CORFU

Northern Corfu

Starting point of the route is Palaiokastritsa.

The landscape shaped by hills covered by olive groves and with crystal clear-water bights is unique! Visit the main beach: from there you can be guided around by boat in the unique caves and remote beaches. Engage in sea activities or visit the Monastery of Palaiokastritsa, where a Museum is also open to the public.

Then head north and turn left. After 6 km you will meet Lakones, a picturesque village of the 18th and 19th century where you can enjoy a unique view. It is worth taking a walk at Bella Vista having a breath-taking view.

If you are hungry, you will find traditional dishes of Corfu at the village restaurants.

We propose you try Bourdeto, Bianco, Soffrito, Pastitzada or Yuvetsi. Move West, where you will meet Krini, and follow the narrow road

located amidst the dense olive groves leading to Aggelokastro. It is worth making a stop here!

Immediately after Prinylas you will be found in the village Paghi, which is famous for its fruit and wine.

Move around the area, admire old mansions and visit churches with works of art of 16th century painters.

You can move down to the beach with the same name and swim in the crystal clear waters.

Continue your route south west and after 3.5 km you will meet Afionas, which reminds the picturesque villages of the Dalmatian coasts. Here you will enjoy a fantastic view. Follow the path leading to the historic double-edged port of Porto Timone.

Head North. Enjoy the spectacular view until you reach Arillas, where a stop at the brewery of the area is imperative: you will be served fresh beer free of charge.

Next stop is Aghios Stephanos. Being built amphitheatrically, it offers a panoramic view of the Diapontia Islands. From here you can go by boat and visit or stay on the islands Erikousa, Mathraki and Othoni.

On these three small islands those who like calm life, walking and fishing will discover paradise on earth.

On your return from Diapontia Islands, visit Sidari and Canal D’Amour, where those who swim in its waters find everlasting love according to the legend.

For lunch you can choose between traditional tavernas and gourmet restaurants or fish-tavernas.

Then move South and cross the small villages of Livadi, Psathyla, Messaria; you will eventually reach Aghios Athanasios where it is worth visiting the Monastery of Christ the Almighty (Pantocrator) with the unique icon painting workshop.

In Aghii Douli and the monastery of Kamarella you will meet an organic farm with outstanding standardized products.

Head East and reach the Kum Quat village, Nymphes (meaning “Brides”), which owes its name

to the myth whereby brides wash their hair in the crystal clear waters of the small waterfalls of the area.

Then move down towards Acharavi. Enjoy your swim on the sandy beach, one of the biggest of Corfu. Move on to Palia Perithia, an authentic Venetian village with exceptional traditional tavernas etc.

Move on southwest and after 7 km you will reach Strinyla village, where you will enjoy the unique panorama. There you will meet the church of Christ the Almighty (Pantocrator) and admire the spectacular view of the whole island.

You will find tavernas where you can try game, such as wild pork meet and venison cooked in different ways.

Head south to the Provincial Road of Sgourades - Profitis Ilias and meet Spartylas for a cup of coffee or enjoy the wonderful view.

From there moving west you will meet the traditional villages of Sokraki and Sgourades where you can rest and have lunch.

The route continues towards the traditional settlement of Doukades with a history of four centuries. A walk in the village will be quite rewarding as you will have the opportunity to admire the renovated mansions. Prefer one of the small tavernas in the central square and try traditional delicacies.

Having completed your visit of Doukades, start your return to Palaiokastritsa where the route ends.

Central Corfu

Starting point of the route is the city of Corfu, which has been included in the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO.

 Walk in the historic centre of Corfu, admire the famous Liston where you will find cafés and taverns, visit the old and new fort, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Asian Art and the Banknote Museum.

Do stop at St. Spyridon’s church to worship the Saint; in the town you will find accommodation, restaurants, cafés, shops of local goods and souvenirs to buy etc.

 Do not forget to taste ginger beer and buy madolata (a kind of hard candy), kum quat both as sweet and liqueur. Also search for the famous fig tarts known as sykomaides.

When you get out of the town, follow the provincial road of Corfu - Pelekas heading west.

In the square of Aghios Ioannis, you will find a traditional taverna that has been there for 100 years.

 Refresh at the picturesque small café and drink a ginger beer in the shade of plane trees. Do not forget to stop at the distillery.

 In Aghios Ioannis move south towards the provincial road of Palaiokastritsa -Peleka and reach Giannades, where you will walk and admire the exceptional architecture of the houses.

Enjoy the fantastic view of the meadow of Ropas and the surrounding hills.

The route continues southeast. After 4 km you will be at Ropas Valley, a beautiful plain with cultivations such as vineyards.

Here an exceptional wine of the “kakotryghi” variety is produced and there is a farm - an ecological park, which is worth visiting.

 The area is a vast natural habitat; the exploration of the meadow by car, bike or on foot will absolutely fascinate you! If you are a golf lover, you are definitely at the right place to practice your hobby.

 Next stop on your route is Vatos. Here you can stop at any of the old cafés of the village, taste organic honey and visit the school for parapente: you can travel in the air and enjoy Corfu from above.

