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3 Days In Corfu Itinerary: Where To Go In Corfu By Car

Kanoni Beach is a must-see on 3 days in Corfu itinerary.
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Corfu is one of the Greek islands where we’ve spent the most time, so we had to be quite brutal with slimming down everything we did into a 3 days in Corfu itinerary. From Byzantine castles to unforgettable cliffside beaches, it’s got a nice mix of manmade and natural attractions to keep things interesting.

One of the great things about taking a Corfu road trip is that it’s basically non-stop awesome views. The roads can be a little exciting at times, but they take in miles and miles of dramatic coastline and rolling hills.

On our most recent trip, we rented a car in Corfu for 2 weeks, spending 1 week enjoying the natural beauty around Sidari and 1 week partying it up in Kavos. While it was nice to have that much time to relax on the beach, it’s definitely possible to squeeze the main highlights into 3 days – and don’t worry, the size of the island means it doesn’t involve endless driving!

3 Days In Corfu Itinerary: Overview 

3 Days In Corfu Itinerary
  • DAY 1 ➡️ Cape Drastis, Canal d’Amour, Kassiopi, Kanoni Beach
  • DAY 2 ➡️ Porto Timoni, Krini, Angelocastro, Monastery of Paleokastritsa, Agios Spiridon Beach, La Grotta Bar
  • DAY 3 ➡️ Corfu Town, Kavos & Arkoudilas Beach OR  Saint Gordios

CORFU ROAD TRIP – DAY 1

Begin your 3 days in Corfu itinerary on the northern coast of the island. This is where some of the most unique and impressive rock formations are found, as well as several lovely little beaches where you could easily while away a whole day swimming, sunbathing, and snorkelling.

📍Cape Drastis

Cape Drastis.

Located at the northeasternmost point of Corfu, Cape Drastis is a picturesque little strip of land that stretches out into the sea. 

While the view from the clifftop is fab, our fav thing here is the beautiful beaches at the foot of the rockface. These are only reachable by boat, but there’s a convenient jetty a short distance away where you can pay for a return journey to and from the area for about 15 euros.

If you’re doing Corfu by car, we suggest leaving the vehicle in Peroulades and hiking to the jetty. It’s possible to park closer, but there isn’t a great deal of space during high season.

Plus, Peroulades is a rather quaint little village that’s worth checking out if you’re in the area.

📍Canal d’Amour

D Amour Beach is one of the must-visit places on your Corfu Road Trip.

A highlight of any Corfu 3 day itinerary, the legend of the ‘Love Canal’ is that anybody who swims in it will soon meet their soulmate. 

We didn’t need any help in that department, but we both still found it a pretty place to go for a swim! It’s quite unusual, in that the channel is hemmed in by cliffs on three sides.

Although the Canal d’Amour is one of the most distinctive locations to check out on Corfu, we discovered that the whole northern coast had lots of interesting rock formations and small beaches, so enjoy exploring! Just bear in mind that the water can get quite choppy on windy days.

You can reach the Canal d’Amour from Peroulades, but another option is to park in the larger town of Sidari, which is fully kitted out with tourist-friendly facilities. We had some great frozen cocktails at D Amour Beach Bar, but there’s no shortage of bars and restaurants to choose from, as well as water sports rentals.

📍Lunch At 50/50 Restaurant

Lunch in Sidari

There are a lot of places to eat in Sidari, but one of the best meals we had on our trip was at 50/50 Restaurant. 

First off, the vibe is super charming, with walls painted with flowers and foliage. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the prices were reasonable.

The food is the kind of classic taverna fare that should be a core part of any 3 days in Corfu itinerary. We had a delicious lamb kleftiko, accompanied by a Greek salad and some tzatziki, all served in homey, hearty portions.

📍Kassiopi 

Kassiopi is a must-visit place on your 3 days in Corfu itinerary.

