Corfu
Information about Corfu.
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| Crystal clear waters |
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| Beautiful sunset |
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| Beautiful view |
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| Natural private beaches |
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| Traditional |
Corfu, Kerkira called, is one of the largest islands in Greece(almost 70 km long and wide from 4 to 30 km). The north, richer vegetation and characterized by small creeks, attracts many tourists in search of beautiful scenery and crystal clear waters.
The south side, however, more arid, is very similar to the Greek mainland. In the area of Paleokastritsa there are many attractions, from the beach Liapades up to the most famous Paleokastritsa, under the Orthodox Monastery of the hill (to see). Many of the more isolated beaches, reachable by taxi-boats leaving from Liapades or Paleokastritsa.
Very impressive landscape of the resort Lakones, a small village on the tourist area of Paleokastritsa, point called Bellavista.
A few miles from this point there is an old castle called Angelokastro (Castle of Angels).Continuing along this road towards the north you can make the trip around the entire northern part coming up in Sidari, places known for some typical smooth rocks that form a channel called Canal d'Amour.
Continue along this road, passing through Roda, we arrive at the small fishing village called Kassiopi. At this point you are already on the west side of the island and you're heading towards the town of Corfu. The beautiful scenic road that runs along the picturesque villages of Nissaki and Kouloura with their bays.
On this road there is also a detour to the summit of Mount Pantokrator, the island's highest point.
Going to the city meets the location of Ipsos, well known for its nightlife.
Nearby are the resorts of Dassia and Gouvia. Very interesting to visit the island's interior is characterized by small villages not yet contaminated by tourism and still retain local traditions and way of Greek life.
Visit the town of Corfu The town of Corfu, characterized by foreign domination, fascinates tourists on the streets and alleys in typically Venetian style.
The beautiful "Esplanade," the former parade ground of the French, who later became the British field cricket. In the same square, meeting place and promenade, there are many bars located on the porch called Liston.
In the square is also the Royal Palace and the Old Fortress. In the vicinity of the airport lies Kanoni, from which vantage point you can see Pontikonissis, a church in the sea connected to the mainland by a narrow street.
You can also visit the famous Achilleion, the palace of Princess Sissi and its gardens.Within the city there are many Orthodox churches worth visiting, such as St. Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu.
The beaches of the island of Corfu Besides the beaches of Paleokastritsa and Liapades, there are many equally beautiful beaches.
Among these include the long sandy beach of Glyfada, about 12 km from Liapades, located on the west side of the island. A few kilometers before there is any indication, not very visible to the beach Mirtiotissa; oddly within a few kilometers are inhabited by monks from a monastery and a large sandy beach known as a nudist beach.
Further south are the beaches of Pelekas and Agios Gordios, which retain the same characteristics of the north. To see the difference consider the landscape around the south isl
Corfu Beach Guide
The Ionian Islands of Greece are known for their exotic beaches. Corfu, in particular, has a stunning coastline. Among the best beaches in Corfu are Agios Georgios, Dassia, Agios Stefanos, Kavos and Glyfada beach. There are also a few 5 star hotels and villas for rent that have their own private beaches, mainly on the east side of Corfu Island.
Some of the best beaches of the Ionian Islands, awarded with European Union’s Blue Flag, can be found in Corfu. The best beaches in Corfu are mostly located on the west side of the island. Agios Stefanos is a long sandy beach located in a scenic fishing village. The cosmopolitan Glyfada beach is situated 15 km from Corfu Town,
Corfu / Beaches
Kavos The English pick A very popular beach, especially amongst the British tourists. It's located on the southern part of the island and it's about 3 kilometers long. The beach has an excellent infrastructure, with many taverns, bars, clubs, beach bars, umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, international cuisine restaurants, fast foods and cafes. The waters are azure, cold, yet shallow. It's quite far from the capital city of the island, yet it's daily visited by hundreds of people who party until the small hours and enjoy the fine Ionian waters.
Avlaki A quiet, idyllic hideaway This is a nice sandy beach, ideal for those who enjoy some peace and quiet during their holidays. The beach has small pebbles, crystal clear waters, few villas and a couple of traditional taverns.
