home Roach Along the beaches of Corfu by car. Reviews of travel around the island of Corfu

Along the beaches of Corfu by car. Reviews of travel around the island of Corfu

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Beaches of Corfu island

Rent a car in Corfu. Along the beaches of Corfu by car. Beaches: Agios Gordis, Agios Georgias, Elia, Sidari, Paleokastritsa, Leopades, Ermones and others. Car map Corfu with names of beaches.

You can read a photo report about our stay on the island

Detailed map of Corfu island with beaches.

If you click on the picture, the map will open in full screen. Corfu Map will open in a new window, leave it, it will come in handy while reading the review.

One of the purposes of our stay on the island of Corfu was a car trip around the island. We wanted to get to know the island and see Corfu from all sides. It turned out - not in vain. The island of Corfu is about 120 km long and about 30 km wide. Despite its small size, Corfu is very diverse. In the south Corfu is flatter, in the north it is mountainous. The most high point islands - Mount Pantokrator (906 m). You can climb to its top by car. We didn’t have time to do this - we didn’t have enough time, and during our stay in Greece we drove through the mountains.

We rented cars in the village of Benitses. There were several rentals in this village with comparable prices. We chose the one that, if you leave our Potamaki Beach hotel, you need to go to the right for about 300 meters. The rental was called Corfu Plus. The rental price is as follows - the smallest car, Hyundai i10, is not supplied to the Russian market, but we have an analogue of the Kia Picanto, it costs 25 euros per day.

A slightly larger car than a Hyundai Atos - 30 Euros per day. We wanted to take a small SUV Suzuki Jimny, with a removable roof.

It cost 35 Euros per day. They also had a Renault Megane convertible for 60 Euros per day. To all prices you need to add 10 Euros for each day of rental - this is the cost of full insurance. All cars have manual transmissions. A car with an automatic transmission is rare and must be ordered. And it’s better to look for such cars in more expensive offices in Kerkyra like Hertz. But prices there will be more than twice as high.

To rent a car, you need a passport as a deposit for the car. Nobody asked for the right. Some tourists gave away their license instead of a passport and traveled without it. The technical condition of the cars leaves much to be desired.

On the first day when we came to rent a car, there was no Suzuki, we took a Hyundai I10. Suzuki was due to appear in two days. We reserved it.

Here is our Hyundai, an excellent car, the only thing is that the 1-liter engine is rather weak for mountain serpentines and if you turn on the air conditioning, the power ceases to be enough even on straight roads.

On the second day we took another car - Hyundai Atos prime. This car ruined our impression of the second day. When we climbed into the mountains in order to cross the mountains, the car began to have a strong metallic grinding noise from the front left wheel. Somehow we went down to the beach, felt the wheel - we couldn’t touch it. Most likely the wheel bearing has failed. We took a dip, the bearing cooled down. Slowly we set off back. We got there, I gave the car back and told him about the problem. The owner nodded his head. The next day, this car stood ready to be handed over to clients, as I understand it, without any technical work.

In the photo are fishmongers where they breed our beloved sea bass.

Unlike Europe, where cars are always delivered with a full fuel tank, in Corfu everything is reversed. The car is supplied with a minimum of fuel. I think this is due to the hot climate. If the car is left in the sun with a full tank, fuel may begin to leak out of the tank.

On the third day we had a long route to the mainland and further to the Meteora monasteries, a total of about 500 km in two directions. We received our long-awaited Suzuki. I drove 500 meters and realized that I couldn’t drive this car. He was so dead, terrible. We returned back to the rental. Thank God that our white Hyundai I10, which we tested on the first day, was there. We gave up the Suzuki and switched to a Hyundai. And all the other days we rode only on it.

If you want to travel far in a rented car, be sure to test it on the island. This is probably not relevant for expensive rentals.

Gasoline in Corfu is expensive - 1.75 Euros per liter, on the mainland it is 10 cents cheaper. Our little car was very economical, consuming about 6 liters per 100 km.

There are quite a few gas stations and their prices are almost the same. First you fill up, then you pay.

In general, the roads in Corfu are quite tolerable, although very narrow. In some places, on very narrow streets, there are traffic lights and cars drive in turns.

Don't relax and forget about the dashing bus drivers, they drive very fast and in narrow areas this can end in an accident. Accidents happen, both involving cars and drivers of scooters and ATVs.

A young couple lived in our hotel. They rented a scooter. The next day I saw them with badly broken faces, the girl had a broken leg, and the guy had a broken arm. Got into an accident.

Greeks are not very willing to follow rules traffic. Overtaking through two solid lines is a constant occurrence. But otherwise, sometimes you won’t be able to overtake for ten kilometers. When we were in Greece, on the mountain serpentines, every few kilometers there were monuments to crashed drivers. Sometimes, in particularly dangerous areas, there were several monuments next to each other.

