Old Fortress and Corfu Old Town: History and culture
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
The Old Town of Corfu with its two Forts is a Unesco World Heritage Monument under criterion iv. Its architecture in relation to defence make it a unique example with a distinct contribution to human history.Imposing bastions, battlements, labyrinthine secret chambers, cisterns, shelters and powder magazines.
Come with us through the Liston square and visit the imposing Orthodox church of St. Spyridon where his venerable relic is kept.
See the shell of the first lyric theatre in Greece, which today houses the services of the Municipality of Corfu and join us on a walk through the Jewish quarter. Here the traces of the World War II can still be seen. Half-demolished buildings are still waiting for their owners to return from the concentration camps, while around the neighbourhood the district is bustling with life and activity.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What To Expect
Old Fortress Corfu
We will enter the impressive Old Fortress of Corfu as we are walking around you will be amazed by the advanced fortification art that the Venetians applied in order to repel the fierce Ottoman attacks.
Corfu Old Town
As we are exiting the impressive Old Fortress, we will continue our tour by travelling you through history to most important monuments of Corfu.
Options
Old Fortress and Corfu Old Town: History and culture
What‘s Included
English speaking tourist guide
Entrance fee of the Old Fortress
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Don’t do this
Tricia S,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00It was so long with nothing hutbhistorical facts . Great your a history buff but we wanted to know what we were seeing not a history lesson with dates all over the place . And no tour of the fortress…. She k we nothing to share with us You can totally walk this town on your own and enjoy it. Here is the gist: it’s Venetian influence so it looks a lot like Venice . Saved you a bundle!
To understand the history of Corfu, it is a must.
P5277DLmichaelr,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Located directly at the only affordable municipal parking lot, you can enter the fortress for €10 per person. Very important, sturdy footwear with tread is required if you want to go to the lighthouse. Two old cannons greet you right at the gate of the fortress. In the forecourt, there are the first impressions from the active period, but it is somewhat lacking. Only after climbing the stairs to the fortress plateau do you get a proper impression of the fortress. A huge mortar from the time facing the harbor, cannons are scattered around the area, all in top condition. From there, you walk past the prison, then past the bell tower, up to the old garrison building, the command center. The area there is closed due to structural instability. Now, there are some concrete steps leading up towards the lighthouse, until shortly after, the path consists of small upright stones as is common throughout Greece. Separated by a metal railing, the reason only becomes clear when descending, it continues laboriously upward. Finally arrived at the top, a magnificent view awaits in almost all directions, only limited by the lighthouse building. The descent is somewhat laborious and requires utmost concentration; the stones are mirror-smooth, you constantly slip, and keeping a hand on the railing and taking small steps is necessary until you reach the concrete steps. Otherwise, there is a small one-man lookout tower, hidden behind the house on the way to the bell tower, a small self-service bistro is located directly on the plateau with the cannons, and there is also a room in the gate passage with old original fragments; opposite is the souvenir shop. The restrooms are also located nearby.
A great tour to see the highlights of Corfu town
davidtinmiami,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic tour of the best of the old town and historic areas of Corfu including all the major sites. Our guide, Maria, was delightful, extremely knowledgeable, and tailored the tour to our interests. She is a local, and was able to add so much. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and made the best use of our time there with this outstanding tour.
Wonderful Guide
chrisdebbieb,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Angela was a great guide thru the streets of Corfu and the Old Fortress. Knowledgeable and stopped in the shad wherever possible. And she left us with wonderful recommendations for a meal which proved to be excellent!!
Great Day in Corfu with Angela
mrschiefopd,May 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I recently toured the Old Fortress and Corfu Old Town with Angela as our guide. We chose the private tour which allowed us to hear the guide and adjust the tour to our needs. It was only a little more for the private tour and we were very glad to have chosen this option. We met Angela outside the Old Fortress about an hour after the cruise ship docked. (Taxi ride was a flat 20 euros from the port. Cheaper than an Uber. Another option is to walk from the pier to the meeting point is a 45 minute walk. City bus also takes 45 minutes.) Angela began with a brief history of the different dynasties that ruled Corfu during the time. We then explored the Fortress with her for a little over an hour. Her commentary was interesting and enlightening. She always made sure we understood and answered any questions we had. After touring the fort, we continued on to explore the Old Town. Angela's route was excellent. We saw things and learned about their importance that we never would have on our own. She also gave us recommendations on where to eat and shop after the tour. The way this tour is structured, we started at the Fortress which is farthest away. We ended up in Old Town which was a 15-20 minute walk back to the cruise ship. The three hours was perfect for us. We enjoyed spending the afternoon with Angela and recommend her as a guide while in Corfu.
lovely Town
Colleen P,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00the tour it was wonderful! we love to walk and this tour had lots of walking! the historical sites in old town were the highlights for us!
All right.
davido871,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It's a very nice visit. It takes an hour to visit Corfu Fort. After the city center, for two hours of sightseeing. However, in summer, the city streets are still filled with tourists. There are also many shops. You get lost in those little streets in the city.
Lovely
Rebecca R,Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The old town of Corfu was wonderful but a maze. Good to have a guide to learn about all the key sites. Our guide was wonderful
Amazing Tour!
Jade H,Aug 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was exactly what we were looking for and an overall excellent experience. I can highly recommend this tour because it appeals to both those with a casual interest in history, architecture and culture, and those who wish to dive deeper into the rich history and culture of Corfu. Our tour guide, Magda, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and also very friendly and considerate. Throughout the tour, she explained what we were looking at but also regularly invited questions. She was gauging our areas of interest from the questions we were asking and used her expert knowledge to delve deeper into those areas as we progressed. Another thing that really stood out was the fact that Magda had clearly paid attention to the notes on the booking. I have a medical condition which requires regular access to restroom facilities, and she ensured at various stages throughout the tour that I was aware of where the nearest facilities were and gave prior warning of periods away from restroom facilities. This extended to reassuring us and pointing out where we could access these facilities after the tour. In summary, the tour offered an ideal balance of insight, flexibility, and personal care. Magda’s professionalism, depth of knowledge, and genuine consideration for her guests made this an outstanding experience that we would gladly recommend to anyone visiting Corfu.
What a great tour in Corfu town with old fort!
W9094QTclaudias,Jun 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Konstantina was a great guide, very personable, emphatic and professionally top. We had a great time and learned so much about Corfu city. We can recommend you more sls!
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