Top 10 things to do in Corfu.

Published 04 mars 2022

Corfu is a small Greek island that packs a big punch. From its romantic capital to pristine coastline to the land's ancient history, Corfu is the charter destination to see all and do it all...

Set sail for a Greek adventure
Set sail for a Greek adventure

Crowned the Queen of the Ionian, Corfu has long enticed the waterborne ashore to discover an intoxicating combination of lush countryside, beautiful beaches and historic attractions of Greece. Venetian, British and French influences are all present in Corfu’s atmospheric Old Town, while the vast coastline offers both pebble and sand beaches, pristine waters, laid back beach bars and family-run tavernas - making Corfu the perfect hotspot for a summer charter in the Mediterranean.


Visit Corfu Old Town

Join the bustle of the night scene in Corfu's Old Town
Join the bustle of the night scene in Corfu's Old Town

You cannot visit Corfu without spending some time exploring the pedestrian-only UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. Step ashore to discover the 14th Century Old Fortress, working up an appetite before lunch by climbing the Tower of the Land, where you can look down over the red-roofed neoclassical buildings against a backdrop of the sparkling Ionian Sea and see your yacht berthed in the old harbour below.  


Dive the aquamarine waters

Limpid waters allow you amazing visibility on your dive
Limpid waters allow you amazing visibility on your dive

Drop anchor and scuba dive into the aquamarine waters of Limni, Paradise, Stelari, Giali and Iliodoros. There are also excellent dive sites near Paleokastritsa, where you can spot all manner of marine life including jacks, tuna and anthia going about their business amid the reefs, caves and canyons of the sea floor.


Anchor off Cape Drastis

These unusual rocks are dotted with sea caves to explore
These unusual rocks are dotted with sea caves to explore

Lying to the northwest of Corfu, Cape Drastis is a stunning anchorage point which, because of its remote and hard to access location remains as nature intended.  Here the strangely shaped cliffs (which look like a giant turtle head with smaller turtles swimming around it) are dotted with sea caves, and small, sandy beaches lapped by clear, shallow waters. Being the most north-westerly point on the island, the winds here can be strong, but it is a great spot for to access by tender when the conditions are right.


Tour the olive groves

Discover the secrets of oilve oil tasting
Discover the secrets of oilve oil tasting

Like many of the Ionian islands, Corfu is well known for its award-winning olive estates. Take a stroll through ancient olive groves and discover the basics of olive oil tasting at one of the island’s olive presses. Some of the trees producing the oil are over 500 years old and shrouded in myth and legend. Learn how to distinguish the different grades of olive oil, and how to pair olive oil and olives with other local produce.


Spend the day at Porto Timoni

At Porto Timoni a low ridge separates two bays
At Porto Timoni a low ridge separates two bays

The scenic ‘double beach’ of Porto Timoni on Corfu’s west coast is the perfect place to spend a day enjoying your yacht’s watertoy box and the surrounding coastline. Here there are two bays, separated by a ridge of Mediterranean scrubland. The beaches face out onto the Ionian Sea, one looking towards Mathraki island, and the other to the village of Agios Georgios. Fortunately for the waterborne, access is exclusively by foot or water, so these pebble beaches remain quiet and are something of a hidden gem.


Stroll the Esplanade

Take the tender ashore for an evening walk along the waterfront
Take the tender ashore for an evening walk along the waterfront

The Esplanade, also known as the Spianada, is a pedestrian-friendly greenbelt area which runs along the Old Town’s waterfront. In fact, the Spianada itself is the second largest town square in Europe.  Designed in the style of the Royal Gardens of the 18th Century, the square is connected to the Old Fort by a bridge, while at the other end lies the Palace of St. Michael and St. George. A meeting place for locals and visitors every evening, catch a summer concert in the square’s bandstand or an occasional cricket match while enjoying a refreshment at one of the numerous cafes that line the Esplanade.


Visit Theotokos Monastery

The 13th Century Theotokos Monastery
The 13th Century Theotokos Monastery 

Head inland to the Theotokos Monastery, which provides fantastic vantage points over the island and surrounding Ionian archipelago from one of Corfu’s highest peaks. Absorb the serenity of your surroundings with a short walk around the 13th Century monastery and a visit to the tiny church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.


