Where to get married in Corfu, through a filmmaker's eyes

The best Corfu wedding locations are the ones where the light suits your time of day: east-facing coves glow in the morning, while west-facing cliffs own the sunset. Choose the type of place first, then the hour, and your film will look like the island you fell for.

I film all over Corfu, from the Old Town to the far north. Here is how each kind of place tends to look on camera, what to watch for, and when you will need permission.

How the light moves around the island

Corfu is long and narrow, with one coast facing the mainland and the other facing the open Ionian, and that shapes everything. The east side, including Corfu Town, Kalami and Kassiopi, gets the sunrise and the calmest water. In the evening the sun sets behind the hills there, so the light turns soft and even and the mountains across the water turn pink.

The west coast, from Afionas and Paleokastritsa to Pelekas, Glyfada and Agios Gordios, faces the sunset. You get backlight, flare, silhouettes and a glittering sea right up to the last minute. Midday light is harsh everywhere, which is one more reason to plan around the evening, as my Corfu wedding day timeline shows.

Corfu Old Town and the Liston

The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it looks the part: Venetian lanes, faded shutters, the French-built arcades of the Liston opening onto the Spianada, and the Old Fortress across the water. On film it gives texture and life, with stone, bell towers and people everywhere.

That life is also the challenge. In summer the lanes and cafés are busy from morning to night, so portraits work best early in the day or in the quieter side streets, which stay shaded through the afternoon. Filming inside monuments such as the Old Fortress needs permission from the Ephorate of Antiquities, so ask well in advance.

North-east coast villas: Kalami and Kassiopi

The north-east is villa country: small bays with clear, still water, cypress and olive on the hillsides, and Albania just across the channel. Kassiopi has its harbour and the walls of its old castle; Kalami is a curve of bay with the White House at the water's edge, the house where the writer Lawrence Durrell once lived.

Expect the sun to leave these bays earlier than the clock says. Use that soft, even light for portraits while the glow stays on the mountains opposite. Whether a particular villa or restaurant hosts weddings, and on what terms, is a question for the venue.

I have filmed a wedding at the White House in Kalami.

West-coast cliffs and viewpoints: Pelekas and Afionas

For drama, go west. Near Pelekas, the viewpoint known as Kaiser's Throne looks out over both coasts, and the cliffs around Afionas drop to the double bay of Porto Timoni. These are places for big skies and a sun that sinks into the sea.

They are also exposed. Expect wind, which lifts a veil beautifully but plays havoc with sound, and paths that are hard in heels or for older guests. A good approach is to hold the ceremony somewhere easy and slip away to a viewpoint for twenty minutes of portraits.

Beaches

Beach weddings look effortless on film: bare feet, wet sand, the sound of the water. Corfu has long sandy beaches such as Glyfada and Agios Gordios on the west coast, and small pebble coves all around the island.

In practice, beaches are busy by day in summer, so sunset is the time to be there. Wind and waves are the main enemy of clear vows, and close microphones are the way to keep the words. Beaches in Greece are public, and a set-up with chairs, an arch or catering generally needs permission from the relevant authorities, so check with your planner or the municipality before you plan one.

Villages and traditional settings: Danilia Village

Some couples want everyone in one place, with the feel of an old Corfiot village around them. Danilia Village has that atmosphere, with stone buildings in a traditional style. I have filmed a wedding there too.

Settings like this give you many backgrounds in a small area, which keeps the day relaxed: ceremony, drinks, portraits and dinner can happen a few steps apart. Ask the venue what is possible, and when.

The Achilleion area

The Achilleion, the palace built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria in the village of Gastouri, is known for its gardens, its statues and its views down the east coast. Today it is a museum, so whether you can hold an event or film there, and when, is a question for the site itself.

Kanoni and Pontikonisi

The view from Kanoni over the Vlacherna monastery and Pontikonisi is one of the most famous pictures of Corfu, and it is lovely in soft morning light. Two things to know. It is a popular viewpoint, so you will rarely have it to yourselves. And the airport runway is right beside it, so planes come in low and loud, which makes a fun shot and a terrible backdrop for vows.

Permissions, in short

• Monuments and archaeological sites: filming needs permission from the Ephorate of Antiquities.
• Beaches and public spaces: check with the municipality or your planner before any set-up.
• Churches: each parish sets its own rules, including on filming during the service.
• Villas, hotels and restaurants: ask the venue about weddings, music, timings and outside vendors.

Rules change, so always confirm with the official source, the venue or your planner.

Choosing between Corfu wedding locations

Start with the hour you want to marry and the feeling you are after: lively and historic, calm and green, or wild and open. Then match the coast to the light. For the practical side, my Corfu wedding checklist covers every step, the destination wedding guide helps if you are planning from abroad, and you can see more of my films on the Corfu wedding videographer page.

Updated: 8 November 2026