Corfu Entertainment

When the sun sets over the island of Corfu, holidaymakers of every age and background begin looking for something to occupy the evening hours. While it’s probably fair to say that entertainment here is geared largely towards the 18 to 30 crowd, there are family-orientated options available as well as venues catering for those preferring a slightly more sedate scene. Movie theatres are on hand for parents who want to keep their children busy in the evening, while scenic candlelit restaurants are perfect for those looking for a quiet evening meal and a few glasses of wine.

Nightlife

Corfu is something of a party island and it attracts large numbers of European revellers during its main tourist season. If you like staying up all night, drinking and dancing, then you’ll find plenty of opportunities in Kerkyra and also at many of the island’s other popular resorts.

As the island’s capital city, Kerkyra is probably the hottest spot when it comes to nightlife, offering the widest selection of after-dark entertainment venues. Here, you’ll find plenty of bars geared towards tourists, many with European themes such as Irish or German. If you prefer something a little more traditional however, there are also Greek tavernas where you can raise a glass of ouzo and shout ‘yamas’, which means ‘cheers’, with the locals.

If you are seeking nightclubs that stay open until dawn then you’re best venturing out of the city to resorts such as Kavos, Roda, Ypsos, Gouvia and Dassia, where you’ll find venues that rarely get going before midnight and that remain open until the last punters leave.

Theatre and music

There are no traditional theatre venues in Corfu; however, visitors will find that some reputable hotels and apartment complexes are home to their own auditoriums that offer live entertainment in the evenings. Additionally, if you check the blackboards outside local bars, you’ll invariably find several with musical acts billed for the evening. Depending on the venue, these might be local Greek singers or expat performers.

Festivals

There are a number of annual summer festivals that are unique to the island, with highlights including:

• The Anniversary of the Union is an annual event in which the island’s residents gather in Kerkyra to celebrate the joining of Corfu to mainland Greece in 1864 (May).
• The August Cultural Events festival runs the entire month of August in the village of Ano Korakiana and sees a varied programme of cultural events and celebrations (August).
• The Festival of Garouna and Ano Gerakiana is a three-day affair, held in the villages of Ano Gerakiana and Kato Garouna, and it sees cultural events and performances along with general festivities (August).
• The Festival of Corfu takes place in Kerkyra and includes concerts from the philharmonic orchestra and other musical acts plus various theatrical performances. This is one of the island’s most important annual events (September).