A good Corfu itinerary needs five days to combine the Venetian Old Town, the Achilleion Palace, the west-coast beaches and a boat trip to Paxos, with seven days ideal for a relaxed pace. Three days cover the essentials. This guide lays out day-by-day plans for 3, 5 and 7 days and how to make the most of each.
Planning the days turns the large island’s highlights into a smooth trip, drawing on the rest of the Corfu tours and travel guide. Distances matter on so varied an island. The sections below set out the plans.
How many days do you need?
You need at least five days for Corfu to see the Old Town, the Achilleion, the best beaches and a boat trip to Paxos without rushing, with seven days ideal for a relaxed pace. Three days cover the highlights of the town and a beach or two.
The right length depends on your pace and the island’s size. Five days is the sweet spot, enough to explore Corfu Town, visit the Achilleion Palace, swim at Paleokastritsa and Glyfada, and take a day cruise to Paxos and Antipaxos. A week allows a slower rhythm with more beaches, villages and a day trip to Albania or Parga, while three days cover the essentials of the Old Town and a couple of beaches. The plans below build up day by day, matched to a base in or near Corfu Town, set out in the guide to where to stay in Corfu. The first days centre on the capital and the coast.
What is a 3-day plan?
A 3-day plan covers the Old Town, the Achilleion and the best beaches. Spend day one in Corfu Town and its fortresses, day two at the Achilleion Palace and a west-coast beach, and day three at Paleokastritsa with a short boat trip along the coast.
Three days hit the essentials. Day one explores the UNESCO Old Town of Corfu, wandering the Venetian lanes, climbing the Old Fortress, strolling the Liston and visiting the church of Agios Spyridon. Day two heads south to the Achilleion Palace of Empress Sisi, then on to a west-coast beach such as Glyfada or Agios Gordios. Day three reaches Paleokastritsa for its turquoise coves and a short boat trip to its sea caves and hidden beaches, set out in the guides to Corfu Town and Achilleion Palace. Two more days add depth.
What is a 5-day plan?
A 5-day plan adds a Paxos boat trip and the green villages. Keep the first three days for the town, palace and west-coast beaches, then spend day four on a Paxos and Antipaxos cruise and day five exploring the north-east coast and hill villages.
Five days allow the island’s signature experiences. After the Old Town, the Achilleion and the west-coast beaches of the first three days, day four is given to the classic full-day cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos and the Blue Caves, swimming in turquoise coves and lunching in Gaios village. Day five explores the green north-east coast, its sheltered bays and the harbour of Kassiopi, or the hill villages of Pelekas, Lakones and Old Perithia. This rounds out the island’s variety, set out in the guides to Corfu boat tours and Corfu villages. A week adds room to relax.
What is a 7-day plan?
A 7-day plan adds slow beach days, a day trip to Albania or Parga, an olive-mill or food tour, and time in the south. The extra days allow a relaxed pace, mixing beaches, culture, a boat trip and a mainland or cross-border excursion.
A week lets the island unfold gently. Beyond the core sights, beaches and a Paxos cruise, seven days allow lazy beach mornings on the west or north-east coasts, a day trip across the channel to Saranda and ancient Butrint in Albania or to Parga on the mainland, and an olive-mill visit or food and wine tour to taste the island’s Venetian-influenced cooking. The quiet south, with the long sands of Issos and the lagoon of Halikounas, rewards a day too, set out in the guide to Corfu food and wine. A few tips keep any plan smooth.
How do you make the most of the time?
You make the most of the time by renting a car for the scattered sights, grouping each day by area to cut driving, and basing centrally or splitting your stay. Booking the Paxos cruise and the Achilleion ahead avoids wasted time in peak season.
A little planning sharpens any itinerary on the large island. A rental car reaches the west-coast beaches, the north-east bays and the hill villages far more easily than the bus, and grouping each day’s sights by area keeps driving down. Basing in or near Corfu Town suits a culture-and-day-trip plan, while splitting the stay between the town and a beach base works for a longer trip. Booking the popular Paxos cruise and the Achilleion ahead in summer secures the best days, set out alongside the guide to how to get to Corfu. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Corfu?
You need at least five days for Corfu to see the Old Town, the Achilleion, the best beaches and a Paxos boat trip without rushing, with seven days ideal for a relaxed pace. Three days cover the essentials of the town and a beach or two.
What should you do on a first trip to Corfu?
On a first trip, explore the UNESCO Old Town and fortresses, visit the Achilleion Palace, swim at Paleokastritsa and Glyfada, and take a day cruise to Paxos and Antipaxos. Add the green villages and north-east coast with more time.
Can you do a day trip to Paxos from Corfu?
You can easily day-trip to Paxos and Antipaxos from Corfu on a full-day cruise, leaving Corfu Town around 08:15 and returning near 19:00. It includes swimming in turquoise coves, the Blue Caves and a stop in Gaios village.