Corfu Old Town (Corfu) Travel Guide - Free

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Corfu Old Town
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Corfu Old Town in Corfu, Greece, pairs Venetian lanes, UNESCO-listed forts, Spianada square, Ionian food, museums and lively evening cafés by the sea.

Venetian Streets and Ionian Light

Corfu Old Town occupies the historic centre of Corfu, spreading between the Old Fortress, the New Fortress and the broad esplanade known as Spianada. Its compact streets, called kantounia, wind through tall ochre, terracotta and pastel buildings whose arcades and shutters reflect centuries of Venetian influence, later shaped by French and British rule. The district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it remains a lived-in urban quarter rather than an open-air monument, with residents, small businesses, churches and cafés sharing its narrow lanes.
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Squares, Fortresses and Churches

The Old Fortress rises on the eastern edge beside the sea, while the New Fortress anchors the north-western side of the historic centre. Between them, Spianada provides space for promenades, cricket and public gatherings, with the Liston arcade forming one of the city's most recognisable façades. The Church of Saint Spyridon, whose red-domed bell tower is a constant point of orientation, is central to Corfiot religious life. Museums in and around the old centre reveal the island's Byzantine, Venetian, Asian and modern Greek connections.

Everyday Life in the Kantounia

Morning is a good time to see the neighbourhood before the busiest pedestrian flow, when bakeries open and deliveries move through streets such as Nikiforou Theotoki and Guilford. By afternoon, visitors gather around Spianada, the Liston and the fortress approaches, while evening brings a more local rhythm to tavernas, wine bars and café terraces. The atmosphere changes from grand civic space to intimate alleyway within a few minutes, making orientation, comfortable footwear and attention to uneven paving essential.

Best attractions in Corfu Old Town

Corfu Old Town's principal attractions are concentrated within a walkable historic centre. Begin at the Old Fortress, whose sea-facing position offers elevated views and a sense of the island's strategic importance, then cross Spianada to the Liston, the arcaded promenade along the western side of the square. The Church of Saint Spyridon rewards visitors interested in Corfiot religious life and Venetian-era interiors, while the Byzantine Museum in the Church of Panagia Antivouniotissa presents important ecclesiastical art in a historic setting. The Museum of Asian Art occupies the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George beside Spianada, and Casa Parlante offers an atmospheric interpretation of nineteenth-century domestic life. At the northern edge, the New Fortress provides another perspective on the town's defensive landscape; its access and opening arrangements should be checked before visiting.

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Best landmarks in Corfu Old Town

The Old Fortress is Corfu Old Town's defining defensive landmark, occupying the rocky eastern promontory and recording the strategic importance of the island between the Adriatic and the eastern Mediterranean. Opposite it, the New Fortress forms a powerful northern gateway to the historic centre and part of the later Venetian defensive system. Spianada is the town's great civic open space, while the Liston arcade gives its western edge a distinctly French-influenced urban character. The Church of Saint Spyridon, recognisable by its red bell tower, is a central religious and cultural landmark associated with Corfu's patron saint. The Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, beside the square, reflects the British period and now houses the Museum of Asian Art. Together these structures make the old town's layered Venetian, French and British history legible in the streetscape.

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Explore Corfu Old Town on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Corfu Old Town, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Corfu Old Town

Dining in Corfu Old Town combines Ionian cooking with the practical rhythms of a heavily visited historic centre. Around the Liston, Spianada and the lanes leading towards the Campiello, cafés and restaurants occupy arcades, small squares and narrow streets, while quieter tavernas are found away from the most prominent promenades. Menus may feature Corfiot specialities such as sofrito, a veal dish in a white wine and garlic sauce, and pastitsada, traditionally made with meat and spiced tomato sauce, alongside seafood, salads, local cheeses and Greek standards. Bakeries and small food shops are useful for a simple breakfast or provisions before exploring the fortresses. Visitors seeking a less formal meal should look beyond the most photographed terraces, where everyday dining is often more closely woven into residential streets, though menus and opening patterns vary seasonally.

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Best bars in Corfu Old Town

After dark, Corfu Old Town shifts from sightseeing district to social centre, with the Liston and Spianada particularly active around café terraces and evening drinks. Wine bars, cocktail venues and small pubs occupy historic ground-floor spaces in the kantounia, while restaurants often keep the streets occupied later into the evening. The old town is more associated with sociable bars and outdoor tables than with a dense concentration of large nightclubs; the island's major late-night club scene is found elsewhere, especially outside the historic centre. Live music and informal performances may appear in bars or cultural venues, but programmes are seasonal and changeable. In residential lanes, sound carries between tall buildings, so visitors should leave busy terraces quietly and avoid treating the old town's narrow streets as an extension of the nightlife venues.