From Vatos head east to the provincial road Kokkinis-Ropas Livadi (meadow) heading for Pelekas. Just before the settlement it is worth visiting the winery of the area, which is open to visitors. Also have a look at the traditional oil-factory where the horse is the driving force.

 Do not forget to visit the top of the hill where Caesar’s (Kaisers) observatory is located and enjoy the famous sunset.

 Move on south-east on the provincial road Pelekas-Kastellani and reach Kynopiastes after 9 km. Walk around the mansions.

Visit the Olive Museum, which is housed in a perfectly conserved oil-factory of the beginning of the 20th century.

In the village search for the legendary taverna of Corfu which has been open since 1936 and its inside resembles a grocery store; you will be surprised by its decoration and local delicacies.

 Then it is worth moving towards Gastouri and visiting the famous Achilleion, the legendary palace built on a green hill as the retreat of the Austrian empress Elisabeth.

 A great number of important works of art, among which the best-known is the statue of Achilles, ornament this exceptional architectural work,

which is now open as a museum with a lot of important exhibits.

Achilleion is a destination for thousands of visitors every year.

 The route continues north. From Kynopiastes turn right to the provincial road Pontis-Mesoggis. Then follow the national road Corfu-Achilleion and reach Kanali after app. 6 km. From there move on towards Kerkyra (the city of Corfu) where the route ends.

Southern Corfu

The route starts from Lefkimmi, the “lady of the South”, built in a fertile plain with olive groves and vineyards. In the middle of the settlement the river divides Lefkimmi into two parts.

On both parts you will find cafés, tavernas and different stores. Stop for lunch and taste traditional recipes with fresh fish.

 Visit the churches of Saints Anarghyri and Saint Arsenios, as well as the Monastery of Virgin Mary Lady of Angels (“Panaghia Kera ton Aggelon”). Do not leave without passing from the rebuilt salt warehouses (salt marshes) of the Venetians at a small distance from Lefkimmi and, if you are lucky, you will see hundreds of flamingos resting before their long journey.

 Next stop of the route is the villages Vitalades and Perivoli with the fantastic beaches of Gardenou, Marta, Mega Chorou, Kalyvioti and Marathia, where you can enjoy your swim, taste delicious fish dishes and seafood and find accommodation.

 Head northwest and after 4 km you will reach the traditional settlement Argyrades, one of the oldest villages with a unique architecture and characteristic Venetian narrow streets.

From here move north and follow the provincial road; you will meet the area Linia where you will admire the church of Virgin Mary “Odigitria Korission”, the Monastery of Christ the Almighty (Pantocrator) and the medieval castle of Douris. Walk around the enchanting lake Korission, unique wetlands where you can observe rare birds and plants.

 In the lake there is a great number of fish (grey mullets) from which the local population produces a special kind of roe, which you must taste.

 There you will also meet the famous beach of Issos, where you will be impressed by the huge red sand hills reminding the Sahara desert.

 You will be dumbfounded by the white lilies and the 14 different kinds of orchid cultivated here, as well as the unique cedar forest.

 Then move up to the village Chlomo, one of the oldest of the island, surrounded by vegetation. In the middle of the route, in the site “Boikou”, enjoy the unique view.

 At a small distance from Linia you can visit the ecological farm, where there is also a taverna serving well-cooked Corfiot dishes with organic products (cock pastitsada, cod bianco etc.).

 From there head North and meet Vragkaniotika and Chlomotianna; an important site here is the church of St Paraskevi built in 1699.

Stop at one of the bakeries you will find on your route and buy local food.

From Vragkaniotika move towards the picturesque traditional Aghios Matthaios surrounded by a huge forest with oak trees and wild olive trees. Stop and enjoy the view in the open covered with vegetation.

 Follow the stone road that will lead you to the abandoned Monastery of Pantocrator at the top of the hill, where you will also see the cave “Hole of the Sea” (“Trypa tou Pelaou”), which communicates with the sea according to the legend. Also visit the Venetian fort of Gardiki at a close distance. In the settlement you will find unique beaches such as Chalikouna, tavernas for a delightful journey in the Corfiot cuisine, as well as accommodation to spend your night.

 Move back towards Messoggi, an old fish village and an international tourist resort, which has all sorts of tourist infrastructure.

 The route continues shore-wise towards Boukari and the beautiful fish village of Petriti, where you must stop for lunch, since the area is well-known for its excellent fish tavernas.

From Petritis move South towards Perivoli and from there head east and end your route in Lefkimmi. From the port of Lefkimmi you can go to the island of Paxi by boat.

Paxi and Antipaxi, with their unique green environment, picturesque small ports, traditional settlements and the absolutely unique beautiful sea caves of the Western shore, are a centre of reference for sea tourism of the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea.

 A sightseeing tour in the picturesque villages of Gaios, Lakkas and Loggos will remain unforgettable.

Taste the unique seafood delicacies in the dozens of fish tavernas and buy the special local products produced.