This is a whistle stop tour of Corfu to give you a brief picture of our beautiful island. Let's start with Corfu town, being the “capital”. There are many ways of getting there, by organised excursion (best for the nervous or lazy), public bus (good for the intrepid with time to spare) or by renting a car. The latter affords most freedom to explore at your own pace and make your itinerary according to what time you start your day! A car will give you a full 24 hours so will allow you to fit in other things to and eat out some where different in the evening; if you have any energy left!

Corfu Town is a lively place built on a rocky promontory surrounded on three sides by the sea. Originally the town just occupied the Old Fort, the Venetians constructed most of what you see today and built underground passages connecting it to the New Fort, both forts are open to the public at certain times, they are still in military use. Some of the city wall still exists and is inset with Lion of St Mark, emblem of the Venetian Empire, near the market. The market is not a flea market but a proper market with fresh fish, fruit and veg, and dried herbs, it is daily from very early till lunch time when most produce has been sold and the local buses return people to their rural villages.

The social centre of the town is the plateia, which is where the cricket pitch is, the Palace of St. Michael and St. George and the Liston. It is Corfu's Bond St., there are beautiful jewellery shops like Lalounis, and coffee shops like Haagen Daz, some under the shade of the lime trees. Greeks dress up to go for their daily “Volta” here, parading up and down or relaxing, people watching, keeping an eye open for friends, sipping ouzo or ginger beer (Tzitzi bira). Beware you will pay more for the privilege of your surroundings here! Bear in mind shop opening times are 09:00 to13:30 and 18:00 to 21:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 09:00 to 14:00 only on the other days.

The Palace of St. Michael was built by the British with stone from Malta and has been many things; High Commissioners residence, and home to the Asian art museum.

St Spiridon's Church, the present one, built in 1590, replaced a much older version and is dedicated to the island's patron saint. Corfiots swear by him, pray to him and honour him with remarkable passion; and he wasn't even born here! He was a bishop from Cyprus who had performed minor miracles. When he died in the 4th century, his remains were taken to Contantinople, (Istanbul) after the Turkish invasion his remains were smuggled out on a donkey and finally ended up in Corfu. He has saved the island once from famine, twice from plague and invasion by the Turks. Many children are named Spiros (boys) or Spiridoula (girls) in his honour. It is an ornate Greek Orthodox Church, you can see his closed silver casket, and this can be opened for someone wishing to pray directly to the saint. It is bought out on parade on four annual occasions. It is a place of worship; you will need to be respectfully dressed to enter. The rust coloured campanile dominates the town's skyline. A stroll through the paved pedestrian area of the old town will probably be accompanied by a cacophony of sound from the two local brass bands practicing! Much of the paving and improvements were implemented by the funds from the European Union in the year of the Summit conference. Do not worry about wandering off into the tiny alleys you will come out on the sea on one side or the other and can just follow the sea wall back to the Liston!

Worth a mention is the British cemetery, which tell its own story, but is also an extraordinarily quiet haven in a bustling town, with lovely gardens. Buildings that are beautiful and interesting are the Town Hall, and the Reading Society. This houses an amazing library and records much of Corfu's rich history. It is in the hands of Andreas who loves his books and speaks excellent English.  He can lay his hand on any requested book in seconds. The Mitropolis orthodox cathedral is drab by comparison to St Spiridon's church but is in a lovely setting at the top of a wide flight of steps onto a paved square overlooking the sea.

There is no doubt that all members of the family will find something of interest in Corfu. Don't be put of by the myriad tourist shops all seeming to sell the same thing, they deserve a rummage some charming souvenirs can be found.  There is an exciting bazaar like atmosphere, haggling is expected when buying something of value like leather or gold.  Undoubtedly best buys here are leather goods; often in Italian styles, fake designer belts (and clothes many of which wear very well!) Casual cotton clothing (have you noticed how much casual gear in England bears the tag “made in Greece”?) Ceramics there are some lovely items in bright Mediterranean colours.  There are several shops where you can watch olive wood being made into beautiful salad bowls and other very desirable things. There are too many jeweller shops to count but there are some stunning designs around and gold is still cheaper than the UK.

