10 Best Things to Do in Corfu Town
What is Corfu Town Most Famous For?
The best things to do in Corfu Town range from discovering ancient Grecian treasures in its riveting museums to taking a stroll in the picturesque old quarter. You can admire pastel Venetian architecture and enjoy a refreshing 3-scoop gelato in a pretty tree-lined piazza. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is teeming with backstreet eateries and upscale waterfront restaurants that serve fresh seafood dishes.
When you’re not visiting Corfu Town’s historic fortresses or discovering various religious relics, venture to the tiny islands just off its rugged coast. You’ll find a 14th century monastery that featured in a James Bond film as well as monuments, seaside tavernas and idyllic turquoise coves.
What are the best things to do in Corfu town?
1. Corfu Museum of Asian Art
An exquisite collection of ancient antiquities
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
Situated in The Palace of St. Michael and St. George, the Corfu Museum of Ancient Art is the only venue in Greece dedicated to Chinese, Indian and Japanese works. Set in a beautiful Neoclassical building that has been masterfully erected from Maltese limestone, this world-class space never fails to impress with 15,000 pieces spanning sculptures, textiles and scrolls.
Spend an afternoon here learning about Geisha and Samurai culture during Japan’s Edo period, admiring Nepalese religious figures adorned with precious jewels and inspecting intricate kilims made by Baluch nomads. Check the official website because certain calendar dates align with free admission to the museum including European Heritage Days, held on the last weekend of September.
Localização: Palaia Anaktora, Corfu Town 49100, Greece
Abre: Daily from 8 am to 8 pm
Telefone: +30 26 6103 0443
Corfu Museum of Asian Art
2. Palaio Frourio (Old Fortress)
Remarkable naval relic
Ideal para: Foto, História
A Venetian fortress dating to the 14th century, Palaio Frourio is set on a rugged peninsula at the eastern end of Corfu’s citadel. It boasts 360-degree views of the Ionian Sea and the city’s UNESCO old town. Come here for the historic Grecian art collection in the Church of St. George with its temple-style edifice and a wonderful little lighthouse that features an emerald-green dome.
Cross over a solitary bridge that traverses a stunning saltwater moat and enter the gatehouse for the Byzantine Collection of Kerkyra. Admire mosaics from the Christian Basilica of Palaiopolis and fresco fragments from the church of Agios Nikolaos, as well as medieval sculptures with stories that span centuries.
Abre: Daily from 8 am to 8 pm
Telefone: +30 26 6104 8120
Palaio Frourio (Old Fortress)
3. Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa
Powerful religious artworks inside Panagia Antivouniotissa Church
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
The Antivouniotissa Museum showcases a sublime collection of post-Byzantine religious art belonging to the Cretan and Heptanese schools of Corfu. Located inside one of the city’s oldest ecclesiastical buildings, which stuns with its ornate gilt coffers and floral reliefs, this iconographic collection dates back hundreds of years.
Pay your respects to venerated works like the Virgin Hodegetria of Castelani, the 16th century painting Saints Sergius, Bacchus and Justina by artist Michael Damaskinos and the dramatic oil Lapidation de Saint Etienne by Filotheos Skoufos. Purchase a special ticket package, valid for a 3-day period, which will give you access to this prestigious museum as well as other popular landmarks.
Localização: Gesloten, Arseniou 25, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Abre: Wednesday–Monday from 8.30 am to 3 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Telefone: +30 26 6102 0193
Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa
4. Spianada Square
Manicured meeting spot that overlooks the ocean
Ideal para: Foto, História, Econômico
Reported to be the largest piazza in all the Balkans, Spianada Square captivates with its magnificent views of Corfu’s Old Fortress and the forested island of Nisida Vido. The park’s leafy tree-lined pathways draw visitors all year round, while its expansive green cricket lawn is a major hit in the summer.
Venture further into this urban oasis and discover a wealth of architectural landmarks and old-fashioned attractions that will keep you occupied for hours on end. Visit the neoclassical Maitland Monument, the Venetian Well’s Mouth Fountain and the Statue of Konstantinos Theotokis, an aristocratic Greek novelist.
Localização: Viktoros Dousmani 70, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Spianada Square
5. Corfu Central Market
Buzzing open-air bazaar
Ideal para: Compras, Alimentação
Set under the imposing New Venetian Fortress in a gorgeous Italianate-style building, Corfu’s Central Market showcases farm-grown fruit and vegetables, locally sourced meats, freshly caught fish and deli-style edibles. Here, you can purchase bottles of virgin olive oil and harvested Corfiot honey, along with sophisticated organic wines and sun-kissed figs and kumquats.
