Corfu

Corfu – What you should know

Corfu is the greenest of the Greek islands — and there are climatic reasons for that. The Ionian position in north-west Greece makes Corfu wetter than the Aegean islands: in winter it rains considerably more than on Crete or Rhodes, which blesses the island with lush olive groves, cypresses and wildflower meadows. In summer, however, Corfu is also dry and sunny, with temperatures typically of 28–29°C and up to 11 hours of sunshine daily.

The best travel time is May, June and September: the weather is superb, the vegetation brilliantly green, and the bays of the west coast less crowded than in high summer. In July and August, millions of visitors stream onto the island — the beaches around Paleokastritsa and Glyfada are then full, but the water is crystal-clear and warm enough for hours-long swimming sessions.

A special attraction of Corfu lies in winter and spring: from January to March the island is almost deserted, the olive harvest is underway, and the mountain villages of the interior show a completely different face from Corfu's touristy summer. Those seeking hiking, authentic village gastronomy and peace will find in Corfu outside the season one of the least-known gems of the Greek travel calendar.