Museums & Galleries in Corfu: Insider’s Guide to the Island’s Cultural Treasures

Vacation is not only about sunny beaches and long walks. After all, Corfu has a lot more to offer. The island is bursting with museums and galleries that bring history, art, and daily life into vivid focus.

Don’t Miss Out On

• Archaeological Museum of Corfu – Corfu Town
• Museum of Asian Art – Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, Corfu Town
• Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa – Church of the Virgin Antivouniotissa, Corfu Town
• Municipal Gallery of Corfu – Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, Corfu Town
• Banknote Museum of the Ionian Bank – Heroes of the Polytechnic Street, Corfu Town
• Solomos Museum – Former residence of Dionysios Solomos, Corfu Town
• Serbian Museum of Corfu – Moustoxidi Street, Corfu Town
• Kapodistrias Museum – Evropouli (just outside Corfu Town)
• Folklore Museum of Sinarades – Sinarades village
• Museum of Palaiopolis – Mon Repos – Mon Repos Estate, Corfu Town area
• Casa Parlante – Corfu Town
• Museum of the Philharmonic Society of Corfu – Corfu Town (Philharmonic building, founded 1840)
• V Museum Corfu – Corfu Town

Archaeological Museum of Corfu

The Archaeological Museum is one of the most important on the island. After a long renovation that modernized its exhibition halls, it reopened with a fresher look and updated displays. The highlight remains the Gorgon pediment from the Temple of Artemis (c. 590 BC), considered the oldest stone pediment in Greece. Other notable exhibits include classical statues, funerary stelae, and items from the ancient city of Corcyra. Locals often recommend visiting in the morning, when the museum is quieter and the details of the sculptures can be appreciated without distraction.

Museum of Asian Art

Unique in Greece, the Museum of Asian Art is housed in the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, a neoclassical building from the British period. Corfu Museum of Asian Art was founded in 1928 as the Museum of Sino-Japanese Art. The collection began with donations from diplomat Gregorios Manos and has grown to include over 15,000 items. Visitors will find Chinese porcelain, Japanese woodblock prints, Indian sculptures, Tibetan ritual objects, and rare samurai armor. The elegant palace setting, combined with the rarity of the collection, makes this museum one of Corfu’s cultural jewels. Many locals still recall attending school trips here, where the samurai exhibits left an unforgettable impression.

Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa

For lovers of religious art, the Byzantine Museum, located inside the Church of the Virgin Antivouniotissa, is unmissable. This 15th-century church, one of the oldest preserved in Corfu, has been transformed into a museum dedicated to icons and ecclesiastical art. Inside, one can admire works from the Cretan School and the Heptanese School, showcasing how Byzantine traditions blended with Western influences. Because the museum preserves its original church atmosphere, walking inside feels less like a gallery visit and more like entering a spiritual time capsule.

Municipal Gallery of Corfu

The Municipal Gallery, also housed in the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, highlights the artistic achievements of the Ionian Islands. It presents paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Haralambos Pachis, Angelos Giallinas, and Nikolaos Ventouras. These artists formed part of the Ionian School, which combined Greek themes with European artistic techniques. Seasonal exhibitions ensure that even repeat visitors discover something new, while the palace architecture itself deserves admiration.

Banknote Museum of the Ionian Bank

Located in a historic neoclassical building on Heroes of the Polytechnic Street, the Banknote Museum offers something unexpected: a complete collection of Greek banknotes from 1822 to the introduction of the euro in 2002. Exhibits show how currency reflects history, politics, and art. Visitors can admire engravings, printing plates, and rare issues. The staff here often share fascinating anecdotes – for example, how banknotes were once deliberately made larger to discourage counterfeiting. It is considered one of the most comprehensive museums of its kind worldwide.

