Hello Beautiful People, and welcome back on the Route with us 😊

Today, we will talk about what we believe to be one of the most gorgeous islands of the whole Mediterranean Sea: the Greek island of Corfu!

As you know, the competition among Mediterranean islands is fierce: there are so many beautiful ones: Sicily, Cyprus, Mallorca, Sardinia, Santorini, Malta, Crete…the list could go on forever!

Still, we in this article we will show you why we love Corfu so much!

First, both me and Isa we’ve been living 6 months on this island in the past (without knowing each other by the way ahah), and last year we decided to head back here together with our orange van to get some relax.

The period was early spring, so pretty much off-season for this island that mostly lives in the summer. Yet, despite finding few shops closed, what we found was an oasis of peace, sunny warm days, and very limited crowds, which all made our stay nothing short of wonderful!

Let’s dive right in, and let’s see everything you should know to plan a trip to Corfu off-season! 😉

How to Get to Corfu (Fast + Smart)

To get to Corfu, being it an island, you got only two options:

1. By Plane 

It’s the fastest option:

• There are direct flights from most European cities

• ~2–3h from Italy

• Insane landing over the sea – the airport is just above sea level very close to the city center and one of the main attractions to see (you can see planes landing literally few meters above your head!)

2. Ferry (best experience)

• From Igoumenitsa → 1.5h, departs multiple times a day

• From Bari/Brindisi → overnight (~8–10h)

• Perfect if you travel with a campervan like us or want flexibility

We took the ferry as we were on a Balkan tour with our Arancino 🙂

PRO TIP: If you want freedom on the island: bring a vehicle or rent one. In our opinion that’s non-negotiable to enjoy Corfu at best. Even a scooter can be more than fine 😉

 Why Spring Is where Corfu truly shines

(and off-season in general)?

Most people thinks that summer = best.

That indeed holds true, if what you’re looking for is to lay on your sunbed by the sea and roast like a lizard in the sun for most part of the day 🙂

Said that, summer also brings the most crowds and higher prices!

Spring (April–June) and early autumn (Sept-Oct) are completely different:

• 20–25°C → you can actually move and enjoy the incredible nature Corfu has to offer!

• No crowds → you don’t queue for nothing and you can take gorgeous real pictures (without needing an AI to remove people photobombing your shots xD)

• Prices drop 30–50% –> you can rent villas for the prices of an hotel room in summer!

• Nature explodes → flowers, green hills, olive trees, cypress trees, clear air…

Off-season is ideal for people who loves tranquillity, history (and there’s plenty here to learn!), discovery, long hikes, nature and more intimate experiences 🙂 

Being there in early April, we had the chance to enjoy complete beaches without anyone but us, hike in solitude and visit museums without crowds.

Yes, we got few days of rain, about 3 out of 14 we stayed on the island, but with a good planning those were not a problem at all, and sunny days were already pretty warm (I was wearing shorts and t-shirt during the day and also enjoyed a coldish sea bath) 🙂

WHAT TO SEE IN CORFU (OFF-SEASON)?

1. Join Easter in Corfu Town

(This Alone Is Worth the Trip)

Picture people throwing 20-30kg ceramic pots from the balconies, that is one of the highlights of Corfu Easter! xD

If you happen to be in Corfu during Easter indeed, everything else almost becomes secondary, because what happens here is not just a celebration, it’s a full-scale cultural experience that takes over the entire island for days!

The highlight is the famous “Botides” on Holy Saturday, when locals throw large clay pots filled with water from balconies into the streets below, creating this loud, explosive rhythm that echoes through Corfu Town, while thousands of people gather in the Spianada Square to watch.

Here you can see a video I recorded in 2014 when I was working for a local hotel: Pot Smashing in Corfu (2014).

What makes Corfu easter truly special though, it is not just this crazy moment!

It’s the whooole build-up: marching bands playing through the streets (Corfu has over 18 philharmonic orchestras, one of the highest concentrations in Europe!!), night processions lit by candles, fireworks, and a mix of Venetian and Orthodox traditions that you won’t find anywhere else in Greece 🙂

The whole celebration feels authentic, chaotic at times, yet incredibly alive.

Last but not least, the whole Easter week ends with an incredible firework show over Corfu town and its bay which is breathtaking.

We had the chance to witness it, it lasted roughly 40minutes and was one of the most impressive pyrotechnic shows we had the luck to assist 🙂

2. Walk of Quad to Issos Beach

(Wild, Cinematic, and Completely Different!)

Located in the Southern part of the island, Issos Beach is one of those places that breaks your expectations of what a Greek island should look like, because instead of rocky coves and tight beaches, you get a vast open space with golden sand dunes rolling into the distance, almost like a small desert meeting the sea.

Right next to it lies Lake Korission, a protected natural reserve that adds another layer to the landscape, creating this contrast between saltwater, freshwater, dunes, and vegetation that feels more like a national park than a typical beach destination.

Because of its size and exposure, Issos is often windy, which makes it perfect for long walks, kite surfing, or simply sitting there watching the light change over the dunes as the sun goes down.

