For shopping hints and tips, as well as a rundown on some of the better known shops in Corfu, check out our Corfu Shopping Guide below. Take a break from shopping at one of the many Corfu restaurants, tavernas or cafes, located throughout Corfu. Our Greece shopping guide provides some general information on what to buy on a holiday in Greece.

Corfu Shopping Guide

Local Handicrafts

In the past, the centre of the old town was popular among craftsmen and artisans; here, a variety of goods were not only produced but also sold. Also replete with a variety of shops were the Jewish Quarter and the ‘Pinia'. Even today, these places are popular Corfu shopping spots that offer a multitude of goods and crafts.

The most attractive goods are those that come from the Corfiot countryside and are inspired by popular art. The gold and silver jewellery available in Corfu has Byzantine roots and the aesthetics draw inspiration from Ancient Greece, keeping alive a 5,000-year-old tradition. The jewellery is made by the local gold and silversmiths, and hence the designs are original and the items are available at reasonable prices. Another popular craft in Corfu is pottery, which has withstood the test of time.

You can find pottery workshops all over the island, particularly at Corfu Town, Milia, Korakiana and Sgombou. Also available in abundance are handcrafted olivewood products, which are typical to Corfu owing to the many olive trees that are grown on the island. An exciting range of handicrafts can be found in family run workshops all over Corfu.

Kumquat

Another item typical to Corfu is the kumquat fruit, which is sold as a preserve as well as a liqueur. Both items are easily available on the island. Kumquat is a Chinese fruit that has been cultivated in Corfu since the 1800s. In Greece, it can only be found in Corfu. The taste of the kumquat liqueur is distinctive and appealing; it is also serves as an ideal gift.

Souvenir Items

There are many options for shopping in Corfu. Several souvenir-gift shops offer unusual antique jewellery, plates, textiles, brass and icons. In fact, some of these shops offer a distinct selection of engravings and prints that portray different scenes from Corfu. The originals (which are taken from old books and magazines) can cost up to €150 ($195), while reproductions can cost as little as €10 ($13).

Apart from traditional antiquities that are available across the island, some shops offer contemporary Greek arts and crafts, including jewellery, decorative and ornamental items, ceramics and small sculptures. These are mostly made by well-known Greek artists and artisans. Corfu is replete with ceramics. In particular and of special note is the Pottery Workshop. Here, you can observe Sofoklis Ikonomides, the owner of the workshop, making and decorating all the pottery items that are for sale. There are both decorative and functional items available, which appeal to all tastes.

As mentioned before, Corfu has many souvenirs that are available and can be purchased. Each item ensures that you can take home a memento of your Ionian stay with you. Some of the most popular souvenir items in Corfu are the local honey, leather goods and the island's very own olive oil. Kythira offers the best deals for local honey, while Paxi is the ideal destination for those seeking olive oil. Several shops in and around both Paxi and Corfu Town are popular for their Corfu handcrafts, many of which are often carved in extraordinary detail and made from olivewood. These items include toys, ornaments and beautiful salad bowls.