Most guests arrive with "visit the Old Fortress" on their list. By the end of the week, they've usually seen at least two of Corfu's four fortresses and are asking us which others are worth the drive. This is the guide we've built up from years of those conversations — which fortress for which type of traveller, and when to go.
The Short Version
Short on time? The Old Fortress at sunset. Everything else is a bonus.
Two days? Add Angelokastro — best view on the island, and it pairs with a Paleokastritsa swim.
A full week? See all four. The New Fortress is quieter than the Old; Gardiki is a detour but pairs with southern beaches.
The Four, Ranked by Our Guests' Feedback
Angelokastro — The Wow Factor
The clifftop fortress above Paleokastritsa. A 30-minute uphill walk from the car park, but the view from the summit is the single most Instagrammed thing from our guests' trips — not one has ever complained about the hike. Pair with a swim at Paleokastritsa or lunch at Lakones above the bay. Half a day well spent.
Old Fortress — The Icon
The twin-peaked stone giant at the eastern edge of Corfu Town, rising straight out of the sea. Our guests usually spend a morning here then regret not coming back for sunset. Do both if you can: morning for the museum and lighthouse, evening for the light on the bastions.
New Fortress — The Quiet One
Built after 1571, less visited than the Old Fortress, with stone tunnels that go on forever. Fewer people, cheaper, still enormous. We send guests here on hotter days because the tunnels stay cool. Not quite as dramatic, but more atmospheric in some ways.
Gardiki — The Detour
Down in the south, 45 minutes from Corfu Town. Byzantine rather than Venetian, octagonal, and free to enter. Worth combining with a southern beach day at Glyfada or Issos. Skip if you're short on time; include if you're a fortress enthusiast or doing a southern-Corfu day anyway.
A hosts' note
Both town fortresses are exhausting in July-August midday. Our advice to guests: visit before 10 AM or after 5 PM. Angelokastro is worst in the midday heat — the walk up is unshaded. Always bring more water than you think you need.
Getting There From the Beach House
From our north-coast base, the Old and New Fortresses are about 35 minutes' drive into Corfu Town. Angelokastro is 40 minutes the other way. Gardiki is a full hour south but pairs with a southern-beach day that includes Glyfada and Issos.
We typically recommend a hire car — buses serve Corfu Town fine but won't get you to Angelokastro.
Car Hire: Herbie
Delivery to the beach house door. They know our guests, they know the road conditions to each fortress, and they'll match the car to your plan.
Book a carCombining with Other Plans
Fortress + beach: Angelokastro + Paleokastritsa. Gardiki + Glyfada.
Fortress + village: Old Fortress + Old Town walk. Angelokastro + Lakones lunch. See our villages guide.
Fortress + sunset: Old Fortress from 6 PM. Best sunset in Corfu Town.
Practical
Wear proper shoes — all four involve uneven stone. A sun hat for Angelokastro. Hours fluctuate in low season, so check before driving out.
Where to Stay
Our beach house on the north coast is within easy driving distance of Angelokastro and Corfu Town. If you want to be inside the Old Town itself, within walking distance of both town fortresses, our sister apartment Oikia 4 sits in the heart of the Old Town.
Further reading: Corfu's Venetian and British history and our Old Town walking guide.