The rule that must be followed is parking. Do not park your car in an unauthorized place, even for a couple of minutes. The fine can be up to 200 Euro. The police always appear unexpectedly. You should not travel to Corfu while being driven. The allowed threshold is 0.5 ppm, which is about two glasses of beer or 300 ml. dry wine. But slow response sharp turns can lead to a sad outcome. I noticed that many Greeks drive in the evening after drinking quite a bit. a large number of guilt. Therefore, be even more careful in the evening.

We covered about 500 km around the island. We received unprecedented pleasure. I really feel sorry for those people who spend their whole vacation on the beach of one hotel.

Moving around the island, we stopped at places where asphalt roads turned into dirt roads, then back into asphalt roads.

We came across small farms where we could buy olive oil and wine of our own production. But, unfortunately, we didn’t buy it.

We drove around the entire island, with the exception of its southernmost part and the top of Mount Pantokrator.

When the road climbs uphill, your ears become blocked.

Restrictors and bump stops are not available everywhere. You need to be careful on serpentines.

There are no sidewalks for pedestrians in Corfu. When you drive through towns, be doubly careful, the roads are already narrow, and there are also people walking along them.

Scooters are a very common form of transport in Corfu. Scooter riders consider themselves full-fledged road users. On the road, he will drive in the middle of the lane at a speed of 40 km/h and will not yield a millimeter.

So, the island Corfu or Kerkyra, Greece.

Before the trip, I carefully studied many reports, travel notes and impressions of the island. Since everyone noted the strangely cold water in the seas of the north and west of Corfu, I decided to go to the east coast. I studied almost the entire layout of those places, chose what I liked best - comparative privacy, rugged landscape, good reviews about the hotel.

Choice - Nissaki Beach . We never regretted it, but everything just confirmed the correctness of our choice. Perfect place, excellent cuisine, quite decent rooms for an adequate price. It was especially touching how the chef came out to the public in the evenings and talked about his dishes, sometimes even helping to put them on the plate. The cooking is truly one of the best hotel meals we have ever encountered (considering, of course, that there was a buffet). There is only one minus - paid sunbeds/umbrellas. But the price is reasonable, something like 2.5 euros per set. And with our frequent trips, we spent 5-6 days on our home beach in 2 weeks. It was funny how the Germans and the British found their way around - there were free sun loungers near the pool, so they ran up early in the morning and took places there, it was a stone's throw from the pool to the sea, however, most of them lay there by the pool all day long...

Rent a Car - In a hotel. Most often I take a Volkswagen Polo, the best car to rent. There were three of us, my son and my wife. The island is small, you can travel the entire coastline. Moreover, as far as I found out, there is nothing special to do in the very south, dull sandy places, without relief and with a small number of settlements.

Also of interest Mount Pantakrator, towering over the northern part of the island. Well, the capital, the city Kerkyra Town. Or Corfu town, both names appear. So, the hotel and surroundings:

Nissaki Beach. (on the right is Albania, visible from almost everywhere on the east coast)

Nissaki Beach. (on the right is Albania, visible from almost everywhere on the east coast)

Nissaki Beach.

Nissaki Beach.

A place within walking distance south of Nissaki Beach: We get into the car and drive to Sidari. This is the north of the island, the water there, as we already know, is cool. Here the cliffs are made of soft sandstone, the water washes away a bizarre coastline.

Sidari

Sidari, the so-called Canal of Love (a couple who crosses it together will never part, says legend)

Sidari, the so-called Canal of Love (a couple who crosses it together will never part, says legend)

Sidari, Love Channel

Sidari, Love Channel

There are many hotels here, a lot of people, but personally I would not like to stay here, the water is cool and muddy (due to the fact that the rocks are constantly being eroded, the water contains a lot of suspended matter). However, this doesn't bother some people...

Sidari, rock relief

Sidari, rock relief

Sidari

The town and the beach of the same name Ipsos. In my opinion - not very good there the road goes a few meters from the water's edge, there is very little access to the beach, cars are constantly driving past...

The town and the beach of the same name Ipsos. In my opinion, not very good, there the road goes a few meters from the water's edge, there is very little access to the beach, cars are constantly driving past...

The top of Mount Pantakrator

The top of Mount Pantakrator

View from Mount Pantakrator to the strait between Corfu and Albania

View from Mount Pantakrator to the strait between Corfu and Albania

Kerkyra Town, view south from the Old Fortress

Kerkyra Town, view south from the Old Fortress

Kerkyra Town, view from the Old Fortress

Kerkyra Town, view from the Old Fortress

Kerkyra town, streets of the old town

Kerkyra town, streets of the old town

Kerkyra town, visible Church of St. Spiridon (with a red dome). A highly revered saint not only in Greece, but also in Russia.

