Guests who stay with us in our beach houses usually want to do one day in Corfu Town — to see the UNESCO World Heritage site, walk the Venetian streets, see the fortresses, eat a proper Sofrito. After years of sending guests there with hand-written directions, we decided to write it down. This is how we tell them to spend the day.
The Town’s Short Biography
Before you go: know what you’re walking through. Corfu Old Town was shaped by three foreign powers in turn — the Venetians (1386–1797), the French (briefly, early 19th century), and the British (1815–1864). The Venetians built the fortresses and planted the olive groves. The French built the Liston arcade, consciously modelled on Paris’s Rue de Rivoli. The British built the neoclassical palace that now houses the Museum of Asian Art. The Greeks inherited all of it in 1864 and have kept it remarkably intact — UNESCO inscribed the town in 2007.
The Walking Order We Recommend
Arrive at the Liston
Park near the new port or the Spianada, walk to the Liston, and have your first coffee here. Yes, it’s a touch pricey — you’re paying for the postcard view of the Spianada and the cricket ground. Worth it once. This is also the best people-watching in the Mediterranean.
Walk to St. Spyridon
Five minutes from the Liston. The church of Corfu’s patron saint, completed in 1589. His body rests in the silver sarcophagus at the altar, and is paraded through town four times a year. Tallest bell tower in the Ionian. Go quietly, even if you’re not religious — this is the single most important building on the island to Corfiots themselves.
The Old Fortress
The most rewarding of the two fortresses to go inside. Cross the moat (the Kontra Fossa, cut artificially by the Venetians), climb up through the Venetian prisons and the old port, and come out on top for one of the best panoramic views of the island. The Doric-style Church of St. George in the middle is a British-era addition but fits beautifully. Budget 90 minutes; wear flat shoes.
Lunch in the Campiello Kantounia
Step one street back from the Liston into the kantounia (the narrow medieval alleys of the Campiello district). The tavernas here serve Corfiot food at half the Liston price — order Sofrito or Pastitsada, ask for a carafe of house wine (krasi hima), and take an hour.
An Afternoon Museum
After lunch, pick one museum. We almost always recommend the Museum of Asian Art at the north end of the Spianada — guests find it unexpectedly wonderful. For the classically minded, the Archaeological Museum (10 minutes south) has the Gorgon Pediment. Full list in our museums guide.
Late Afternoon at the New Fortress
If you have energy, the New Fortress at the top of town has the best views of sunset. The Lion of Venice over the entrance is the single most recognisable symbol of Corfu’s Venetian era. Climb the Bastion of the Seven Winds; stay for the sunset.
Or: The Shorter Version
If you only have half a day — say, the morning before driving back to the beach — do this: Liston coffee, St. Spyridon, one fortress (Old Fortress if you want more to see, New Fortress if you want better views), lunch in the kantounia. Skip the museums for this visit; come back another day.
Our House Rules for Town Days
Go early. Park before 10 AM. The Spianada area fills fast in summer.
Flat shoes. The Venetian flagstones are gorgeous and treacherous in flip-flops.
Hat and water. The fortresses offer little shade.
Skip the Liston for dinner. The tavernas one street back are dramatically better.
Don’t drive in. The Old Town is pedestrianised in the centre; don’t try.
Bring cash. Many smaller tavernas and museum ticket booths prefer cash.
The Full Weekend in Town
A number of guests decide, after one day trip, that they want to spend a second stay entirely in the Old Town. Our partner Oikia 4 is an apartment in the heart of the old town — every landmark in this article is within fifteen minutes’ walk — and a very different experience from the beach stay. Many guests book both across a trip.
★ Herbie Cars — Our Rental Partner
You’ll need a car for the drive in and out of town from the beach houses. Herbie delivers to the house — easy handover, free delivery, honest prices.
Book a car →★ Want to Stay Right in the Old Town?
Our partner Oikia 4 puts you ten minutes from everything on this list. A good option for a second week or a solo town trip.
View our beach houses →Flying in and doing the Old Town before checking in to the beach house? Drop your bags at Lock and Walk — a five-minute walk from the Liston — and start the day unencumbered. See also our traditional restaurant recommendations for where to book dinner in town.
For the wider Corfu travel picture — day trips, all the beaches, driving routes — our friends at CorfuRide have the complete reference.