Corfu is beautiful, without a doubt, but there are times when the weather lets us down or when we feel the need for something different. Something that will not be just more time at the beach, sun, and summer fun. For explorers and seekers of variety during their holidays, we have put together a list of day trips from Corfu that are more than just entertaining.
The standard ones offered widely on the island are day trips to Albania, a cruise to Paxos and Antipaxos, or to Parga and Paxos, and a full day to Meteora. And that is about it. A pity, though, because from Corfu you can do so much more in just a day.
So here we go:
Zagorochoria and Vikos Gorge
This is a perfect day trip for adventure travelers and nature lovers.
Zogorochoria is a complex of amazingly beautiful villages in the province of Ioannina.
It is a heavenly place where you can enjoy a wide range of sports and mountain activities, including rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, trekking, and climbing.
To get to Zaogorochoria, you need to rent a car in Corfu and get on an early ferry to Igoumenitsa. The ferry ride is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
When you arrive in Igoumenitsa, you just need to take Egnatia Odos heading to Ioannina. The road is great, and driving is very safe. Tolls exist.
Road maps say it takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to Monodendri, which is true. On your way to Zagorochoria, we recommend continuing without stopping in Ioannina. You can do that on your way back.
When you arrive at your destination, you can start your exploration in the village of Vitsa, then visit Monodendri, Ano Pedina, Kato Pedina, Aristi, and Papigo. The scenery is beautiful.
On your way back, you should stop for a coffee in Ioannina. Maybe take a stroll by the lake banks.
And if the day is still young when you head back to Igoumenitsa, a stop at Dodoni and a visit to the Ancient Theatre of Dodona is a great option.
Parga, Nekromanteio, Nicopolis, and Lefkada
Another wonderful day trip for history buffs and lovers of Greece. A combination of visits to archaeological sites of mega importance and scenic towns in the Greek Mainland and on the island of Lefkada.
For this trip too, you will need to hire a car and get on the ferry to Igoumenitsa. The ferry ride remains the same. But the driving distances are shorter.
From Igoumenitsa to Parga, the distance is a little less than 45 kilometers; about a 40-minute drive. Parga is a picturesque little town with a waterfront. The castle of Parga is worth exploring. One hour in Parga is enough.
Moving on to the next stop is Nekromanteio. From Parga to Nekromanteio, the distance is just over 20 kilometers, and the driving time is just around 25 minutes. Nekromanteio is located on the banks of the Acheron River, the river of the underworld. While at Nekromanteio, a boat ride on the Acheron River is a must.
The next stop is Nicopolis. Another 45 minutes of driving will get you from Nekromateio to the Ancient Site of Nicopolis, which is located close to the town of Preveza. Nicopolis means Victory City; it was founded by Octavianus Augustus, after the naval battle of Actium, in 31 BC. A beautiful, well-maintained archaeological site that not many people visit.
By late noon or early afternoon, you will reach the final destination, which is the island of Lefkada. Lefkada is connected by a bridge, so no ferries or anything else are involved.
You just cross the bridge and arrive at the town of Lefkada, which is also the capital of the island. In the town of Lefkada, there is one of the nicest sandy beaches on the island that is neglected by tourists. Nothing surprising about it since this island is famous for its plethora of dazzling beaches.
Fly to Athens for a Day
Corfu is well-connected with direct flights to Athens in the morning and evening every day. Actually, multiple flights exist every day, especially during the summer months.
So if you ever wanted to visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Forum, and all other important historical sites of Athens, it is easy peasy.
If you book your flights in advance, you can get fares as low as 60 euros per person return.
Arriving at the airport, you can just hop on the metro and get off at the Acropolis Museum station. Enjoy a full day exploring the magnificent sights, then return to the airport to catch your flight back to Corfu.
Visit Santorini
Are you surprised? Hopefully not. This is totally doable. If you take the first flight out of Corfu with Aegean Airlines in the very early hours of the morning, and then the connecting Aegean flight to Santorini, you will land on the most popular Greek island at about 10:00 hours.
You can spend the day exploring the island and get on the early evening flight out of Santorini. Then another short stopover at Athens International Airport and back to Corfu before midnight.
At the time of writing this article, the cost of the return airfare per person is about 130 Euros. Not that expensive at all.