Foodies will have a field day sampling a curated array of street food like golden calamari, homemade tzatziki dip and crusty artisan bread that’s warm out of the oven. If you’re staying in a villa, shop for delectable produce for an al fresco meal. We recommend a whole lobster or crayfish paired with regional Lianolia olives.
Localização: Lochagou Spiridonos Vlaikou 1-11, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Abre: Monday–Saturday from 8.30 am to 3.15 pm (closed on Sundays)
Corfu Central Market
6. Fortezza Nuova (New Fortress)
A magnificent military feat with free admission
Ideal para: Foto, História
First built by the Venetians in the late 16th century, Fortezza Nuova, which translates to New Fortress, looms over Corfu Town on the imposing hill of Saint Markos. Once used by the military to fend off attacks from the Ottoman Empire, this naval installation now houses regional art exhibits and live musical performances.
Drop by to admire the winged Lions of Saint Mark on the site’s striking main gates, panoramic ocean views from the rampart’s upper level and a labyrinth of underground tunnels that connect this crumbling fortification to the city’s historic backstreets. For lunch, nothing beats a meal at nearby La Tabernita Mexicana, a rustic Latino restaurant with a fabulous outdoor terrace.
Localização: El. Venizelou 13, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Abre: Wednesday–Monday from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Telefone: +30 26 6104 8120
Fortezza Nuova (New Fortress)
7. Mon Repos Park
Monarch playground that is now a museum
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
A former royal residence that was enjoyed by nobility in the summer months, Mon Repos Park is a neoclassical mansion dating to 1831. It’s enviably located in a 104-hectare forest. Today, this architectural home is the site of the Museum of Palaeopolis, which features a permanent display of exceptional antiquities that span 14 galleries across 2 distinct floors.
Discover historic photographs that capture the British rule of Corfu, relics belonging to archaeological excavations at Palaiopolis in the 1800s and interior design displays that showcase the lavish Regency style. Afterwards, stroll through the flower-filled gardens before taking to Mon Repos’ ostentatious terrace for some of the best views in Corfu, if not the Greek Islands.
Localização: Dairpfela 16, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Abre: Wednesday–Sunday from 8 am to 7.30 pm, Monday from 8 am to 9 pm, Tuesday from 8 am to 4 pm
Mon Repos Park
8. Holy Church of Saint Spyridon
A sacred Greek Orthodox sanctuary
Ideal para: História, Econômico
Erected in the 1580s, the Holy Church of Saint Spyridon is located in Corfu’s atmospheric old town. It’s instantly recognisable thanks to its red-roofed bell tower, the tallest in the Ionian Islands. A single nave basilica, this revered religious site houses the remains of Saint Spyridon in a decorative double sarcophagus and a sublime frescoed ceiling depicting the holy man’s miracles.
Attend the church on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, 11th August and the first Sunday of November to witness the ashes being carried around the streets, accompanied by local musicians. The church is easy to get to as well, located only 8 minutes from Corfu’s central bus station, and admission is free, making it a budget day out.
Localização: Agiou Spiridonos 32, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Abre: Daily from 7 am to 8 pm
Telefone: +30 26 6103 3059
Holy Church of Saint Spyridon
9. Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna
A Byzantine beauty with a picture-postcard belltower
Ideal para: História, Econômico
The Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna is situated on a tiny islet in the idyllic Ionian Sea. It’s easily accessed by a pedestrian footbridge that can be found on the edge of Kanoni Harbour. Built in the 17th century, this Corfiot religious site has a rustic interior that features a wood-carved iconostasis and a tranquil waterfront patio showcasing an icon of the Virgin Mary.
Unusually, Pontikonisi Island, where the monastery is found, is a wonderful vantage point to watch planes landing and departing from nearby Corfu airport. It’s been featured in several Hollywood movies too, thanks to its glorious cinematic setting, including the 1981 James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.
Localização: Kanoni Harbour, Paleopolis 163, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Abre: Monday–Friday from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm
Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna
10. Vidos Island
Seaside escape with a storied wartime history
Ideal para: História, Alimentação, Foto
A compact Ionian Island with a Peloponnesian wartime past, Vido is found at the mouth of Corfu’s bustling port. It’s celebrated for its forested terrain that offers shady respite in the hotter months of the year. A protected nature reserve, this oceanic jewel is known for its historic Serbian mausoleum, beaches that are suitable for swimming and several important monuments like the ruins of Fort Wellington.
After sending out a prayer at St. Stephen’s Church, swing by Vido’s characterful little tavern for an ice-cold beverage and a bite to eat. Kos Dasia A.E serves delectable Greek dishes on its al fresco terrace, which is peppered with parasols and tables that overlook the sea.
Localização: Opposite Corfu Town’s commercial port, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Vidos Island
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