After chowing down on lunch, continue your Corfu travel itinerary by heading to Kassiopi, on the northeastern edge of the island. It’s about 30-40 minutes by car from Sidari, some of it along a scenic coastal road.

Kassiopi has been inhabited for thousands of years, undergoing transformations under each successive civilisation that took over Corfu. A settlement was first founded here by the Ancient Greeks, before falling under the control of the Romans, the Venetians, and the Ottoman Turks.

It’s home to one of three Byzantine castles on Corfu that were built to defend the island sometime around the 6th century AD – though nobody seems to be quite sure of the exact date! 

Inside of Kassiopi Castle.
The streets of Kassiopi.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover it was completely free to enter Kassiopi Castle. The only cost was the short hike up from the town centre.

Once you’ve taken in the awesome views, head down to Kassiopi Harbour, a picturesque marina with several benches where you can sit down and enjoy the sight of the sea glistening in the sun.

There are also quite a few tavernas and bars around the harbour where you can go for a meal if you haven’t already eaten.

📍Kanoni Beach

Blogger Mal visiting Kanoni Beach.
Kanoni Beach is one of the best best places to visit in Corfu by car.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing on Kanoni Beach, at the northern end of the town. 

Kanoni was our second fav beach out of all the places we visited during our two weeks on Corfu. The most incredible thing here is how super crystal clear the waters are, creating a fabulous spot to go swimming and snorkelling.

The main beach area is a small cove made up of white pebbles. There are a handful of umbrellas for rent, but also plenty of flat(ish) rock surfaces where you can find space to throw down a towel and chill out. 

There wasn’t much in the way of refreshments to be had when we went, so make sure to stock up at the shops in Kassiopi before heading down.

CORFU ROAD TRIP – DAY 2

After exploring the north coast on Day 1, Day 2 is all about the west coast. This part of Corfu is home to some historic pieces of architecture like the Angelocastro and the Monastery of Paleokastritsa, as well as its own share of idyllic beaches.

📍Porto Timoni

Porto Timoni.

Start your day with a hike to Porto Timoni, our favourite beach on Corfu! It’s best to go earlier to avoid the crowds and the midday heat – both can get quite oppressive. 

We went down in the morning and actually managed to have the area entirely to ourselves for an hour. 

Even though Porto Timoni isn’t exactly a hidden gem, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Made up of two beaches divided by a shrub-covered strip of green land, it’s one of the most unique spots on our 3 days in Corfu itinerary.

Blogger Mal at Porto Timoni while visiting Corfu by car
Corfu Porto Timoni

To reach the beach, we hiked for about half an hour from the village of Afionas. The walk itself is very pretty, with an amazing viewpoint just before the climb down to the shore. Make sure you wear good shoes – trainers or “adventure sandals” – because it’s not the easiest route, although it shouldn’t be overly challenging for the average adult.  

It’s also possible to reach the beach by boat, but then you miss out on the amazing panorama from the clifftop. Plus, it’s worth wandering through Afionas, a historic, cute little habitation with a couple of local tavernas where you can grab a bite accompanied by views over the coast.

📍Lunch at Krini

Blogger Robin having a lunch in the picturesque Krini village in Corfu.
Lunch in Krini village during a Corfu road trip.

An alternative to eating in Afionas is to drive south, around Agiou Georgiou Bay, to the tiny village of Krini. Located up in the mountains, it’s a traditional village with just a handful of streets where older folks hang out to the shoot the breeze.

We found the roads between Afionas and Krini quite steep and narrow, but the payoff was loads of cool viewpoints along the route where you can stop to enjoy Corfu’s majestic natural beauty.

Krini is home to a couple of neighbourhood tavernas where you can get traditional Greek eats, served just like mama used to make. We ate at Ftelias, which does an excellent slice of homey moussaka and freshly squeezed orange juice that’s just yum! 

📍Angelocastro Byzantine Castle

Blogger Mal posing with Angelocastro Byzantine Castle in the backround.

