A guide to Corfu Old Town

 

**Updated March 2020**

Hello,

I’m back at the Greece posts today! I have now spent a couple of days exploring Corfu Old town and I love the town. It has a great history of Venetian rule, a beautiful architecture and a maze of sprawling alleys.

My first visit to Corfu Old Town was in Summer 2017, where we spent a week exploring Corfu’s West coast, diving and enjoying the slight overcast weather. My return visit was during a Greek/Italian/Montenegrin cruise in late 2019 – which reminded me of why I loved it so much.

(Read about how we failed at being kids in Corfu here.)

When we booked our accommodation and holiday, we decided to go to the fishing village of Benitses. This was about 30 minutes on the bus to Corfu Town – I have written a guide to the buses here.

I really wanted to explore Corfu town as it has a grand history and beautiful architecture.

 

 

How to get to Corfu Old Town

By Bus

The blue bus number 6 went from Benitses/Mpenitses to Corfu town and back again.

In Corfu, the bus times are a ‘guide’ of sorts and it just comes when it comes. We missed the previous bus as it has been 15 minutes early and we were on the wrong side of the road. (I will write more on this again)

We got on the bus bought a €5 day ticket and travelled to Corfu town. When we got off at the other end, it was so busy that I felt like I was in Morocco again.

From the airport 

The bus from the airport is number 15 and stops in the town centre.

I’ve been told that it is easy to navigate once you understand the Blue bus system.

From the Cruise terminal 

Arriving by Cruise is a fairly straightforward route to the city.

Our MSC cruise offered a return shuttle bus to the city centre which cost 12,99 Euros (December 2019) or equally you could get the bus from the queue of them waiting at the terminal.

If you come out the main doors of the building and walk towards the trees, there’s multiple buses waiting. It was route 2 and cost 1,80 euros each way.

We were in a street where all the buses has just deposited everyone everywhere, it felt like I was back in Morocco.

 

Old town

After looking at lots of shops we bought an iced Bailey’s coffee from a cafe for 1,50 but it wasn’t great although it was at least cold!

I started to get peckish so we got a snack from a small cafe (a spinach and feta pastry) and then used their toilet. From outside there I noticed a map and boards explaining the history of the old town. Here is what I found out about the Old Town.

Corfu Old Town, on the Island of Corfu off the western coasts of Albania and Greece, is located in a strategic position at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, and has its roots in the 8th century BC.

The three forts of the town, designed by renowned Venetian engineers, were used for four centuries to defend the maritime trading interests of the Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire.

Over time, the forts were repaired and partly rebuilt several times, most recently under British rule in the 19th century.

The mainly neoclassical housing stock of the Old Town is partly from the Venetian period, partly of later construction, notably the 19th century.

 

The Old Fortress

 

This was where we spent most of our day. At the old fortress. It was 3€ entry for students/concessions and 6€ for adults.

This gave you entry into everything within the walls. We explored the old jail, the look out points, the churches. Sadly, was a function on in the Church of St George so we couldn’t get in there.

Inside the fortress there was toilets that were clean and tidy and a cafe. We then climbed right up to the old lighthouse.

 

*** Wear shoes with grip for this as the steps are made of polished cobble stones. We both slipped at different points on them! ***

 

The views from the fortress were amazing and we saw across the harbour, around the island and could see into the beautiful blue waters of the Ionian sea!

Market and Venetian side streets

 

After we strolled through all the little back streets and alleyways that make up a sort of market area. We bought another pastry as by then we were super hungry!

These streets felt just like we were in Venice again and I loved the pastel buildings!

 

Cafe

 

When we explored the street again we discovered this little cafe which was super popular because of the steps and the street. It was super cute and I enjoyed a lovely iced cappuccino there while I just enjoyed life.

I had one of those moments where you decide to appreciate how plants can grow on window ledges and how life can begin the most unexpected places. It felt right to be just present.

That was until my boyfriend decided to tell me the football scores from the world cup matches that day!

 

Return journey

 

After about 6 we decided we were both tired and wanted some rest so got back on the bus. The bus was crowded and hot so I decided to get off at the Lidl on the way back. We explored another Lidl in a different country (I have a weird Lidl hit list going on) and bought the following days breakfast and a 2 euro bottle of wine. (Classy!)

We then got on another hot bus and went all the way back to Benitses!

 

I hope you enjoyed this day trip to Corfu Town. I hope it was insightful and entertaining!

Until next time

 

The Great Ambini

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