Kerkyra town, visible Church of St. Spiridon (with a red dome). A highly revered saint not only in Greece, but also in Russia.

In the old town

In the old town

New fortress

New fortress

View from the walls of the New Fortress. The Old Fortress is visible in the distance.

View from the walls of the New Fortress. The Old Fortress is visible in the distance.

We are going to the west of the island. Here is the most famous and a nice place- Paleokastritsa. However, the water here is very cool, just like in the north.

Paleokastritsa

Paleokastritsa

Paleokastritsa, view from the Monastery of the Virgin Mary

Paleokastritsa, view from the Monastery of the Virgin Mary

Paleokastritsa, view from the monastery

Paleokastritsa, view from the monastery

Paleokastritsa, Monkey face rock. The joker guide explained that in America there is a rock with the faces of presidents, they say, we have it too

Paleokastritsa, Monkey face rock. The joker guide explained that in America there is a rock with the faces of presidents, they say, we have it too

While in Paleokastritsa, you should definitely take boat trip, amazing places, grottoes, wild beaches, rocks.

Rocks near Paleokastritsa

Rocks near Paleokastritsa

Paradise Beach. You can only get here by sea. People get off the boat, stay for a couple of hours, and return the next

Paradise Beach. You can only get here by sea. People get off the boat, stay for a couple of hours, and return the next

Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach

Paleokastritsa, top view

Paleokastritsa, top view

From Paleokastritsa we go north, through a small pass, and we go to the town of Agios Yorgos (Agios Georgios)

From Paleokastritsa we go north, through a small pass, and we go to the town of Agios Yorgos (Agios Georgios)

I’ve been wanting to walk through places whose nature was colorfully described in Darrell’s book “My Family and Other Animals.” But they had doubts: the island Corfu Now - fashionable resort, and judging by the reports of tourists, there should be more bars and discos on it than ancient olive groves and overgrown canals with turtles. Looking ahead, I will say that the island has an abundance of both: the question is who is looking for what. But it is better for a nature lover to fly to the island in the spring, before the start of the season. We chose the second half of April.

Almost immediately a roundabout appeared walking route: fly to Kerkyra, by east coast reach in a few days Kavos, take a radial walk along the practically uninhabited southern tip of the island and return back closer to the western shore. In terms of choosing places to stay overnight, we were not tied to specific towns (Corfu is quite poor in cultural and historical attractions), and therefore were guided solely by the price, reasonable walking distance per day, and in some places - simply by the very fact of the availability of places to stay overnight.

The Vlaherna Monastery is located on a tiny island

Corfu airport is small. There are almost no highways here, and instead of using transport to Kerkyra, we walked - through the Vlaherna monastery to our first overnight stop in the town Perama. Kerkyra was caught only by the edge, leaving historical Center on the last day. The neighborhoods remote from the center are quite cozy and moderately shabby. Tiny Vlaherna Monastery consists of practically one church, occupying the entire island, connected to the shore by a dam. In the twilight, in an icon case covered with an old darkened glass, a famous icon is displayed, and in the stones of the dam there are many crabs, with a short photo hunt for which the meaningful part of our journey began.

With the exception of large settlements and some highways, there are sparse shops on the island. A small store about one and a half kilometers from our first home, to which the owners of the guesthouse sent us, differed little in product range from a general store somewhere in the Russian outback in the late nineties. Nevertheless, we managed to get some bread, beer and some ham in it on the second try, when the seller noticed us and came out of the neighboring house.

Castle Achillion considered one of the “pearls” of Corfu. Despite all the antique surroundings, it was built at the end of the 19th century, and the luxurious interiors of the palace and the beautiful garden were decorated by German artists and sculptors. The interiors are not completely recreated: although the central staircase opens in all its splendor, most of the rooms are simply renovated with a certain amount of stylization and filled with exhibits. You can understand this by looking at small cleared fragments of original frescoes, in which something more complex is discerned than the fresh ornaments decorating the walls. Like any famous site, it is best to visit Achillion early in the morning: we walked around the palace and park almost alone, but when we moved on, there was already a crowd in the square tourist buses, and the first ranks of organized excursionists gradually filled the entire space.

Not far from the palace is shell museum. The only room contains a good collection of shells, corals and other marine life - both modern and extinct. But there’s a problem with captions: either they simply don’t exist, or they’re too general, or they represent some kind of fantastic picture of the world. For example, from them we “learned” about the existence of Paleogene ammonites in Greece.

The work of local taxidermists makes you smile
Photo - Elena Maksimkina

The works of local taxidermists evoke a special smile: stuffed sea creatures in the state of a bitten roach with false bulging eyes are not suitable even for a souvenir shop, not to mention a museum.

