Best Time to Visit Corfu

Spring: green and quiet

March is still damp, with rain on about 13 days, but April is when Corfu opens up. Days are mild, around 18°C, and the island is at its greenest. It's good for walking the old town's lanes and the Kanoni and Paleokastritsa viewpoints without the heat. The sea is too cold for most people, though.

Greek Orthodox Easter is the big event, and it usually falls in April or early May. Corfu does it well. On Holy Saturday morning, people throw clay pots from balconies in the old town. Processions with brass bands wind through the Spianada, the big town square. Hotels fill up, so it's a busy week even in spring.

May and June are the sweet spot. You get 22°C to 27°C, long sunny days and little rain. Beaches like Glyfada and Agios Gordios are warm enough to swim and not yet crowded. Travelling with kids? Early June, before school holidays start, is hard to beat.

July and August: hot and busy

This is peak season. Both months reach 30°C by day and stay warm at night, and rain is rare. The sea is at its best for swimming. The price is crowds, especially in Sidari, Kavos and the old town in the afternoon.

Mid-August is the busiest stretch. The Assumption on 15 August is a public holiday, and many Greek families are on the island too. If you hate crowds, aim for the quieter west coast or the north-east villages like Kalami and Agni, and swim early in the day. Midday in town is sticky and slow, so do what locals do: rest, then come out for dinner.

Autumn and winter: softer and wetter

September is still warm, at 27°C, and the sea holds its heat. Rain picks up, though, with about 12 wet days. Often it comes as short, heavy storms, then clears. Crowds thin out, which makes it a lovely month for a beach week.

October is mellow and still rated Excellent, but showers are more frequent and the days are shorter. Some beach bars and boat trips start closing near the end of the month.

November to February is the wet season. Rain falls on 14 or 15 days a month, and sun is scarce. It's cosy rather than beachy: olive-oil country, empty tavernas and quiet town walks. Many tourist businesses shut, so check what's open. Pack a proper rain jacket for the old town's stone streets, which get slippery.