My absolute favorite stop on my 7 day Greek Isles cruise on the Norwegian Jade was Corfu (read my full cruise review here). This island in the Ionian Sea has many things to do, so one day will not be enough to see everything. I recommend spending your one day in Corfu from a cruise ship joining an excursion so you can maximize how much you get to see.
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Corfu is a lush, mountainous island that gets more rain than other areas in Greece. Culturally, Corfu is influenced by Roman, Venetian, French, and British heritages. We spent our limited time in Corfu on a bus tour to see multiple parts of the island including Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, Nissaki, and Barbati. While this tour did not allow much time for exploring on your own, it did show us a good portion of the island and give me an idea of where I want to go on a return trip.
If you are not satisfied with the excursions offered by your cruise ship, you could arrange a private half or full day sightseeing tour with a customized itinerary to see the sights you are most interested in.
Things to do with One Day in Corfu from a Cruise Ship
This is by no means an exhaustive list of everything to do in Corfu. But with only one day from a cruise ship, this list gives you more than enough activities to choose from to see some highlights of the island.
Old Town – One Day in Corfu Highlight
This UNESCO World Heritage site is a great place to wander around. Old Town is approximately 2 km from the cruise port and it will take about 30 minutes of walking each way. If you will not join an excursion on your one day in Corfu, I recommend taking a taxi to Old Town and exploring this Venetian influenced city on your own. Points of interest include the Old and New Fortresses, the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, Church of Agios Spyridon, Liston and Spianada Square.
Mons Repos Palace
This small palace is former royal summer residence and the birthplace of Prince Phillip. A quick stop here will allow you tour the grounds and the interior of the house.
Achillion Palace
This location is currently closed due to restoration work. This beautiful palace was built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria as a summer residence. After her death, it was purchased by Kaiser William II of Germany. After World War I and II, the palace was restored and opened to the public. Learn more about tour options here.
Vlacherna Monastery
This small church is a famous site in Corfu located near Mouse Island and the Corfu airport. It is located on a small islet connected to the mainland via a paved pathway for pedestrians. You can combine your visit here with a stop on Mouse Island by taking a quick trip on a fishing boat.
Mouse Island
Pontikonisi, also known as Mouse Island, is another iconic spot in Corfu. A quick boat trip from the Vlacherna Monestery will get you here. According to Greek mythology, this island is the ship of Odysseus that was turned to stone by Poseidon. On the center of the island is a church called Pantokrator.
Paleokastritsa Beach – One Day in Corfu Highlight
Considered one of the best beaches on Corfu, Paleokastritsa is definitely worth a visit. The area gets crowded so visiting in the morning or later in the day might be best. This beach is developed and offers chairs and umbrellas for rent. Plus, the area has a lot of restaurants and bars nearby. Besides swimming or lounging at the beach, you can also rent water sports equipment or a boat to explore nearby caves and secluded beaches. You could easily spend your entire one day in Corfu here. If you need to arrange transport to Paleokastritsa, consider booking private transportation.
Beach Resort Towns
Corfu is filled with gorgeous beach towns such as Kassiopi, Nissaki, and Barbati that we got to see on our trip. Kassiopi is an old fishing village on the harbor. We stopped for lunch and shopping here and enjoyed the cosmopolitan feel. As we drove through Corfu we passed other scenic beach towns like Nissaki and Barbati but didn’t get to stop. The views in this area are stunning and I’m sure being able to spend time in any of the towns would be a delight.
Are you looking for more information on nearby Greek islands? Check out my guides on Athens, Kusadasi (Turkey), Santorini, Argostoli, and Rhodes. If you are wondering what it’s like to do a cruise through the Greek Isles, read my review of the Norwegian Jade here.