From a resort town Benitses a dirt road that turns into a path rises into the mountains, plunging the traveler into a completely different world. It passes through a small monastery with a spring and an ancient olive tree and winds further through colorful ancient villages with stunning views all around and an abundance of ruins - not too ancient, but picturesque.

The village kids are friendly, but they like to play pranks. After waiting until we enter a small fenced-in semblance observation deck, they closed the gate and stepped aside to see how we would get out. We simply jumped over a low fence, which caused them great delight.

Next crossing to the town Messonghi It turned out quite long and hot. An attempt to rest by the side of the road in an overgrown wasteland led to the first full-fledged macro-hunt: the variety of insects was conducive to this. I was especially pleased to have the opportunity to get a “portrait” of an ant milking aphids.

The clarity of the sea in Corfu is truly impressive. Depths of up to several meters when viewed from above give the impression of shallow water, and through the crystal, slightly greenish water you can observe the life of marine inhabitants. Long route around the island allowed us to practically not use equipped beaches (although they are practically deserted at the end of April, with fairly warm water), but to find each time picturesque corners coastlines, unspoilt by civilization and vacationers.

On wild beaches Snakes are often found, and they swim very quickly. We even managed to watch a hunting scene: an olive snake and a small lizard looked at each other motionlessly for a long time, and the snake was clearly preparing to attack. But, disturbed by the camera lens, he ran away from us into the nearest bushes, having managed to demonstrate his swimmer’s abilities a little before.

Walking through the heat to our next overnight stop, we found a construction site and workers: it didn’t look like they were going to move us in. We approached, explained the situation, the workers began to call somewhere, and after a while the owner came. She apologized that nothing was ready for the arrival of the guests, opened a beautiful room, in my opinion, and with doubt in her voice asked if we would agree to live in such conditions. We, of course, agreed, and, having asked for directions to the nearest store, we went in search of it. We walked quite quickly: from the words of the owner, we understood that the store seemed to be open until five. After walking a couple of kilometers, we entered a town that seemed to have died out. There were many establishments around the central square - from cafes to hairdressers, but absolutely everything was closed with shutters. We checked with the locals: it turns out that the store is open not until five, but from five. That is, in a couple of hours it may open. So we had to wander through the surrounding fields, climb an abandoned monastery, scare turtles in a marshy canal and admire the surrounding scenery while waiting for the siesta to end.

Olive groves accompanied us most of the way. Ancient, intricately twisted olive trees, although planted by human hands, in some places create the impression of some kind of primeval forest, which is spoiled (or, conversely, complemented) only by green nets spread below for collecting fruits. These nets cover huge areas under the trees: during the olive harvest season, all that remains is to shake the tree a little and pour the finished crop out of the nets. In addition to olives, olive wood is also valued - it is quite hard, has a slight pleasant smell and a unique pattern. In large cuts from an array of huge old trees, suitably processed (I assume soaked in hot olive oil), entire landscapes are discernible, somewhat similar to the texture of burl or Karelian birch. Large products are made from a solid solid of old wood, dried over many years, and the best examples of them are very expensive.

Apart from olive growing, other agricultural activity on the island is minimal. In some places there are small private vineyards, sometimes with a shop where you can buy wine directly from local winemakers, but we didn’t come across any significant areas of grapes. But in gardening art, the inhabitants of Corfu surpassed many. Most of the landscape compositions are represented by vertical flower beds: the snow-white walls of houses and the slopes of terraces dividing the hillside into horizontal sections are covered with compositions of flowers and a variety of, often exotic, plants. This is how the owners simultaneously save fertile land and decorate their gardens.

Much of the southern half of the island can be navigated along small dirt roads or quiet roads with poor asphalt that run along or close to the coast. However, when approaching the southernmost settlement - Kavos - the situation begins to change for the worse (for a backpacker). The coastal zone here is too indented by numerous intersecting canyons and deep crevices, through which even a path, not to mention a road, is very difficult. Therefore, most of the roads and paths going to the sea diverge radially from the dusty highway, and when approaching the sea they dead end. We had to endure several kilometers of walking along the highway.

Kavos out of season - the town is completely “dead”. Despite the abundance of signs for various establishments, including night bars and strip clubs, in the entire city only a couple of “fast food” type cafes are ready to feed a traveler who arrived in April. But this also has its advantages: the surroundings of this party place during the season are unusually picturesque, and in the summer they are certainly filled with the roar of numerous scooters and ATVs, the non-working rental points of which can be found on almost every corner.