Kerassia The escapist's dream This is allegedly one of the nicest beaches of the island. It combines excellent water quality, with rich vegetation, scenic bays, cosmopolitan ambiance and high standard services. This is where the Rothschild's mansion is located, as well as other famous people's private residences.
Nissaki Breezy moments of rest and relaxation This small seaside village was the main access and communication point in the beginning of the 20th century, when the road network was still underdeveloped. Next to the scenic port you will find an organized beach for unforgettable moments of rest and relaxation. The olive trees reach all the way to the water, which are crystal clear and quite cold! From there you can take a small boat and visit the Diapontian and the Paxoi Islands.
Ypsos Beach An evergreen bay with cobalt waters This is a very long sandy beach, stretching all the way to the homonymous bay. It's fully organized, with umbrellas and sunbeds, a diving center and the infrastructure for water sports. The nearby village is quite developed with many taverns, shops, snack and beach bars. The waters are particularly shallow. Enjoy the panoramic view while you are driving on the coastal highway towards the northern side of the bay.
Channel of Love Romantic highway to heaven! At the far left of the beach of Sidari you will stumble across the Canal D' Amour (channel of love), which is really a tunnel in between two rocks. According to the legends, whoever swims from one side to the other will definitely find the love of his life. Some people say it's because if you swim there alone you will feel this internal need to mate!
Sidari A cosmopolitan seaside town Sidari is a traditional summer holidays seaside destination of Kerkyra. It has an amazing long sandy beach, with quiet, shallow, crystal clear waters and an excellnt infrastructure. There are many hotels, rooms to let, a nice shopping center, restaurants, taverns, bars and a waterpark.
Issos Golden sand and azure waters The beach of Issos is located few kilometers south of Korission Lake. It's long, well organized, with lifeguards on duty and the opportunity for water sports. The sand is soft and golden and the waters are azure and shallow. On its southern part, there is a port, few taverns and rooms to let.
Acharavi A cosmopolitan spot of incomparable beauty Acharavi is located on the north part of the island and it's a 3 kilometers long sandy beach. It's fully organized with umbrellas and sunbeds, showers and lockers. Even though it's cosmopolitan, it's pretty quiet, away from the main, busy coastal road, with shallow clear waters -ideal for families with young children. There are few restaurants, beach bars and many villas to rent. Visitors will also have the chance to exercise various water sports.
Benitses The Emperor's choice! A beautiful, scenic seaside village with mazy narrow streets, Roman baths, excellent food and many bars that will keep you awake until the small hours. The beach is long and pebbly and it was actually Emperor Wilhelm's favorite! Keizer has build a bridge in this exact location, part of which is still standing there! It's organized with sunbeds and umbrellas and offers the opportunity for some water sports.
Palaiokastritsa Beach A cosmopolitan emerald hideaway In Palaiokastritsa you will actually find 5 beaches, each one with its own character. The main one is under the monastery, it's long, sandy and fully organized. The other one is close to the small port and it's very popular during the summer and the other 3 are accessible only by boat. Two things you must remember about Palaiokastritsa. The waters are extremely cold and the underwater world is very interesting! There are small boats that tour you in the area, through the small coves with the turquoise waters and the numerous caves. There are few taverns, several souvenir shops and the oldest diving center of the island.
Palaiokastritsa
A place of rare natural beauty, just 26 km northwest from the city of Corfu, Palaiokastritsa consists of two long sandy beaches surrounded by astonishingly sculpted rocks with cold, emerald waters. The coast is ideal for diving and snorkeling, due to the numerous coves and the underwater caves. Scenes from the James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” were also shot here.
Agios Gordis A beautiful paradise cove Agios Gordis is actually one of the biggest bays on the western side of the island, with easy access by public buses, taxis and private vehicles. It's a nice, long sandy beach, fully organized and offering the opportunity for all kinds of water sports. Ideal for those who love to walk on the beach and enjoy the emerald waters of the Ionian Sea. Don't forget to take pictures with Ortholithi in the background. Ortholithi is a massive rock, coming out of the water, in the southern part of the bay.
