Pastel villages and terracotta roofs sit underneath bright blue skies, rolling olive groves bask in the Mediterranean sun, and silk-sand beaches and luxurious beach resorts line the shores of Corfu. Its rustic authenticity and elegant grandeur have long kept this idyllic Greek island in vogue, and Corfu has inspired art and literature for centuries.
Take a trip to the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO world heritage site halfway down the east coast, and wander the cobbled streets. Stop to go inside the opulent Orthodox Cathedral, or the Palace of St Michel and St George, which now houses an impressive museum of art. The Liston is the chicest part of town; a piazza-promenade lined with charming cafés and tavernas, upmarket restaurants and boutique shops.
If you want to take to the sparkling turquoise waters, you’ll find lots of companies offering sightseeing boat tours and cruises to the nearby islands of Paxi and Antipaxi, and well as all the traditional water sports – or enjoy a day trip to Aqualand Water Park if you’re holidaying with children.