After travelling to Corfu for 7 days, I quickly realized that this island is BURSTING with adventurous things to do. From my personal expertise, here are the BEST adventures on Corfu to create the perfect fun-filled itinerary.
If you are planning a trip to Corfu Island, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the adventurous allure this striking Greek destination exudes. One of the Ionian Islands, Corfu offers a blend of raw and rugged nature, Greek culture, and pure adrenaline-filled fun!
I recently traveled to Corfu for 7-days of epic activities and am here to share the deets. Whether you want to hike down a cliff to a double-sided beach, look down on crystal clear waters from above while parasailing, speed through mountain roads on an ATV, island hop, or get your adrenaline fix, this tiny Greek island has it all.
In this Corfu travel guide, you’ll find all the best adventures on Corfu and helpful tips to make them happen.
How Many Days Do You Need on Corfu?
One of the best Greek Islands for nature and adventure lovers, I highly recommend that you spend at least 7 days in Corfu. There are enough things to do to fill more time, but 7 days is the optimal amount of time to feel like you’ve truly experienced the island of Corfu.
How to Get to Corfu
If you are travelling to Corfu from mainland Greece, you have two options: plane or ferry. The ferry to Corfu leaves from Igoumenitsa in Northwestern Greece and takes about 1.5 hours. It runs all year long, with at least 16 daily crossings, however, these increase in the popular summer months. You can find the ferry schedule here. If you are travelling from elsewhere in Europe, you can fly right to Corfu Town without heading to mainland Greece first.
How to Get Around Corfu Island
Unless you have a car, this is not the easiest answer to find on the internet. After painful trial and error and physically going there myself, you can learn all that I know on how to get around Corfu island here.
Read: 5 Great Tips for Getting Around Corfu Without a Car
* I will make a note and say that booking tours takes a huge load off the transportation logistics if you don’t want to rent a car, which is why I’ve included tour options below!
The 17.5 Best Adventures on Corfu For 2024
1. Tandem Paragliding Flight Over Kontogialos Beach
If you think the crystal clear waters are incredible on ground level, try taking a peek from high up above! Tandem paragliding is one of my favourite adventures to do when I travel because it offers such a unique perspective of the landscape you’re exploring.
Konogialos Beach is a golden sand beach on Corfu’s western coast with green mountains bordering it on either side. Take off on a flight above it all, witnessing the unique mountains that fill the island of Corfu backdropped by shimmering waters. When you’re done you can explore the nearby traditional villages filled with Venetian architecture. There is no previous experience necessary.
Book the Tour: Paragliding Adventure Over the Golden Sand of Kontogialos Beach
2. Guided Jeep Tour Along the Northern Corfu Coastline
Corfu island is known for its rugged mountain landscape with winding roads, panoramic views, and tiny villages dotting the hills. It is also known for its unique coastline characterized by jagged green cliff edges that drop into coves and blue waters below. Explore it all on an action-packed Jeep excursion that takes you along Corfu’s northern coast.
Jeep tours leave from Corfu town and take you to a variety of cultural and scenic locations along the way. You’ll stop for olive oil tastings, charming towns that showcase rural Corfu life, viewpoints to make your jaw drop, and some exciting off-roading. You’ll even visit one of the oldest and best-preserved towns on the island in the foothills of Mount Pantokrator. It’s an entire day trip to see the absolute most of Corfu island as you can.
Book the Tour: Full Day-Trip Exploring Corfu’s Northern Coastline By Jeep
2.5. Take the Same Tour but Along the South of the Island:
If you love the idea of the Jeep tour but want to explore the souther part of the Island, you’re in luck. The south island exploration takes you to adorable villages and monasteries, the stunning Tagio Canale, Korission Lake, Xalikounas Beach, and a tour of a famous Olive Oil Mill. You’ll visit natural splendors and partake in a little cultural immersion, all while adventuring around in a Jeep!
Book the Tour: Full Day-Trip Exploring Corfu’s Southern Backcountry By Jeep
3. Stand-Up Paddle Board at Dassia Beach
Dassia Beach is located on Corfu’s eastern shores and is known for its beautiful waters. There are nearby peninsulas that offer isolated beaches surrounded by cliffs, tiny uninhabited islands, and fascinating coastal land formations. It is the perfect paradise to explore on a stand-up paddle board.
When visiting Dassia Beach to paddle board you can choose between renting to explore on your own or taking a tour that brings you to hidden locations. With whichever you choose, you’ll paddle through the gorgeous waters of the Ionian Sea to soak up the island adventure.
Book The Rental or Tour: Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Dassia Beach
4. Quad Adventuring On Corfu’s Mountain Roads
My favourite of the best adventures on Corfu is Quad-biking, aka ATVing, around the island. It is such a thrill speeding along in the open air with views of the sun setting over the ocean in front of us.
