LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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CORFU OR SICILY: WHICH MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

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If you’ve ever found yourself staring at flight searches or holiday deals wondering whether to book a trip to Corfu or Sicily, you’re not alone. They’re both Mediterranean, both steeped in history, both drenched in sunlight… and yet they couldn’t feel more different once your feet are actually on the ground.

Of course, it follows that they would and should be different. One is a Greek island, the other Italian. The food, culture, language and geography are all distinct.

I’ve spent long stretches on both beautiful islands. I’ll give you the short version first: you should absolutely visit both at least once in your life.

The longer version, though, is a bit more nuanced. And if you really do have to choose, here’s how to decide.

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Corfu: what to expect

Corfu is a small island – it’s cohesive, but with lots of delightful little contrasts. One minute you’re in Corfu Town, vibrant and full of historic architecture. The next you’re staring at a bay so devastatingly blue that it looks like someone turned the colour setting up.

If I had to pinpoint one thing that I absolutely love about Greek islands – it’s the pace and simplicity. You never feel rushed, there’s a softness to the atmosphere that can encourage you to slow down. The routine of staying on a Greek island is a simple one too – a long frappe, a swim in the sea, some easy exploration and then a drawn out supper at a taverna.

Where to Stay on Corfu

Corfu Town is the most practical base if you plan to explore the island without a car. It’s lively without being chaotic and it’s the easiest spot to take buses or tours.

If you want sand and space, the west coast resorts like Agios Georgios Pagon or Kontogialos are ideal. Families love Kassiopi in the northeast, harbourfront restaurants, calm waters, and late dinners that quietly turn into memories. Personally, it was a little on the touristy side for us, but we loved the small bay of Kalami on the same coast.

And don’t overlook the smaller inland villages: places like Pelekas or Pagoi.

You can find our detailed guide to where to stay in Corfu here.

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Sicily: what to expect

Sicily, by contrast, doesn’t do things by halves. In cities, it can be noisy, chaotic and wild. But there’s also quiet beauty to be found in hilltop villages and coastal corners. And the history? It oozes from Sicily’s pores.

It’s Europe’s largest island, so with that, you can expect immense diversity. There’s so much to see and do, that even a month on the island won’t allow you to see it all.

You can spend three days in Palermo and barely scratch the surface. When it comes to visiting Sicily, it’s about choosing a region, or a small slither. Popular itineraries are often divided into either the east or west, but there’s plenty of ways to do it.

Where to Stay in Sicily

Sicily is vast and each city and regional area is a contrast. Before deciding where to stay, you’ll need to decide which airport to fly into – Palermo to the north west, or Catania to the east.

You can find a detailed comparison of the two cities here.

In short, Palermo is all about food, friendly chaos, fish markets and food stalls, punctuated by loud Sicilian conversation, strong coffee and music.

Catania has a slightly different energy, but it is of course still recognisably Sicilian. It feels vibrant, more of a student city. Many choose to avoid Catania, but we found it to be our favourite city of the two. Less full of tourists, which gave it more of an undiscovered feel.

Popular coastal towns like Syracuse and Ortigia or Taormina present fantastic options for bases on the east coast.

The quieter baroque towns – Ragusa, Noto, Modica – are where Sicily slows down. And this is where we really fell in love with the island. These places are ideal for good eating and even better wandering.

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Corfu or Sicily for beaches

If beaches are part of your decision, this is where the islands diverge completely.

Corfu’s Beaches

If each island was thought to have a “USP” or unique selling point – Corfu’s would undoubtedly be the beaches and coves.

The northeast coast, Kalami, Agni, Kassiopi , has pebbled beaches and protected water that makes you understand why people keep coming back.

Agios Georgios Pagon is the west-coast dream: long golden sand, big blue water, nothing pretentious.

Kontogialos is wide, sandy, and sun-drenched – loungers, beach bars, a long shallow shore perfect for lazy swims. And above it sits Pelekas, with its coffee terraces and Kaiser’s Throne viewpoint overlooking orange-glowing skies.

