With its romantic winding streets set against the backdrop of a network of canals, Venice has historically been one of the world’s top tourist destinations. And for good reason; it’s hard not to fall in love with the city’s charm.
In recent years, however, overtourism has put a strain on Venice, with overcrowding causing excessive congestion in a city whose infrastructure wasn’t made to support it when it was founded in the 5th century AD.
Enter: Corfu. This lush Greek island was conquered by the Venetians for more than 400 years, and still features many similarities, from its architecture to its culture and cuisine. Wander through the winding streets of Corfu Town and you'll find buildings fitted with ornate wrought-iron balconies painted in the same muted pastel tones of Venice.
Beyond Corfu’s picturesque city center lie hidden beaches, idyllic olive groves, and a rugged coastline, making it a more well-rounded vacation destination than visiting Venice alone.
Here’s why you should skip overcrowded Venice in favor of lesser-explored, yet still very charming Corfu.
In this article
- Venice and Corfu Share Many Similarities
- Corfu is Cheaper, Especially in Peak Season
- While Venice Experiences Heavy Tourism All Year, Corfu Only Peaks in Summer
- With So Many Greek Islands, Corfu is Often Overlooked by Tourists
- Venice's Draw is Tied to One City While Corfu has an Entire Island to Offer
- The Shortcut
Venice and Corfu Share Many Similarities
While set in two completely different countries (Venice is in Italy and Corfu is in Greece), both destinations feature Mediterranean climates and a shared history, as Corfu was under Venetian rule from the 15th through the early 19th centuries.
You can still see the Venetian influence in Corfu’s traditional cuisine, particularly in dishes like Bourdeto, a rich stew; Pastitsada, which is octopus, rabbit or beef prepared in a thick sauce and served with pasta; and Stifado, which is slow-braised meat.
Architecturally speaking, Corfu’s Old Town could pass for a neighborhood in Venice, minus the canals. Narrow streets filled with multi-story pastel-colored buildings give the town a distinctly Venetian feel, and the Greek dialect spoken on Corfu tends to include a number of Italian and Venetian words.
Corfu is Cheaper, Especially in Peak Season
Both Venice and Corfu experience their peak tourist season in the summer months when the weather is enjoyable and visitors descend in droves.
But Venice has a far more limited physical area than Corfu, which is an entire island. For reference, Venice is 32 square miles and Corfu is 229 square miles.
Hotel prices in Venice also tend to be two to three times more expensive than Corfu. Think $230-$440 USD per night during peak season in Venice versus $120-$240 USD per night during the same period in Corfu Town. Venice hotels also offer less value for your money in terms of space and luxury compared what you get on the island of Corfu, where everything feels less concentrated.
While Venice Experiences Heavy Tourism All Year, Corfu Only Peaks in Summer
While both destinations see a heavy summer tourist season, Venice is never lacking for visitors, with additional peaks during major holidays and events like Carnival in February and Christmas.
Corfu, on the other hand, is more seasonal, with some businesses shutting down for tourism from November to March.
But if you plan your visit to Corfu during late spring or early fall, you’ll hit the sweet spot when the weather is still pleasant but tourists haven’t yet arrived, and businesses aren’t closed for the off season.
In contrast, no matter when you visit Venice, you can expect hordes of tourists, and accompanying surge pricing to match.
With So Many Greek Islands, Corfu is Often Overlooked by Tourists
The Greek islands are a major draw for tourists, but most flock to the most popular options, such as Mykonos and Santorini. Even previously off-the-beaten-path islands like Crete, Naxos, and Paros are gaining in popularity.
As a resuly, Corfu often gets overlooked. That in itself is enough to mitigate the flow of tourists, offering a calmer alternative to other islands, or even European destinations like Barcelona and Rome, which can become packed during the summer months.
Venice's Draw is Tied to One City While Corfu has an Entire Island to Offer
While Venice is best suited for spending three or four days at most before moving on to the next destination, Corfu could easily occupy a week-long vacation or more.
Beyond Corfu Town, which alone is worth devoting a day or two, the island boasts pristine coastal beaches like Glyfada, Palaiokastritsa, and Barbati, all of which feature chic beach clubs and turquoise waters.
You can also drive along the coast and into the interior, where you’ll encounter sprawling olive groves with family-run olive mills and idyllic local Greek towns that beg to be wandered.
Additionally, the best way to get around Corfu is by renting a car, as distances outside of Corfu Town can be more than an hour’s drive away. This also makes it into more of an adventure, which quickly becomes so much more than just visiting one city.
The Shortcut
Corfu provides a comparable but less-crowded alternative to Venice, even during peak season.
The two destinations share many similarities, from culture and cuisine to weather and architecture.
Corfu has much to offer beyond its charming cityscape, which makes for a more well-rounded vacation than visiting Venice alone might.
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