Corfu

A UNESCO World Heritage Site unlike anything else in Greece — centuries of Venetian, French, and British colonial rule created a labyrinth of ochre Venetian palazzos, elegant French arcades (the Liston), Byzantine churches, and narrow Kantouni alleyways spilling down to the sea. The Spianada Square is one of the largest in Europe.

A neo-classical palace built in 1889 for Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi) and later purchased by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Perched on a hillside above the village of Gastouri with sweeping views over the Ionian Sea, the palace is filled with Greek mythology-inspired statues and gardens dominated by the enormous bronze 'Achilles Triumphant' statue.

The most photographed view in Corfu — Pontikonisi ('Mouse Island'), a tiny islet topped by a Byzantine chapel, perfectly framed by the runway of Corfu Airport with jets passing low overhead. The Vlacherna Monastery on its own causeway adds a second iconic element to the composition.

A spectacular 13th-century Byzantine monastery clinging to a rocky promontory above the turquoise coves of Paleokastritsa, with breathtaking views over the Ionian Sea. The monastery church is filled with rich gold iconostases, and the small museum contains fascinating Byzantine artefacts.

One of Corfu's oldest and most respected tavernas, operating since 1932 on Kapodistriou Street near the Liston. Celebrated for its traditional Corfiot cuisine — sofrito (beef braised in white wine and garlic), pastitsada (rooster in spiced tomato), and the island's outstanding local wines.

A stylish wine bar and bistro tucked into a Venetian alley of the Old Town, offering an excellent selection of Greek wines alongside creative small plates — Corfiot cheese with thyme honey, tuna carpaccio with local olives, and exceptional taramosalata.

Corfu's most celebrated fine-dining restaurant, set around an authentic 17th-century Venetian well in a hidden square of the Old Town. The contemporary Mediterranean menu — Corfiot bourdetto fish stew, sea urchin pasta, and rose-water baklava — is matched by an exceptional wine list.

A well-regarded beachside taverna at Agios Gordios Beach serving fresh grilled fish, Corfiot mezze, and cold Mythos beer with a direct view of one of the island's most dramatic beach settings — towering sea stacks rising from brilliant blue water.

A legendary seafront taverna in the tiny bay of Agni on Corfu's northeast coast, accessible only by boat or a narrow coastal road. The setting — tables on the jetty over the crystal-clear water in a hidden cove — is one of the most beautiful in Greece. The grilled octopus and stuffed squid are legendary.

The French-colonial Liston arcade on the Spianada is Corfu Town's social heartbeat — a row of elegant café-bars modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Sitting under the arches with a cold Mythos or a Corfiot kumquat liqueur while watching the evening passeggiata is one of the great Mediterranean experiences.

A stunning rooftop bar atop the Cavalieri Hotel in the heart of Corfu Old Town, offering 360-degree views over the terracotta rooftops, the Old Fortress, and the Ionian Sea. Considered the finest panoramic viewpoint accessible from street level in Corfu Town.

A popular seaside beach bar north of Corfu Town at Kontokali Bay, with sunloungers over the water, cocktails, and a lively afternoon atmosphere. Popular with locals and visitors seeking a beach club experience away from the Old Town bustle.

One of the original Liston arcade cafés — a Corfu institution for over a century. The thick Greek frappe, freshly squeezed orange juice, and tiropita (cheese pie) served under the French colonial arches make it the definitive Corfiot morning coffee experience.

A tiny, beloved café hidden in a Venetian alley of the Old Town, serving exceptional single-origin Greek coffee, homemade baklava, and Corfiot kumquat cake. Very much a locals' café — a welcome antidote to the tourist-heavy Liston.

Corfu's most famous and most beautiful coastline — a series of six coves of extraordinary turquoise water set against dramatic limestone cliffs and caves, backed by thick olive and cypress groves. The water is remarkably clear and the snorkelling in the sea caves is outstanding.

A dramatic, wide beach on Corfu's west coast with striking sea stacks rising from the water, vivid blue-green waves, and the imposing cliffs of the Gardiki headland framing the bay. One of the most visually striking beach settings in the Ionian Islands.

A guided walking tour through Corfu's UNESCO Old Town with a local historian — exploring the Venetian fortifications, the Liston arcades, the Byzantine Museum, the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, the Jewish Quarter, and the hidden alleyways that shaped four centuries of diverse colonial history.

A guided half-day tour to the Achilleion Palace with a stop at the Kanoni viewpoint for the iconic Pontikonisi photograph, followed by a drive through the traditional village of Benitses and a visit to an olive press museum on the way back to Corfu Town.

A scenic boat excursion along Corfu's spectacular northwestern coastline — exploring the sea caves at Paleokastritsa, swimming in hidden coves accessible only by water, and visiting the blue lagoon at Loggas Beach. The most extraordinary coastal scenery in the Ionian Islands.

A guided sea kayaking excursion along Corfu's rocky northeastern coast — paddling through sea arches, into hidden coves, and snorkelling in crystal-clear water inaccessible to larger boats. Suitable for all fitness levels with excellent guided narration on the island's history and marine life.