Great Things to Do Near Erato
A Drive to Gardenos Beach
Take a short drive to a beautiful beach further south called Gardenos. The locals call it Vitalades beach. A hidden secret that not too many people know about. Golden sands and clear wavy sea. There are a couple of traditional tavernas so you can sit back and sample the local cuisine after a day enjoying the beach.
Explore Corfu Town
See the palaces and Venetian fortresses and explore the old town that is home to the Greek Royal family during their annual vacation. Prince Philip was born here, in Mon Repos palace.
The Olive & Olive Oil Museum
Corfu is famous for olive oil. Take a short drive into the village of Aghios Matheas and visit this museum to learn about the significance of the olive in Greek and Mediterranean culture, and see how olive oil is produced from the tree to the bottle.
A Visit to Lefkimmi
Why not head down to the south of the island and visit the second largest town in Corfu. Lefkimmi is a traditional village which still has the charm of an old fashioned Greek town. Drive down to the river (Potami) and sit back at one of the cafes or local tavernas and watch all the locals go about their business. Then finish the day at the local beach, Boukari, at the mouth of the river.
Sip wine in Agias Mattheos
Home of some of the best locally produced wines in Corfu just drive into the old village, park (abandon like the locals do) your car and knock on one of the doors that are signposted 'local wines' - Yammas!
Play a round of golf
You'll find the island's golf course close to Ermones on the Ropa Valley (west of Corfu Town). This excellent course (one of only half a dozen in all of Greece!) was created by the British during their time of occupation.
Walk to Monastery of Pantokrator
Follow the sign in Aghios Matheos up the mountain for a stiffish walk ending in spectacular views over the sea.
A fun day out at Aqualand
Corfu Aqualand, near to the village of Agios Ioannis, is one of the largest water parks in Europe and features 51 slides, several pools, a lazy river and a wide variety of other water attractions. There’s something for all ages here and it is a great way to keep the whole family entertained.
Blue Flag beaches
See how many beaches with 'blue flag' certification you can swim at during your stay, an ideal way of discovering the area and experiencing the diversity of the island, whilst having a lot of fun at the same time.
Birdwatching
Keen ornithologists will be pleased to discover the bird watching area at Lake Korission, where there is the opportunity to see several different species of wading birds, amongst others.
Local summer festivals
In July & August, many of the villages round about hold evening festivals, with local produce and then a communal meal is prepared with everyone joining in.
Take Corfu Town's little train
For an alternative view of all the best landmarks (and a chance to rest your feet!) take the little road train which leaves hourly from the Liston every day. Great fun for all the family.
Visit Lake Korission at the southern tip of the island
Go for a walk around the lake, watch the windsurfers just off the huge expanse of golden sandy beach, and explore the nearby Gardiki castle – a busy day out for all the family. And right on your doorstep too!
Visit Pontikinissi (Mouse Island)
What a lovely way to spend a half day, take a trip out to the Kanoni peninsula and enjoy a coffee on the waterfront café there, next to the Vlahernon monastery, which is also an island, but has been connected to the Kanoni peninsula by a small causeway. It's from this small causeway that you take the regular boat crossing over to Pontikinissi about a 5 minute boat trip away. Don’t forget your swimming gear, as you can easily have a lovely swim here.
Sail on a glass bottom boat
Leaving Paleokastritsa daily over the main season, you'll see amazing undersea wonders, visit incredible caves close to Ermones that can only be accessed from the water, and enjoy an afternoon on Paradise Beach - a huge expanse of white sand/shingle beach and aquamarine sea also only accessible by boat.
Snorkelling
Take a trip down south to Alonaki beach where the water is sublimely clear and protective rocks create a perfect bay ideal for snorkelling.
Try a typical Corfiot dish
One of the many local dishes created here on Corfu, Bourdetto is a spicy fish stew made from freshly caught scorpion fish. Be warned, you have to eat this dish with your fingers and a lot of bread for the salsa (sauce), as it is a very bony fish, and is far too fiddly to try to eat with a knife and fork, so eat it the local way!
Go for lunch on Vidos Island
Vidos Island used to house an ancient Venetian fortress, later turned into the Corfu ‘Alcatraz’! Now, it is simply a wonderfully tranquil spot to go for a walk, a quiet swim and a perfect setting for lunch – with the beautiful view of Corfu town and its fortresses in front of you. You catch the boats for Vidos in the car park at the old port, which you will find situated in front of the new fortress.
Visit the Achilleion Palace
One of the most famous royal mansions in Europe, some consider the Achilleion Palace to be the most important architectural landmark in Corfu. Built in 1890, entirely at the expense of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria (also known as Sisi), the palace acted as a quiet retreat for this controversial historical figure. You can stroll through the lovely gardens dedicated to her hero Achilles or simply enjoy the stunning architecture.
Benitses Shell Museum
Not to be missed by all shell lovers, this extremely impressive collection is lovingly curated and features shells from not only the Ionian Sea, but from all over the world. The children will love it too.
