Corfu is the greenest and the second largest of the Ionian Islands, with a surprisingly British feel that keeps UK travellers returning year after year.
The main resorts offer fantastic accommodation and leisure; look for Roda, Sidari, Arillas,Kassiopi, Benitses, Aghios Gordios, Paleokastritsa, Kontokali, Gouvia, Messonghi Beach, Nissaki and St. Georges - there's a huge range of choice!
Corfu is one of the best known islands in Greece, set amongst the glorious blue Ionian Sea with stunning views to mainland Greece and Albania. Located to the north west coast, the island is located to the east of Italy and Albania's south west coast. It has a rich history of foreign influences, including Britain and Venice. Corfu is also steeped in the ancient fables of Odysseus and the writings of Homer. Whether you choose to visit historic sites such as Corfu's old town, fortress and citadel, or head to busy resorts such as Roda, Sidari, Arillas or others, you'll find plenty to entertain and delight you about Corfu.
You'll also find plenty of opportunities to get away from it all, with traditional and remote villages, hidden coves and glorious inland countryside framed by towering mountains. The beauty of Corfu has long been noted in the arts, with Homer raving about the beautiful and rich lands of the island and Odysseus making his last stop here before he went home to fabled Ithaki. Historians also believe that Corfu was the background to Shakespeare's Tempest. It's certainly beautiful, with glorious vistas of herbs, vegetables, wildflowers and cypress trees dotting the landscape, along with gorgeous olive groves and vineyards.
Visitors fly into Corfu Airport (CFU) and the flight is very convenient from most European destinations and less than three hours in duration. The international airport of Kapodistrias is situated on the edge of Corfu town and it's both compact and modern. Regular charter flights come in throughout the day during the months of May to October and there are also domestic flights via Athens that run all year round. It's also possible to travel in by boat and Corfu has a port on the edge of Corfu (or Kerkyra) town. There are ferries running here from the Greek mainland according to a regular schedule, alongside ferries running back and forth from Italy's ports in Ancona, Venice and Brindisi. Corfu's port tends also to be very popular with visiting cruise ships.
The island is also excellent for driving and many choose to bring their rental cars on the ferry if travelling across Europe. Car hire in Corfu is very easy to organise at the airport, port or in the town and the roads are in good condition and well signposted.
It's well worth considering the sort of terrain you're intending to explore during your trip, as your choice of car hire will be best matched to the requirements of your trip. For example, there are some winding and steep roads on the mountain paths, which many drivers actively seek out, in rugged 4-wheel drive or power cars for advanced driving. Others prefer to have smaller and more economical cars for visiting towns, the coast and countryside. There are also options for hiring minibuses, overnighters and off-road vehicles too, depending on your requirements. You'll need to bring your driving licence and copy of your insurance details and a credit card with you when you organise your Corfu car hire.
Head to Corfu Town (also known as Kerkyra in Greek), which is the most important and sizeable town on Corfu Island. The airport is situated here and the cruise ships and ferries dock into the port. It's a pleasant and friendly city, very well set up for tourists.
If you're looking for mountains and open spaces, travel to the northern part of the island, which has great views and well-developed coastal spots. The island's southern parts have sandier beaches than the north and are narrower and just a few miles across in parts. For a traditional look at the island, head to Benitses, which is an ancient and very traditional fishing village, just 12km to the south of Corfu Town and at the heart of the Emerald Valley. It's perfect to explore with your hire car and you'll see water from mountain springs flowing and merging into two rivers, which give the area its name. The village is blessed with exceptional natural beauty and a mild climate and consequently it's very popular with visitors and has been for more than 100 years.
Corfu is also very popular for group holidays, thanks to its varied attractions and welcoming infrastructure. Congress tourism, Harley Davidson groups, motivational trips, yoga groups, school trips and antique car clubs all meet here on the island, every year. It's also a great choice for family holidays, as the whole island and indeed Greek culture, is greatly welcoming for children. The island is safe, free from violence and other dangers and the children play freely in playgrounds, parks, beaches and streets everywhere.
In terms of when to travel, all year round is possible. Spring is packed with colours, summer is ideal for beaches, autumn is the season of grapes and wine and winter is marked with fantastic Christmas and New Year breaks. So to find the best price on car hire in Corfu, use TravelSupermarket`s search tool above.
