you book early, you might encounter rain or cooler weather during these periods.
Another great option is during Easter week, a major Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter in Corfu offers a unique cultural experience, with church bells ringing, clay pots (botides) being thrown and smashed in the cobblestone streets of Spianada Square, fireworks, cannon shots from the fortress, and the beautiful music of the island’s philharmonic bands. Easter is a movable feast, celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, typically falling between April 4th and May 8th.

This depends on several factors, such as how long you plan to stay, whether you have a car, and what you prefer to see.
If you’re staying for 2-3 days or don’t have a car, it’s best to stay in Corfu Town. It’s centrally located, and you’ll be close to all public transportation.
For a week-long stay, visitors often choose a tourist resort like Paleokastritsa, Sidari, Acharavi, Kassiopi, Ipsos, Benitses, Messonghi, or Kavos.
If you plan to stay longer and have a car, areas close to the center and Corfu Town, such as Kontokali and Gouvia, are good options. These are near the main roads, making it easier to explore the island. Another option is to split your stay: one week in the north and one week in the south. This way, you can explore all parts of the island more easily and quickly.

Corfu is in the (GMT+2) time zone, just like the rest of Greece. During the summer, daylight saving time is observed, so the clock moves one hour forward on the last Sunday of March and shifts back to standard time, on the last Sunday of October.

The international dialing code for Greece is +30. If you are calling any Greek number from your foreign phone, make sure to include the country code before the local phone number. The local area code for Corfu is +30 26610 XXXXX.
Corfu is part of the EU since it belongs to Greece, so the EU data roaming agreement applies on the island. If you have a SIM card from any EU country, you can use roaming services to make calls, send messages, or use your data without additional charges beyond your standard phone plan. To do this, simply ensure that roaming services are enabled in your phone settings to connect to a Greek provider. The main Greek mobile providers are Cosmote, Vodafone, and Wind. If you are along the northeastern coast of the island, make sure your mobile provider has not changed, as Albanian providers may interfere in the area.

In Corfu, tap water is safe to drink, however due to its high mineral content, it doesn’t have the best taste, so many people prefer bottled water. You can certainly use tap water for washing vegetables and cooking. Bottled water is easily accessible and affordable. It’s a good idea to purchase it from supermarkets, as there have been instances where smaller supplies are transported in pickup trucks, leaving them exposed to sunlight during transit.

Corfu is a beautiful island with many attractions and stunning beaches. You can get around the island using buses, which have a fairly organized network of routes. If you plan to stay in Corfu Town or nearby villages like Gouvia or Ipsos, you might not need a car. If you don’t like driving or don’t feel comfortable in a busy, unfamiliar place, you can also book one of the many organized tours available.
On the other hand, if you want to explore the island at your own pace and visit less touristy spots, a car will give you much more flexibility. It will allow you to access places that are hard to reach with public transport. We recommend a car over a motorbike as it’s safer, offers storage in the trunk for your belongings, and protects you from the weather.
There are many car rental companies on the island, and they can deliver the car to your arrival point, such as the airport, the port, or any location you choose. To get cheaper rental prices, it’s best to book in advance. There are many gas stations in Corfu, and most of them are open from early morning until evening. At all gas stations, a staff member will help you refuel, so you don’t need to worry. At some stations, they might try to sell you premium gasoline, but if your car runs on regular 95-octane fuel, there’s no need to buy more expensive options. You can read more about car rentals in the Rent a vehicle section.

You can visit Corfu Town with a stroller. The streets and sidewalks are not very narrow. However, you may need to lift the stroller occasionally when crossing sidewalks, as not all of them have ramps.