My last trip this summer was to Corfu with a friend and her parents. I had never been on holiday with another family, so it was exciting at first how their way of traveling would be … Everything went really well. More so, for me it is definitely worth repeating! Hopefully they think the same 😉
Day 1: arrival & exploration
Our flight left at 5:40 am, so there was not much sleep that night. We landed in Corfu around 10 am local time. Pretty soon we had our suitcases and were able to pick up the car that we had rented for a week. In the morning we arrived at our hotel San Antonio. An adults only hotel, super quiet and friendly staff. There was nothing to complain about. Ideal hotel if you want to escape the hustle and bustle. We didn’t do much on our first day. We first unpacked and then lay down by the pool as long as the sun was still shining. And then we went to bed early so that we were fresh for day 2.
Day 2: Pantokrator & Kassiopi
After a nice breakfast in our hotel we took the car to the highest point on the island, Pantokrator. The road to it alone is certainly worthwhile. Do take an experienced driver with you, because it is not an easy climb. You come across one hairpin after another and they are also very stylish. Once at the top you have a beautiful view of Corfu and you can even see Albania. Besides the view there is also a monastery and a cafe where you can eat and drink something small.
After an hour or two we continue our journey towards Kassiopi. This is a small port town. Super nice if you ask me. There are also many restaurants nearby, so ideal for spending the evening there.
Day 3: Achilleion & Vlacherna monastery
After a day of mainly nature it was time to soak up some culture. Did you know that Empress Sissi had a country retreat in Corfu? Well, I didn’t know that either. Both the inside and the outside of the palace are worth a visit. Note: you can easily walk around here for 4 hours.
Because we walked around the palace longer than expected, we had to adjust our schedule a bit. Normally we were supposed to go to Corfu town afterwards, but it was too late for that. Eventually we went to visit something that at first sight we did not find that bothering, namely the Vlacherna monastery. In retrospect, we were glad we stopped there. The monastery is also right next to the airport so you see a plane taking off or landing every few minutes. You could call it impressive.
Day 4: Paleokastritsa & Sidari
Day 4 we also sat on a boat in addition to the car. We drove to Paleokastritsa to rent a boat there (see photo 2). We were briefly instructed on how to operate the boat, a map of where to sail and the landlord’s emergency phone number (which came in handy by the way, more on this later). After about 10 minutes of practice, we were able to go out to sea. The sea was still fairly calm but after 4 pm it would become more ferocious. That is why we only reserved the boat for 2 hours. In those 2 hours we were able to see all the bays that were on the plan. There was also a small beach where you could moor the boat and make a splash in the water. Of course we did. The water was so clear blue. After a good half hour we wanted to sail back to the harbor to bring in our boat, but our boat did not move any more. Maybe we did something wrong? After fifteen minutes of struggling, we decided to call the landlord’s number. Ten minutes later he was at our boat and said he had to go back to the harbor to get something. We then realized that there was something wrong with our boat.
After our boat adventure we drove towards Sidari. More specifically to Canal d’amour (see photo 3). This was personally my favorite attraction in Corfu. The only drawback is that it was very difficult to find. But whoever seeks find it ;).
Day 5: Corfu town
On day 5 we went into town. After 5 days of peace and nature, it took some getting used to the hustle and bustle of the tourists in the city (the photo says enough). In Corfu town we did not do much else – except for a visit to the old fortress and some shops. Of course, the city has a lot more to offer. You could easily spend a full day there and visit things. But we called it a day after an afternoon.
Day 6: 7th heaven café
This was our last full day on the island. After 5 tiring days, we agreed we wanted a relaxing day. All that was planned was 7th heaven café. And why this café in particular? The video below says it all.
It is not that they have the best cocktails or dishes there. No, this café is known for its glass walkway with panoramic views. The cafe is close to Sidari. So if you still have time there after your visit, it is definitely worth the effort to drive on to 7th heaven and have a cocktail. As the name says: you have the feeling that you are in the 7th heaven.
Day 7: departure
Every beautiful song comes to an end. So it was also the case with our trip to the Greek island, Corfu. After 7 days of exploring the island, it was time to return to Belgium. As I said before, this was also my last trip, but don’t worry peeps, I will definitely make more trips. Where and when I don’t know yet, but in the meantime I will of course keep posting travel-related pieces. So keep an eye on my blog.
Dromomania 