How I Planned a Trip to Corfu with My Grown-up Kids

Travelling with adult children can be a real joy, but finding a destination that works for everyone isn’t always easy. As a frequent traveler to Greece, the island of Corfu sprung to mind as somewhere that could offer a balance of both time together and space for independence.

During our stay near Kassiopi on the northeast coast of Corfu, we spent our days exploring local villages and beaches such as St Spyridon, wandering through the historic streets of Corfu Old Town, and enjoying relaxed evenings together overlooking the Ionian Sea.

In this guide, I’ll share why Corfu works so well for multi-generational travel, and give you ideas on where to stay, activities we enjoyed and some practical tips to help you plan your own fantastic holiday in Corfu.

Why Corfu works for Multi-Generational Travel?

Corfu has a wonderfully laid-back pace, making it easy to spend long days by the pool or on the beach without feeling the pressure to constantly sightsee. At the same time, there’s plenty to explore if different members of the family want to do their own thing for a few hours.

On this trip, we travelled as a group of four – myself and my three adult children. Their main requests were good food, a sandy beach and time to relax (they all have busy jobs!) Meanwhile, I wanted to be able to do a little exploring of the villages and Corfu Town.  We were able to do both!

Corfu has the advantage of having a variety of beaches within short driving distances. Some are great for sunbathing and relaxing and others offer opportunities for paddle boarding or for boat trips.

Food wise – well you’re in Greece and by the sea so for fresh fish, vegetables and salads you’re spoiled for choice. However, with a Venetian influence, Corfu can also offer fabulous Italian dishes of pasta and meats.

If you want some culture, Corfu Old Town is wonderful. It is a UNESCO listed site filled with narrow streets, delightful squares, fantastic cafes and historic buildings.

All of these combined to make Corfu a destination where we could each enjoy the holiday in our own way, while still sharing plenty of memorable moments together.

Getting to Corfu : Tips for a Smooth Family Arrival

In this section we cover flights, baggage and packing tips, transfers, car hire and distances. If you already have some of this sorted, just skip to the sections you need.

Flights to Corfu

From the UK, getting to Corfu is pretty straightforward. Direct flights operate from many regional airports with a flight time of around three hours to Corfu International Airport.

It’s a small airport but can get busy in peak times so allow a little time for queues at passport control and baggage reclaim.

Baggage and Packing Tips

Baggage fees vary quite a lot between airlines so check allowances carefully. If you can travel on hand luggage only, which we did, you’ll save a lot of money and time, especially if you are paying for everyone!!

Jet2 Airlines, allow a generous 10KG as cabin baggage plus a rucksack so no queuing for luggage needed either at check-in or on arrival!

In addition, we ordered toiletries including sunscreen from our UK departure airport. See our Tips on Packing Hand Baggage Only – 10KG allowance. 

Transfers from Corfu Airport

Arranging transfers in advance is really helpful especially when you are travelling in a group. Rather than having to negotiate taxis from the terminal, pre-booking keeps everyone together without unnecessary stress.

🔍 Click Here to Book Airport Transfers

Although airlines often offer options to add on a resort transfer, this is usually by coach with other tourists. You will have to wait for the last person to have collected their luggage before learning the terminal. You could also have a long journey if the bus is dropping people off at different spots along the way.

We always feel it is worth paying a little more and getting a direct transfer. If like us, you choose to stay in the northeast of the island, the drive to Kassiopi takes around an hour, depending on traffic.

The journey itself is a lovely introduction to the island, with glimpses of olive groves, hillside villages and the sparkling Ionian Sea appearing along the way.

If your group is bigger, check the link below to book a minibus or people carrier to seat up to 7 passengers.

🔍 Click Here to Book Transfers for Bigger Groups

Car Hire Options

For those planning to explore beyond their hotel or villa, hiring a car for at least part of the trip is also worth considering. Corfu’s coastline is dotted with beautiful coves and small villages, many of which are easiest to reach with your own transport.

Pick up the car from the airport or arrange for it to be delivered to your accommodation.

🔍 Click Here to Book your Rental Car

Having the car gives you much flexibility within your group. Choose to head out altogether on days out or not. My kids often just set off for their own day out when we hire a car – usually to go to an event. Or let them be your chauffeur! After all those driving lessons, it’s pay-back time!!

Corfu Airport to Main Resorts : Distances at a Glance

The island of Corfu is 40 miles long and 20 miles wide so it is relatively small. Although the winding coastal roads mean journeys can take longer than expected, the airport is conveniently situated in the middle of the island.