From here it is a stone's throw to the southernmost point of the island - a picturesque steep cape with the ruins of a monastery. From the high clay cliffs, a strip of a huge deserted beach is clearly visible in both directions, and we managed to get down to it only after spending considerable time searching for approaches. But it was worth going down to this beach, and not only because of its picturesqueness. Peering carefully at the shore rocks between swims, I finally discovered a worthy addition to the paleontological collection: a small shark tooth, soldered into a fist-sized piece of shell rock.

There seemed to be no further path, and the navigator stubbornly sent us back along the same route. But, looking behind the nearest rocks, we discovered a piece eaten by a landslide and hanging over the sea like a visor old road. The safety issue here is resolved simply: each driver must watch the road himself, and there were no warning signs or barriers for drivers. It’s scary to imagine the consequences if someone decides to drive down this path to the sea at night. Having climbed the landslide slope onto the old asphalt with some difficulty, we were able to return by a different route.

Then our path lay in the town Agios Georgios, already located on the west coast: having reached the extreme southern point, we began to close the ring on the opposite side of the island. The twenty-kilometer journey was a necessary measure: the number settlements In this area there is minimal traffic, and no operating hotels could be found.

However, we did not regret it, since this day broke all records for the number of things we saw - from the house of local Kulibin, in the courtyard of which absolutely fantastic examples of ancient equipment and equipment made from scrap materials were displayed, to blooming orchids, distinguished in these places by an exceptional variety of species. Several different forms can be found without literally getting up from your seat.

On one of the beaches, our attention was attracted by a pile of strangely shaped blocks. Upon closer examination, this section of the coast turned out to be an ancient reef: corals, numerous fossilized bivalves, and even shells were found here. sea urchin, which, however, could not be extracted from the rock. It is curious that in one of the nearby taverns they are an expert in fossils: its interiors are decorated not with modern shells and dried fish (there are many of these here), but with numerous finds from this coast.

Surprisingly, among the lush vegetation of the island you can also find desert landscapes. To the northwest of Agios Georgios there is a lagoon lake, separated from the sea by a narrow spit. This spit is covered with sand and is a ridge of low dunes. Here you can look at the desert in miniature (however, that was enough for us: the winding path with numerous stops for photography took a good half a day). And closer to the water, lush thickets grow and the air is filled with the voices of birds, especially numerous in this corner of the island.

Desert lake landscapes Corisson

But the miniature desert is left behind, and olive groves begin again, in which villages are hidden with small altar-cases with icons and burning lamps inside standing in front of the houses. Such structures are very common in Corfu and are varied. Among the miniature models of temples there are both clearly mass-produced examples made of concrete and creations of folk craftsmen.

When moving north, towards Agios Gordios, from where it is just a stone's throw from Kerkyra, the seascapes change noticeably. The mountains here come almost close to the sea, the coast is cut by numerous coves, and rocks resembling bizarre stone sculptures increasingly protrude directly from the water.

In some places the roads turn into mountain serpentines, opening up new views around every turn. Also, either insects and reptiles felt the approach of summer, or there were simply noticeably more of them in this part of the island, but we saw plenty of butterflies, beetles and lizards.

Agios Gordios beach was disappointing at first. We were greeted by orderly rows of identical white sun loungers, a considerable part of which were occupied by motionless vacationers. It looked like today's swim in Ionian Sea- farewell: the next day we had a long journey back to Kerkyra, and not along the coast, but across the island. I didn’t want to ruin this day by swimming at a mass rookery. To avoid swimming in the crowd, we decided to go behind the rock. And then another, and another... And then one of the most beautiful sections of the coast of the entire trip opened up to us.

Behind a small ridge of rocks, an old fishing boat, washed ashore by the sea, was rusting. An unknown artist, apparently after the ship was abandoned, decorated it with a pair of eyes in the manner of ancient Greek galleys. It would seem, how can a pile of rusty iron decorate a beach? It turns out it can. The longboat fit perfectly into the surrounding rocky landscape with a strip of tiny sand and rocks protruding from it of such shapes that they could become a worthy decoration for any “cichlid” aquarium, even if they were several dozen times smaller. A flock of wading birds sat on one of the stones, not frightening anyone. However, when I got too impudent with the camera, they simultaneously rose into the air, putting their long legs back and equally long beaks forward.

The inscription on one of the large stones read: “Nudists only.” There were no people around. Behind the stone a natural arch appeared, entering which we found ourselves on a tiny private beach, closed on all sides. In addition, the low evening sun shone directly under its arch, covering this secluded corner with golden light. Having swam enough in this heavenly place, we hurried off for a night hunt.

We were lucky: the hotel was located in a small, quiet garden, and there were a couple of lanterns in front of the entrance to our room. Having turned them on, prepared the equipment, and settled down on the open veranda, we began to wait: who would crawl or fly into the light? The “catch” in the form of three geckos, a bronze scoop butterfly with a fancy decoration on its head and a small centipede suited us quite well.

