Corfu Holidays
Resorts
Corfu
All You Need To Know
"Corfu" is an isle of contrasts. Shady olive groves cloak rocky hillsides above colourful fishing villages and sun-kissed beaches."
Homer described Corfu as a ‘beautiful and rich land' and few would argue. The island's many faces will never cease to surprise and delight. Colourful villages melt into musky olive groves and church bells echo through the verdant, pine-clad mountains of the inland while on the coast golden beaches lead to sparkling, warm seas.
Corfu is known as the Ionian ‘emerald isle', a name inspired by green fields and the explosion of springtime colour. Meadows, decorated with wild flowers, tumble inland towards Mount Pantokrator , the island's highest peak and a popular destination for walkers. In among nature's bounty you will come across old villages and towns that bear the hallmark of the island's Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian past. Corfu Town , the capital, is crammed with hints to the past. The town is home to a variety of museums dedicated to everything from Asiatic art to Byzantine icons. Perhaps the best way to get a feel for the place is simply to get lost in the narrow alleyways of the Venetian old town. Here you will discover Georgian mansions, Byzantine churches and shuttered buildings shaded ochre and pink.
Beaches
Some of Corfu 's best beaches can be found on the west of the island. The 3km golden-sand stretch of Agios Georgios is a haven for watersports enthusiasts with windsurfers benefiting from strong winds. Nearby the sweeping coastal views and Neolithic ruins of Afionas offer a more tranquil beach experience. To the north and east the coast is more sheltered with a string of pretty inlets and coves. The pebble and sand beaches of Gouvia and Dassia are popular in this area.
Shopping
Corfu Town is the best place to shop on the island. Here you will find local craft shops selling fabrics, leather and hand-crafted jewellery and sophisticated boutiques existing side-by-side. The back streets are full of small shops selling souvenirs and trinkets to take home.
Nightlife
Every beach in Corfu has its own bar or taverna keeping you refreshed as the sun sinks below the horizon. If you are looking for bright lights and clubs Kavos will not disappoint. However if you prefer the quieter life the sea fr
ng onts and alleyways of most Corfu towns are awash with restaurants and bars serving up an evening of Greek style entertainment. Sightseeing
As you'd expect from an island subject to a myriad of historical influences, Corfu has an array of interesting sights to explore. Corfu Town leads the way with its maze-like back streets, fortresses and museums. However inland Corfu is home to many a hidden Hellenic treasure.
Old Perithia is a poignantly attractive abandoned village that oozes old world charm. On the coast the fishing village of Astrakeri takes you back to a simpler time before tourism existed. Corfu also has plenty of natural sights that are equally as enchanting. The north-eastern part of the island, where the Pandokrator mountain range drops down to the sea, lends itself to tiny coves and enclosed bays, some only accessible by boat. The mountain range makes for some wonderful walking opportunities so pack those hiking boots.
Local Specialities
Lobster is the island's speciality and worth searching out, although it's more likely you'll be offered astakos or salt water crayfish. The food owes much to the island's various conquerors. Pastitsada is adapted from an Italian dish and consists of layered pasta with a meat and tomato sauce topped off with cheese and herbs. Sofrito sees veal or beef cooked in a white sauce with oil, wine vinegar, garlic and white pepper. Vegetarians do pretty well in Corfu, the best option is to stick with the Mezedes or Mezes, a variety of starters similar to tapas washed down with ouzo. Try the vine leaves stuffed with rice (dolmadakia) or the fried cheese (saganáki). Corfu produces some good wines including Santa Domenica, a light red, and the more elusive and expensive Theotoki Roppa. It also has its own liqueur - koum kouat.
Money Matters
There are 1.50 euros to the £1.00 as at 7th September 2005. All our resorts have banks or exchange bureaux, while major credit cards are accepted at most places. In Corfu, the banking hours are Mon-Fri 8:00 to 14:00. Travellers' cheques are not widely accepted, however they can be exchanged at banks and hotels, usually with a commission charge. They are not accepted as a cash substitute.
Dress Code
In most hotels and apartments gentlemen are required to wear long trousers to dinner. Please Note
Most hotels or apartments ask customers to vacate their rooms between 10am and 12 midday. For late afternoon or evening flights, late check out rooms may be available. Please see Your Holiday, Your Choice options with your accommodation information.
Highlights
Highlights offer endless opportunities to discover, wonder, relax and enjoy - here is a selection...
Thomson Island Tour
Award Of Excellence Winner. The way to discover the very best and often hidden parts of Corfu is with the help of our award winning Thomson Guides. The countryside, infrastructure & famous sights of Corfu have many treasures to reveal and with our help you can see them all in one day. The Thomson Island Tour is your number one ticket to get to know what your stunning destination has to offer. We will take you to the places that you really want to see and when you travel with us the entrance fees are taken care of.
Glory of Ancient Greece
Don't miss the opportunity to visit some of the sights of ancient Greece on the mainland. Cassiopeia was without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world. Visit the Oracle of the Dead and experience the calm of Meteora, a holy place where many saints, hermits and martyrs have lived and which can be counted as an unofficial wonder of the world!
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