Halikounas An exotic retreat This is a fairly exotic beach! It's about 3 kilometers long, really wide and quite secluded. It's separated by a road from Corission lake, it's not organized and it can be quite windy. This is why a lot of surfers prefer it. Don't forget to bring your own umbrella, cause the sun can be very strong!
Kontoyialos Quality beach time Kontoyialos is pretty close to Glyfada. It's organized and offers the opportunity for water sports. It's long and sandy with shallow, emerald waters. There are two ways to reach the beach of Kontogyalos; both offering you the chance to enjoy a nice panoramic sea view. There are a couple of fish taverns on the beach, where you can enjoy traditional Corfiat cuisine.
Glyfada Beach Where the sky's blue meets the emerald of the sea.Glyfada is one of the most popular beaches in Corfu. It's fully organized, with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, nice beach bars, lifeguards on duty, water sports facilities and locker rooms. It's also ideal for families, since the waters are shallow and crystal clear. An excellent choice, at a close proximity to the capital of the island.
Corfu Island Specialties
Corfu is well known for its delicious cuisine influenced by its conquerors; Italian, Turkish, German and Greek references are present in every dish. With the Venetians holding the biggest impact on the culture of Corfu, the Corfiot cuisine is a little different than the typical Greek or Mediterranean cuisines. Though the ingredients, olive oil, pepper, past, vegetable, fish and meat are the same, the combination is different. The climate conditions (humidity and heavy rains during the winter) affect the vegetation of the island.
The locals prefer to cook in casseroles rather than frying or roasting. Since the ancient years, people made their own bread, wine and oil, they were cooking collectively and they would create dishes with lots of broth, where they dipped their bread.
Below are some of the authentic Corfu dishes, famous in Greece and Europe, and served around the island.
Bourdetto is usually made with scorpion fish or salty cod, cooked in a sauce and a lot of red pepper and is the traditional plate served on March 25th.
Pastitsada is made with a cockerel cooked in a casserole with fresh tomatoes, onion, cinnamon and paprika and it’s usually served with thick pasta. This recipe came directly from the Venetians, who called it Spezzatino which was made with beef, rather than cockerel and served with potatoes instead of pasta. Pastitsada is the locals’ favorite dish and it’s served in special family celebrations and holidays.
Famous Soffrito is yet another famous Corfiat dish influenced by the Frankish-Venetian period, made of beef stewed in a white sauce with white pepper and garlic, served with mashed potatoes or pasta. The dish is a traditional Sunday dish.
Tsigarelli is a dish consisting of wild greens sautéed with garlic and hot paprika.
Bianco, meaning white in Italian, is Fish (scorpion or grey mullet) cooked in a casserole with lemon juice, garlic and pepper
Savoro or savouri is fried fish in a rosemary sauce, vinegar, garlic and raisins, usually served with Bourdettoon March 25th (national and religious holiday) or on Palm Sunday.
Roasted Easter Lamb The Easter lamb is roasted on the spit, however in Corfu it’s usually prepared and served on Easter Monday, instead of Sunday as elsewhere in Greece.
Avgolemono Soup is a broth made of eggs and lemon sauce, beef or lamb served on Easter Sunday.
Tsilihourda (Mayeritsa) is the traditional soup cooked on the evening of Easter Saturday and eaten after Resurrection (after midnight).
General Info
CLIMATE The islands of the North Ionian Sea are somewhat isolated and the climate differs from the rest of Greece. There are no “meltemia”, the famous winds that blow in the Aegean Sea, during the summer months. The winds in Corfu are light and the climate is mild and sweet. Many tourists prefer this side of Greece, avoiding the strong winds of the Aegean.
During the winter months, southern winds, usually lasting for days, strike the island with an intensity that can reach up to 8 Beauforts. The strong winds rarely cut off access to the mainland, due to the small distance from the shores of Epirus. The island also experiences high humidity and heavy rain falls, during the witner months, which explain its rich vegetation.
TELEPHONE The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad. The area codes for Corfu are 26610, 26620 and 26630 and the local phone numbers have 5 digits. If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialing the other country’s national prefix (i.e. for Germany is 0049, for England is 0044, etc.) and then continue with the desired area code and number. CURRENCY The currency of the island is Euro (€). Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver color) 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold color) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper color) 1 euro = 100 cents/centimes.
The banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Please bear in mind that it’s not always easy to get change from 100, 200 and 500 banknotes.
Getting There
Kerkyra is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. Every year the island welcomes an enormous number of tourists, who come from every part of the world, but mainly from Europe. This is why it’s very well connected with the mainland, as well as with numerous countries, by air and by sea.
Kerkyra is connected by boat from:
• Igoumenitsa (within an hour and a half – 14 nautical miles) • Patra (within 7-8 hours) • Kefalonia, the Diapontian Islands • Paxoi Islands (within one hour – 27 nautical miles • Bari, Venice, Ancona and Brindisi in Italy and Agioi Saranta in Albania (within 30 minutes)
During the summer months there are frequent commercial and charter flights that connect the island with almost every European capital.
BY BOAT Blue Star Ferries – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Bari, Ancona and Venice.
Superfast Ferries – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Bari and Ancona.
Minoan Lines – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Venice and Ancona.
Anek Lines – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Ancona and Venice.
Ventouris Sea Lines – From Igoumenitsa to Corfu, Bari and Durres (Albania).
Endeavor Lines – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Kefalonia, Corfu and Brindisi.
Petrakis Lines – From Corfu and Paxoi Islands. For more information call at +30 26610 31649 or 26610 38690
Corfu Flying Dolphins – From Corfu, Igoumenitsa and Paxoi Islands. For more information call at +30 26610 31649 or 26610 38690
BY AIR Aegean Airlines – From Athens International Airport El. Venizelos to Corfu within approximately 45 minutes. Local telephone number (at Corfu Airport): +30 26610 27100
Olympic Airlines – From Athens International Airport El. Venizelos to Corfu within approximately 45 minutes. telephone number: +30 26610 38694
BY CAR If you are travelling by car, there are many alternatives to access Corfu.
If you are driving from Athens, you need to follow the Athens-Patra national highway towards Patra. Once you reach Patra (216 km) you have two choices; either go by boat or drive up to Igoumenitsa (another 349 km), passing the Rio-Antirio bridge. Once you reach Igoumenitsa, you can take the ferry to Corfu. The trip with the ferry lasts for about an hour and a half.
If you are travelling from Thessaloniki, you need to follow the Egnatia Odos towards Igoumenitsa (500 km) and then take the ferry to Corfu.
Local Transportation
BUSES The island has a very good road infrastructure and an excellent public transportation system. There are two available local bus lines. The first is the municipal line (blue buses) and runs between the capital city of Kerkyra and the suburbs of Afra, Agios Ioannis, Kanoni, Perama and Achillion. The second is the KTEL line (green buses) and covers the entire island. With KTEL you can visit various towns and villages, like Lefkimi, Kavos, Karoussades, Agios Panteleimon, Agios Gordios, Glyfada and many more.
KTEL: +30 26610 30627 and 26610 39985
TAXI SERVICE You can also get around the island by taxi. There are many taxi piazzas, in various central points of the island, like in San Rocco square and on Theotokis Street. You can also call for a radio-taxi (call at 26610 33811). The fares are fixed between the capital city and the most popular destinations, but you can also check before you get onboard. In the main piazzas you will also find a board with indicative fares for each destination. Finally, you can also hail a taxi, if you don’t happen to be near a piazza. They will stop provided that they have no other passenger onboard.
HORSE CARRIAGES Corfu is one of the few places in Greece where you will actually see horse carriages. This is probably the most romantic way to tour around the capital city. You can find them in Spianada –the main square- and at the old port. The tour can last up to 40 minutes and the driver will take you around the main sights of the city. For any additional information you can call at +30 26610 24162 . RENT A CAR OR A MOTORBIKE Kerkyra is a big island visited by thousands of tourists every year. It has many attractions, scattered around, ancient monuments, amazing beaches and an astonishing natural beauty all around. If you don’t travel there with you own car, you can rent one or a motorbike, from one of the numerous car rental agencies that can be found in all the major towns. Remember that during the months of May through September, Kerkyra is packed and you need to make a reservation well ahead. Finally, bear in mind that Easter is also a very busy period for the island, due to the religious and cultural festivities that take place.