The geckos were especially good. Their soft pink, almost transparent bodies merged with the unevenness of the walls. The predators lazily waited, frozen in motion, for some mosquito to fly too close. One of the geckos was so keen on hunting that he allowed himself to be filmed several times almost point-blank, and the result was a large “portrait”.

The road smoothly departs from the sea, rising up the mountain. The last beach is hidden around the bend west coast, and in return the peak appears before my eyes Pantocrator- the highest point of the island. Despite its modest height (less than 1000 meters), against the backdrop of the surrounding landscape with cypress trees drowning in haze to the horizon and low mountain ranges, she looks quite majestic.

Kerkyra We were greeted by a noisy multi-lane highway with virtually no sidewalks, which, especially after a week and a half in nature, was not very pleasant to walk on. However, on the way to the historical center, rural landscapes with constant olive trees, grazing horses and houses buried in gardens still awaited us.

The experienced traveler should not expect too much from Kerkyra. Although the historical center of the city is included in the UNESCO list, and the formal list of attractions is very large, in general it is a quiet, bright, but monotonous and in some places rather neglected town. Apart from two powerful fortresses and a couple of rather unusual churches, there is not much worth seeing here. So one full day at a brisk walking pace in the city is quite enough. Co Old fortress a panorama of almost the entire city opens up, and inside the fortress walls there is a small Byzantine Museum, consisting of only a couple of halls. Much bigger and more interesting Asian Art Museum, created on the basis of a huge private collection and very reminiscent of the Oriental Museum in Moscow. The exhibition, which includes a wonderful collection of classical Japanese paintings, is located in a luxurious old mansion, and the creators of the museum brilliantly solved the difficult task of showing both a rich collection of Asian artifacts and palace interiors in all their splendor. In the exhibition halls with plain walls and rows of exhibits, large “windows” are made, through which you can observe fragments of palace luxury and Western European painting.

Concluding the story about Corfu, I would like to give some practical advice.

Travel more on foot or by bike. With the exception of a couple of central highways, the island's roads range from moderately rough to terrible. By car you will not see much of what is available to a traveler on foot, and the speed of travel will increase slightly. I will not promote ATVs - as a means of transport that can scare away all the fauna within a radius of a couple of kilometers.

Stock up on snacks and water the night before. The daytime siesta here is long, and in some towns absolutely everything is closed, including grocery stores. And many places do not open at all until the start of the mass beach season.

Don't be scared high prices in the center of Kerkyra. Once you go to the outskirts of the city (not to mention remote villages), prices reach the level of the Russian average. For the same reason, you should not stay in Kerkyra longer than necessary: one full day is enough to explore the city.

The old fort of Corfu and the Achilleion Palace are best visited in the early morning, before the mass migration of bus tourists begins. During this time, you will experience the absence of heat, beautiful light and almost complete absence of people.

Those planning to make a radial ascent of Mount Pantokrator in one day are better off booking their accommodation well in advance. We were late: at the time of planning the route, there were few hotels left within walking distance from the top, and their prices were terrible - almost like in Iceland. I didn’t want to drag the tent, so I had to give up the idea of climbing.

Be careful with local fauna. The island is a paradise for a herpetologist: I have never seen such an abundance of snakes, including poisonous species, anywhere else. As a rule, they are not aggressive and try to get away quickly, but at the same time they crawl quickly and swim well. But they looked for the scorpions colorfully described by Darrell specifically, but during the entire trip they did not meet a single one.

06.02.2018

You can spend your holiday on the beautiful island of Corfu on the beach, or spend time visiting local attractions, of which there are many. A trip to Corfu can be an exciting adventure, pursuing goals not only of an entertaining nature, but also solving the problem of learning something new.

You can explore the territory in several ways, including:

traveling by public transport;
independent hikes;
voyages around Corfu by car;
excursion program.

Which method to choose depends on the desire of the tourist and his capabilities; we will dwell on each of them.

Public transport

Corfu has good transport links with the help of which you can get to any of its corners. There are two types of buses running here:

Blue Bus. The blue bus belongs to the municipality and its main routes are major resorts. The initial transport station is located in Piazza San Rocco, and the travel time is 15-20 minutes;
Green Bus. These buses are green and their route covers longer distances, including to Athens and Thessaloniki. These tours include ferry service and depart from the island's main bus station, Green Bus Station.

Bus tickets can be purchased both at the ticket office and from the driver; the cost of the trip depends on the distance.

Independent hikes

The North, West and East of the island of Corfu are extraordinarily beautiful in nature; almost every village has its own attraction. The southern side looks a little more modest, but this does not lose its charm.

Therefore, at the beginning of your vacation, especially if it is the first one, you should inspect the nearby area. It is better to do this on foot; the villages of Corfu are not very large; you can get around some resorts in just a few hours. If you are tired, you are always allowed to use a taxi.

