Corfu holidays

Holidays to Corfu pair some of the greenest scenery in Greece with calm Ionian beaches, a UNESCO-listed old town and a nightlife strip that rivals anywhere in Europe. The second-largest Ionian island sits off the northwest coast of Greece, just a 3-hour flight from the UK, and made famous to British visitors by the Durrell family and the ITV series filmed here. It suits almost any trip — family beach weeks, all-inclusive escapes, couples' breaks and big group nights out in Kavos.

Lush olive groves, cypress trees and mountains give the island its "Emerald Isle" nickname, while the coastline runs from sandy family bays in the north to pebble coves on the northeast and long party beaches in the south. Thomas Cook packages to Corfu for 2026 and 2027 are ATOL and ABTA protected (ATOL 11806), with flights from the UK and 7-night deals from £159pp.

Types of Corfu holiday

All Inclusive — Corfu has one of the strongest all-inclusive line-ups in Greece. Choose from family-friendly beach resorts where meals, drinks and entertainment are all built in, through to the high-end Ikos properties at Dassia that blur the line between all-inclusive and luxury. Settling into one resort for the week keeps costs predictable and is ideal for families and first-time visitors. Browse Corfu All Inclusive holidays.

Family — Shallow, calm Blue Flag beaches like Agios Spyridon, the Sidari and Aqualand waterparks, glass-bottom boat trips from Corfu Town and child-friendly horse-riding schools make Corfu a reliable family pick. The north and east coasts have the gentlest swimming and the widest choice of family resorts. See Corfu family holidays.

Beach — From the sculpted sandstone coves of Canal d'Amour in Sidari to the long sweep of sand at Kavos, the dramatic west-coast beaches at Paleokastritsa and Glyfada, and the quiet southern shores of Agios Georgios, the coastline is the island's main draw. See Corfu beach holidays.

Adults-only & couples — Quieter villages such as Barbati, Kanoni and Agios Stefanos suit couples after a calmer pace, and Corfu has a good run of adults-only resorts including Cook's Club Corfu, Ella Alkyna and the Mythos Palace. Pair lazy beach days with sunset dinners in Corfu Town or Paleokastritsa. See our adults-only collection.

Luxury — The Ikos Dassia and Ikos Odisia resorts, MarBella, Kontokali Bay and the Grecotel collection sit at the top end, clustered along the green east coast around Dassia and Gouvia where the calm water and olive-grove backdrops are at their best. See luxury holidays.

Summer & package — Peak season runs June to September with long, hot, dry days — the best stretch for beach and watersports holidays. A Corfu package holiday bundles flights, hotel and transfers into one ATOL-protected booking, with a low deposit to secure it. See Corfu summer holidays.

Best areas and resorts in Corfu

Corfu splits between a greener, calmer north and a livelier south, with the historic capital roughly in the middle and a string of upmarket resorts along the east coast. Where you stay sets the tone of the whole trip.

Corfu Town — The UNESCO-listed Old Town is the cultural heart of the island, with two Venetian fortresses, pastel-washed lanes, the arcaded Liston promenade and the Spianada — where you'll still see cricket played, a leftover from British rule. Best for sightseeing, history and easy day trips.

Sidari — A north-coast all-rounder with three sandy beaches, the famous Canal d'Amour rock formations, a waterpark and a lively after-dark scene. Good for families and groups alike, and a strong value base.

Kavos — The island's clubbing capital on the southern tip: a 5km sandy beach by day, bars and clubs until morning. Built for young groups and party breaks rather than families.

Roda — An up-and-coming north-coast village backed by rolling hills, with a relaxed beach, good tavernas and easy access to the rest of the north. A solid mid-range choice.

Kassiopi — A former fishing village turned charming resort on the northeast coast, with a working harbour, pebble coves, a Byzantine castle and some of the island's best diving on its doorstep.

Arillas — A laid-back northwest village with a 2km golden beach and some of Corfu's best Ionian sunsets. The quiet, slow-paced option.

East coast — Dassia, Gouvia & Ipsos — A run of green, sheltered resorts close to Corfu Town, home to the island's smartest hotels and marinas. Calm water and short transfers make this the easiest base for couples and luxury stays.

South — Agios Georgios & Messonghi — Long sandy beaches and a laid-back feel, with the Lake Korission lagoon and its wildlife nearby. Good for relaxed beach holidays away from the crowds.

Best beaches in Corfu

Corfu's beaches are unusually varied for one island. On the west coast, Paleokastritsa wraps a series of coves beneath a clifftop monastery, while Glyfada and Myrtiotissa offer long, dramatic stretches of sand backed by green hills. In the north, Canal d'Amour at Sidari is known for its carved sandstone inlets, and Agios Spyridon has the shallow, clean water that suits young families. The southeast has the gentle bays of Kavos and Agios Georgios South, and from Corfu Town you can boat out to the islets around Kanoni, including Mouse Island (Pontikonisi) and the Vlacherna Monastery.

Things to do in Corfu

Beyond the beaches, the things to do in Corfu centre on its history and landscape. In Corfu Town, the Old Fortress and the Achilleion Palace — built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria — are the headline sights, with summer concerts held in the palace gardens. Drive up Mount Pantokrator, the island's highest point at over 900m, for views as far as Albania, or visit the clifftop monastery and beaches at Paleokastritsa for one of the island's best sunsets. Families head for the Sidari waterpark and Aqualand; divers can book a scuba trip on the reefs off Kassiopi and Kalami; and walkers can tackle sections of the 220km Corfu Trail. Boat trips run to the neighbouring islands of Paxos and Antipaxos.

Food and drink

Corfiot cooking has a character of its own, shaped by Venetian and British influence. Look out for sofrito (veal slow-cooked in white wine and garlic), pastitsada (meat in a spiced tomato sauce with pasta) and bourdeto (a peppery fish stew). The island is famous for its kumquats, sold as a sweet liqueur, and for tsitsibira — a local ginger beer that's another leftover from the British years. Tavernas in the fishing villages serve the freshest seafood, while Corfu Town has the widest choice of restaurants and bars.

When to book Corfu holidays

Corfu has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. July and August peak around 32°C with roughly 12 hours of sun a day — ideal for beach holidays but the busiest and priciest time to travel. Spring and autumn are the value sweet spot, comfortably warm in the mid-teens to low 20s, with quieter beaches, lower prices and the island at its greenest. Because Corfu is wetter than the Aegean islands, November is its rainiest month, and most resorts wind down over winter.

Getting there and around

Flights from the UK take around 3 hours into Corfu International Airport (CFU), a 10-minute drive from Corfu Town. Transfers run roughly 20 minutes to the capital, around 1.5 hours to Kavos in the south and up to 2.5 hours to Arillas in the northwest, so it's worth checking your resort's transfer time before booking. On the island, blue buses cover Corfu Town and the green buses serve the villages and resorts; hiring a car or scooter opens up the quieter coves and mountain villages, though the remote roads can be rough.

Similar Greek islands

If Corfu isn't quite right, its neighbours each have their own character: Zante for family resorts and waterparks, Kos for some of the best beaches in the Aegean, or browse all Greek island holidays.