Getting Married in Corfu
A Venetian old town, olive groves and a British past on the Ionian coast. Corfu has the closest tie to the British market of any Greek island. It was a British protectorate from 1815 to 1864, and traces remain: the cricket pitch on the Esplanade, the ginger beer tradition and Georgian and Regency buildings beside the Venetian old town. The old town is UNESCO listed and counts among the most complete examples of Venetian colonial architecture outside Venice.
A Venetian old town, olive groves and a British past on the Ionian coast
The island is among the greenest in Greece. More rain than the Cyclades gives dense olive groves, cypress trees and wildflower meadows. The northeast coast around Nissaki and Kalami, where Lawrence Durrell lived, drops from olive hills to clear Ionian water. The northwest around Paleokastritsa has the sea cliffs, and the south is flatter.
The case for Corfu is access and variety. Direct flights serve it from almost every UK airport, and an established UK-facing hospitality culture makes it practical for guests.
Where to Get Married in Corfu
Corfu Old Town
The UNESCO-listed Venetian old town, with two Venetian fortresses and the Liston arcade, modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. A few private palazzi and mansions can be hired exclusively.
Northeast coast (Nissaki and Kalami)
Olive and cypress hills descend to coves. Kalami, where Durrell wrote Prospero's Cell, is a small bay. Villas and estates combine sea views, privacy and olive groves.
Paleokastritsa and the northwest
A Byzantine monastery on a headland above six connected coves. Venues are remote and need careful guest logistics.
South Corfu and Benitses
The flatter south, with the Mesogeia plain and the resort coast around Benitses. It holds most larger estates and hotels, suits weddings that put ease first, and lies closer to the airport.
When to marry, and what to arrange
The season
When to Get Married
Corfu has more rain than the Cyclades, and the season runs firmly from May to October. May and June give the best landscape, with green groves and wildflowers. September and October suit planners who want the summer crowds gone and the sea still warm, and the olive harvest in November gives the late season an agricultural character. High summer is less punishing than in the Cyclades.
Recommended wedding months
May to June and September to October
Peak season is July and August, and the shoulder months are April and October.
Settings, travel and stays
Choosing a Setting
Olive grove estate. The most specific Corfu format: an estate in ancient olive groves, with a stone or rendered villa and old trees as the ceremony setting. Several can be hired exclusively and offer rooms in the main house and cottages.
Venetian or British colonial villa. Villas combining a 19th-century neoclassical exterior with restored interiors and garden terraces over the sea. Most stand on the northeast coast and are reached through specialist agencies or local families.
Old Town palazzi. A small number of private properties inside the UNESCO old town can be hired for exclusive events, placing the wedding in the Venetian townscape.
Getting There
Corfu Airport has direct routes from most UK airports from May to October. Aircraft pass low over the beach road on approach because of the short runway. Northeast coast venues are a longer drive than those in the south.
Corfu (CFU). Direct routes from the major UK airports in season. The short runway limits aircraft types, though scheduled services use suitable ones.
Athens Venizelos (ATH). The year-round hub, with domestic flights on to Corfu, suiting intercontinental guests.
Preveza-Lefkada (PVK). A small mainland airport with limited UK links, used occasionally by guests combining Corfu with the mainland or Lefkada.
Where Guests Stay
Accommodation runs from grand historic hotels to smaller villas, and the Old Town and the north are the most popular bases.
Corfu Old Town. Staying in or beside the old town gives access to the Liston arcade, the esplanade and the Campiello lanes.
Kanoni and Gastouri. The peninsula south of the town holds the Achilleion Palace, built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria and now a museum and event venue, with upscale hotels nearby.
Paleokastritsa. Framed by limestone cliffs and coves, with fewer hotels. It suits couples who want scenery over convenience.
North coast: Nissaki and Kassiopi. Villa rentals with views to the Albanian mountains, quiet and private, suiting buyout weddings with a full house party.
Good to know
Food and Drink
Corfiot cooking differs from the mainland, shaped by centuries of Venetian rule and by Italian, French and British influences.
Sofrito. Thin slices of veal cooked slowly in white wine, garlic and parsley, regarded as the signature dish of the island.
Bourdeto. A fish stew of scorpionfish or other local white fish in tomato and hot paprika, spicier than most Greek fish dishes, a legacy of the Venetian spice trade.
Pastitsada. Cockerel or veal braised in tomato and spices and served over thick pasta, a Sunday dish with Italian roots.
Good to Know
Getting there. Direct flights from several UK airports run through the summer, typically April to October. The airport lies just south of Corfu Town.
Venetian architecture and Old Town. The Old Town is a World Heritage site. The Liston arcade, the fortresses and the Campiello lanes make it a photogenic wedding setting.
Wedding documentation. Corfu Town Hall handles civil ceremony registrations. The paperwork needs preparing well ahead, so the municipality or a local planner should be consulted early.
Climate and season. The season runs from May to October, with July and August hottest and driest. Late May and September bring pleasant temperatures and smaller crowds.
Marrying legally and entry rules
The legal requirements for marrying here, and who needs a visa, are being checked and are not published yet. Confirm both with the official authority that will marry you before you book.
Planners, photographers, florists and musicians who work in Corfu
Belli MomentiMitheo EventsSTYLE CONCEPT Event SolutionsFind Corfu wedding professionals
Why does Corfu suit UK couples?
The island was a British protectorate for 50 years, which gives it a familiarity for UK guests. Flight links are strong, and English-speaking suppliers are widely available.
What sets an olive grove estate apart?
Ancient olive trees give shade, dappled light and the sound of cicadas. Groves are dense and cool in a way open terraces and clifftop villas are not.
Where did Lawrence Durrell live on Corfu?
In the White House in Kalami Bay, from 1937 to 1939, where he wrote Prospero's Cell. It is available as a holiday rental, and the bay forms part of the backdrop for weddings nearby.
When is the best time of year for a Corfu wedding?
June brings the fullest green and wildflowers. September gives warm weather, the warmest sea and fewer people. October is workable.
Can the UNESCO old town of Corfu be used for a wedding?
Yes, with planning. Ceremonies in the lanes or squares need permits and a specialist local planner, and catering and arrivals need specific arrangements because most of the old town is pedestrian only.
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How We Compiled This Guide
This guide draws on the venues' own published details, official sources and the knowledge of our editors. Entry and legal information can change, so confirm it with the authority that will marry you before you book.