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Best nightclubs in Corfu Old Town

After dark, Corfu Old Town shifts from sightseeing district to social centre, with the Liston and Spianada particularly active around café terraces and evening drinks. Wine bars, cocktail venues and small pubs occupy historic ground-floor spaces in the kantounia, while restaurants often keep the streets occupied later into the evening. The old town is more associated with sociable bars and outdoor tables than with a dense concentration of large nightclubs; the island's major late-night club scene is found elsewhere, especially outside the historic centre. Live music and informal performances may appear in bars or cultural venues, but programmes are seasonal and changeable. In residential lanes, sound carries between tall buildings, so visitors should leave busy terraces quietly and avoid treating the old town's narrow streets as an extension of the nightlife venues.

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Best shops in Corfu Old Town

Shopping in Corfu Old Town is concentrated in the pedestrian kantounia rather than in a single modern retail street. Streets around Nikiforou Theotoki, Vrachlioti and the Campiello contain boutiques, jewellery shops, leather goods, holiday clothing, ceramics, olive-oil products and foodstuffs, alongside small businesses serving local residents. The strongest purchases are those connected to Corfu and the Ionian Islands: regional foods, handmade ceramics, textiles, soaps and carefully selected souvenirs are more characteristic than mass-produced beach merchandise. The lanes near the Liston and Spianada are generally the most visitor-oriented, while side streets offer a slower and more mixed commercial atmosphere. A respectful approach is useful in small shops, where browsing may take place in compact interiors and stock can vary considerably with the season.

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Corfu Old Town essentials

Getting There
Corfu Old Town is reached most easily from Corfu International Airport by taxi, pre-arranged transfer or the local bus services serving the city, with the journey ending near the centre rather than inside its pedestrian lanes. Intercity buses arrive at the KTEL station outside the old town, from where a taxi or a walk towards the historic centre is practical. The main green-and-blue local buses use stops around San Rocco, near the western edge of the old town. Ferries from Igoumenitsa and international services arrive at the modern port north of the centre; taxis and local buses connect the port with the old town.
Getting Around
The historic centre is best explored on foot, with the Liston, Spianada and the principal fortress approaches providing easy orientation. The kantounia can be narrow, irregular and sometimes steep, and several lanes are paved with smooth stone that becomes slippery when wet. Large vehicles cannot reach many streets, so luggage is easier to handle with a small backpack or a sturdy case. Local buses serve stops around the edges rather than the innermost lanes. The Old Fortress involves uphill paths and steps, while the New Fortress also requires walking on sloping ground; visitors with limited mobility should check access conditions in advance.
Safety
Normal urban precautions are appropriate in Corfu Old Town. Keep wallets and phones secure in crowded lanes, around the Liston and near bus stops, and take care when crossing roads at the edges of the pedestrian centre. Stone paving can be slippery after rain, while fortress paths may be exposed to sun and wind. At night, use care on quiet or poorly lit lanes and arrange a taxi if carrying luggage or returning from the port. During summer, heat, dehydration and crowded streets are more practical concerns than any neighbourhood-specific hazard.
Emergency Situations
Greece's unified emergency number is 112, which connects callers with urgent police, fire and medical assistance; operators can assist visitors who do not speak Greek. Police can also be contacted on 100, the fire service on 199 and the ambulance service on 166. State the location using a recognised point such as Spianada, the Liston, the Old Fortress or the Church of Saint Spyridon, since narrow lanes can make an exact address difficult to identify. For non-urgent medical advice, ask accommodation staff or a pharmacist to direct you to an appropriate local service.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect the old town as a residential district as well as a historic site: keep voices low outside homes at night and do not block narrow lanes for photographs. Wear suitable clothing when entering churches, particularly Saint Spyridon, and follow posted instructions about photography. Ask before photographing people, religious ceremonies or private interiors. Queue patiently at cafés, museums and bus stops, and handle shop goods carefully in small independent businesses. Do not climb on fortification walls or touch masonry and monuments, and avoid leaving litter in the kantounia or along the sea-facing promenades.
Local Tips
Use Spianada as the starting point for a first orientation, then link the Liston with the Campiello, Saint Spyridon and the New Fortress through the smaller streets. The Old Fortress is most rewarding when the light is softer and temperatures are lower, while the town's arcades provide shade during the middle of the day. Look upwards as you walk: balconies, bell towers, cornices and painted façades are among the most revealing details. Keep some flexibility for church festivals and processions, which can temporarily change the movement of people through the central streets.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloΓεια σας[Ya sas]
GoodbyeΑντίο[Adio]
YesΝαι[Ne]
NoΌχι[Ohi]
Please/You're welcomeΠαρακαλώ[Parakalo]
Thank youΕυχαριστώ[Efharisto]
Excuse me/SorryΣυγνώμη[Signomi]
How are you?Τι κάνετε;[Ti kanete?]
Fine. And you?Καλά. Εσείς;[Kala. Esis?]
Do you speak English?Μιλάτε αγγλικά;[Milate anglika?]
I don't understandΔεν καταλαβαίνω[Den katalaveno]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseΘα ήθελα να δω το μενού, παρακαλώ[Tha ithela na do to menou, parakalo]
I don't eat meatΔεν τρώω κρέας[Den troo kreas]
Cheers!ΥΓΕΙΑ![Yia]
I would like to pay, pleaseΘα ήθελα να πληρώσω, παρακαλώ[Tha ithela na plirosi, parakalo]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Βοήθεια![Voithia]
Go away!Φύγε![Fiye]
Call the Police!Καλέστε την Αστυνομία![Kaleste tin Astinomia]
Call a doctor!Καλέστε για γιατρό![Kaleste ya giatro]
I'm lostΈχω χαθεί[Eho hathi]
I'm illΕίμαι άρρωστος[Eimai arrostos]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Θα ήθελα να αγοράσω...[Tha ithela na agorasoo...]
I'm just lookingΑπλά κοιτάω[Apla kito]
How much is it?Πόσο κοστίζει;[Poso kostizi?]
That's too expensiveΑυτό είναι πολύ ακριβό[Afto ine poli akribo]
Can you lower the price?Μπορείτε να μειώσετε την τιμή;[Borite na meiosete tin timi?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Τι ώρα είναι;[Ti ora ine?]
It's one o'clockΕίναι μία η ώρα[Ine mia i ora]
Half past (10)Μισή (10)[Misi (10)]
MorningΠρωί[Proi]
AfternoonΑπόγευμα[Apoyema]
EveningΒράδυ[Vradi]
YesterdayΧθες[Hthes]
TodayΣήμερα[Simera]
TomorrowΑύριο[Avrio]
1Ένα[Ena]
2Δύο[Dio]
3Τρία[Tria]
4Τέσσερα[Tessera]
5Πέντε[Pente]
6Έξι[Exi]
7Εφτά[Efta]
8Οκτώ[Okto]
9Εννιά[Ennia]
10Δέκα[Deka]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Πού είναι ένα/το...;[Pou ine ena/to...?]
What's the address?Ποια είναι η διεύθυνση;[Pia ine i diefthinsi?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Μπορείτε να μου δείξετε (στο χάρτη);[Borite na mou dixete (sto charti)?]
When's the next (bus)?Πότε είναι το επόμενο (λεωφορείο);[Pote ine to epomeno (leoforeio)?]
A ticket (to ....)Ένα εισιτήριο (για το...);[Ena isitirio (ya to...)?]

