Cheap Flights To Corfu

A jewel in the Ionian sea, Corfu, or Kerkyra to the Greeks, has been attracting visitors for centuries. According to Greek mythology, it is the island where the shipwrecked Odysseus found sanctuary. It is also somewhere that once chose to ally itself with the Roman Empire and, in later centuries, was governed by the Venetians, the French and the British in turn. Although it has been proudly part of Greece since 1864, its main town, despite heavy bombardment in World War Two, still retains strong signs of the island's past. Today's visitors can marvel at Venetian forts, the French-built Liston arcade, which was inspired by the Rue de Rivoli, and St Spyridon Cathedral, which plays a central role in the island's Easter festivities.

Only a little way outside Corfu Town, the pace of life slows. An oregano scent and hillsides that are stippled with olive groves. Goats and donkeys droop their heads in the midday heat and, on the horizon, the blue sea beckons. It is easy to imagine the young Gerald Durrell, whose family so famously made the island their home in the 1930s, striding along the track -- his collecting jars in his hands and his dog at his heels.

Things To Do

Anyone who comes to Corfu for its beaches will not be disappointed. The island boasts a rich variety, from lively resorts packed with nightclubs, beach bars and a plethora of water sports to tiny coves that are accessible only by sea... and everything in between. It also has architecture and history enough to fill more than a single holiday.

• Beach life
  The beaches on the west side of the island tend to be sandy while those on the east are pebbly. Some are busier than others but all of them are beautiful. Large resorts, such as Sidari, provide tavernas, water sports and plenty of company. Other beaches such as Kerasia have fewer, or even no, facilities, but offer the chance of solitude.

• Explore the Old Town
  Corfu Old Town is a labyrinth of little lanes between tightly packed buildings that ever so often give way to elegant squares, imposing mansions, the occasional fort and St Spyridon Cathedral, which is dedicated to the island's patron saint. There are also restaurants, shops and photo-ready washing lines strung between balconies.

• Relax... and watch cricket
  Although it might seem a surprising location for this most English of games, the Corfiots embraced cricket back in the 1820s. Now home to the Hellenic federation, the island has several beautiful cricket grounds, including Spianada square, overlooking the Old Fortress.

Calendar Of Events

Corfu's festivities and events are as varied as its history. Religion, music, natural history and sheer fun all come to the fore of various events.

• Easter: This is the island's largest religious festiva. Events begin on Palm Sunday and culminate with Good Friday's "Epitaph Processions", Holy Saturday's recreation of the earthquake and the joyous events of Easter Sunday. All the church bells sound, locals throw water-filled clay pitchers into the streets and the bands play on.

• Carnival: Closely resembling Venice's carnival, the Corfiot version takes place in late February or early March. Parades, music, dancing and plenty of good humour all make this an enjoyable event for locals and visitors alike.

• Gerald Durrell Week: Run in conjunction with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, this annual week, usually held in late spring, offers its guests to experience Corfu life as Gerald Durrell knew it with an emphasis on the island's flora and fauna.