Most of the main resort areas are within 20 to 60 minutes from the airport. to help you plan, here is a guide to distances and journey times.

• Dassia – about 8 miles / 13 km (20–25 minutes)
• Ipsos – about 10 miles / 16 km (25–30 minutes)
• Paleokastritsa – about 15 miles / 24 km (35–40 minutes)
• Sidari – about 22 miles / 36 km (45–50 minutes)
• Kassiopi – about 23 miles / 37 km (50–60 minutes)
• Kavos – about 28 miles / 45 km (60–75 minutes)

Where to Stay in Corfu: Villas v All-Inclusive Resorts

One of the biggest decisions when planning our family holiday to Corfu was choosing the right type of accommodation in a good location. For us, and probably like most families, the choice often comes down to a private villa or an all-inclusive resort.

All inclusive Resort may be best if you want :

☐ Everything organised in one place – meals, drinks and activities included
☐ No need to plan restaurants or groceries
☐ On-site entertainment and facilities such as pools, gyms or shows
☐ Easy budgeting, with most costs paid upfront
☐ A beach within walking distance
☐ A week without much driving or planning excursions

A Villa May Be Best If You Prefer:

☐ More space and privacy for the whole family
☐ Your own private pool and outdoor living area
☐ Flexible meal times and the option to cook or eat out
☐ Exploring local tavernas and villages to suit your group
☐ Freedom to structure your days differently
☐ A more independent, local feel to the holiday

Our Choice of All-Inclusive

For this trip, we chose an all-inclusive resort option in a quieter part of the island. That first glimpse of your accommodation is always a bit nerve-racking.  You’ve read the reviews;  seen the images and hope it will live up to your expectations. 

The Mareblue BeachResort, a mid -range hotel in St Spyridon, turned out to be a great choice. It is a well-planned complex with 15 two-storey apartment blocks leading down to the main pool area.  As all-inclusive resorts go, it’s not huge and even in the peak season, when we went, it felt relaxed.

The adult-only pool was wonderful – quiet and chilled. Perfect to read that book you’ve been meaning to for ages; then cooling off with a quick dip when needed. 

Some days we did our own thing for part of the day and met up by the adult pool for cocktails late afternoon.

Food here was good and varied but like many all-inclusives, dining areas can be busy. Eat at quieter times if you are looking for a relaxed eating experience. I enjoyed early breakfast whereas the kids ate later!

Other accommodation is of course available from villas, self-catering and smaller hotels. Check our link below for options.

🔍 Click Here to View and Book other Accommodation

Activities Everyone Enjoyed around St Spyridon

St Spyridon is a quiet spot right in the northeast of Corfu.  If you’re looking for a promenade to walk along with lots of cafes, shops, and bars, you won’t find that here.

What you will find are two great beaches – both sandy.  One had amazing waves for body surfing (which my kids loved) and the other was a beautiful, gentle beach with incredibly soft sand. This one had a blue flag award. 

There are a couple of good tavernas if you do want to eat somewhere different, mini-markets, and even a small travel agent to book tours.

We enjoyed cocktails at the Pyramid Bar which had wonderful views over the Ionian Sea and out to Albania. For my sons, they took themselves off here to watch sports games! Next to this was a mini golf course here – always fun for friendly family rivalry!

Exploring the village of Kassiopi

10 minutes from St Spyridon, and also on the east coast, is the pretty fishing village of Kassiopi. Although Kassiopi is much bigger and livelier than St Spyridon, it has a relaxed vibe. The harbour is so picturesque and typically Greek with its waterfront cafes to enjoy for lunch, coffee or ice-cream.

From here, boat trips are popular to take you to hidden coves and beaches along the coastline. And if you’re a keen sailor, you can even rent your own private boat. Several booking agents are based in Kassiopi or book in advance in high season. 

🔍 Click Here to Book Boat Trip from Kassiopi

There are some lovely shops to browse in too selling local produce, clothes and handicrafts. Kids were happy to sit by the harbour and have a drink whilst I pottered around the shops.

Visit the Castle

Kassiopi is overlooked by the remains of a Byzantine castle. It’s a very short walk up to the castle from the street below.  Look out for the signpost on the main road.

The path (if you can call it that) however is very uneven so you will need to take care walking up. Wear sturdy shoes or walking sandals. 

