Oozing Venetian elegance and nobility, Corfu is the ultimate Ionian Grande Dame. This sickle-shaped island is a dream for those who enjoy a bit of a stroll. You’ll be lured by the beauty of the old quarters with their earthy colored facades and the iconic, crisscrossing laundry displays, the Spianada square and the -modelled after Rue de Rivoli – Liston. When you have basked in the feel of the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spy with your little eye the stone-built Fortress, the Pontikonisi island and the Vlacherna monastery. History buffs will love the Corfiot palaces, like the Achillion and Mon Repos, monuments of the times when the Greek and Bavarian royals used to vacay here. If you are after nature, flora, fauna even flamingo watching, head to Halikounas, a captivating wetland. Corfu hosts some gorgeous beaches like Palaiokastritsa, Agios Georgios Pagon, Agios Gordios, Nissaki, Marathia and Sidari a.k.a Canal D’ Amour. For slimmer crowds, nearby Diapontia islands, namely Othoni, Ereikoussa and Mathraki are amazing day excursions. Now, if one of the main reasons you pick your destinations is gastronomy, then consider yourself as a jackpot winner. From Michelin starred restaurants to what one might call a hole in the wall, the Corfiot food scene is simply stellar. Local dishes to look for in menus are pastitsada, bourdeto, bianco, sofrito and savoro and delicacies like Noumboulo Fumicado. For your fine dining fix, visit Etrusco and the Venetian Well, while for your comfort food cravings try the pastitsada at Ninos. Corfu is big on kumquats so consider this a tip when ordering dessert.