Luxurious Retreat Overlooking The Ionian SeaN°001
Corfu, Greece
PrivatpoolMeerblickWaterfront
Ab $18,570 pro Nacht
Corfu is the greenest of the large Greek islands, its hills silver with olive groves and its capital shaped by four centuries of Venetian rule. Our more than 160 luxury villas in Corfu, from Acharavi in the north to Agios Gordios on the west coast, pair private pools and sea views with unhurried concierge support.
- More than 160 luxury villas with private pools and sea views across the island
- UNESCO-listed Corfu Old Town with Venetian fortresses and elegant arcades
- Emerald bays, watersports, the Corfu Trail and golf in the Ropa Valley
- Distinctive Corfiot cooking, from sofrito to bourdeto
- In-resort concierge to arrange dining, boats and excursions
Known forVenetian old town, green hills, emerald coves and an Italian-inflected island culture
Best time to visitMay to October, with warm seas and long days peaking in July and August
Nearest airportCorfu International Airport (CFU), close to Corfu Town
Ideal forFamilies, groups of friends and couples wanting beaches, gastronomy and culture
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121homes available
2–8bedrooms
up to 16guests
105with a pool
Corfu in pictures
Where to stay in Corfu
Events not to miss in Corfu
- April or May
Orthodox Easter in Corfu Town
Corfu stages Greece's most famous Easter, with marching bands, candlelit processions and the Holy Saturday tradition of hurling clay pots from balconies. Book well ahead for this week.
- Palm Sunday, Holy Saturday, 11 August and early November
Litanies of Saint Spyridon
Four times a year the relics of the island's patron saint are carried through Corfu Town with philharmonic bands in attendance. Centuries-old processions of real solemnity and spectacle.
- August
Varkarola, Paleokastritsa
An evening festival of decorated boats, music and fireworks in Paleokastritsa's bay, commemorating a 1716 naval deliverance. Best watched from the water or a taverna terrace.
- Late September
Corfu Beer Festival, Arillas
The island's craft brewery hosts a good-natured festival of local beer and live music in the northwest village of Arillas. A relaxed close to the season.
Corfu through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Easter pageantry and wildflower green
The Ionian's greenest island at its lushest, with Easter's bands and processions in Corfu Town. Walking the olive groves and coastal paths is at its best.
- Summer (June – September)
Ionian swimming and Venetian evenings
Beaches from Paleokastritsa to Halikounas, boat days to the Diapontia islets and long dinners in the old town's arcades. A hillside villa with a pool catches the evening breeze.
- Autumn (October – November)
Warm seas and the olive harvest
Swimming continues into October as the island's millions of olive trees begin their harvest. Tavernas stay open in the villages, and prices soften.
- Winter (December – February)
Corfu Town to yourselves
The Liston's cafés, the twin fortresses and the museums in mild, quiet weather. The winter rains are what keep the island so green for spring.
The Area
Corfu sits at the northern edge of the Ionian, closer to Albania's coast than to the Greek mainland, and its landscape is unlike the Aegean's: cypress, holm oak and olive terraces run almost unbroken to the sea. Corfu Town, the island's UNESCO-listed capital, pairs two Venetian fortresses and the arcaded Liston with the French and British flourishes of later rulers. The north coast around Acharavi is well served with restaurants and long pebble-and-sand beaches, the west at Agios Gordios is all cliffs and sunsets, and the interior hides stone villages with viewpoints over both coasts.
Where to Stay
Smiling House offers more than 160 luxury villas in Corfu, concentrated in the island's most rewarding pockets. The north and north-east near Acharavi blend easy beach access with sailing waters and a strong restaurant scene. Agios Gordios on the west coast delivers cliffs, sand and the island's best sunsets, while inland Afra keeps Corfu Town within an easy drive. Quieter enclaves such as Agios Dimitrios, Agios Pantaleimonas and Agios Prokopios suit those wanting privacy a short hop from the coast. Most villas have private pools, generous terraces and sea views, with space for families and groups, and concierge can match the setting to the rhythm of your stay.
Things to Do
The coastline is cut with emerald coves ideal for swimming, paddleboarding and watersports, and hiring a small motorboat from a north-east harbour to find your own bay is something of a Corfu ritual. Inland, walkers follow the Corfu Trail through olive groves and hill villages, cyclists take the quiet interior lanes, and the Ropa Valley holds the island's golf course. Culture runs deep: the Old and New Fortresses in Corfu Town, the Achilleion Palace built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and Byzantine churches scattered through the villages. Boat days reach Paxos and the Diapontia islets, easily arranged through your concierge.
Dining & Nightlife
Corfiot cooking is distinct within Greece, shaped by its Venetian centuries. Sofrito's garlic-and-vinegar veal, pastitsada's spiced sauce over pasta and the peppery fish stew bourdeto all speak of the Ionian's Italian past, and the hill-village tavernas and north-east coast kitchens do them best, with chilled local wine alongside. After dark the island offers an appealing mix: an evening stroll along the Liston with cocktails under the arcades, stylish bars with live music in the resorts, and laid-back lounges by the water. For the quietest evenings, concierge can send a private chef to the villa terrace.
When to Visit
The Corfu season runs from around Easter until late October, occasionally stretching into November, and the island wears each stage differently. Late spring brings wildflowers, mild temperatures and quiet beaches, ideal for walking and sightseeing. July and August are the warmest and liveliest months, with hot days, warm seas and a full events calendar. September and early October offer summer-warm water, softer light and thinner crowds; for a villa holiday balancing beach time with culture and easy exploring, June and September are the most rewarding months of all.
Getting There
Corfu International Airport (CFU) sits just outside Corfu Town and receives direct flights from many European cities through the summer season, with connections via Athens the rest of the year. Transfers from the airport to most villas are short. Ferries connect Corfu with Igoumenitsa on the mainland and, in season, with Italy, a scenic option for those travelling by car. Once on the island, a hire car is the best way to reach secluded beaches and hilltop villages, though concierge-arranged drivers and boat days make car-free stays equally effortless.