25 Dos & Don'ts When Visiting Corfu

MAKE YOUR CORFU TRIP HAPPEN ✨

✈️ Flights to Corfu
🏨 Hotels in Corfu
🚙 Rent a car in Corfu
🎫 Activities & Tours in Corfu
💸 No-win-no-fee flight insurance

Corfu is more than just a pretty face with olive trees and turquoise seas. She’s a living history book steeped in centuries of culture, clashing empires and, yes, a bit of Greek drama.

To really enjoy Corfu, you need to go beyond the basics.

Although the island offers easy beauty, it also rewards those who dig a little deeper. No one wants to be that person sweating in the wrong shoes or accidentally gate-crashing a monastery in hotpants.

So here’s your cheat sheet for doing Corfu right.

Before You Go

Table of Contents

Do: Research the island’s regions

Corfu isn’t one-size-fits-all.

The north is lush and mountainous. The west coast has dramatic cliffs and golden beaches.

The south? Quieter, less polished, more local.

Pick your base depending on what kind of traveller you are.

Beach bum? Culture vulture? Club-goer?

Corfu has a corner for everyone but they’re not all the same.

🏨 BEST HOTELS IN CORFU, GREECE

Best 5 Star Hotels in Corfu
Ikos Odisia • Rodostamo Hotel & Spa • Domes Miramare

Best 4 Star Hotels in Corfu
Siora Vittoria • Lido Paradise Apartments • Ray Hotel Corfu

Best Budget Hotels in Corfu
Aelia Villa Corfu • Corfu Barbati B&B • Nel Nobilis Corfu Apartment

Don’t: Assume it’s all beaches and resorts

Corfu’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site with pastel buildings, cobbled lanes and Venetian flair.

Inland villages feel frozen in time. There are monasteries, fortresses, and miles of olive groves waiting for you to get lost in.

If you only see the beach, you’re missing half the island.

Do: Pack properly

Sturdy walking shoes, a light scarf for modesty in churches and layers for breezy evenings.

Don’t forget to bring a reusable bottle. The tap water in Corfu Town and many villages is safe to drink.

Don’t: Rely solely on card

Cash is still king in many parts of Corfu, especially in rural areas and smaller shops.

Bring euros and keep some on hand for taxis, market stalls or small tavernas.

Getting Around

Do: Hire a car if you’re exploring outside the town

Corfu has a solid bus network, but it’s geared around Corfu Town.

If you want freedom to visit hidden coves, mountain villages or out-of-the-way tavernas, hire a car.

Don’t: Underestimate the roads

Some are barely wide enough for a goat and a Fiat.

Expect hairpin turns, steep drops and the occasional herd of sheep.

Drive slowly and use your horn on blind corners like locals do.

Do: Take the bus if you’re staying in Corfu Town

Buses are regular, cheap and air-conditioned.

There’s even a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing option. Just check timetables ahead of time, as service slows down in the off-season.

Don’t: Expect Uber

No ride-hailing apps here.

If you need a taxi, call one or arrange through your hotel. And always confirm the price before setting off if there’s no metre.

Exploring Corfu Town

Do: Wander the backstreets

🏨 BEST HOTELS IN CORFU, GREECE

Best Hotels in Corfu for Couples
Nido, Mar-Bella Collection • Acanthus Blue • Bella Venezia

Best Hotels in Corfu for Families
Domes of Corfu • Ikos Dassia • Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa

Best Boutique Hotels in Corfu
Acanthus Blue • The Rou Estate • Archontiko Petrettini

The charm is in the details like peeling paint, hanging laundry, hidden courtyards.

Get lost and people-watch. This is real Corfu life.

Don’t: Skip the old fortresses

Both the Old Fortress and New Fortress offer sweeping views and a dose of history.

The Old Fortress especially is a knockout at golden hour.

Do: Visit the Liston

This elegant arcade, modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, is the heart of town. Sit with a coffee and watch the world go by.

Don’t: Eat on the main tourist strip

The views might be pretty but the food rarely is. Walk a few streets inland for better prices, better cooking and a far warmer welcome.

Beach Life

Do: Visit a mix of beaches

Corfu’s coastline is varied, from sandy bays to rocky coves. Head to Paleokastritsa for emerald water and dramatic cliffs.

Try Agios Gordios for sunset views. And if you want seclusion, make for the northeast.

MORE CORFU GUIDES:

Don’t: Expect Caribbean sand everywhere

Many beaches are pebbly.

Bring water shoes if you’re sensitive or want to explore rocky areas without hobbling like a newborn deer.

Do: Respect the beach rules

Some areas are protected for turtles or other wildlife. Look for signs, stay off dunes and don’t dig holes like a hyperactive mole.

Don’t: Leave your rubbish behind

Bins can be scarce, especially on remote beaches.

Take everything with you. Yes, even that soggy sandwich wrapper.

Food and Drink

Don’t: Order chips with every meal

Local dishes shine when you embrace them. That moussaka didn’t come all the way from a yiayia’s kitchen just to sit beside frozen French fries.

Do: Visit local bakeries

You’ll spend less and taste more than at any hotel buffet.

Don’t: Expect fast service

This is Greece. Meals are slow, social affairs. Don’t rush it. Order, sip something cold and soak up the pace.

Culture and Etiquette

Do: Dress modestly in churches and monasteries

Cover shoulders and knees. Carry a scarf or sarong to save you from awkward moments at the door.

Don’t: Assume everyone speaks English

Many do, especially younger Greeks and those in tourism, but learning a few Greek phrases goes a long way.

Even a cheerful “kalimera” will earn you smiles.

Do: Be respectful with your camera

Ask before snapping people, especially in rural villages or during religious events. Not everything is meant for Instagram.

Don’t: Touch the ruins

It might be tempting, but hands off. Corfu’s historic sites are fragile. Let them last.

Final Tips

Do: Embrace the slower pace

Corfu runs on its own rhythm. Buses may be late. Shops might close mid-afternoon. That taverna you loved yesterday might be shut today. Flexibility is your friend.

Don’t: Plan too much

Leave room for lazy mornings, spontaneous swims and long lunches. Some of your best Corfu memories will come from the moments you didn’t schedule.

Corfu Awaits Your Arrival!

Corfu is not just another holiday island. It’s a layered, storied place that rewards curiosity and kindness. Do your homework. Respect the locals. Taste everything. And slow right down because that’s when Corfu works her magic.

You’ll arrive thinking you’re just here for the beaches.

But if you do it right, you’ll leave dreaming of alleys, mountains, and the sound of cicadas in the heat.