INTRODUCING THE CORFU TRAIL: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.
If I told you that you could spend ten days walking across the beautiful island of Corfu, swimming in the turquoise Ionian Sea nearly every afternoon, then feasting on fresh Greek food by night, would that sound like heaven? For me, it absolutely was.
Just two days into the Corfu Trail, I’d already decided it was my favourite long-distance hike. To borrow from Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones: “To me, the Corfu Trail is perfect.”
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before you set out: what the Corfu Trail is, how long it takes, which direction to walk, the best time of year to go, and all the practical details about food, accommodation, and swimming spots.
What is the Corfu Trail?
The Corfu Trail is a long-distance hiking route that runs the length of the Greek island of Corfu. Created in the early 2000s, it links together old mule paths, coastal tracks, olive groves, mountain passes, and sleepy lanes.
It’s not just a walk from A to B – it’s a way of exploring the island on foot (our favourite kind of exploring) and experiencing the island deeply. You’ll see parts of Corfu that most tourists never reach: sleepy hamlets, quiet chapels, hidden beaches, and landscapes that shift from rolling olive groves to rugged mountains.
Who is the Corfu Trail for?
The Corfu Trail is ideal if you want a blend of adventure and holiday. It’s not as remote as mountain thru-hikes, nor as busy as the Camino. Instead, it gives you the freedom of long-distance walking with the pleasures of Greek island life: beaches, tavernas, sunshine, and swims.
If you’re reasonably fit, enjoy walking, and like the idea of combining hiking with relaxing afternoons, you’ll love it.
How long is the Corfu Trail
The official Corfu Trail is 180 km (111 miles) from Kavos in the south to Agios Spiridon in the north. If you add the extra coastal loop down to Kalami and Kentroma, the total distance is 193 km (120 miles).
How many days does it take to walk the Corfu Trail?
We walked the extended 120-mile route in 10 days. That pace felt comfortable – enough walking to earn a swim and a long taverna lunch, without feeling rushed.
- Fast walkers: You could cover it in 7 days if you’re very fit.
- Relaxed walkers: Stretching it to 11–12 days would give you even more afternoons free for the beach or exploring villages.
One thing to bear in mind is the heat. We usually started between 07:00–08:00 and stopped around 13:00, because by then it was simply too hot to continue. Our walking pace slowed to 3–4 km/h in the sun, compared with 5–6 km/h we’d usually manage in cooler conditions.
Where does the Corfu Trail start and end?
Start: The trail begins in Kavos, at the very southern tip of Corfu. The first signpost appears just outside town on the way to Cape Asprokavos.
End: The route finishes at Agios Spiridon Beach in the northeast. There’s no official marker, but the Chapel of Agios Spyridon makes a fitting endpoint – and that first swim at the finish is unforgettable.
But note, you can walk in either direction – see below!
In which direction should you watch the Corfu Trail?
You can walk south to north or north to south, the signage works both ways. But here’s why most people go south to north:
- The sun: Walking north means the sun is mostly at your back.
- The company: We met 10+ walkers going our way, but only crossed paths with two walking in reverse.
- The finale: The northern mountains are the toughest and most dramatic section. Finishing with them felt like a real crescendo.
Is the Corfu Trail difficult?
The Corfu Trail isn’t extreme, but it’s still a long-distance hike. Walking day after day, often in high heat, can be tiring.
- Easier sections: The southern and western coastal paths are gentler and suitable for most walkers.
- Harder sections: The final days, from Agios Georgios (north) through the Pantokrator mountains and into the national park, include steep ascents, descents, and rocky paths.
Overall, the trail is very accessible, but the combination of sun and daily mileage is what makes it challenging.
You can find a bit more about the challenging aspects of this walk and what to expect here – 21 things to know before you walk the Corfu Trail.
The trail is marked with yellow signs with a black CT logo and yellow paint blazes. However, signage can be patchy in places. We relied quite heavily on our All Trails app (hint – the paid for version is best, as you will often have patchy signal on the trail.)
WiFi and phone signal on route
We used Airalo SIM cards throughout our trip, but did find that there were sections on the trail without phone signal. This didn’t happen often, but it was patchy enough that we preferred to have a downloaded version of the trail map.
In the evening, we also discovered that a few of our hotels either had bad WiFi or none at all. If being connected is really important to you, contact the hotel in advance to find out about their WiFi facilities, or read reviews thoroughly.
What time of year to walk the Corfu Trail?
- Avoid: June, July, August – far too hot for safe hiking.
- Avoid: December–February – some accommodation closes, and mountain weather can be poor.
- Best months: March–May and September–October.
In spring you’ll find flowers, cooler weather, and quiet villages. In autumn, the sea is warmer for swimming – but it can still be scorching. We walked in mid-September and faced daily highs of 31°C, often feeling closer to 38°C.
Eating & Drinking on the Corfu Trail
BREAKFAST
Most villages had a bakery or café open early, so we could grab coffee and a pastry before setting off. Something that is super important to me!
ON ROUTE
It is rare on the Corfu Trail to be far from a taverna, cafe or small shop. Normally, each day you will pass through at least one village with amenities. For this reason, you don’t need to plan your refreshment stops too carefully.
That said, we always carried a few snacks – I’m a hungry person and the thought of “winging it” with no emergency stash fills me with dread.
WATER
Carry at least 2 litres per person per day, and refill whenever you can. Electrolytes are a great idea.
Note – you cannot drink the tap water in Corfu – prepare to drink a lot of bottled water.
EVENINGS
The joy of this trail is ending each day with hearty, affordable Greek food, grilled fish, saganaki, village salads, souvlaki. Taverns usually open all day, which is a blessing if hiker hunger hits at 16:00. Self-catering is also easy with apartments and small shops.
Where to stay on the Corfu Trail
On the Corfu Trail, it’s best to stay in either pensions or hotels along the way. There’s a lot of choice to suit different budgets and travel styles.
We’ve written a detailed guide about where to stay on the Corfu Trail here.
Can you swim every day on the Corfu Trail?
When we set out to plan this trip, I was adamant that I wanted to swim in the sea every day. And I did!
- From Kavos to Agios Georgios (north) you’ll find beaches daily, both along the stage routes and at your overnight stops.
- Days 8–9 cut inland through the mountains, so no swimming unless you add the coastal loop near Kalami (more on that in our daily stages guide.)
- The trail finishes at Agios Spiridon Beach, where the final dip is the perfect reward.
Packing for the Corfu Trail
Packing for a long distance hike is always something that I put a lot of thought into. And, the Corfu Trail was no different.
You can find my detailed packing list for the route here.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
British travel writer and long-distance hiker, native to Kent. Emma has walked the Camino de Santiago more than ten times, completed trails across Europe from the Corfu Trail to the Fisherman’s Trail, and covered thousands of kilometres on foot. She always writes from first-hand experience. Her goal? Inspire just one person to go on their first long-distance hike.
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