Family Holidays: Corfu family holidays

Take the Family holiday rating 3½ stars out of 5

Why

Corfu is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the Greek Islands. It has the highest rainfall and that has resulted in scores of olive groves, figs, oranges and grapes and a green landscape of wildflowers and cypress trees, as well as the beautiful beaches that lie scattered around its edge. The downside to all this beauty though, is mass tourism. Over 1 million people go to Corfu on cheap packages every year and this has brought overdevelopment, corruption and pollution. So as long as you’ve been warned and choose carefully, Corfu can still be a wonderful place to visit. Corfu town is elegant and charming, the west coast is famous for its long sandy beaches and water sports, the north coast is recommended for families with much shallower water and less dense tourism and the interior is full of delightful walks past farms and up the slopes of Mt Pantokrator.

Top left: Corfu street parade
Top middle: Corfu Moni Vlachernon Church
Top right: Corfu Acchilleion

Bottom left: Corfu Kerkira
Bottom right: Corfu Sidari coastline

When

Visit Corfu anytime from early May through to mid October. Note that Corfu's hottest and busiest Month is July, with temperatures in the mid thirties.

Many people comment on how green Corfu is; Well it does rain occasionally! High humidity during late July and the whole of August can cause storms, after weeks of sunshine. The storm will only last a short while though, often just a matter of hours.

How

Flights, direct to Corfu, leave from more airports in the UK than you knew existed. Check deals with British Airways and Expedia Flights for deals. Chartered airlines operate from May to October, with scheduled flights during the winter months. Some chartered flights can be extremely flexible, for example Thomsonfly, who offer one way tickets or even a return to a different airport. Excel Airways is our preferred airline and flys to Corfu from 8 UK airports.

Once there you can arrange to rent a car on your arrival at the airport. Alternatively you can rely, instead, on cabs or a transfer depending on your tour operator.

Stay

There are many different types of accommodation available in Corfu. You can choose from gorgeous secluded hand picked villas or anything from beachside apartments to luxury hotels, all of which are accompanied by wonderful greek hospitality on an island of hidden treasures!

Do

Whether you want a resort-orientated holiday or want to get off the beaten track, there is plenty of opportunity for both. Go to the much recommended Kassiopi resort for water sports and nightlife; or try taking the family for walks around Mt Pantokrator; rent a motor boat and explore some of the hidden coves of the north-east; or visit the isolated and beautiful Diapondia islands. Stroll around Corfu town and introduce the kids to its history in the Archaeological Museum, before stopping for some Greek delicacies at a little taverna.

Eat

Traditional Corfiot food is still served in the tavernas and restaurants of the island. It derives from its various occupiers, so is Italian, Spanish and Greek in origin. Casserole cooking has always been popular, pastitsada in particular, which is a form of moussaka, or sofrito, casseroled veal and bourdeto ,a casserole of fish, tomato and paprika. Tourists are kept happy with a wide variety of fast food McDonalds style, pasta and bland fish dishes, while Greek staples are on sale everywhere. Go to an Ouzeria for ouzo and titbits of octopus and fetta.