4 day Corfu itinerary exploring the Greek island of Corfu
We travelled to the island of Corfu in Greece with our 1 year old daughter in August 2024. We spent two days close to Corfu old town and two days in the North of Corfu. August is extremely warm so for more comfortable conditions you may prefer to visit Corfu in the shoulder seasons of April/May, September/October time.
We flew from Newcastle airport and the flight was approximately 3hours 15 minutes. The flight was not the easiest with an active 1 year old and if you are travelling with a little one who can walk/stand we would recommend sitting on either side of the aisle so you little one can enjoy looking up and down the aisle and standing/walking for some of the flight.
Corfu Old Town
Where to stay
You can stay in the centre of Corfu but it does get very busy with tourists exploring the shops, beaches and restaurants and cruise ships coming in and out. We opted to stay just outside of the centre at Kopelula Resort. Kopelula is located a 14 minute drive from Corfu old town, in a peaceful location far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the centre but close enough to be able to get in and out easy enough to explore.
Kopelula offer studio apartments, villas and apartments and are suitable for couples, friends and families. There is a spacious swimming pool available for guests to use and enjoy with a shallow section for children. Kopelula can also offer airport/transfer services, baby facilities such as cots and highchairs, baby sitting services, laundry services and much more.
You will be welcomed by friendly staff members who will welcome you into the Kopelula family. They cannot do enough for you and will ensure you have the perfect stay. We were welcomed by Tommy and his lovely family who immediately made us welcome and went above and beyond to make our stay memorable offering complimentary goodies in our apartment and providing our daughter Annabelle with toys for the beach.
We know you will love your stay at Kopelula as much as we did. You can book here.
What to do
The Olive House
One of the most unique experiences you can enjoy in Corfu old town is to join an olive oil tasting at the Olive House. Greece is not the immediate country you think of when olive oil production springs to mind however over the years the Olive House have mastered their craft to create award-winning olive oil known as 'Governor'.
Join one of the Olive House family members who will guide you through the tasting where you will have the opportunity to learn all about the olive oil production in Greece, taste the olive oil and how this perfectly compliments so many savoury and sweet dishes. The tasting will include 3 savoury and 3 sweet dishes, olive oil tasting, water and a glass of white wine. It is a truly wonderful experience, a great break from the Corfu heat and so informative and delicious.
You will leave with a full stomach, a happy heart and definitely one or more new facts about Corfu and Greece that you never knew before.
Book your olive oil tasting here.
Ferry trip from Corfu to Saranda, Albania
Turn your trip into a multi-country trip by taking the ferry over from Corfu to Saranda in Albania. You can take a fast ferry which takes 30 minutes or up to 1hr30- 2 hours for the slower ferries. There are frequent ferries every hour in the summer months so you can choose at your leisure what time to leave and return to Corfu.
Saranda is a beautiful, picturesque beach town where you can enjoy relaxing on the beach, walking along the promenade and visiting the bars and restaurants. There are also historical sites and you can walk up to Kalaja e Lëkurësit castle on the hills with views and a nice bar.
Tickets start from approximately 30 euros per person for a return journey. You can book your tickets through Finikas Lines here.
Sights to see in the old town
Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna - located a 10 minute drive from the old town (or 1 hour walk) you can find the viewpoint to see the picturesque 'island church'
Central Market sits beneath the New Venetian Fortress - fruit & veg plus cafe
Find the top Instgrammable spots in Corfu here
Where to eat
Salto wine bar - tapas and pasta dishes
Avli - Greek, reasonably priced
Corfu sailing restaurant - best place for drink and view
Cafes:
Mikro cafe
My habit - coffee/brunch
Strazei Meli cafe
Starenio - bakery brunch place
Favela 17 - pancake / coffee place
Porcelaui - breakfast
Northern Corfu
Where to stay
Palaiokastritsa is one of the most popular areas in Northern Corfu however it is extremely busy, especially in the summer with tourists searching for the best beach spots.
We chose to find a hidden escape close to the small beach town of Arillas. We stayed at Mega Lithari Villas which offer deluxe villas nestled in nature and surrounded by luscious greenery. You will immediately feel peaceful and at ease at Mega Lithari after visiting the busy Corfu old town and feel as though you have the place to yourselves. The contemporary interior is stylish, modern and fresh. The villas have private pools, jacuzzis, a terrace area and some with private barbecue facilities so you can cook and enjoy your dinner al fresco.
The villas are perfect for families with separate bedrooms, living areas, child facilities available such as travel cots and highchairs and televisions connected to the internet so the children can watch all of their favourite shows. Our baby daughter enjoyed wandering around the villa, playing with her toys in and outside and playing in the shallow part of the pool which was in the shade for the majority of the day.
Mega Lithari offer comfort and luxury and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would definitely revisit on our return to Corfu in the future. You can book your stay here.
What to do
Porto Timoni / Limni
One of the most famous and iconic spots in Corfu are the back to back beaches of Porto Timoni and Limni. You park in the village of Afionas. There is a car park which costs 10 euros per day for cars but we would not recommend parking here. The owners are extremely rude and abnoxious. They shouted at us because we took a photo of the prices of the car park to inform you all and the owner literally chased us down and shouted at us until we deleted it. We had our 1 year old baby strapped to our chest in the carrier at the time also.
Instead, you can park on the road leading up to the car park and the start of the hike to reach the beaches for free.
The walk is clearly signposted and will take approximately 30 minutes to reach to beaches. Make sure to wear trainers or sensible shoes as the terrain is rocky and hilly. It is also quite exposed so remember some sun cream and a sun hat. Stop for the views of the beaches below before making your way down to the beaches.
Kaiser’s throne walk
A 3 mile loop from the small town of Pelekas. The walk is mostly on the road so you may prefer to drive all the way to the car park outside of Kaiser's throne. Stop for a drink at the Sunset bar
Palaiokastritsa
A beautiful but busy beach area. You can park opposite Agios Spiridon beach for 5 euros or there is free parking before you reach this car park by turning left into the Yialos car park
Angelokastro castle
The highest peak of Corfu's shoreline, castle dating back to the 7th century
Canal d’amour
A quieter location earlier in the morning or for sunset. You will find uniqe rock formations and stunning scenery
Loggas Beach
A beautiful beach which is the perfect place to watch the sunset
Where to eat
Ammo’s beach bar - found in Arillas town, traditional and high quality Greek food
Akron - a popular beach bar and restaurant close to Palaiokastritsa
Opmerkingen