How many days in Corfu? 4 days: Venetian town, west-coast bays and Paxos
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Corfu is the greenest Greek island and the least Greek-looking town: Corfu Town was Venetian for four centuries, then French and British, and it shows in its arcades, cricket ground and fortresses. Four days covers the town, the dramatic west coast at Paleokastritsa, the villages of the north-east below Mount Pantokrator, and a boat to the turquoise coves of Paxos and Antipaxos. The island is 60 km long with winding roads, so a car helps a lot.
Short answer
Three days covers the old town, the west coast and the north-east. The fourth day adds the Paxos boat trip, the best sea day in the Ionian.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Corfu Town
Morning. Climb the Old Fortress (about €10) on its promontory for the view across the town and the strait to Albania. Then walk the Spianada, the largest square in Greece, where cricket has been played since British rule, and have coffee under the Liston arcades, built by the French in imitation of the Rue de Rivoli.
Afternoon. Get lost in the Kantounia, the narrow lanes of the old town with laundry hung between tall Venetian houses. Visit the church of Agios Spyridon, the island's patron saint, whose relics are carried in procession four times a year, and the Museum of Asian Art in the Palace of St Michael and St George.
Evening. Take a taxi or bus 10 minutes to Kanoni for the view of Mouse Island (Pontikonisi) and the Vlacherna monastery on its causeway, best at sunset, then dinner back in the old town.
If you are in Corfu at Orthodox Easter, at 11:00 on Holy Saturday residents throw clay pots full of water from their balconies: the 'botides', one of Greece's most famous Easter customs.
Day 2: The Achilleion and the west coast
Morning. Drive 20 minutes south to the Achilleion (about €12-15), the palace Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) built in the 1890s, with its statue of the dying Achilles and gardens over the sea.
Afternoon. Cross the island to Paleokastritsa (about 45 minutes), a series of coves between green cliffs. Visit the 13th-century monastery on the headland and take a small boat into the sea caves (about €15-20 for 40 minutes).
Evening. Drive up to the village of Lakones or the Bella Vista viewpoint for sunset over the bays, or go south to Glyfada beach for a swim in the late light.
The road down to Paleokastritsa is narrow and busy in August. Arrive before 10:00 to park.
Day 3: The north-east coast and Old Perithia
Morning. Drive the coast road north towards Kassiopi (about 1 hour), passing the pebbled coves of Kalami (where Lawrence Durrell's White House stands) and Agni, where three tavernas run their own boat taxis.
Afternoon. Head up to Old Perithia, a Venetian village at 400 metres on Mount Pantokrator, abandoned in the 20th century and now partly restored, with tavernas in stone houses. Drive higher to Pantokrator's summit (906 m) for the view to Albania and the mainland.
Evening. Dinner by the water in Agni or Kassiopi, with grilled fish and the Albanian mountains darkening across the strait.
Along the north-east, you can rent a small motorboat without a licence (up to 30 hp) for about €80-120 a day and reach coves inaccessible by road.
Day 4: Paxos and Antipaxos
Morning. Take a day cruise from Corfu Town or Lefkimmi (about €40-60) to Paxos, 2 hours south, past the Blue Caves of its western cliffs. Most cruises stop in Gaios or Lakka, villages of pastel houses around tiny harbours.
Afternoon. Continue to Antipaxos for a swim at Voutoumi, a white-pebble beach with water so clear it looks like a pool.
Evening. Back in Corfu by early evening. Eat in the old town or at Benitses, a fishing village 12 km south.
Fast boats reach Paxos in about an hour; the slower cruise boats include more stops. Bring cash: some beach bars on Antipaxos do not take cards.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1, 2 and 3. You lose Paxos.
Got extra days?
With more time, take the 30-minute ferry to Saranda in Albania for the ruins of Butrint (passport required), or visit the Canal d'Amour rock formations at Sidari and the sunset at Cape Drastis.
Where to stay in Corfu
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Corfu Town edges / Gouvia | Buses and the marina, cheaper than the old town. | €60-100 |
| Mid-range | Corfu Old Town | Walk to everything, ferries and boat trips from the port. | €120-200 |
| Mid-range | Paleokastritsa / Agios Gordios | West-coast bays and sunsets; quiet at night. | €100-180 |
| Comfort | North-east villas (Kassiopi, Kalami, Agni) | Villas over the sea with private swimming spots. | €250-600 |
Getting around
The blue city buses serve the town and nearby villages; the green KTEL buses reach Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi and Sidari (a few euros). Roads are narrow and winding, so allow time. A rental car (from about €35-50 a day in summer) is the easiest option. The airport is only 3 km from the old town (10 minutes by taxi).
What to eat in Corfu
Corfu's cooking carries Venetian influence. Try sofrito (veal in white wine, garlic and parsley sauce), pastitsada (beef or rooster in a spicy tomato sauce with pasta) and bourdeto (fish in red-pepper sauce). Kumquats, introduced by the British, become liqueurs and sweets sold everywhere, and tsitsibira, Corfiot ginger beer, is a British relic still made locally. Olive oil is everywhere: the island has millions of olive trees planted under the Venetians. A taverna meal costs €18-28 per person; in the old town, the lanes behind the Liston are better value than the arcades.
Best time to visit
May, June and September to early October, with highs of 24-30°C and lush green hills. July and August are hot and crowded. Corfu gets more rain than the Aegean islands, which is why it is so green; spring is wonderful with wildflowers, and Easter is the island's biggest celebration.
Month-by-month weather for Corfu →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €35 | €75 | €180 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Sights & boats | €10 | €35 | €70 |
| Transport (bus or car share) | €8 | €25 | €50 |
| Total per person, per day | about €75 | about €175 | about €380 |
Approximate 2026 high-season prices. Greece adds a per-room climate resilience fee each night, highest from April to October.
Before you go
Common questions
Which side of Corfu is best?
The north-east for clear, calm coves and villas; the west for sandy beaches and sunsets; the north-west for cliffs. Corfu Town is the best base without a car.
Can I visit Albania from Corfu?
Yes, by ferry to Saranda (about 30 minutes by fast boat). Butrint's Greek, Roman and Venetian ruins are 20 minutes from Saranda. Take your passport.
How do I get to Corfu?
By plane to Corfu airport, or by ferry from Igoumenitsa (about 1.5 hours) or from Italy (Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, Venice).
Is Corfu good for families?
Yes: shallow sandy beaches like Agios Georgios and Issos in the south-west and Acharavi in the north, and plenty of resorts.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, by a travel-agency planner based in Greece. Prices and boat times are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Hellenic Heritage e-ticket site, KTEL Corfu and boat operators' websites before booking.
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