Corfu Honeymoons

While Santorini gets plenty of airtime in the honeymoon circuit, there are countless islands in Greece, all of which offer a different experience for traveling love birds. One of the most overlooked, and yet, beautiful, is Corfu, off of the northwest coast, floating on the Ionian Sea. This stretch of picture-perfect land is most notably known for its rocky coastline, and a culture that marries the many rules of its history—from French and venetian to the British. Today, you’ll see plenty of timeless fortresses and castles, as well as a myriad of high-end resorts, all offering the escape from wedding planning you’ve been craving.

Here, a guide on how to explore this idyllic destination during your Corfu honeymoon.

When to Go

If you’ve ever fallen in love with the serenity of the Mediterranean and its bordering seas, you know there’s truly never a poor time to jet set to this spec of the world. However, the best time to set your sails on a Corfu honeymoon are April and May, and September through November. While the dead of summer will be steamy, you might have to battle more crowds than you have energy for. And in the winter, some travelers report the waters being too chilly to enjoy.

Top Sights and Activities

Considering your have your pick of beaches and centuries-old landmarks to explore, you’ll definitely have more than enough to do to fill your schedule. Just make sure you reserve some time for that ‘do not disturb’ sign:

• The Achillion Palace: Built in 1890 for the Empress of Austria and then the home of a German Emperor, this sweeping palace has been vacant post-World World II. Since then, it’s been fully restored into a museum and now invites tourists to experience a bit of history.
• The Church of St. Pyridon: Fun fact: there is a large male population in Corfu who call themselves ‘Spyros’ in honor of the saint for which this church is named. Today, it’s a Greek Orthodox Church that allows visitors to tour through the wonder of this church with roots dating back to 1580..
• Palaio Frourio, ‘The Old Fortress': In the 16th century, all natives of Corfu lived inside the walls of this fortress, nestled on eastern edge of Old Town. As you’d expect from any church from the time, a moat surrounds this impressive structure, and gives visitors a sweeping view of the city and sea.
• Paleokastritsa Monastery: For another photo-worthy spot to pose for your ‘just married’ Instagram, travel to this Byzantine-era monastery during your Corfu honeymoon. Built in the early 1200s, it was intended as a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Today, you can enjoy the views and tour through a small museum.
• Paleokastritsa Village: For some much-needed (and well-deserved) beach time, trek twenty miles out of town to one of the most popular beach areas. Separated into six sandy areas, you can rent jet skis or lay under an umbrella while enjoying the sound of the sea.
• Glyfada Beach: Consider yourself warned: this is the most populated beach, so you might have to fight for some space to lay a towel down. For good reason though: serene waters and pretty blue views.
• Sidari: For honeymooners, a visit to Sidari on the northern coast is a must, considering it is home to the infamous ‘Canal d’Amour’, or the ‘Channel of Love.’ You and your number one should swim through the passage, cementing your marriage. Nearby, go wild and swim on the nude beach of Acharavi.
• Dassia Beach: If you’re more of a couple who likes to lay a little and walk a lot, set up shop at Dassia Beach, which features a smaller beach area that’s full of shops and restaurants. It also isn’t too far from downtown so you won’t spend all day commuting.
• Agni Bay: For a local experience, head to the northeast fishing village while on your Corfu honeymoon. You can swim, eat at the seafront restaurants and take it easy with the natural island vibe. For seafood lovers, it’ll be the highlight of your trip.

Article by Lindsay Tigar