From Secret Cliffs to Old Town Streets
There are places that are beautiful in photographs, and there are places that stay with you long after you leave. Corfu has both. This island is full of dramatic coastlines, sleepy villages, hidden coves and elegant streets that somehow feel both Greek and slightly Italian at the same time. One minute you are walking through a UNESCO-listed old town, the next you are standing above turquoise water on a wild cliff edge with nothing around you but the wind and the sea.
If you are visiting Corfu for the first time, these are the five places that deserve a spot on your list.
Corfu Town. Elegant, Chaotic and Impossible Not to Love
There is no better place to begin than Corfu Town.
At first glance it feels like a postcard: pastel shutters, old Venetian houses, narrow alleys strung with laundry, cafés spilling onto little squares. But the more time you spend here, the more you notice the layers. Venetian, French, British, Greek – Corfu Town has been shaped by all of them.
Start early in the morning when the streets are still quiet. Walk through the tiny kantounia – the narrow lanes of the old town – and you will find little churches hidden between houses, old balconies covered in flowers and bakeries selling warm spanakopita. It's our personal recommendation.
Continue towards the Liston, Corfu’s elegant promenade inspired by Paris, then wander into the large Spianada square before climbing up to the Old Fortress. From the top, you get one of the best views on the island: terracotta roofs, the sea, and the mountains of Albania in the distance.
Corfu Town is also the perfect place for an evening. The atmosphere changes completely after sunset. The streets fill with music, people sit outside with wine or cocktails, and every corner seems to lead to another hidden restaurant or tiny bar.
Book your tour with us at grivastravel.com/tours
If you want to explore Corfu Town without worrying about parking or finding your way through the narrow streets, we offer private town tours and transfers directly from your hotel. Many guests combine Corfu Town with a stop at Paleokastritsa or Kassiopi for a full day around the island.
Paleokastritsa. Corfu’s Most Beautiful Bay
If there is one place that appears on almost every postcard of Corfu, it is Paleokastritsa.
And for once, the reality is even better than the photographs. (And we mean it!)
Paleokastritsa is a series of deep blue bays surrounded by green hills and dramatic cliffs. The water here is clearer than almost anywhere else on the island – shades of turquoise, emerald and dark blue all mixed together.
The best way to see Paleokastritsa is from the water. Small boats leave from the beach and take you along the coast, into caves and hidden coves that you can only reach by sea. Some of them are so small and quiet that it feels as though you have found your own private beach.
Above the bay, high on the hill, is the monastery of Paleokastritsa. Even if you are not usually interested in monasteries, it is worth visiting for the view alone. The monastery gardens are full of flowers, the atmosphere is peaceful, and from the terrace you can see the entire coastline below.
Try to stay until late afternoon. When the sun begins to go down, the cliffs glow golden and the sea turns almost silver.
Paleokastritsa is included in several of our most popular private tours, often combined with Corfu Town and either Kassiopi or Cape Drastis. If you prefer, we can also arrange a transfer and wait while you explore at your own pace.
Canal d’Amour. The Most Romantic Place on the Island
Near the village of Sidari, in the north of Corfu, the landscape suddenly changes. Instead of green hills and pebble beaches, you find soft sandstone cliffs carved by the sea into unusual shapes, little caves and narrow channels.
This is Canal d’Amour.
According to local legend, if two people swim through the canal together, they will stay together forever. Whether you believe the story or not, there is definitely something magical about this place.
The cliffs are warm and golden in the afternoon sun, the sea below is calm and clear, and there are small paths where you can walk along the edge and look down into the water.
Most people come for the famous canal itself, but the surrounding coastline is just as beautiful. If you walk a little further away from the main beach, you can find quieter spots and incredible views over the sea.
Canal d’Amour is especially beautiful in the evening, just before sunset, when most of the day visitors have left.
Because public transport to this part of the island can be complicated, many visitors choose to combine Canal d’Amour with Cape Drastis on a private north Corfu tour. It is one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to see both places in one day.
Contact us at grivastravel.com and we will show you the Corfu as we know it.
Kassiopi. The Village Everyone Falls in Love With
Kassiopi is one of those places people come to “for an hour” and end up staying all day.
This small harbour village on the northeast coast of Corfu has managed to stay charming without losing its atmosphere. Fishing boats still sit in the harbour, old men still drink coffee in the square, but at the same time there are beautiful restaurants, stylish little boutiques and some of the island’s best waterfront bars.
The harbour itself is lovely, especially in the evening when the lights reflect on the water and people walk along the promenade.
Above the village are the ruins of Kassiopi Castle. The climb takes only a few minutes, but the view from the top is worth it: the sea, the coastline, the rooftops below and Albania just across the water.
Kassiopi is also one of the best places in Corfu if you want to combine a village with swimming. There are several small beaches nearby with crystal-clear water.
The drive to Kassiopi is beautiful too, especially if you follow the northeast coast past Dassia, Ipsos, Barbati and Nissaki.
We often recommend combining Kassiopi with Corfu Town or a northeast coast tour. If you do not want to rent a car or deal with the mountain roads, we can arrange a private transfer or driver for the day so you can enjoy the route and stop whenever you like.
5. Cape Drastis – Corfu’s Wildest View
If Paleokastritsa is Corfu at its most famous, Cape Drastis is Corfu at its most dramatic.
Located at the far northwestern edge of the island, Cape Drastis feels almost unreal. White cliffs rise above the sea, falling into narrow channels and strange rock formations below.
The landscape looks different from every angle. From above, you can stand at the viewpoint and see the cliffs stretching into the sea. From the water, they are even more impressive.
The road there is narrow and not always easy, which is one reason Cape Drastis still feels quieter and more untouched than many other places in Corfu.
The best time to visit is late afternoon or sunset. The light on the cliffs becomes soft and golden, and the sea below changes colour every few minutes.
Bring good shoes, because the path to the viewpoint can be uneven. And do not rush. Cape Drastis is one of those places that is best enjoyed slowly.
Many of our guests choose a private tour of northern Corfu that combines Cape Drastis, Canal d’Amour and Kassiopi in one day. It is one of the most beautiful routes on the island and ideal if you want to see the more dramatic side of Corfu without spending the day driving.
Want to See the Best of Corfu in One Day?
The island is larger than it looks on the map, and some of the most beautiful places are difficult to reach by public transport.
If you want to see several of these destinations in one day, we can help you create a private route based on what you enjoy most – villages, beaches, viewpoints, local food, hidden places or famous sights.
Popular combinations include:
- Corfu Town + Paleokastritsa
- Kassiopi + Canal d’Amour + Cape Drastis
- Full Island Tour including Corfu Town, Paleokastritsa and the northeast coast
With a private driver and local guide, you can enjoy the island without worrying about roads, parking or finding the best stops.
Book your tour with us at grivastravel.com
Because the best parts of Corfu are often the places you would never find on your own.
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