An aerial photo depicting a part of the coastal landscape and the beach Porto Timoni of Corfu.
photo: Andres Papp / CC BY 2.0

Corfu

Island in Ionian Islands
Also called:
  • Kerkyra EL
  • Korfu DE
  • Corfou FR
  • Corfù IT
  • Korfuzi SQ
Why visit Corfu?
  • Cosmopolitan & exclusive destination that hosts some of the best hotels in Greece.
  • Probably the first Greek island the historically started to welcome foreign tourists.
  • Venetians, French, and British were rulers who affected culturally the island.

Attractions, sights & Things to Do on Corfu

A picture showing the Old Fortress and a part of the Old Town of Corfu (Kerkyra).
photo: Martin Falbisoner (1978–) / CC BY-SA 4.0

Corfu Town

A cosmopolitan city with Venetian elements that incorporates a sense of nobility, while its historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

City
An overview of the Vlacherna Monastery and the narrow pedestrian bridge in Corfu island.
photo: Public Domain

Vlacherna Monastery, Corfu

Picturesque and most-photographed white temple located on a small islet that can be reached by a 300 meters long bridge from the coast.

Religious
A huge crowd in front of the high buildings of the Spianada Square in Corfu wait to observe the custom of Botides.
photo: Manu / CC BY 2.0

Corfu Easter (Rituals & Customs)

Unique Easter festivity where the Orthodox and the Catholic communities celebrate harmoniously accompanied by the numerous island bands.

Festival
An overview showing the Pontikonisi Islet and its dense vegetation.
photo: Alex Alishevskikh / CC BY-SA 2.0

Pontikonisi Islet, Corfu

A green preserved islet that serves as a trademark of the island and gets its name that is related to "mouse" from its shape and size.

Point of interest
The exterior of the royal villa of Mon Repos in Corfu.
photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) / CC BY 3.0

Mon Repos (Paleopolis Archaeological Museum)

A real palace with long history transformed to the Archaeological Museum of Paleopolis.

Point of interest
Remains of the ancient theater of the ancient city of Gitana close to Igoumenitsa.
photo: Harry Gouvas / CC BY-SA 3.0

Archeological Site of Ancient Gitana

Remains of an ancient city founded between 335 BC and 330 BC that served as the capital of the broader region for almost 150 years.

History
An overview of a part of the port of Igoumenitsa.
photo: Evmeos / CC BY-SA 3.0

Igoumenitsa

Ranked in second place in traffic among Greek ports, the city has evolved into a commercial and transit hub between Greece and Europe.

Town

Questions & Answers About Corfu

What is the history of Corfu (Kerkyra), Greece?

Corfu is identified by most archaeologists as the mythical island of the Phaeacians. Here Homer placed the last station of Odysseus before arriving at Ithaca after his 10-year sea wandering. The island's history is rich, with its sovereignty to be shifted from the Venetians to the French, then the British, and finally the union with Greece. The result is visible as the island and the town of Corfu are characterized by the Venetian elements, but also by many English and French influences.

Is the island called Corfu or Kerkyra?

The official and contemporary name of the island is Kerkyra. This is also the name used among the Greek population. The rest of the world through, refer to the island using the name Corfu. This name derives from the alternation of the old Byzantine name Korifo (Κορυφώ) and literally means peak, due to the two peaks that become visible while someone approaches the island.