There are also “pit stops” at regular intervals, from a MacDonald’s, to tiny tavernas in back streets. Greek fast food is delicious pies, such as feta cheese or spinach pie, eaten on the hoof, and giros pork or small souvlaki, in pita bread. Restaurants on the main “drag” seem to rely more on their location than their food! You will find food for all tastes. Though the Rex is a well-known, historical restaurant with a good menu.

Parking is a problem in this congested town, don't search; head for one of the main car parks on the old port or the Liston.

So having covered the town where to visit outside town? Starting from Acharavi , as central point on the north coast, going east, first is St Spiridon bay, a lovely sandy beach with safe swimming, sadly is now dominated by a large hotel, but nice for a change of scenery and can be walked from Acharavi in about 1½ hours. Next is Kassiopi once a busy fishing village now a busy resort that is still full of charm with its harbour front bars and restaurants and colourful caiques and yachts. It is a lively place for a night out and has a good selection of shops. There is a good bus service 4 times a day, the last bus back is about 5 p.m., but a taxi will only be about 15 €. Aghios Stephanos needs a car to visit, it is 2 km road off the main road and remains a remarkably well kept secret. A tiny natural harbour, which usually has more than its fair share of expensive yachts, has only a small man made beach, but there are many tavernas where you can practically paddle as you eat.

Driving on through the village you will come to an even better kept secret; the pebbly beach of Kerassia.  The white pebbles lend a brilliant blue colour to the sea.  Though hectic on Sundays, when people in the know descend on it, in the week it is only visited by caiques that briefly fill the only taverna, and is peppered with the residents of the luxury villas and up market villa companies that use the area.

Be careful not to drive off the cliff as you approach the stunning views across to Albania as you carry on along the coast road south!  You will also be able to look down over the postcard view of Kouloura there is little down there except a harbour and a little taverna but is a great photo stop. On the other side of the same headland is Kalami made famous by it's one time resident; the author Lawrence Durrell. His old house is now a taverna right on the waters edge; its terrace is an idyllic setting. There has been quite a lot of development here of late but its slight inaccessibility has ensured a quiet, appreciative kind of tourism. Continuing south is the little beach of Agni made famous by Toya Wilcox who tried her hand at waitressing here! The standard of taverna here is outstanding and should be visited by all “foodies”! Though be warned prices are mostly higher than average. The scenery is dramatic too. Swimming is pebbly as is all the east coast where all these little coves are lapped by the gentle waters of the clear blue Corfu Channel. Kaminaki, Nissaki and Barbati are other tiny coves and beaches where there are the necessary lunchtime tavernas, warm sea and more of that beautiful scenery. Personally unless looking for noisy night life I keep driving without stopping in Ipsos, often flooded with naval ratings when they are in port, Dassia is home to big hotels, Gouvia has a man made beach and marina, then it's just busy road all the way into town. After Barbati should you turn right, and test your passengers nerves up through the hairpin bends, to Spartillas and Episkepsi you will be treated to some spectacular mountain views. In fact if you are feeling adventurous why not go right again and visit the island's highest peak Pantokrator (2792 feet). You are able to go right to the top where there is a monastery, (there is the ugliest transmitter ariel in the middle of it!) and a coffee bar with stunning views into Albania. The road loops down through Lafki and back into Acharavi. You could of course turn right just before Ipsos and go through the very pretty village of Korakiana This route will put you on the main road to Paleokastritsa.