Step into the past

There is history every way you look in Corfu
There is history every way you look in Corfu

Corfu is one of the Ionian’s most storied islands, with the eponymous town of Corfu also serving as the Ionian archipelago’s capital. The island features prominently in the world of ancient Greek mythology, and there is archaeological evidence to suggest that the island had developing human societies as far back as the Palaeolithic Era. For a glimpse into the island’s more recent past, glide into the port on the eastern side of the Old Town and the first thing you will see is the Tower of the Sea (or The Old Fortress) that sits on its own promontory, guarding the town from invaders. Built by the Venetians in the 15th Century on the site of a former Byzantine castle, it remains today one of the most impressive fortifications works in all of Europe.


Discover Mouse Island

Visit on 6 August to see inside the monastery
Visit on 6 August to see inside the monastery

Cruise to the south of the Corfu and tender ashore to the Pontikonissi Islet, also known as Mouse Island. Legend has it that Pontikonissi was the name of Odysseus’s ship, which brought the king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s poem the Odyssey to the island of the Phoenicians. Damaged and washed up during a storm on to the shores of the island, Poseidon turned the ship into the green rock that became known as Pontikonissi Island. The alternate theory is that the island looks like a mouse from the air, but we prefer the romance of the first explanation. If you fancy a trip ashore, then discover the tiny Byzantine chapel of Pantokrator which sits on the top of the rocky islet. Dating back to the 11th Century, the monastery here opens just once a year on 6 August.


Enjoy the local cuisine

Local flavours create the legendary Corfu cuisine
Local flavours create the legendary Corfu cuisine

Corfu may be a Greek island, but it has its own local cuisine, with traditions influenced by the French and Italian cultures that have all left their mark on the island’s culinary evolution. Fresh, locally sourced Mediterranean ingredients remain the key ingredients; think hearty dishes of lamb, fresh seafood, and mezze plates for sharing, combined with traditional Greek dishes such as kebab and tzatziki.


Choose your charter yacht

These are just three of the stunning yachts in the Burgess fleet available to charter in the Mediterranean. Call or Live chat our brokers and let them pair you to your perfect match for the holiday you dream of...

TITANIA

12 guests in 7 cabins

TITANIA's waterpark is for big kids too!
TITANIA's waterpark is for big kids too!

Designed for outdoor living, 73m (239.6ft) TITANIA features wide deck spaces for lounging and relaxing while cruising the Mediterranean. Picture yourself gliding through the clear waters sitting at the pool deck bar or in the pool itself, accompanied by chilled tunes from the DJ set up. Once anchored, head down to her beach club, complete with sauna, for easy access to an array of watertoys. Along with her many toys, including scuba diving equipment, an inflatable waterslide and inflatable waterpark, TITANIA is also a certified RYA Training Centre, and has two qualified jet ski instructors within the crew. If this all seems too active for you, simply head to the dedicated spa room for a massage from the fully qualified on board therapist.

A large sun deck pool with swim-up bar...
A large sun deck pool with swim-up bar...
Plus the jacuzzi, naturally!
Plus the jacuzzi, naturally!

JOY

12 guests in 7 cabins

From EUR 700,000 per week

JOY is a favourite for family charters
JOY is a favourite for family charters

A perennially popular yacht for charter, the 70m (229.7ft) JOY features five decks of unrivalled luxury. With the perfect blend of indoor-outdoor living spaces, she is in some ways the ideal yacht for summer in the Mediterranean. Among her many highlights is the spa room and a masseuse within the crew, making her a top choice for those looking for the ultimate in relaxation. And while you enjoy a daily massage, rest assured that the children will be fully entertained with the latest Disney animation screened on the vast video wall. 

A romantic evening for you...
A romantic evening for you...
A movie night for them - everyone is happy
A movie night for them - everyone is happy

Book now for 2023 - and 2024!

Burgess charter brokers are booking up the summer 2023 Mediterranean season fast, so get in touch today to reserve your yacht charter holiday. The 2024 season is also an option for those who like to book ahead to get the best yachts for the best dates!


To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: LondonMonacoNew YorkMiamiSingapore or all other locations.

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