History of Corfu Old Town

A Medieval City Between Two Fortresses

Corfu's historic settlement developed on a defensible peninsula between the sea and the fortifications that still define the old centre. The Old Fortress occupies the eastern rocky promontory, while the walled town expanded westwards as pressure on the original fortified site increased. Medieval Corfu was shaped by its strategic position at the entrance to the Adriatic and by successive Byzantine, Angevin and Venetian influences. The narrow street pattern, dense urban fabric and defensive geography that visitors encounter today are products of this long process of concentrating homes, churches and commerce inside a protected city.

Venetian Rule and Urban Expansion

Venice controlled Corfu from 1386 until 1797, leaving the most influential architectural and urban legacy in the old town. The Venetians strengthened the fortifications, organised the settlement around defensive needs and encouraged a dense pattern of multi-storey buildings and narrow lanes. The area known as the Campiello preserves this intimate character particularly well. The Church of Saint Spyridon, associated with the island's patron saint, became an important religious focus, while the town's maritime position supported trade and administration. Venetian rule also established the visual language of arcades, shutters and stucco façades that remains characteristic of the centre.

French and British Transformations

After the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Corfu passed through French control before becoming the capital of the British-protected United States of the Ionian Islands in the nineteenth century. The British period brought administrative and military change, as well as new civic influences. The Liston was built during the French era at the edge of Spianada, drawing on the arcaded urban language associated with European promenades, while the open square became a major public space. British institutions, roads and the island's cricket tradition added further layers to a city already marked by Mediterranean and Venetian connections.

War, Preservation and World Heritage

Corfu Old Town suffered damage during the Second World War, including bombing that affected parts of the historic urban fabric, and post-war rebuilding altered some buildings without erasing the overall plan. The Old and New Fortresses, the Campiello, Spianada, Liston and the town's churches continued to anchor local identity. Conservation gradually gained importance as the historic centre faced the pressures of tourism, traffic and changing commercial use. In 2007, the Old Town of Corfu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its fortified Mediterranean urban landscape and architectural testimony to Venetian, French and British periods.

Corfu Old Town in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

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