Solomos Museum

Dedicated to Dionysios Solomos, the national poet of Greece and author of the “Hymn to Liberty,” the Solomos Museum is housed in his former residence in Corfu Town. The museum preserves manuscripts, personal belongings, and memorabilia related to Solomos and other Heptanese poets. Walking through its rooms, one gains a sense of the literary circles that flourished in Corfu during the 19th century, when the island was a hub for Greek intellectuals seeking freedom and inspiration.

Serbian Museum of Corfu

This lesser-known museum tells the moving story of the Serbian army’s retreat during World War I. Located in a neoclassical building on Moustoxidi Street, the museum displays uniforms, weapons, photographs, and documents. For Serbians, a visit here is often deeply emotional, as Corfu was a place of refuge and survival. For other visitors, it offers an unexpected perspective on European history and the island’s role within it.

Kapodistrias Museum or Capodistrias Museum

A short drive outside Corfu Town in the area of Evropouli is the Kapodistrias Museum, dedicated to Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of modern Greece and a native of Corfu. The museum is located in his family’s countryside estate and showcases personal objects, letters, and portraits. Surrounded by lush gardens, it offers both historical insight and a peaceful retreat. Locals recommend combining a visit here with a stop at a nearby traditional café for a slice of Corfiot orange pie.

Folk and Traditional Culture Exhibits

In addition to the major museums, smaller cultural collections can be found throughout the island. The Folklore Museum in Sinarades village displays everyday tools, costumes, and furniture from Corfiot rural life, while private initiatives host exhibitions of traditional crafts and music. During summer, village festivals often feature open-air displays of embroidery, olive-wood carving, and folk dances – living traditions that you can experience directly.

Museum of Palaiopolis – Mon Repos

The Museum of Palaiopolis is housed within the Mon Repos estate, a neoclassical villa built during the British rule of Corfu. It showcases artifacts from excavations in the surrounding area of ancient Corcyra, including statues, pottery, and inscriptions. Visitors can also explore exhibits connected to the British period and the villa’s history as the birthplace of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The museum is set in lush gardens overlooking the Ionian Sea, making it both a cultural and scenic destination.

Casa Parlante

Casa Parlante is a unique museum located in a restored 19th-century Corfiot mansion. It recreates the atmosphere of aristocratic life using animatronic figures, period furnishings, and even scents and sounds of daily activities. Visitors can step into the dining room, study, and bedrooms to see how a noble family lived, worked, and entertained guests. This immersive experience makes history come alive in an engaging and memorable way.

Museum of the Philharmonic Society of Corfu

The Museum of the Philharmonic Society highlights Corfu’s deep musical tradition, housed within the island’s first Philharmonic building founded in 1840. It displays a collection of musical instruments, archival documents, portraits, and scores that trace the evolution of local music culture. The exhibits emphasize the importance of music in Corfiot society, where bands often played a central role in festivals and parades. For music enthusiasts, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the island’s artistic heartbeat.

V Museum Corfu

The V Museum Corfu is a modern, interactive space that uses advanced technology to tell the story of the island. Through holograms, 3D projections, and immersive exhibits, visitors can explore Corfu’s history from mythology to contemporary times. It blends education and entertainment, making it especially appealing to younger audiences and families. By merging digital innovation with cultural heritage, the museum offers a fresh perspective on the island’s past.

Discounts and Reduced Admission

Several museums and galleries in Corfu offer reduced admission fees for specific groups, including students, seniors, children, and large families. Additionally, on certain days of the year, such as International Museum Day (18 May) or designated free-admission days set by the Greek Ministry of Culture, visitors can explore many cultural sites without charge. This makes Corfu’s museums more accessible while encouraging wider participation in the island’s cultural heritage.

A Living Cultural Tapestry

Together, Corfu’s museums and galleries form a mosaic of history and creativity. They reveal an island that has always looked outward – to Italy, to the Balkans, to Asia – and yet kept its own voice. We locals are proud of this cultural richness, and we invite you to explore it. By doing so, you will not only see beautiful objects but also feel the heartbeat of an island shaped by centuries of encoun