I reached the castle entrance within 5 minutes.  Turn right or left from the entrance and take the circular walk around.

Whilst I was glad I made the effort to go up, aside from the view there isn’t a great deal to see but it’s a quick activity to do. 

I noticed several self-catering accommodation options and a couple of hotels so if you are looking to stay somewhere a bit livelier, then Kassiopi might suit you well.

🔍 Click Here to Book Kassiopi Accommodation

Beaches in and around Kassiopi

In terms of beaches at Kassiopi, there is not one directly in the village but there are several within a 10-minute walk. 

The first one we found was by strolling around the harbour veering far right and following a small pathway down to a beautiful cove.  It is pebbly so bring your beach shoes but the water was crystal clear and we spent a couple of hours there. There was no-one else there!

Back in the harbour, the main beach is 10 minutes the other way.  Follow the road around and you’ll arrive at Bataria Beach reached by a pleasant shaded footpath.

This pebble beach has bright turquoise water and is the busiest in the area. You can hire sunbeds and parasols here. 

It is a beautiful spot. However, I found it quite busy and was glad we had quieter beaches in St Spyridon. 

if you have a car, why not go beach hopping. There are several other smaller beaches close by, including Pipitos and Kanoni, as well as odd rocky platforms and a few romantic tavernas with a view. If you have a car, try Avlaki Beach which is wider with calm waters.

We really enjoyed our day out in Kassiopi and there was something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

How to Spend A Day in Corfu Town

If you are going to Corfu, a trip to the capital, Corfu Town, is a must. For a start, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. We decided to dedicate a full day to explore the town, arriving in the morning while the streets were still relatively peaceful.

Morning

Choose to wander on your own on (which we did) or if you’re keen to learn more about the history of Corfu and the historic, cultural and architectural footprints left by the Venetians, French and British, book a guided walking tour.

🔍 Click Here to Book Walking Tour

Wandering through the old narrow streets felt a little like stepping back in time, with pastel-coloured buildings, elegant Venetian architecture, small boutiques and cafés tucked into hidden corners.

Shops sell all sorts of souvenirs including beautiful hand-turned products made from olive tree wood.  

I loved walking along the famous Liston Promenade, which was inspired by the arcaded streets of Paris. This elegant row of cafés is the perfect place to sit with a coffee or a cool drink while watching the world go by.

At various points during the day we split up to browse different shops or wander down side streets, knowing it was easy to meet again later in one of the town’s open squares or by the water.

Old streets here are like labyrinths and each turn leads to something new. Don’t worry if you take a wrong turn, there is plenty of signage.

Lunch Time : Cafes and Tavernas in Corfu Town

Greek tavernas and cafes are abundant in the streets of the town.

I enjoyed a delicious salad with warm pitta bread and a perfect glass of crisp white wine at Averto Cafe.  The owner, Sarah, is English and arrived in Corfu in 1988, married a local and has lived here ever since.  

Afternoon : Fortress, Gardens and Beach in Corfu Town

After lunch, take a walk towards the impressive ‘Old Fortress’, which is separate from the rest of the city by a canal. The walking tour includes entrance to this but you can visit on your own. It costs €10.

There is a pretty church – Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Mandrakina a little further on and this leads onto the ‘People’s Garden’ which is really lovely. 

Afterwards walk through the park to reach the incredible pillared Museum of Asian Art and eventually Faliraki Bathing Beach.

Faliraki Beach

Faliraki Beach about 5 minutes from the centre is really lovely.  There isn’t a sandy area here but there is a swimming platform. The kids actually spent more time here than I did but when I arrived I dipped my feet in the refreshing water.

The cafe there served a selection of reasonably priced drinks and snacks. It is popular spot with the locals too.

So overall Corfu Town is a great day out. With the option of the water close by, shops, cafes, promenades, galleries, UNESCO streets and castles, everyone in the family will find something to enjoy here.

FAQs

Reflections on a Multi-Generational Holiday in Corfu

Our  holiday to Corfu with grown-up kids was a great success.  My three adult children in their 20s loved the island. As mum I got 10/10 for matching all the criteria. 

With beautiful relaxed beaches, pretty Kassiopi and historic Corfu Town,  Corfu is an ideal destination for multi-generational travel. Whether you’re travelling with teenagers, adult children, or extended family, the island offers a mix of activities and downtime that suits different interests and travel styles.

If you’re looking for other ideas for trips with older children, check out our Sri Lanka and Maldives itinerary, packed full of ideas and tips.