One of the coolest manmade places to visit on our 3 days in Corfu itinerary is Angelocastro, another of the three Byzantine castles that we mentioned earlier. It’s strategically perched on one of the highest coastal points of Corfu, which means it has amazing views out over the shore as well as the surrounding landscape.

Just south of Krini, Angelocastro has its own free car park with toilets and a cafe where you can prep yourself for the short hike up to the castle. It might look super intimidating from the bottom, but it actually only took us 15 minutes, including our stops to snap some pics of the scenery along the way.

Even though much of the castle is in ruins, Angelocastro is still one of the best places to visit in Corfu if you’re after impressive buildings in breathtaking surroundings. There’s enough left to give you a visceral feeling of how imposing it must have been to invaders (and the local inhabitants) hundreds of years ago.

📍Monastery of Paleokastritsa

Monastery of Paleokastritsa
The entrance of the Monastery of Paleokastritsa.
The view over Agios Spiridon Beach
The view on the way to the monastery.

Just under half an hour from Angelocastro, along a few more winding, scenic roads, the Monastery of Paleokastritsa is one of the more impressive religious buildings to include on a Corfu Greece itinerary.

It was originally built in the 13th century, although most of what you see today was erected in the 18th century.

The complex is charmingly simple and small, with a heavily decorated church and a museum that has an eclectic display of objects. Why include a whale skeleton alongside ecclesiastical robes? No idea, but they’re both items native to Corfu and its waters!

Aside from the monastery buildings, we also enjoyed the panorama from the walls over the turquoise seas and the dramatic, rocky cliffs.

Make sure you are dressed appropriately, as there are people on the door who will prevent entry to anybody with exposed shoulders and knees. Mal wore a sarong to cover her legs, but they had skirts and scarves for women who didn’t have anything to cover up with.

We actually made a small snafu coming here by arriving just after 1 pm, only to find out that – like many places in Corfu – the monastery was shut up for lunch and siesta. The hours are correctly listed on Google, so it was totally our bad. As a silver lining, we ended up spending two hours on the nearby Agios Spiridion beach, which is only a couple of minutes away.

  • WHERE: Google location
  • ENTRANCE: Donation based
  • OPENING HOURS: 7 am-1 pm, 3-8 pm

📍Agios Spiridon Beach

Agios Spiridon Beach

We rocked up to Agios Spiridon at about 1.30pm, so it was pretty packed with people, but that’s kind of the vibe of the place anyway. 

Rather than a more isolated spot like Cape Drastis or Porto Timoni, Agios Spiridon is part of the village of Palaiokastritsa. This hotel-dense area stretches along a sizable bit of coastline and boasts multiple beaches, all hemmed in by pine trees, olive groves, and other foliage.

Busy but gorgeous, Agios Spiridon is made up of a mix of sand and pebbles where you can sunbathe and swim. It’s not the most relaxing beach we’ve included in our 3 days in Corfu itinerary, but it does boast lots of fun activities and well-maintained facilities. 

A lot of snorkel enthusiasts were out and about with their masks when we were there, but you could also rent a pedalo or take a boat tour from the jetty to explore the nearby caves.

📍La Grotta Bar

La Grotta Bar

Finish off the second of your three days in Corfu with a visit to La Grotta, a seaside bar that’s famous for having a diving board where you can leap into the ocean. 

For the more adventurous, we also saw people clambering over the nearby cliff face and throwing themselves off that into the sea when we visited. 

Even if you don’t dare to jump in yourself, there’s still plenty of entertainment to be had watching other people dive – and sometimes bellyflop – into the water while you sit back and sip your pina colada or margarita.

What we liked most about La Grotta is that it’s got a really lively vibe, both during the day and as things transition into the evening. The prices are on the high side, but we enjoyed ourselves enough to stick around for some snacky dinner food.

