Corfu - Greece's Greenest Island

Corfu is known as Greece’s greenest island. For those who are used to the dry and barren landscapes of the Cyclades, visiting Corfu is like stepping into an alternate universe. But Greece at its greenest is still Greece: the calm way of life, the delicious traditional food, and the typical traditions are as present here as anywhere else.

Whether you can work remotely on your laptop, want to open a B&B, or are retired, Corfu is understandably an attractive island to hang your proverbial hat. But what is it like to live on Corfu? Let’s explore this Greek island from the point of view of a local.

Lots of driving

Sights and shops are scattered all around Corfu, and the roads can be frustratingly slow. To live comfortably on Corfu, you will eventually need your own car. Fortunately, you can hire one for the first weeks of your stay, until you find a suitable car that you can buy. Be prepared for lots of driving on windy roads through little villages. This requires some patience if you’re used to highways in your home country.

Reasonable living expenses

You can rent an apartment on Corfu from around € 400 per month, depending on the area. If you prefer a detached house with a garden, monthly rents on Corfu start at € 600. A long term rental of a villa with a swimming pool can be arranged for € 1,000 to € 2,000 a month. Buying a property in Greece can be a real headache with many financial surprises along the way, so renting is the safest solution.

Corfu has big chain supermarkets such as Lidl, which allow you to get your groceries at a reasonable price. A dinner for two in a local restaurant can be had for as little as € 20, including drinks, dessert, and an ouzo for the road.

Education and health

Mental and physical wellbeing is well taken care of on Corfu. Some of this is thanks to the British influence that put the necessary systems in place. Let’s take education, for example. The island has many private schools on the island; among which various international schools. Then there is the Ionian University that has six different faculties. Also you can find a lot of private Greek language teachers here.

As for healthcare, you can find various private clinics here, with a great number of medical specialisations. Corfu has two general hospitals that are accessible to anyone with the light blue EU health pass, as well as to registered residents.

Entertainment and arts

There are lots of celebrations and local festival, in which music and the local cuisine are often present. The Easter celebrations are particularly lively. By the way, Orthodox Easter is celebrated at a later date than Western cultures celebrate their Easter.

There are lots of museums and archeological treasures on Corfu. Great hikes and cycling routes allow you to be active outdoors. Sailing and playing golf are two popular sports, while tennis, swimming, and diving are also practiced a lot.

A friendly climate

The climate on Corfu is Mediterranean – but with a twist. Whereas other areas of Greece can get unpleasantly hot in summer, temperatures in Corfu stay in the low thirties (Celsius). Due to its location on the west side of the continent, Corfu catches more rainfall than average but most of this rain falls in winter. Very occasionally, in the higher areas of the island, there are frosts and snowfall.

Even in winter, there is plenty of sunshine on Corfu, with an average of three hours a day. While the air temperature may be low, if you can find a sheltered spot you can still get a nice suntan. There are even visitors and locals that will swim in the Ionian Sea in winter, which is very brave since the water temperature drops to about 14 degrees centigrade.

Travelling to and from Corfu

Corfu is well-connected, with many budget airlines operating here, servicing virtually all European countries with direct flight. Be aware that the frequency of flights decreases between November and March, roughly. In some cases, you will have to fly through Athens to get to the country of your choice.

From the port of Igoumenitsa in northwestern Greece you can take a ferry to Corfu, which takes about 1 hour. A bus connects Igoumenitsa with Thessaloniki (3.5 hours) and Athens (5.5 hours). You can also take the car on the ferry.

From Corfu, you can make a day or weekend trip to nearby Paxos. This calm and quiet island is home to lovely beaches and sleepy fishing villages. From Paxos, you can take a water taxi across to Antipaxos, which is slowly but surely getting famous for its Caribbean-style beaches.