Corfu is one of Greece’s most popular holiday islands, boasting numerous beaches, warm waters, bustling resorts, cultured attractions and hot weather. It belongs to the Ionian chain, lies just off the west coast of Greece and is most popular with British and German holidaymakers.

The main attraction on Corfu is the beach life and there are plenty of options, from the brash, noisy resorts of the south, like Benitses and Kavos, to the more laid back climes of Paleokastritsa and Roda. All resorts have a string of hotel accommodation and bars and restaurants.

The other major attraction in Corfu is the historical capital, Corfu Town (Kerkyra). It is popular with sightseers and comes with charming streets and architecture in the Venetian old town and a busy promenade. Corfu Town is also the place to come for shopping and has impressive museums and a thriving café culture to boot.

Leisure options on Corfu consist of messing about in and on the water as most resorts have water sports on offer. Scuba diving and sailing are also popular here while the nightlife is as manic or as laid back as you like it. Generally, the southern resorts are the liveliest and those of the west and north coasts are quieter.

Paleokastritsa on the west coast has some of the best snorkelling on the island and the interior is one of hills and lush foliage, making hiking, biking and horseback riding popular pastimes for visitors. Corfu Town also has a buzzing nightlife and is good for rubbing shoulders with the locals.

Hotels inhabit the beach resorts of Benitses, Kavos, Kanoni, Kassiopi, Agios Gordis, Paleokastritsa, Lefkimi, and Roda. Here you will find mostly self-catering and half-board hotels catering to package tourists and there are also plush four-star resorts and numerous family-run guesthouses in Corfu Town. Peak season is July and August but hotels should be booked online ahead of time year-round.

Corfu has an international airport which receives direct flights from all over Europe with chartered package holiday carriers, and you can also get here from Athens with scheduled Greek airlines. Ground transportation includes public buses and taxis. Car ferries also come in daily from Patras on the mainland, and Brindisi, Trieste and Venice in Italy.

Corfu is a Greek hotspot both tourist-wise and weather-wise. Summertime temperatures regularly hit 40°C and it doesn’t rain all that much either. While this may sound nice, it can actually be too hot to sunbathe on the beach in summer. It also becomes very busy in the peak summer season in July and August.

Visiting Corfu in late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) is preferable for those travellers who don’t need to be here for the hedonistic type holiday. Temperatures are much more pleasant during these times and rainfall is also sparse. Off season bargains may be had between November and May in Corfu but it does rain quite a bit, particularly so in November and December.