Great Things to Do Near Kirki
Visit Mon Repos
A visit to Mon Repos is well worthwhile. A Royal mansion, with huge gardens, fountains, ancient trees and plants. Also famed for being the birthplace of Prince Philip. Mon Repos is only a 20 minute walk from the centre of the old town of Corfu, at the start of the Kanoni peninsula.
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 Mouse Island (Pontikinissi)
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.
Promenade along the Liston
This is the place to people watch! Take a stroll along this elegant arcaded avenue, where families gather and locals parade their newly purchased clothes. Choose a café, enjoy the atmosphere and take your time; the coffees may be a little bit more expensive than in other parts, but the entertainment comes free of charge!
Play a round of golf
You'll find the island's 18-hole 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.
Visit the White House in Kalami
Home to the Durrell family back in the 40’s, whilst Lawrence wrote his novel, ‘Prospero’s Cell’, and where Gerald “created” his novel, ‘My Family And Other Animals’ – both a “must read” before heading off on holiday to Corfu.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Halikounas Beach
Drive down to the south-west coast and discover an unspoilt area that has not been developed with tourism. Halikounas Beach is one of the best beaches on Corfu, with a beautiful sandy shore and gently sloping waters. Whilst there have an explore of the lake set behind the beach, and stop on the way home at one of the very traditional tavernas along the roadside.
The Big Red Bus
Drive down to Corfu Town and pick up the Big Red Bus from the port. This relatively new service is an open-topped, 'Hop On / Hop Off' bus that takes you on a guided tour all around Corfu Town and the outlying areas. It’s a great way to see and hear about the Town's history and highlights.
An evening overlooking Mouse Island
Why not walk down to the main road into Corfu Town and follow the path until you come to one of the lovely tavernas that line the road overlooking Mouse Island. Sit back and enjoy a meal or a drink and watch the planes coming into Corfu. Grab a taxi from the main road to take you home.
Hire a boat and explore the south-east coast
Pick up a boat near to Mouse Island and head south exploring the lovely coastline, stopping along the way to stop and have some lunch.