In truth, there are too many insanely gorgeous b bays in Corfu to even mention. With a car or scooter, you could find a stretch of coast to call your very own for the day. Even the “busy” beaches on Corfu don’t feel hectic.

Sicily’s Beaches

Much like Sicily as an island, the beaches are diverse.

In summer months, things can get quite hectic. But there are some quieter stretches of sand to be found.

Cefalù gives you medieval streets backing straight into the water – it’s atmospheric, but it is also extremely popular.

In the north west, San Vito Lo Capo is bright white and Caribbean-looking, widely thought of as one of the best beaches in Sicily. To the south, Pozzallo is a large sweeping beach that rarely feels crowded.

There are the popular sandy beaches like Mondello, close to Palermo. And then the beaches, that are just merely a slip of sea and a rock to sit on. As well as unusual beaches like Scala dei Turchi – a white limestone staircase near Agrigento.

One thing to keep in mind when visiting beaches in Sicily, is that many of them have private lidos on the beach. These are areas with sun loungers and beds, where it costs to enter. In comparison with Corfu, where two beds might cost you €10, you can expect to pay more in Sicily.

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How You’ll Get Around

Corfu is simple. You can base yourself in Corfu Town and use buses to reach most major destinations, or grab a rental car and have total freedom without needing to master any particularly tricky driving skills. Scooters are perfectly fine for coastal hopping over short distances.

With a week in Corfu, it would be possible to explore much of the island, if you wanted to.

Sicily requires a bit more planning if you want to explore. Trains work well in some areas along the north coast, but not so well in other areas. Buses are also an option, but timetables can be tricky to decipher. Local knowledge is always best.

Personally, we chose not to drive in Sicily, but hiring a car is popular. Just be sure to research driving rules first.

And – do keep in mind, the scale of Sicily means you have to select an area to explore – you’re certainly not going to see the whole thing in a week or two.

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Corfu or Sicily for food

It’s basically impossible to say whether Corfiot or Sicilian food is better and I wouldn’t dare to wade in one way or another!

Both islands have distinctive cuisine, with variations on classic Greek and Italian dishes – plus their very own island specialities.

In Corfu, expect beachside tavernas and cosy restaurants high up in the hills. Whilst there are some unique Corfiot meat dishes – Pastitsada and Softito for example. You can also get typical Greek fare like Moussaka, Souvlaki and plenty of salads and lovely vegetable dishes.

Seafood is naturally found on most menus along the coast too. And we were never without a carafe of wine on the table.

Prices are very reasonable – we often ate out for 40-50 euros for two. But if you’d like to spend a bit more, fine dining restaurants are also easy to come by in the fancier resorts and Corfu Town.

I feel like Sicily’s food scene needs little introduction.

You will have no doubt heard of the classics – Arancini, deep fried and oozing with hot fillings. Pasta all Norma is also a speciality – rich aubergine and ricotta. Cannolis will satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth. Speaking of, expect to find pistachio filling everywhere you go.

But food doesn’t have to be quite so heavy. Sicilian pizzas are deliciously light and seafood is often available. As are fresh and delightful salad and vegetable dishes.

Whenever I’m in Italy, my main food thrills come from browsing the markets. Sicily is no different. Ripe peaches, plump tomatoes the colour of rubys and fresh produce – it’s the ingredients that make the cuisine so special.

I won’t lie, I gained a fair few kgs after a month in Sicily, but I don’t regret one tempting moment!

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So… Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Corfu if you want:

• turquoise bays and sun-soaked days
• tavernas that feel nostalgic and simple
• relaxed towns, beautiful villages, west-coast sunsets
• a full experience in a single week without stress
• easy and simple beach days

Choose Sicily if you want:

• dramatic landscapes and vast diversity
• world-beating food and uniquely Sicilian culture
• ancient cities and volcanic skylines
• a trip that feels like a once in a lifetime

Visit both if you can – just make it a question of when!

Find out more

We have detailed guides on both Corfu and Sicily – find them below.

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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