CORFU ROAD TRIP – DAY 3

For the last day of our 3 days in Corfu itinerary, we suggest starting by exploring the island’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, which is a densely packed maze of attractive buildings. Follow that up by heading all the way to the southern tip of the island for exquisite sandy beaches.

📍Corfu Town 

Corfu town is a must-visit place on any 3 days in Corfu itinerary.

Like a little slice of Italy in the heart of the Ionian Sea, Corfu Town’s appearance owes a lot to the Republic of Venice, which ruled the island for more than 400 years.

We recommend starting off at one of its most striking buildings, the Old Fortress. Occupying the promontory, it’s the first structure you see if you enter the port on a ferry or a cruise ship. Originally begun in the 15th century by the Venetians, it was steadily reinforced and expanded over the years into the big beast of a place it is today.

There are some great views of the city and the sea from the walls, which encircle a clocktower, a lighthouse, and St George’s Church, built by the British to resemble an Ancient Greek temple. 

We saw quite a bit of British influence sprinkled around Corfu – and not just because so many of the tourists seem to hail from the UK! The island was occupied during the early to mid-1800s by the British, who left a neoclassical imprint on the architecture, as well as some other random cultural things like cricket.

If you head west from the Old Fortress, you’ll come to the Spianada, which was partly used as a cricket pitch during British rule. Today, it’s a nice place to enjoy a genteel stroll shaded by leafy trees, on the way to the Old Town.

It’s not just the British who had an influence on Corfu Town. Bordering the Spianada is the Liston, a stylish arcade built by the French during the Napoleonic era. It’s filled with shops and cafes where you can pause to enjoy a coffee or a cocktail.

One of the best things to do in Corfu is just wander along the pedestrianised streets of the Old Town, gazing up at buildings from the last 500 years or so. The area was quite busy when we visited, but it was still nice just taking it slow, popping our heads into churches and random buildings as we passed.

Vlacherna Monastery Corfu.
Corfu town is a must-visit place on 3 days in corfu itinerary

Once you’ve finished absorbing the atmosphere of Corfu Old Town, jump in the car and drive about 15 minutes south to the Holy Monastery of Vlacherna. Built in the 17th century as a refuge for nuns, it’s a cool place to visit because it’s located on its own little island, which is reached by crossing a short pedestrian path.

Situated very close to Corfu International Airport, this area has also got another claim to fame: the proximity to planes as they come in for a landing. We recommend going to Cafe Kanoni to see the aircraft zoom in while enjoying a quick caffeine pick-me-up.

📍Lunch In Kavos

Lunch in Cavos
Lunch in Cavos

The longest drive of our road trip Corfu is between the Holy Monastery of Vlacherna and Kavos. It still only took us around 1 hour and 20 minutes though!

If you want to break the journey, the Gardiki Castle is about halfway between the two places and is the last of the old Byzantine Castles to see if you’re a completist. In our opinion, it’s less impressively situated than Kassiopi or Angelocastro, but the ruins are still quite picturesquely set amidst rolling countryside. Plus, it’s free and has convenient nearby parking.

Kavos is basically the resort-laden part of the island. Located right at the southern tip, it’s one of the best places to visit in Corfu if you want to party and/or have a ton of facilities right on your doorstep. 

We didn’t find a great deal to do here other than hang out on the sandy beaches and just chill, but after the packed sightseeing in Corfu Town, that is probably exactly what you want!

A great place to go for a meal in Kavos is The Rose Tree. When we stayed in the town for a week, we ate here almost every day because it felt a bit like eating at our Greek uncle’s house. The staff were super friendly staff, it had delicious local food, and there was a really welcoming atmosphere.

📍Arkoudilas Beach

Bloggers Mal and Robin enjoying Arkoudilas Beach on their Corfu road trip.

After lunch, hike (45 minutes) or drive (10 minutes) to Arkoudilas Beach.

