Why Corfu should be at the top of your must-travel list for 2027

Corfu has always been one of the more popular Greek islands thanks to its natural beauty and fascinating history. It has welcomed a long line of notable visitors and residents, from royalty (Prince Philip was born on the island in 1921), artists and writers to Hollywood A-listers and famous musicians. Only this summer, Madonna flew her family to the island for a week of celebrations to mark her 68th birthday.

But perhaps its most well-known residents were Gerald Durrell, the famed naturalist and author who spent his childhood in Corfu, inspiring his classic memoir My Family and Other Animals, and his brother, the novelist Lawrence Durrell, who lived in a seaside cottage known as The White House in Kalami (now a popular taverna with rooms), writing lyrical accounts of the island in Prospero’s Cell.

Those of you who watched The Durrells may be interested to know that you can privately rent the historic house that was used as the family home in the TV series through Ionian Estates. By sponsoring events such as the annual Corfu Literary Festival, the luxury villa company has kept the magic of the Durrell family and the island’s literary heritage alive.

Known as The Durrell House, it’s one of many houses and villas that Ionian Estates offers in Corfu and beyond (it has properties across the whole of Greece, the UK, Costa Rica and east Africa). On a recent family holiday, we stayed at Villa Kilifi, located on the private Kardaki Estate, a 40-acre plot near the village of Kassiopi. This north-east coast of Corfu is known for its green landscape, filled with cypress trees and olive groves, hidden coves, traditional fishing villages and clear blue waters. It’s an upmarket spot that attracts discerning visitors who want a bit of peace and tranquillity while never being too far from a great bar or restaurant.

It is sometimes referred to as the “Greek Monaco”, owing to the fact that several significant families have chosen to buy properties here. They include the Rothschilds, who own a sprawling private estate between Agios Stefanos and Kassiopi (they even bought the land opposite on the Albanian coast to protect their view).

When we arrived at our villa, our groceries were already there along with a welcome basket containing bread, olives, honey, chocolates, a jar of kumquats (a signature fruit of the island) and a bottle of local rosé wine. Our lovely concierge Elena was also at the property to give us the lowdown on the area, suggesting places to visit, the best beaches, local tavernas and supermarkets as well as independent delicatessens and bakeries in Kassiopi. What sets Ionian Estates apart is the personal service, attention to detail and a desire to curate the best experience, whether that be providing a private chef or organising a boat trip around the coast.

Our villa – contemporary in style – would sleep 10 people comfortably (there were seven of us), with three en suite bedrooms in the main house as well as two further garden suites, each with en suite shower rooms and private terraces. The high vaulted roof and floor-to-ceiling windows made it light and bright and its open-plan design, with a fully equipped kitchen, adjoining dining area and sitting room, provided a sociable place for the family to hang out (it would be perfect for a group of friends too).

The villa is surrounded by beautiful terraces planted with old olive trees that lead down to the infinity swimming pool. The views towards the pink-hued mountains of Albania just across the water are simply stunning and, while you might not get the dramatic sunsets of the other parts of the island, you do get to see some jaw-dropping sunrises if you are up early enough. There are plenty of seats and loungers outside where you can sit and relax with a book or a drink, as well as a large table for al fresco dining and a barbecue area.

Ionian Estates’ reputation and longstanding relationships with local restaurants meant we were usually given the best table in the house and well looked after. And there are no shortage of places to eat and drink. The closest taverna is Lasmari at the bottom of the hill, which offers a modern take on traditional Greek dishes. Elena organised the short transfer for us that is offered to guests by the restaurant.

A trip to Corfu isn’t complete without experiencing it from the sea, and one of the highlights of our visit was taking a boat (again, organised by Elena) to the charming fishing village of Agni – stopping off for a dip in the calm, shallow waters while taking in some of the pretty coves along the way. We stepped off the jetty at Taverna Agni for a delicious lunch of fresh fish, prawn saganaki, crispy courgettes, a selection of dips and a Greek salad, accompanied by Greek wine, naturally.

Heading back on the boat to our villa over crystal clear waters, I think of Lawrence Durrell, who described Corfu as “this brilliant little speck of an island in the Ionian”, with waters “like the heartbeat of the world itself”. 

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