The ground rules about renting a vehicle or a motorbike are as follows, • You have to be 21 years old and you definitely need a valid driving license • Insurance is optional. Make sure you check the condition of the car beforehand. If you sign for its mint condition, this is how you must return it, otherwise you will be charged with damages –unless you included full insurance in the original price. • You need to return the car with as much gas as it had when it was delivered to youBe careful. No agency should withhold your driving license or ID card. These can only be photocopied, if necessary, and then delivered back to you. You should carry them at all times in case the police or any local authorities request them.
The road network of Corfu is pretty good; however, do not forget that it’s also an agricultural area. Tractors or other vehicles might appear out of nowhere and the same goes for animals and/or pedestrians. Do not violate the speed limits and do not park where not allowed. The municipal and the traffic police will most certainly write you a ticket. Bear in mind that parking is limited around the city and especially near the entrance of the old town –where absolutely no cars are allowed.
Same rules apply in case you are interested in renting a motorcycle or a scooter. Only in this case you need to be extra careful and always wear a helmet. Parking will certainly be easier!
Local Services
BANKS & ATMs You will find branches of all the major Greek banks on the island, like National Bank, Emporiki Bank, Piraeus Bank, Alpha Bank, Agricultural, Ioniki, Eurobank and many more. They are all open daily, from Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 2.30pm and on Friday from 8am to 2pm. No bank is open during the country’s national and religious holidays. You will find ATMs all over the capital city of Corfu, as well as in every town and village, where you can get cash 24/7. Remember that in order to get money you need to have a card linked to the PLUS, Cirrus or Maestro networks. Check with your local bank for details.
MONEY EXCHANGE Banks exchange all major currencies and traveler’s cheques; the commission is always lower for cash. Post offices can also exchange cash, but not traveler’s cheques and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and 5 star hotels exchange foreign currency and traveler’s cheques, but usually charge a higher commission. There are banknote exchange machines in most tourist areas. There is also a dedicated exchange kiosk at the local airport, as well as at the Athens international airport El. Venizelos.
POST OFFICE The Greek post is called ELTA. Post boxes in Greece are YELLOW and there are separate boxes for international and domestic mail. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. REGISTERED mail is handled by an employee at the Post Office and you shouldn’t forget to get a receipt. POLICE STATION Do not hesitate to call the Police in case of an accident or a criminal act. If you have a problem with your hotel you can contact the Tourism Police. There are several police stations around the island and you will see officers inspecting the streets at all hours.
Police telephone numbers Corfu town: 26610 39509 (on Theotokis Square) Palaiokastritsa: 26630 41203 Benitses: 26610 72222 Agios Matthaios: 26610 75113 Lefkimi: 26620 22222
Tourism Police telephone numbers Corfu town: 26610 39503 Ipsos: 26610 93204
Traffic Police telephone numbers Corfu town: 26610 39294 Karoussades: 26630 31233
MUNICIPALITY OF CORFU Tel.: +30 26610 39424
Useful Numbers
• Post Office: 26610 25544 • Greek Tourism Organization (information): 26610 37520 • Airport: 26610 30180 and 38694 • UK Embassy: 26610 30055 • German Embassy: 26610 31450 • French Embassy: 26610 30067 • Italian Embassy: 26610 42433 • Belgian Embassy: 26610 33788 • Norwegian Embassy: 26610 39667 • Swedish Embassy: 26610 36421 • Port authority Corfu town: 26610 32655 • Port authority Palaiokastritsa: 26630 41297 • Coastguard: 26610 30481
INTERNATIONAL PRESS You can find International Press (magazines and newspapers) almost anywhere around the island.
HEALTH Corfu has a fully equipped hospital, located on 1 Andreadi Str. ( +30 22610 88200 ). There are also several Medical Aid Stations around the island. • Ipsos: 26610 93816 • Agios Matthaios: 26610 75110 • Lefkimi: 26620 22201
PHARMACIES There are numerous pharmacies around the island, which are open Monday and Wednesday from 8.30am to 2.30pm and on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30am to 2.30pm and from 5.30pm- to 8.30pm. However, you will also find limited pharmacies which are open during the weekend and throughout the night. A list of those pharmacies can be found on any pharmacy’s window around the island.
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