What to Wear in Corfu: Grippy Shoes for Porto Timoni, Water Shoes and Old Town Chic

Corfu has a refined, Italianate urban elegance in its Old Town paired with wild, rocky coastal trails on its north-western capes. Packing the right footwear and a few smart accessories will make moving from a morning hike at Porto Timoni to an evening aperitivo on the Liston seamless.

Four Practical Packing Rules for Corfu

1. Closed-Toe Trainers with Real Rubber Grip (Mandatory for Porto Timoni, Old Fortress & Angelokastro): the 25-minute footpath descending from Afionas village to Porto Timoni Twin Beach, as well as the stone ramps climbing up to 305m Angelokastro Castle and the summit of the Old Venetian Fortress, consists of uneven, loose limestone rock and smooth-worn stone steps. Never hike down to Porto Timoni in flip-flops or plastic beach slides; wear proper trainers.
2. Packable Swim / Water Shoes + A Snorkel Mask (For Paleokastritsa, Bataria & Kerasia): while Glyfada, Issos and Agios Georgios are pure fine sand, Corfu's most famous emerald-and-turquoise bays, including Paleokastritsa, Porto Timoni, Kassiopi's Bataria Cove, Kalami, Kerasia and Antipaxos, are lined with smooth white pebbles and underwater rocks. A pair of mesh water shoes and a snorkel mask let you walk in and out of the water and explore sea caves in complete comfort.

3. Flat Leather Sandals or Wedge Espadrilles for Old Town Evenings: the cream-and-pink limestone flagstones paving the Liston and the Campiello alleys have been polished to a mirror-like gloss over 400 years; flat leather sandals or rubber-soled loafers give you traction while matching the smart-casual Italianate evening dress of Corfu Town.
4. A Modest Wrap for Monasteries + Mosquito Repellent for Olive Groves: keep a light cotton scarf/sarong in your daypack to cover shoulders and knees at St Spyridon Church and Paleokastritsa Monastery; and because Corfu is covered in four million shady olive and cypress trees, pack a small roll-on insect repellent for dining on garden terraces at dusk. Check seasonal weather before flying.