Corfu Guide

The Greek island of Corfu is located a short distance off the coast of mainland Greece and partly because of its lovely Mediterranean climate and beaches, is a very popular tourist destination. Compared to some of its island neighbours, Corfu is a very green island and is characterised by hot dry summers and winters that tend to be quite wet which helps the island's vegetation which includes over 2 million olive trees. Unlike the rest of Greece, the island never fell under the control of the Ottomans but because of its rule over the centuries by the Venetians, the French and the British, who left strong reminders of their cultures on the island, it has mainly become part of the Western rather than the Levantine world.

The Old Town of Corfu is wonderfully preserved and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains Renaissance, Baroque and Classical influences. Popular with tourists are its palaces, fortresses and Venetian public buildings that sit side by side with more modest buildings located along narrow cobbled streets and small secluded squares.

Ferry services from the island depart to destinations on the Greek mainland and to other, nearby, Greek islands.