We opted to hike and really enjoyed the walk, which was just the right amount of exercise – but bring a hat! The beach itself is stunning and not as crowded as other beaches around the area. Shielded by picturesque cliffs, there are a handful of parasols and loungers, as well as plenty of space to just throw down a towel.

If you’re beached out by this point and/or prefer to hike a bit more of the terrain, there’s a trail between Kavos and Arkoudilas that takes you past the abandoned Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s rather enchantingly being taken over by nature, like something out of a fairy story.

TIP: if you don’t want to drive too far, you can also just go to Saint Gordios Beach after Corfu Town. We don’t think it’s as special and it means you won’t get to see the other side of the island, but it’s half the distance and will do for a beach afternoon. 

Best Places To Stay In Corfu

Paralia Sidari is our fav place to stay during 3 days in corfu itinerary.
Sidari is our fav place to stay in Corfu.

📍Sidari is the best overall place to stay in Corfu. It’s less resort-y than seaside towns down south, but still boasts plenty of beaches and fun nightlife. We also found it to be a good base for visiting other places along the northern coast, as well as being about an hour’s drive from Corfu Town. TOP HOTEL ➡️ Del Mare Beach Hotel.

📍Corfu Town is best for off-season stays. Quite a few of the beach villages go dead in the winter, once the summer crowds have departed, but Corfu Town’s facilities are always open for business. It also has good bus connections – almost all routes go through the capital. On the downside, it’s the busiest place we visited on Corfu. TOP HOTEL ➡️ Bella Venezia.

📍 Kavos is best for parties. There are plentiful beaches in the nearby area as well as lots of services catering for tourists. The major drawback is that it’s relatively remote from many of the historical or architectural attractions that we’ve included on our 3 days in Corfu itinerary. TOP HOTEL ➡️ KORINA APART HOTEL KAVOS.

Corfu By Car FAQs

How many days in Corfu?

We spent two weeks in Corfu on our last trip, which was great for long days spent on the beach just rebooting. If you want to see as much as possible in as little time as possible, a 3 days in Corfu itinerary is enough time to cover the highlights.

Can you drive around Corfu in a day?

Technically, yes, you could cross the island from Cape Drastis in the northwest to Kavos in the southeast in a day. There are quite a lot of Corfu places to visit by car though, including pretty beaches that you have to hike down to like Porto Timoni. Factoring all that in, it’s not really realistic to visit Corfu in a day.

Is it safe to drive in Corfu?

We explored Corfu by car and found it perfectly safe. Overall, the other drivers were calm and respectful. There are a few mountain roads that are narrow and a bit steep, but we didn’t encounter anything unmanageable. Plus, if you take these routes the views are often spectacular!

How to get around Corfu?

It’s possible to get around the island by bus, but a lot of the best things to do in Corfu aren’t realistically reachable unless you rent a car, an ATV, or a scooter. If you do want to get around by bus, we’d suggest basing yourself in Corfu Town.

How big is Corfu?

Corfu is about 229 square miles (593 square kilometres) in area. Driving in Corfu, it would take you just over 2 hours to cross the island. That said, most of the prettiest parts of the island are along the coast, and driving these roads would take a lot longer.

What is the best month to visit Corfu?

The best months in terms of weather are July and August, during the height of the summer. It does get busy during this period though, so if you are not a fan of crowds it’s probably better to come during the shoulder season, in either June or September. 

Where to stay in Corfu without a car?

That’s easy, Corfu Town! It’s the best-connected place on the island by a long way. What to do in Corfu without a car? There’s a lot to see in the Old Town, plus you can always hop on a bus and head to the beach for the day.

3 Days In Corfu Itinerary: The Wrap-Up

There’s a lot to like about Corfu, as hopefully our 3 days in Corfu itinerary has shown you! One of the best things though is that it’s really easy to add it onto a larger Balkans holiday. There are cheap flights to Athens, as well as ferries to Albania, where you can continue your adventures by car on an Albanian road trip.

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