In April there was nobody around except few campervans. 

PRO TIP: If you want to get the best out of Issos, we can recommend renting a quad for the day! 🙂

3. Climb up to Angelokastro

(One of the Best Views on the Island!)

4. Take a walk at Paleokastritsa

(Iconic for a Reason)

Paleokastritsa is probably the most photographed part of Corfu, but unlike many “famous” places, it actually lives up to the hype, especially if you visit it in off-season without crowds around!

The coastline here is made up of multiple small bays, each with incredibly clear turquoise water, surrounded by steep green cliffs that drop straight into the sea, creating a dramatic contrast that defines this part of the island.

Above it all sits the Paleokastritsa Monastery, which is worth visiting not only for its historical value but also for the elevated views you get over the bays, especially in the early morning or late afternoon light!

From this beach, you can also rent a small boat (or join a tour) and explore hidden caves along the coast, and reach the most hidden gem of Corfu: Paradise beach!

As the name suggest, it’s a long curved rocky beach which seems straight out of a Paradise! The only way to reach it (and even see it!) is by boat, as there are no roads and it’s just under a huge cliff.

My two cents: GO FOR IT, it is really worth it! 🙂

5. Discover The Hidden Gems of the North

(Kassiopi, Peritheia, and a Different Pace of Life!)

If you want to understand Corfu beyond the obvious spots, you need to go north: around Kassiopi, Peritheia, and the slopes below Mount Pantokrator, is where Corfu really shows its original character!

Old Peritheia is a ghost village in the mountains that dates back to the 14th century (also known as the “oldest village” in Corfu!)

The place was abandoned decades ago when residents moved to the coast, but a handful of stone buildings have been restored into tavernas.

We happened to pass here by chance, yet it was one of the most incredible parts of our trip: eating lunch in a place like that, surrounded by crumbling walls and olive trees, with zero other tourists around, is the kind of experience you can’t plan for, it just happens sometimes when you’re lucky!  

From the higher ground up north, you can see across the strait to Albania on clear days.

The coastline in general here is less developed (it seems another island compared to Southern Corfu!). 

There are few beaches too, almost no one around! 

Behind the seaside, tucked into the hillsides there residential villas that clearly seem to prioritise views and privacy instead of flashy amenities (compared to other Mediterranean islands we’ve seen, here the development seems to have been more thought after and sustainability-oriented!).

Properties like Ionian Stone Villas, a luxury estate near Vasilika Peritheia with private pools and panoramic sea views, are a good example of what’s up here: true dreamlike places to relax spirit, body and mind!

6. Take a stroll around Old Corfu Town

(Where History Layers on Itself)

Corfu Town is that kind of place you want to wander through without a plan!

I believe that here, the real experience comes from getting slightly lost in its narrow streets and letting the city unfold around you!

The whole old town is indeed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shaped by centuries of different rulers, where you can actually see those layers in the architecture from Venetian-style buildings and French arcades to British influences like the famous cricket pitch in the Spianada (which by the way it is still used today).

Walking through areas like Campiello, you’ll notice details everywhere: laundry hanging between buildings, small cafés tucked into corners, old doors with peeling paint, and cats sleeping in the shade (ps. there are STORMS of cats in all Corfu Island! 😂😂😂).

If you like shopping authentic dresses, jewelry and Greek artisan goods, you’ll love the streets of Corfu too! 🙂

In our opinion, an abundant half a day (4-6 hours) is plenty of time to stroll around the town and see al major highlights 🙂

7. See the sea in Benitses

(Simple, Local, and Easy to Enjoy)

At first glance, the village of Benitses may look one like many others: a village where you pass with the car and you leave behind you.

Well, we happened to stop here by chance, and we truly loved it!

The sea here was so calm and beautiful (it’s located on the “inside” part of the island, oriented toward Igoumenitsa/Albania), the harbour relaxed, local and filled with gorgeous little sea-view cheap restaurants!

We tried la local dish called “pasticiada” (I believe it writes like this xD) consisting of Bucatini and chicken, together. It was an absolute BLAST!

As Italians, we can so recommend it ahah 🙂

Said that,  from Benitses start nice hiking trails to the Achilleion Palace and the Holy Trinity Church, both gorgeous walks immersed in nature, cypresses and olive trees! 🙂

Conclusions 🙂

And here we are at the end of our article! 🙂

In this article we’ve briefly showed you what you can do in Corfu in the Off-Season, from visiting empty beaches, to join the Easter celebrations in Spring, to hiking to Angelokastro and discovering the North and the Corfu city at your own pace! 🙂

Before going, as always, I want to ask you:

• Have you ever been to Corfu before?
• How was your experience? Where have you been?
• Do you have tips you would like to share with fellow readers?

Let us know in the comments below! 😀

Hereafter, I will leave you a few articles that you might also be interested in checking out:

•  Italy in 10 Days – The Super-Fast Itinerary + Free Download

• Destinations of the World: Discover More Cool Destinations!

• Travel Italy: All You Need to Discover the Bel Paese!

Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article!