Corfu Town

Located on the eastern waterfront of the island, Old Town, dates back to the 8^th century BC. The fortified port has been under French, British and Venetian rule, and much of that international influence is imbued in Corfu’s culture, cuisine and architecture—most evident in the well-preserved Corfu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spend a day walking around the town’s wide avenues, small cobblestone side streets and bougainvillea-lined pathways. Neoclassical buildings house storefronts, restaurants and cafés, and the multiple piazzas are always bustling with a mix of camera-toting tourists, musical performers and locals. If the crowds get to be a bit much, head to the boardwalk, where you can take a leisurely walk on a shady path to the windmill on the other side of the bay. Along the way, you’ll pass locals on bicycles and walking their dogs.

On the outer perimeter of town are two forts that helped defend the ruling Venetian government from the encroaching Ottoman Empire. Visit the Old Fort for expansive views of Garitsa Bay. For a historical perspective on Corfu, visit the Archeological Museum or the delightful Casa Parlante.