There are several ways you can make this adventure part of your own itinerary. You can choose to:
- Rent an ATV for an independent day(s) of adventures (this is a good transportation option too), or
- Book a quad safari tour
I went with both options! The Pink Palace runs an amazing Quad Safari with a food tasting. You’ll explore the villages of Kato Garouna and Agios Matheos, and see Panteleimon Mountain. The adventure takes you through the Greek countryside filled with valleys and vineyards. For your food tasting, you’ll enjoy a traditional Greek lunch at a small local restaurant. There are beach stops, some of the island’s best viewpoints, and an old monastery. All in all, it is an incredible way to adventure around to off the beaten track spots on Corfu Island.
** Pro Tip: Do this tour as the first excursion or towards the start of your trip to catch your bearings on the roads and the surrounding island with an instructor. I did this and found it to be the perfect first glance to set up the rest of my trip.
Book the Tour: An Epic Quad Tour Around Corfu and Greek Tasting
5. Explore Kontokali Bay’s Underwater World on a Scuba Diving Adventure
On the east coast of Corfu, Kotonakali Bay is a pretty peninsula with clear waters and beautiful reefs. A scuba diving excursion in this area is open to beginners and includes a learning portion. You’ll dive in the bay’s shallow waters and see extraordinary marine life such as colourful fish, octopuses, and even sea turtles! All of your equipment is included in the diving experience.
Book the Tour: Scuba Diving Experience in Kontokali Bay
6. Hike Down to the Famous Porto Timoni Beach
Add a little adventure to your beach day. Porto Timoni is the most stunning beach on Corfu and arguably one of the coolest in the world. From Afionas village, the hike takes about 25 minutes to reach the beach and offers incredible views over the nearby bay. It also has a viewpoint where you can see Porto Timoni from above and grab the best photos of this extraordinary place. Once you arrive, choose which side you want to relax on (I recommend the left side from the arrival point for the best swimming), lay your towel down, and enjoy! Before you leave, add a little extra adventure by continuing down the path passed the beaches to come to another secluded beach spot that has far fewer people and grants a new perspective of the cove.
Pro Tip: The beach has become quite popular so I strongly recommend arriving as early in the morning as you can. We got there for about 8:30/9 and took our time hiking down.
Read Related: How to Get to Porto Timoni Beach: A Full Guide
7. Take a Boat Trip to Nearby Islands Paxos, Antipaxos, and the Blue Sea Caves
Out of all the best adventures on Corfu, this was my second favourite! This full-day excursion takes you from Corfu Town out on a boat to nearby islands for a mix of hidden beaches, diving off the top deck of the boat, tours of glowing blue caves, island visits, and a DJ dance party. While visiting these small islands, you’ll wander adorable Greek villages with flowers blooming across stone buildings and enjoy a short hike to a nearby tucked-away beach for some snorkeling.
This is the tour I did and highly recommend.
Book the Tour: Full Day Boat Tour to Antipaxos, Paxos, and Blue Caves from Corfu
8. Snorkel Over the Incredible Megachoros Reef From Santa Barbara Beach
Santa Barbara Beach is one of the few beaches on the island with gorgeous sandy shores. Located on the northeastern tip of the island, this beach is also a short boat ride away from the marine paradise, Megachoros Reef. A snorkeling trip will take you to a few of the nearby beaches along the coastline. You’ll lots of time to swim around and admire the marine environment at the reef. There are starfish, lobsters, octopuses, and lots of other sparkling sea creatures. This is another amazing way to explore more of what makes Corfu so special.
Book the Tour: Snorkelling Excursion From Santa Barbara Beach
9. Try Wakeboarding or Waterskiing Through Corfu’s Stunning Blue Water
If you have always wanted to try one of these adrenaline-inducing water sports, how much cooler is it to say you’ve learned to waterski in Greece? Starting at Dassia Beach, you’ll receive a full lesson on the basics to get you started and then you’ll be off to give it a try for yourself. You’ll enjoy an exhilarating day playing in the beautiful water with views of Corfu islands’ stunning hills as your backdrop.
Book the Tour: Waterskiing or Wakeboarding Lessons at Dassa Beach
10. Try Parasailing at Sidari Beach
Different from the above-mentioned paragliding, parasailing involves being attached to a parachute and towed behind a fast-moving boat. It is a completely thrilling activity and the perfect way to gain fresh perspectives of Corfu’s beautiful landscape from above. Sidari Beach is stunning and filled with unique yellow rock formations that have been carved into the landscape from water over time, making it the perfect launch point for your parasailing adventure. There’s no experience required and you can choose to ride solo or with a friend!
Book the Tour: Parasailing Flights at Sidari Beach
11. Experience a Rush Water Tubing from Sidari Beach
If you’ve never experienced water tubing as a kid, this is the perfect time to try it. It can’t be described as anything other than SO MUCH FUN! There is a fantastic tubing experience near Sidari Beach where you’ll be dragged and whipped around on a water tube by a speeding boat. You can choose from a variety of tubes, from riding on your stomach with 3 other people, riding the Crazy Sofa sitting up, or the Fly Fish ride where the tube will occasionally fly up into the air with the momentum of the boat. It’s an incredibly fun experience and a great way to experience some adrenaline while visiting this stunning beach.
