Discover Corfu town in 4 hours with its Venetian architecture and cosmopolitan air, through this tailor-made private tour. Your personal guide will take you to some of the island’s best and most famous for their beauty and history places: Achilleion Palace or the iconic Mon Repo Palace (you have the flexibility to choose which of the two destinations you wish to visit), and the Kanoni peninsula south of the historic town of Corfu.
The name Corfu, meaning “peaks”, refers to its twin hills, each topped by a great fortress built to withstand Ottoman sieges. The Old Town, located between these two peaks, is a densely populated cluster of winding streets, some of which are overflowing from fine restaurants, lively bars and interesting shops, while others are timeless alleys where strings of colorful laundry stretch from balcony to balcony.
It also boasts imposing architecture, including the Liston pedestrian street with its ground-floor arched arcades in front of the famous Spianada, while high quality museums and at least 39 churches can be found everywhere in the city.
Starting your exploration of the island town, having as much free time as you want for photos and stops, you will come across the top attractions of the island, where they surround the entire old town.
Passing by the old port of the island with its traditional fishing boats and small seaside tavernas, one can see the two imposing fortresses that adorn the town: the Old and the New Fortress. Entering the heart of the old town, every single building, every single street will appear like an open museum, but the joie de vivre of the local people will remind you that the old town is also full of life and full of surprises.
The paved streets and the ancient buildings will bring you to the large beautiful Esplanade Square (also known as Spianada) and the romantic Liston; a place that you can’t miss to visit.
Wander through the streets of the town, with its traditional mansions and lose yourself in its magic: in the picturesque area of Campiello you will find Kremasti square with the Venetian well, in the historic cobbled streets you will be amazed by the local shops with traditional goodies and outstanding smells, you will meet the Palace of St. Michael & St. George, the famous church of Agios Spyridon, the Bosketo and the People’s Garden, various museums of rich, cosmopolitan history, the Ionian Parliament and many more hidden gems of the island worth discovering.
Away from the historic centre of the island, your personal guide will lead you to the imposing Achillion Palace, one of the most famous royal mansions of Europe and perhaps the most important architectural monument of Corfu.
Located 10km south of Corfu town and 3km north of Benitsa next to the mountain village of Gastouri, the beautiful Achillion is the palace built by the Empress of Austria Elizabeth, who became known as the Sorrowful Queen Sissy.
Looking at the imposing form of the Palace today, visitors cannot resist being transported to another era, when the palace was the resort of two figures of European history, whose only thing they had in common was their adoration of Corfu, Greece and its culture. The Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary, the famous Sissy and the Kaiser of Germany, Wilhelm II.
Even before the visitor enters Achillion, he can feel its grandeur by seeing the first statues and sculptures that adorn the courtyard and the exterior of the palace, all inspired by ancient Greek mythology, the large tiered gardens and the stunning views. It is a historical monument of Corfu that is a jewel for the island and definitely worth a visit.
Of course, as mentioned above, you can instead choose to visit the Mon Repos Palace. Mon Repos Palace is situated on top of Analipsis hill, near Kanoni area, in the middle of a beautiful setting full of greenery. It was built in 1826 by the British Commissioner Frederic Adams as a gift to his Corfiot wife, Nina Palatianou. It is a small but very beautiful palace with colonial architectural elements.
It hosts a museum that includes many Ionian treasures. The palace itself is placed in a very nice environment and is surrounded by a large park. The remains of the ancient town of Corfu, which have been found the opposite to the palace, make archaeologists believe that Mon Repos was built right on the site where the ancient city of Corfu used to be.
It is a remarkable sight, with unparalleled views that will surely leave you speechless. The lush green surroundings combined with the outstanding architecture of the palace will give you images that will surely be unforgettable.
As for the last destination that this private tour offers you to visit, it will take your breath away with its unparalleled beauty.
Your guide will take you to the famous Mouse Island and the Monastery of Vlachernon, in the area of Kanoni, where you will surely be captivated by the unique view that stretches before you and alternates creating different shades in the sky as the sun gives way to the moon.
Kanoni is located south of the Old Town, where the ancient city of Corfu was located. The area is said to have been named after the French placed an artillery battery there in 1798. Below this area is the 17th century monastery of Vlacherna. From the waterfront one can visit the Mouse Island, where there is the picturesque chapel of Pantokrator.
In the beautiful, green area of Kanoni, besides the famous and much-photographed sightseeing attractions, visitors can find cafes-restaurants with spectacular views. The area is also known for the photos that can be taken of planes landing or taking off from the island’s airport, where you can see them flying so close that you think you can catch them, something you don’t often see in almost any city.
Through this personalized private tour, you will go on a journey through time, packed with colorful images, full of history, smells and tastes that you will never forget.
“We have the ability to cater small groups, giving you the flexibility to choose the order you wish to visit the places we recommend through the package, the locations you wish to visit (from the two options available to you), the time of the visit and the stops you wish to make. We provide guided tours without a guide for 14 people or with a guide for 13 people.“
Note
Entrance fees to the archaeological sites, food and drinks are not included in the price of the personalized private tour.
Vip daily tour
Price per tour (without tour guide) : 200 euros
Tour hours: 4 hours