Five days is the sweet spot for Corfu: enough to see the famous spots and find your own favourite corners, short enough to keep a holiday feel. With a rental car, this itinerary gives you the entire island without rushing — most days end with a swim and a slow dinner.
We assume you are based somewhere in the centre or north (Corfu Town, Dassia, Paleokastritsa, Acharavi). If you are staying further south (Kavos, Lefkimmi), reverse Day 4 to be Day 1.
Day 1: Arrival & Corfu Town walking
If your flight lands in the morning, leave the car at the hotel and walk into Corfu Town. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site — narrow Venetian alleys, two fortresses, the Liston arcade. Allow 4-5 hours.
- Morning: Old Fortress (entry €6), then through the Spianada to Liston for coffee.
- Lunch: Try Pomo d'Oro or Mouragia — both serve proper Corfiot dishes (sofrito, pastitsada, bourdeto).
- Afternoon: New Fortress, Antivouniotissa Museum (Byzantine icons), Kapodistrias Museum.
- Evening: Sunset drink at Cavalieri rooftop bar (book ahead in summer).
Why no car today? Parking in Corfu Town is genuinely difficult, and the Old Town is pedestrian-only. Pick up your car at the airport and head straight to the hotel — leave town for a walking day.
Day 2: North-east coast — the "Durrell" beaches
Today is the famous coast that Lawrence and Gerald Durrell wrote about. The drive itself is half the experience — narrow coastal roads with sea views the whole way.
- 09:30: Drive north from Corfu Town along the coastal road. Pass Dassia, Ipsos, Pyrgi.
- 11:00: Stop at Nissaki for a swim — small pebble beach, no crowds.
- 13:00: Lunch at Taverna Agni (book the day before). Park at the top, walk down to the bay.
- 15:30: Continue to Kalami for an afternoon swim and coffee at the White House (Lawrence Durrell's old home, now a tavern).
- 17:30: Onward to Kassiopi for a walk around the harbour and dinner with a view.
Total drive: about 80 km round-trip. See our Kassiopi guide for more on this region.
Day 3: North-west coast — Sidari, Logas Sunset & Cape Drastis
The other side of the island, completely different in character. Drive across the centre via the village of Karoussades.
- 10:00: Cape Drastis — dramatic white cliffs and turquoise inlets. 30 min there.
- 11:00: Sidari — Canal d'Amour rock formations, swim in the natural channels.
- 13:00: Lunch in Avliotes (try Trilogia) or back in Sidari.
- 15:30: Drive to Afionas, walk down to Porto Timoni double-beach (15 min hike).
- 19:30: Sunset at Logas Beach (Peroulades) — easily the best sunset on the island.
- 21:00: Dinner at 7th Heaven Café on the cliff edge.
Total drive: about 90 km round-trip. See our Sidari guide.
Day 4: Mountain villages & Mount Pantokrator
The interior of Corfu is rarely visited and surprisingly beautiful. Today is about elevation, olive groves and traditional villages.
- 09:00: Drive up to Mount Pantokrator (906 m). The road is paved but narrow — take it slowly. Allow 45 min from Acharavi or Ipsos.
- 10:30: Coffee at the summit monastery, panoramic view of Albania, mainland Greece, and most of Corfu.
- 12:00: Drive down to Old Perithia — abandoned Byzantine village, partially restored, with two tavernas serving exceptional food.
- 14:00: Lunch at Foros Taverna in Old Perithia.
- 16:00: Drive down to Acharavi for a long, lazy afternoon swim on the family-friendly beach.
Total drive: about 70 km. See our Acharavi guide.
Day 5: West coast — Paleokastritsa & sunset at Pelekas
Save the most photogenic part of the island for last.
- 09:30: Drive to Paleokastritsa. Stop at Bella Vista in Lakones for the panoramic view down to the six bays.
- 11:00: Boat trip from Paleokastritsa harbour to the sea caves and Rovinia (€20-25 per person, 90 min).
- 13:30: Lunch at Astakos Taverna or back in the village.
- 15:30: Drive south to Glyfada Beach for a swim. Long sandy beach, easy parking.
- 19:00: Sunset at Pelekas (Kaiser's Throne) — second-best sunset on Corfu.
- 20:30: Dinner in Pelekas village or back at the hotel.
Total drive: about 60 km. See our Paleokastritsa guide.
Practical advice
- Vehicle choice: A compact car (Cat C-D) is enough for two adults. For four with luggage, choose Cat E or a small SUV like the Hyundai Bayon.
- Fuel: A standard 5-day itinerary covers about 350-400 km. Budget €40-50 for fuel.
- Parking: Mostly free outside Corfu Town. Paid parking only at a few peak-season hotspots.
- Driving style: Roads are narrow and winding outside the main highway. Take blind corners slowly. Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns, 70-90 km/h elsewhere.
- When to start each day: Leaving by 09:30 puts you ahead of tour-bus traffic and lunch crowds. The reward is real.
If you have a 6th or 7th day, add a half-day at south coast beaches (Issos, Halikounas) or a relaxed wine-and-olive-oil tour around the central villages.