Corfu: UNESCO Old Town, Museums and Hiking Trails

Corfu’s history is particularly concentrated in Corfu Old Town: its historic urban fabric is almost entirely preserved, and its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Town and its two fortresses are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the same time, visitor experiences range from museums and historic houses to wooded hiking trails, garden views and Benitses Beach. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, start by considering the experiences you want to plan: urban history and collections offer a different focus from trails and the beach.

Old Town and Collections

A digital guide for residents and visitors offers high-quality audiovisual material on more than 80 attractions within the city. Check whether the guide is available before your trip. The Museum of Asian Art is in Corfu Old Town and houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. From the port, you can reach the museum by bus line 2 on the Mantouki–Kanoni route. Check the timetable before travelling.

The Archaeological Museum of Corfu was built primarily to display the pediment depicting the Gorgonion from the Temple of Artemis, excavated in Paleopolis. The pediment dates to 585 BC and was excavated in 1911 near the Monastery of Aghioi Theodoroi. Casa Parlante offers a different focus: in the historic Old Town, it recreates the daily life of the island’s aristocracy in the 19th century using moving figures and replicated furnishings and interiors.

At the Kapodistrias Museum, the permanent exhibition explores the history of Corfu, Europe and Greece through the life of Greece’s first governor, using significant artefacts and documents. The museums therefore appeal to different interests: the Museum of Asian Art presents a collection with a broad geographical scope, while the Archaeological Museum focuses on the Artemis pediment. Casa Parlante is devoted to everyday life in the 19th century; the Kapodistrias exhibition tells history through the life of one person.

Gardens and Trails

The lush garden on the hill by the Kapodistrias Museum offers views of Corfu’s landscape and across the island. Mon Repos is set in a 258-acre park with numerous exotic, long-established plants.

In the municipal unit of Achilleion, ancient trails wind through the wooded mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. A longer route is the 180-kilometre Corfu Trail, which passes through several settlements and includes Benitses as one of its 13 overnight stops. The villages in the municipal unit of Achilleion also host numerous festivals and folk celebrations, as well as cultural events organised by the municipality. The specific programme varies.

Benitses and the City

In addition to its marina, Benitses Beach has an organised, narrow sandy beach with facilities for people with disabilities. In the heart of the city, below the Venetian Fortress, numerous local producers sell fresh fish and seafood, vegetables, local products and traditional sweets at the local market. The range of vendors may change.

Discover more destinations: Lákka, Gimari, Boukaris, Gaios, Ano Korakiana, Episkepsi, Agios Ioannis, Alepou, Kato Pavliana, Othoni, Chlomos, Kokkini Parelia, Longós, Sidari, Kalami, Mparmpati, Glyfada, Mesongi, Kassiopi, Aghios Georgios, Acharavi, Róda, Perouládes, Pélekas, Moraḯtika, Kávos, Ermones, Karoussades, Argyrades, Arillas Magouladon, Ypsos, Achilleio, Kanakades, Giannades, Sinarades, Agnitsini, Erikoussa, Agios Stefanos, Agios Gordios, Perivoli, Aronatika, Anapaftiria, Kato Korakiana, Vatos, Lakones, Pentati, Dassia, Agios Mattheos, Spartilas, Agia Triada, Petriti, Dafnata, Velianitatika, Afion, Viros, Nisaki, Peritheia, Potamos, Vitalades, Perama, Liapades, Lefkimmi, Katavolos, Corfu, Mpenitses, Apraos, Áno Garoúna, Marathias, Katsimatika, Rantatika, Magazia, Gazatika, Afra, Roumanades, Sfakera, Paramonas, Chalikounas, Kentroma, Velonades

For the broader travel overview: Ionian Islands.