Corfu: A Culinary and Cinematic Gem with Diverse Accommodation Options
Corfu, known as the ‘Island of the Phaeacians,’ is one of Greece’s most established tourist destinations, particularly popular during the Easter period. Historically, it contributes significantly to the country’s tourism economy, primarily through international visitors and secondarily through domestic tourism. While Corfu’s destination identity was long associated with the ‘Sun – Sea’ model, both private sector development choices and the island’s dynamic potential in various sectors are creating opportunities to enrich its local destination identity. This aligns with modern tourism trends, sustainable tourism development, and improved economic performance.
In this context, the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands has developed a program of actions to promote the destination in 2026. Concurrently, it has documented a series of elements that characterize Corfu as a tourist destination. These elements highlight the development of gastronomic tourism, the range of accommodation options, and the attraction of international film productions.
Influences on Corfiot Cuisine
The ‘Island of the Phaeacians’ boasts an exceptional and distinct gastronomic tradition with internal variety. Foreign dominations and influences, predominantly Venetian and secondarily British, combined with the products of Corfiot nature around the city-countryside dichotomy, create a highly interesting and diverse version of Mediterranean cuisine, set against the backdrop of classic Greek cuisine.
The island offers a plethora of dining establishments. The range in quality and prices is broad, corresponding to the diversity of visitor categories. Notably, in recent years, significant efforts have been made to enhance quality in both independent restaurants and hotel dining. For example, in 2025, two Corfiot restaurants received awards at the Greek Cuisine Awards, six at the FNL awards, and three with Golden Chef’s Hats. Additionally, many others have achieved high gastronomic standards and are featured in established specialist publications.
Visitors to the island enjoy Greek food offered by the catering sector, based on superior quality Greek products, mainly from small producers. Furthermore, menus highlight local dishes of Venetian origin such as pastitsada, sofrito, and bourdeto. Many restaurants also offer tsigareli, bianco, Corfiot nerantzosalata, and during Easter, tsilichourda. These dishes have now moved beyond their narrow traditional framework and have entered the menus of popular chefs in essentially modern or upgraded versions. Local cuisine still possesses many elements awaiting their entry into gastronomy and their offering to visitors, such as pastitsio dolce, stacofissi, savouro, and others.
In contrast to restaurant cuisine, popular street food also vies for visitors’ attention, with pancakes (Intangible Cultural Heritage Index) and the local version of ‘gyro pita’ taking center stage. Confectionery products complete the culinary experiences, with fogatsa and kolombines, pastafrolla, and cream.
In recent years, local gastronomy has incorporated many local products from primary and secondary production, creating unique flavor combinations and unforgettable culinary experiences for visitors. Noumboulo and sykopita bring a crescendo to salads, alongside Corfiot graviera, while kumquat accompanies poultry dishes, and Corfiot honey flavors savory and sweet creations.
This trend of renewing Corfiot cuisine and highlighting local products is rooted in high-quality hotel kitchens, as well as in award-winning and prominent restaurants, where a new generation of chefs responds to the demands of modern gastronomy and tourism, creating the conditions for further development of gastronomic tourism.
A Traditional Filming Location
Corfu is also one of the most traditional filming locations in Greece. Beyond the many Greek films and television series shot on the island, there have been numerous international productions. The Municipality specifically mentions the following: The Greek Tycoon (1979), James Bond’s For Your Eyes Only (1981), My Family and Other Animals (1986), The Durrells (2016-19), My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023), Maestro (2023), The Return (2024), The Birthday Party, and The Marble Hall Murders (2025). Many visitors have either chosen Corfu as their destination because of these productions or seek out the corresponding points of interest upon arrival on the island.
Accommodation for Every Budget
In recent years, investments in hotels, particularly high-end ones, have shown strong momentum. Currently, out of a total of 415 hotel units on the island, 33 (8%) are 5-star, accounting for 28% of the beds, making it the category with the most beds on the island. This has boosted wellness tourism, as all these units offer high-level spa and other wellness services. With the second largest bed capacity category of 4-star hotels (60 units), 53% of hotel beds in Corfu fall into the higher categories. New upgrade investments are expected in the remaining categories, targeting the 4-star category, within the framework of a relevant funding program through transfers and new legal entities.
Rented tourist apartments traditionally constitute the second-largest category of tourist accommodation in Corfu. For historical reasons, this sector developed significantly on the island and has contributed to its tourist character. Today, there are approximately 45,000 beds on the island belonging to all categories of businesses operating in the sector.
Rented villas are a sector that does not compare numerically with the above but has a particular footprint, both in the form of specific areas of the Corfiot countryside and due to the specific clientele they attract and the publicity they often enjoy in specialized and general media. Their total number exceeds 1,000, and they offer approximately 8,500 beds. An additional category, which concerns a significant number of accommodations in the tourist apartment and villa sectors, is short-term rentals. On the other hand, camping has seen a decline in its dynamics in Corfu. The island currently operates a total of 8 units, 6 of which are 2-star, one is 3-star, and one is in the highest 4-star category.
Source: https://www.travel.gr/how_to_travel/travel-news/kerkyra-ta-paradosiaka-fagita-kai-i-pl/