Corfu by car

It is much more convenient to travel by rented car. In this case, all that remains is to draw a route map according to the guidebook. The advantages of this type of transportation include:

speed;
comfort;
the ability to visit several places in a short time;
choice of travel at will.

The disadvantages of this method include:

cost of fuel;
search for free parking.

Parking at leading resorts becomes difficult in July–August due to the influx of tourists; the rest of the time the situation is more or less stable.

When renting a car, it is worth checking the details of the insurance; sometimes questions may arise about some items that are not included in the contract by unscrupulous lessors.

In addition, you should not leave your car on the side of the road; the roads in Corfu are not very wide and any passing bus or truck can “catch” it. Therefore, some tourists prefer to rent scooters, bicycles or ATVs rather than cars.

Excursions

Excursion tours include visits to almost all places where there are attractions. The choice of such tours in any tour desk won't take much time. Some hotels offer trips to their guests, and a group of those willing is formed, which significantly reduces the cost of guide services. A service of individual excursions is also offered here.

Tours are carried out either by car or bus, or with the help of horses if the travel distance is short. And thanks to the presence ferry crossing From Corfu you can get to Italy and Albania.

Conclusion

When going on a trip to Corfu, tourists can visit not only local attractions. Mesmerizing views, natural beauty and beaches are also the reason to explore the island. Local taverns and Greek hospitality will add pleasure to any cruise to any destination, no matter how it is done.

If a tourist decides to explore Greece by car, this is indeed very correct! Many people are wondering what this strange object is, stretching along the paths and blocking the roadway? These are terrible toll roads that you have to pay for to travel throughout Greece, especially Corfu.

The main advantage of the highway is that it is much more convenient to travel along such a road. Such roads have high-quality coverage and good night lighting. In addition, these highways are maintained by various companies that periodically check the condition of the roads. In total, there are 6 toll roads in Greece.

Highways of Greece

Note! Paid bus stations are located on the National Roads or Ethniki Odos motorways, which are designed for fast and long-distance travel throughout Greece. They can be found on main road, passing between International airport Athens and the city center, and the fare will often be in addition to the quoted taxi fare.

Sometimes a traveler can get lucky if he has to drive along the National Road that runs along the top of the large Greek island of Crete. After all, there are no toll roads in this part. The disadvantage is that there are several roads that are classified as direct roads in Crete, this includes only the National Road (too long) and cannot be avoided. However, a small part of the North-South road, running from Heraklion to Moaira, offers a road connected to the highway. The roads on the island of Corfu are quite well maintained. There are too few cars moving in this part of the island due to the narrow roads.

Motorways of Greece

Important! When traveling by car to the island of Corfu along the toll road, you must take cash with you, since the operator does not accept credit cards.

Where are the toll roads in Greece?

Attica Odos - This toll road crosses Attica, a peninsula near the center of Athens, and heads towards the Peloponnese peninsula.

Egnatia Odos - also known as A2. This toll road in Northern Greece, which partly follows an ancient Roman road, runs between Epirus and Macedonia. You can take this toll road to Thrace.

Corinth-Patras is the fastest way to travel northern part Peloponnese Peninsula. This road runs parallel to the old coastal road that passes through every coastal village. Therefore, travelers who prefer a quieter, but more scenic option can freely travel along this route.

Athens-Thessaloniki road is known to tourists and local residents like Highway 1, A1, E75 (for Patras, Athens, Thessaonica and Egnatia). This path is an easy way to get from one point to another despite the long distance.

Note! Payment for car travel on the island of Corfu is carried out at a special station with the operator. After payment, the barrier opens.

The picturesque resort of Corfu by car - features of the island

Features of traveling around the island. Corfu by car

The extraordinary beauty of the Greek island attracts tourists from different countries peace. Arriving on the island of Corfu, you cannot miss the grandiose museums and fortresses. They are located both in the city itself and outside it, while in the countryside there are also many monuments and attractions. Hundreds of traditional villages await numerous tourists to explore mountain ranges, deep valleys and vast tracts of idyllic landscapes. At every step a traveler can encounter something interesting.

Corfu Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias is located very close to Corfu Town. The airfield serves domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki. During the summer, the airport also receives direct flights and charters from foreign countries. From May to September the tourist season begins in Corfu. In summer, this part of the island has close air connections with other Greek islands, such as Kefalonia and Zakynthos, which are operated by the small airline Sky Express.

Note! With parking in modern and popular resorts It becomes difficult, mainly in July - August due to the influx of tourists, the rest of the time the situation is more or less stable.