Book the Tour: Water Tubing Adventures From Sidari Beach
12. Enjoy a Cultural Adventure at an Olive Oil Workshop
The Governor Olive Mill is one of the most prestigious and famous in all of Corfu. They offer an incredible workshop where you can tour the ancient olive groves and the mill and partake in an oil tasting. You’ll walk through the history and what makes this olive oil stand out as award-winning. Your tasting will be paired with other local delicacies such as feta cheese and local wine. You’ll even get to meet the Dafnis family who produces this incredible olive oil. If you are looking for a little cultural immersion to add to your adventures in Corfu, this is definitely a fantastic option.
Book the Tour: The Governor Olive Mill Private Tour
13. Rent a Private Boat to Tour the Island for the Day with Friends
One of the most famous things to do in Corfu, due to its affordability, is rent a private boat to tour you around the stunning coastlines, hidden beaches, and coves of Corfu. With a group of friends, this experience becomes very doable for the average budget and if you have a little room to spare could make for a special day with another. The experience is more than just a boat rental, you’ll enjoy a private tour around to enjoy snorkeling and swimming in different beautiful spots on the island.
Book The Tour: 4 Hour Private Boar Tour in Corfu
14. Wander amongst the Gods at Achilleion Palace
The Achilleion Palace is a beautiful manor with Greek architecture, sculptures, and other art to admire. The outside grounds and gardens are the star of the show, filled with white marble statues of Greek Gods and Goddesses spread amongst checkered marble patios and perfectly manicured lawns.
The Achilleion was originally built in 1890 as a summer retreat for the Austrian Empress. It is located in the town of Gastouri about 20 minutes outside of Corfu Town. Situated on a high vantage point overlooking the city, this is a great place to catch mesmerizing views of Corfu town and its coast below.
You May Also Be Interested In: 13 Essential Things to Know Before Travelling to Corfu
15. Enjoy a Food Tour Adventure in Corfu Town
If you want to add a little more adventure to your sightseeing in Corfu Town, dive deeper into the culture on a food tour. You’ll spend the tour strolling through the best restaurants and cafes in the city to sample local cuisine, visit local stores, and explore the city via food. You’ll get to know Corfu Town’s food scene on a more intimate level as you are introduced to local vendors and families running the shops and restaurants. It is a truly unique way to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site old town.
Book the Tour: Corfu Old Town Food and Cultural Tour
16. Have a Plate Smashed Over Your Head at a Toga Party
One of the coolest experiences to have while visiting any part of Greece is to attend a toga party. Dressing in a white toga, dancing to Greek party music, and watching party displays of people being hand-fed shots of Ouzo, Toga parties make for a wild night. You may even have a plate or two smashed over your head in celebration. The Pink Palace hosts the best toga party on the island every Saturday night. You don’t need to be staying there to attend, simply grab a ticket which includes free drinks from the reception and enjoy the party.
You May Also Be Interested In: The Perfect 7 Day Corfu Itinerary: Best Things to Do
17. Try Cliff Jumping at La Grotta Bar
Located in Paleokatrista, La Grotta bar is famous on the island as a fun swimming spot and bar with immaculate vibes. The bar is built into the rocks of La Grotto Bay and features tiered balconies overlooking the water. There’s a diving board, dock, rocky shores to lay on, and even cliff jumping. There is music playing, lots of people around enjoying the vibes, and stunning water to swim in. This place is a fricken hoot.
FAQ About Visiting Corfu
When to Visit Corfu?
The best time to visit Corfu is between May and November. This is when the summer weather will be perfect for swimming and enjoying the sunshine. If you want to visit with much fewer people, you could travel in the shoulder seasons of April – May or September – November, however, I visited Corfu in July and did not find it to be a crowded destination.
Does Corfu Have Sandy Beaches?
While a lot of Corfu’s beaches are pebbles rather than sand, there are still plenty of sand beaches to enjoy. Most of the sandy beaches are on the Western coast of the island and include Agios Gordios, Glyfada, Paleokastritsa, and more.
Where to Stay in Corfu?
I stayed in Agios Gordios and HIGHLY recommend you do so as well. Not only will you be right at one of the best beaches on the entire island, but you’ll also located dead smack in the middle of the island. This makes it easy to travel around to all the best things to do in Corfu. My recommendation is to plan out all the activities you want to do there and then try to stay somewhere central to them. And trust me on this, you’ll want to be next to a beach!
Final Thoughts on the Best Adventures on Corfu
Corfu Island stands out as the perfect place for adventurers and nature lovers with the island’s natural beauty, Greek culture, and heart-pumping activities. From tandem paragliding flights over Kontogialos Beach to guided Jeep tours along the Northern coastline, adventures on Corfu are as diverse as they are exhilarating. The best way to experience a lot of the best adventures on Corfu is by guided tours that will help you get the absolute most out of your limited time on the island. With this guide, you’ll be all set for an adventurous vacation on the beautiful island of Corfu.
* Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. I only recommend products and companies that I use. Thanks for the support!
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