With kids · Corfu · Greece
Corfu with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: R-E-AL ( talk | contribs | Gallery ) (German Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Corfu suits families with sandy, shallow beaches in the north and west, boat trips, water parks and easy sights like the Old Fortress and Kanoni. Resorts such as Agios Georgios Pagon, Sidari and Dassia are well set up for children. Top picks: Aqualand, Old Fortress and Kanoni, Vlacherna Monastery and Mouse Island. Families usually base themselves in Gouvia and Dassia.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 5
- Best area for families
- Gouvia and Dassia
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- July–August
Best things to do with kids
Theme park · Agios Ioannis
1.Aqualand
One of Europe's larger water parks, in the centre of the island near Agios Ioannis, with slides, wave pools and lazy rivers for all ages. It opens in the summer season only.
Arrive early to secure shaded sunbeds and avoid the longest queues for the big slides.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
Castle · Corfu Town
2.Old Fortress
On a rocky promontory separated from the town by a moat, the Venetian Old Fortress resisted several Ottoman sieges in the 16th and 18th centuries. Inside are the neoclassical Church of St George, built by the British, and paths to the lighthouse at the top for views over town and the sea.
Climb to the lighthouse in the late afternoon for the best light over the old town's rooftops.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Viewpoint · Kanoni
3.Kanoni, Vlacherna Monastery and Mouse Island
From the Kanoni viewpoint south of town, the white Vlacherna Monastery sits on an islet reached by a causeway, with tree-covered Pontikonisi (Mouse Island) behind it. Planes landing at the airport pass low over the lagoon right beside it.
Walk down the steps from the Kanoni café to the causeway, and take the small boat across to Mouse Island in summer.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Neighbourhood · Corfu Town
4.Corfu Old Town
The UNESCO-listed old town grew within Venetian fortifications from the 15th to the 18th century, and its narrow kantounia lanes, tall shuttered houses, small squares and Catholic and Orthodox churches still follow that plan. The Campiello quarter, the oldest part, is quietest in the early morning.
Get lost in the Campiello lanes early in the day before cruise-ship groups arrive, then have coffee on the Liston.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Nature · Sidari
5.Canal d'Amour
At Sidari, wind and waves have carved the soft sandstone cliffs into channels, arches and small sandy coves. Local legend says couples who swim through the main channel will stay together.
Visit early in the morning or around sunset, when the cliffs glow and crowds are thinner; nearby Cape Drastis has more dramatic formations.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Outdoors
Where families should stay
$$ · Best for families, beach and budget
Gouvia and Dassia
Gouvia has a large yacht marina and the ruins of a Venetian shipyard, while neighbouring Dassia has a long, narrow beach with watersports and resort hotels. Both are within 15–20 minutes of Corfu Town by bus or car, which makes them practical bases for exploring the island.
- Good
- Close to town and the airport; Plenty of hotels and apartments; Watersports
- Watch out
- Narrow beaches; Busy main road
- Nearby
- Gouvia Marina, Venetian shipyard, Corfu Town, Aqualand
Family travel tips
- Choose shallow, sandy beaches such as Agios Georgios Pagon or Sidari for small children; many east-coast beaches are pebbly.
- Plan beach time in the morning and late afternoon to avoid midday heat in July and August.
- Bring water shoes for pebbly coves and sea urchins on rocks.
- Car seats for hire cars should be booked ahead in summer.
- Greek families eat late; most tavernas welcome children well into the evening.
Day trips for families
- Paxos and Antipaxos (About 1 hour by fast ferry from Corfu Town) — Paxos is a small, olive-covered island with the harbour villages of Gaios, Lakka and Loggos, while Antipaxos has white-sand coves such as Voutoumi with bright turquoise water.
- Parga (About 2–2.5 hours by excursion boat) — A colourful mainland town of houses stacked below a Venetian castle, overlooking a bay with a small chapel islet.
- Erikoussa and the Diapontia Islands (About 1 hour by boat from Sidari or Agios Stefanos) — The small islands of Erikoussa, Othonoi and Mathraki lie north-west of Corfu.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–June and September. July–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Corfu good for kids?
Corfu suits families with sandy, shallow beaches in the north and west, boat trips, water parks and easy sights like the Old Fortress and Kanoni. Resorts such as Agios Georgios Pagon, Sidari and Dassia are well set up for children.
+What can kids do in Corfu?
Aqualand, Old Fortress, Kanoni, Vlacherna Monastery and Mouse Island, Corfu Old Town and Canal d'Amour.
+Where should families stay in Corfu?
Gouvia and Dassia: Resort strip and marina just north of Corfu Town.