Corfu private Tours
Corfu Info:
The official language is
Greek,
but you will find many
English spoken persons in
the areas where tourists
are. Greece has accepted the
euro as its formal currency
US dollars are accepted in
the tourist areas, as are
all major credit cards.
There are numerous ATMs in
Corfu if one needs
additional cash.
What is
the
weather
like !
Summer
in the
Greek
Isles is
hot and
dry.
Daytime
temperatures
average
between
85° -
95°F and
can
reach
above
100°
(usually
in
July).
These
warm
temperatures
are
usually
tempered
however,
by
cooling,
prevailing
north
winds.
Winter
months
are mild
with
temperatures
averaging
between
55° and
60°F
Where does the ship dock?
Ships dock in the New Port
of Corfu (Limani). There is
usually a shuttle into the
main terminal and then a
shuttle into the old section
of Corfu itself. However, it
is about a 20 to 30 minute
walk into Corfu if you would
rather walk it. Simply leave
the terminal to your left
and stay right along the
ocean all the way. The
traffic must take another
route as the road is one-way
along the coast. Follow the
coastline until you climb
the hill and go underneath
the archway. The Old
Fortress of Corfu is to your
left and the Old City is to
your right. You can enter
the pedestrian streets where
the restaurants are. (This
picture is looking back at
the archway after you have
gone through it.)
Where is the shopping?
Corfu offers excellent shopping in the old
section's maze of pedestrian streets. You can
enter the main shopping area across from the
entrance to the Old Fortress in Corfu and just
follow them every which way. Once in the old
section, you will find numerous streets lined
with restaurants and shops, boutiques and street
vendors.
What is there to buy?
There are a good number of gold jewelry shops
and some of the local products are made from
kumquats. Kumquat oil, wine and brandy are
packaged and sold in many unique and collectible
bottles of all shapes and sizes. I suspect that
these are unique to Corfu. There are also many
hand woven shirts, dresses and pashmina, leather
goods and sandals, natural sponges, honey in
collectible bottles, Ouzo (the Greek drink of
choice) copper and brass items, worry beads,
evil eyes and of course, the ever present carpet
salesman.
What is there to do?
Dating back to the 6th century when Corfu was
part of the Byzantine Empire, the Old Fortress
has survived many changes. Located right off of
Spanish Square, the Old Fortress is well worth
exploring --- Once you cross the Old Fortress
bridge and enter through the arched entryways,
the Old Fortress opens up for exploration. Be
amazed at the quality of the structures that
have survived over the centuries. Note the
structure on the very top of the mountain. The
Old Fortress resides on the main point of Corfu
and enjoys a beautiful vista overlooking the
ocean. Corfu's ocean is as clean and crystal
clear as you could imagine.
Just wandering around
Corfu's old section is
delight enough for most
visitors and certainly
warrants your attention.
However, if the Old Fortress
and Corfu's old section do
not satisfy your appetite
for sightseeing, there is an
excellent old church that
dates back to the 12th
century in Kanoni just a few
miles south of Corfu Town.
There are two excellent
beaches close (about 25 km)
to Corfu Town at Benitses
Glyfada and Paeleokastritsa.
Glyfada offers restaurants
and bars right in front of
the beach.
Achillio
Palace
in the
Village
of
Gastouri
Achillio
Palace
is
another
sight
worth
visiting.
Located
about 10
km from
Corfu
Town in
the
village
of
Gastouri,
this
luxurious
villa
was
built
for the
Empress
of
Austria,
Elisabeth
von
Wiltelsbach
(more
familiarly
known as
Princes
Sissy),
by the
Italian
architect
Raffaele
Carito
in 1892.
Your
ship
will
undoubtedly
offer a
shore
excursion
to this
villa
and
village
and it
is well
worth
visiting.
You may
also do
it from
Corfu
Town in
a taxi
if you
prefer.
Be sure
to allow
time to
explore
Gastouri,
as it is
a quaint
village
with
lots of
character.
Achillio
Palace
is
considered
on of
Corfu's
top
attractions.
“Don’t Miss”
A visit to Corfu Town's Old Section a "don't miss" rating. It is simply clean and wonderful place to explore.
In most of the tours in Greece, height hills
shoes are not acceptable.
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