One advantage of staying in the Old Town is you're at the hub of every road on the island. Within 45 minutes of our apartment door, you can be in a mountain village eating goat stew at 500 metres, looking down at the Ionian from a balcony cafe, or walking the empty alleys of a 14th-century ghost settlement.
The contrast between Corfu Town — dense, Venetian, loud — and the inland villages is striking. Our guests regularly describe their first village day as the highlight of their trip. Below, the five villages we recommend, organised by proximity and what each is best for.
The Five Villages
Doukades — 40 min northwest
Our pick for a first-timer. A genuine living village with a central square, Venetian pastel houses, tavernas that spill onto the flagstones. Lunch here and you'll see the rhythms of village life happening around you: old men drinking coffee, women trading gossip, a teenager playing cards with his grandmother. Combine with Lakones next.
Lakones — 45 min northwest
Right above Paleokastritsa, with a single terrace of cafes that looks down on the most photographed bay on Corfu. The famous Bella Vista is mandatory. Pair with Doukades: Lakones for the view and coffee, Doukades for lunch. Total half-day trip from the apartment.
Sokraki — 30 min north
The closest proper mountain village to Corfu Town. 500 metres up, noticeably cooler in summer, and barely touched by tourism. A traditional kafeneio in the square, hiking trails, stone houses. Good half-morning trip paired with coffee back at the apartment afterwards.
Strinylas & Mount Pantokrator — 60 min north
The full-day option. Drive to Strinylas, continue up to the Pantokrator summit (906m), where the monastery sits. On a clear morning the view covers the whole island, Albania across the channel, and the Italian coast far to the west. Worth picking a cloudless day.
Old Perithia — 75 min north
The most atmospheric place on Corfu. An abandoned medieval village, quietly being resurrected by the handful of taverna owners who've restored the old houses. Wander flagstone alleys, peek into Byzantine churches, eat goat at sunset. Combine with Pantokrator for a strong full-day itinerary.
From the apartment
The KTEL Green Buses from Corfu Town reach Lakones and Strinylas but not the smaller villages. Service thins out dramatically after 6 PM. A hire car is the only practical way to do a proper village day, and driving out of Corfu Town is straightforward — head for the ring road, not through the Old Town.
Two Itineraries
The half-day loop: Morning coffee at the apartment, drive 40 min to Lakones for the view, 15 min down to Doukades for lunch, back in town by 4 PM for a nap before dinner.
The full-day north loop: 7 AM start, drive 1 hour to Pantokrator summit, hike the final section, monastery visit, down to Strinylas for lunch, afternoon at Old Perithia, dinner in Kassiopi on the coast on the way back, home by 10 PM.
What to Eat
Village tavernas specialise in inland Greek cuisine — different from the fish-focused coast. Expect lamb, goat, slow-cooked stews, wild greens, occasional wild boar. Prices are 20-30% lower than Corfu Town for a comparable meal. See our local cuisine guide for dish recommendations.
Driving
Roads are winding but well-maintained. Fuel stations are scarce inland — fill up before you leave Corfu Town. Small cars handle everything except the final Pantokrator road, which benefits from a bit more clearance.
Car Hire: Herbie
Our partner delivers to the apartment door. They know our guests and can match the car to your plan — compact for village lunch trips, small SUV for Pantokrator.
Book a carPrefer a Beach Base?
If you're torn between a Corfu Town apartment and a coastal base, our sister property Corfu Beach and Town sits on the north coast — closer to the mountain villages, further from the Old Town's nighttime atmosphere.
Further reading: our Old Town walking guide and the Corfu Trail hiking guide if you want to spend longer on foot in the interior.