Often known as “Paleo”, like many beauty spots the world over, it has become somewhat commercial and expensive, but nothing can detract from the magnificent scenery here. There is a byzantine monastery daringly perched on a cliff overlooking the village. It is all that Greece means to the imagination; dazzling white buildings set against sparkling blue sea. There are 6 bays; one is a harbour, from the busy main beach one can take a small boat out to see the grottos. This is a good way to see the drama of the scenery. The other way is on leaving the village to go by route of Bella Vista and Lakones, the road is narrow and steep and has some good hair pin bends but it also looks down over all 6 bays, the view is breathtaking. It is now possible to drive to the ruins of AngeloKastro, after climbing the steps into the ruins sit and soak up the scenery in one of the tavernas! North of Paleo on the west coast are some lovely beaches; Aghios Georgios and Aghios Stefanos are reminiscent of Cornwall with a wide expanse of sand and little white houses on the hill overlooking the wide bay. Arillas is similar and has a good fish taverna. Following the road northwards will bring you to Sidari, a popular resort often given a mention by TV holiday programmes. It has a good sandy beach and lots of water sports, hundreds of bars, restaurants and shops, not to mention the nightclubs. It is probably best known for its “Canal d'Amour”, once a sandstone arch, now just a canal on a pretty sandy beach, there is a myth that you will dream of the person you will marry having swum through the canal!

Between Acharavi and Sidari there is first Astrakeri, another sandy beach with an excellent fish taverna. Its owners have their own fishing boat so the only time there is no fish is when the weather has been too bad to fish or when knowing Greeks or Italians have beaten you to it, mostly on Sundays! Then there is Roda, this at the far end of the same bay as Acharavi and is an easy half an hours walk along the beach; well endowed with tavernas, shops and bars, it has good water sports too.

For those more determined sightseers there is, with a little effort, a lot more to see. Going south of Corfu Town is quite a long drive.

Beside the airport is Perama where there is a causeway across to Mouse Island, this the most photographed spot on the island; a tiny church on a tiny island. The beaches on the east coast are narrow strips of shingle but the scenery is very pretty and once past the busier resorts of Benitses and Messonghi there are some pretty beaches with good traditional tavernas like Petriti and Boukari.  Lefkimmi is the biggest town after Corfu town and situated on an estuary fringed by a salt lake. Kavos has developed a reputation for being a “party “ place for younger holiday makers with all that involves, it is a reputation well deserved; but at least it keeps the noisy fun lovers well away from the rest of the island. Kavos is on the very southern tip of the island and one looks across to the small island of Paxos from its sandy beach, which is always quiet until lunchtime when the revellers start to rise! Some beautiful, quiet, sandy beaches can be found on the west coast, Marathias for instance. The drive through the back bone mountains of the middle of the island reveal some un spoilt villages and will bring you to the Achilleon Palace, our nearest equivalent to a stately home with a rich history. Built by Princess Elizabeth of Austria and home to Kaiser Wilhelm (one drives through what remains of Kaisers Bridge, on the east coast,). It was once the island's casino, it is still a museum and has been a location for films and was used in the European Union's summit for a banquet, for which is was substantially renovated. Back a little nearer to town are the well-known beaches of Aghios Gordios, Glyfada and Ermones, whilst good swimming they are inevitably busy and are backed with hotels, though just north of Ermones is Mirtiotissa a beach of renowned beauty but be warned it is designated naturist!  Pelekas, nearby, is a pretty village set on a hillside, with beautiful views and is the site of the Kaiser's throne. Here he used to go to watch the sunsets, usually at their most impressive in July with staggering shades of red and gold filling the sky. There is a hard to reach, but good sandy beach below the village; a haunt of back packers.

This is only picking some of the better-known sights and beaches, there are more and there are some excellent guidebooks to help. Roads mostly radiate from the town (as do the public bus services which makes sightseeing by public bus tricky), but there is as good network and signs are in Greek and English.

The islands permanent population numbers around 150,000.

The island is only about 50 miles long as the crow flies and varies from 2 ½ to 28 miles wide, but travelling time is slow, as is the pace of life. Drive slowly, allow for wandering goats, chickens and donkeys laden with hay or olive nets, and allow for Greeks drivers who treat the highway code as a challenge. They say the shortest measurable moment of time is the time it takes the Greek behind you at the lights, to get his hand on his horn when the lights go green!

Mass tourism is mainly limited to small areas of coastline, most of the inland areas are untouched and the scenery and genuine charm and hospitality of the locals will captivate you. Do not be offended by personal questions, it is just part of their open curiosity and interest in you! It is well worth the adventure.

There is everything; peace and quiet, hustle and bustle, lively nightlife, lazy tavernas, beaches and mountains, sand and rock.