Cheap Flights to Corfu

Quick summary

Identity

Homer's Scheria and the only Greek island never ruled by the Ottomans

Corfu is said to be the legendary Scheria of Homer's Odyssey, home of the Phaeacians, where a shipwrecked Odysseus was found by Princess Nausicaa. For 411 years, from 1386 to 1797, the Venetians ruled Corfu — a continuity unmatched among Greek islands, since Corfu never fell under Ottoman rule, unlike most of the rest of Greece. That legacy runs deep: the twin-peaked Old Fortress, with fortifications dating to 1550, survived three sieges by Ottoman or pirate forces, and the New Fortress, built in the 16th century, still stands guard over the western side of town with its underground galleries and terracotta-rooftop views. Corfu's favourable position between Greece and Italy later brought French and British rule before the island was ceded to Greece in 1864. In 2007, Corfu's Old Town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born here in 1921.

Don't miss

Kantounia alleys, Spianada Square and the Liston Promenade

The Old Town unfolds through narrow, cobblestoned streets known as kantounia, winding between tall Venetian-era buildings that give Corfu an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Greece. At its heart, Spianada Square — one of the largest squares in the country — is bordered by the Liston Promenade, a bustling hub of cafés where locals and visitors gather over strong Greek coffee. The Church of Saint Spyridon, the island's most important church, holds the relics of Corfu's patron saint, believed to protect the island to this day. History runs deeper still in Garitsa, where a 7th-century BC tomb is one of the oldest traces of Greek presence on Corfu — a sobering counterpoint to the Old Fortress itself, where all of Corfu's Jewish community was gathered by Nazi forces in 1943 before deportation to Auschwitz; of the 1,800 deported, only 120 returned.

Food & drink

Pastitsada and 400 years of Venetian-Greek fusion

Corfiot cuisine stands apart from the rest of Greece, where simple grilled flavours usually dominate. Four centuries of Venetian rule left behind rich spice blends and wine-based sauces, sophisticated cooking techniques blending Greek tradition with Italian finesse. Pastitsada — beef simmered with tomato, cinnamon and pasta — is the island's signature dish, alongside sofrito (veal in a garlic and white-wine sauce) and bourdeto (spiced fish stew). It's a cuisine built for lingering over, best enjoyed at the tavernas tucked into the Old Town's kantounia.

Nature & day trips

Kassiopi, the Blue Cave and Corfu's beaches

Corfu Town itself has no proper beach — Faliraki, a small free strip of sand facing the Old Fortress, is the closest spot for a swim. Further afield, Kassiopi in the north pairs postcard beaches with a Byzantine castle and lively nightlife, while the Blue Cave at Paleokastritsa rewards a short boat trip with deep-blue water and dramatic rock formations. The island's northeastern tip, close to the Albanian coast, rises to Pantokrator Mountain, its highest peak — a reminder that Corfu, at roughly 36 miles long, is larger and greener than its old-town postcards suggest.

Getting around

Airport, Adriatic ferries and arriving by sea

Corfu International Airport "Ioannis Kapodistrias" (CFU) sits just minutes from the Old Town. Corfu is also a major Adriatic ferry hub, with regular crossings from Italy — arriving by boat still reveals the town's old houses gradually as the sea mist clears, much as it always has. A rental car is the easiest way to reach the beaches and villages further from the capital, since the island is considerably bigger than it first appears from the Old Town alone.

When to go

When to visit Corfu

Corfu Airport

The gateway to the Ionian Sea

You might also like

Similar destinations

Greece

Zakynthos

Discover

Greece

Skiathos

Discover

Greece

Mykonos

Discover

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Corfu