When renting a car, it is worth checking the details of the insurance; sometimes questions may arise about some items that are not included in the contract by the lessors. Therefore, before filling out the form, you need to familiarize yourself with the companies’ terms and conditions in advance.

At Corfu Airport there are offices of famous car rental companies Budget, Auto-union, Hertz, Surprice, Olympic car, Firefly, Avis, where you can rent a car of any brand. Car rental in Corfu is also possible outside the airport, where more favorable rates are offered, but you will have to take a bus to get to your destination, or use the services of a free shuttle.

The cost of renting a car is approximately 30 € per day, which is significantly cheaper than in other European cities. The price of the service depends on a number of factors, for example, the amount of insurance, the amount of rent, the make of the car, etc. Much also depends on the age of the driver, the class of the car, and additional capabilities of the vehicle.

Note! The best option is to think about booking in advance vehicle for moving around the island, which is especially important in the high summer season from July to September. In addition, you need to find out in advance what you can see by car in Corfu.

At local gas stations you can buy different brands of fuel, diesel fuel, and unleaded gasoline. If this is provided for by the vehicle's engine configuration, you can refuel with gas, but the number of gas stations is limited.

The average cost of gasoline on the island of Corfu is expressed in the following figures:

Gasoline 95 - 1,582 euros.
Gasoline - 1,702 euros.
Diesel - 1,237 euros.

Exploring the island by car

What to see in Corfu on your own by car

Before planning a trip to Greece, travelers usually wonder what to see in Corfu on their own by car. Starting from Corfu town, head west to Tsavarachi (Tsavros), which leads directly to Paleokastritsa. Every tourist should visit the Venetian-era villa, which houses works of prominent Greek artists since 1830. Now that the main collection of Greek artists at the Athens Museum is closed until at least 2019, this is the best chance to delve into the country's historical art history.

Thanks to the development of Greek painting, all the key figures are represented in this complex (especially Nikolaos Gyzis, Nikiforos Lytras, Yiannis Tsaroushis and Nikos Chatzikiriakos-Ghika). Near the villa there is a shop that sells interesting books about art. Next you should continue your journey along the coastal road. Signs will lead to the village of Spartilas and Strinales in the southwestern part near Mount Pandokrator.

In Strynislas (in the east), at 914 meters high, Corfu's highest point, is the miniature stone monastery of Ipsilou Pandrokrata (open daily except 12.30-2.00 April-October). You should go to this monastery in calm and clear weather. Because the road is tiring and quite long. It is advisable to bring refreshments and snacks with you.

Strinales is considered no less interesting, north coast through the villages of Eriva and Lafki, leaving near Acharavi. This perfect place for swimming. Here are sandy beaches, Almiros is just northeast of Acharavi towards Kasiopi.

Note! In the capital region of Corfu there is a monument to the Russian admiral Fyodor Fedorovich Ushakov. The majestic monument is located in the central part of the city.

Traveling around the island of Corfu by car can take the traveler to the magnificent beach of Halikounas or Dassia to see pink flamingos. Here it is big lake off the island of Korission.

For family vacation, experienced tourists offer relaxation in the famous aquarium. This picturesque aquarium offers marine life shows all year round.

All of the above attractions in Corfu can be seen independently by car. If necessary, he can meet a tourist in the city excursion guide, which will tell about the history of this ancient population.

Corfu Island routes by car

Guide to Corfu by car

Every year amazing and picturesque resort Greece welcomes tourists with different preferences and financial capabilities. On the island there are best hotels, villas and yachts that provide guests with 100% comfort. If you close your eyes to expensive yachts and hotels, it will immediately become clear that Corfu will be comfortable and fun for everyone.

Fun water parks and attractions, parachutes, bananas and boats on the beaches, sea walking routes By green valleys and mountains, where every peak is “the best panoramic platform" in the world. It’s also the closest place to Italy. And this neighborhood is noticeable immediately as soon as you get to the capital of the island - Kerkyra.

With its architecture and narrow streets it is very reminiscent of the old towns of the Apennine boot. A guide to Corfu by car is presented on the official website. Here you can also find out all the routes by car around the island of Corfu.

What a tourist should know when coming to Corfu

Advice from an experienced tourist is always useful when traveling abroad. For lovers active rest, experienced travelers suggest visiting a resort called Kavos. Noisy parties are held on this island. Local clubs offer guests the best cocktails.

On the coast Ionian Sea lovers of water sports, especially divers, can have fun. In addition, you can go to the water park. The price per person is 25 euros*. Entry is free for children under 4 years of age. It should be noted that traveling around Corfu by car will reveal the secrets of ancient civilizations.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the island of Corfu is the most beautiful and green place in all of Greece. The best sandy beaches are located here. In order to rent a sun lounger with an umbrella you will have to pay only 5 euros*.

*Prices are as of September 2018.