Corfu is lapped by the crystal clear Ionian Sea

The greenest (and hence wettest) of the Ionian islands, mountainous Corfu has it all: sandy beaches and ouzo-flowing bars to please party-hard holidaymakers as well as hilltop villages, secluded coves and seaside tavernas that encapsulate the age-old simplicity of Greek island life.

Floating off the west coast of Greece and just below the boot heel of Italy, significant stretches of Corfu's coastline have been prostituted to ugly resort developments catering for the package tourism market.

But there is still plenty to adore about Corfu. The island's beautiful capital, Corfu Town, exudes Italian, French and British influences, its atmospheric tangle of narrow alleyways featuring fortresses, Byzantine churches and Venetian mansions. The archaeological museum here is worth your time if only for its massive Medusa sculpture, which once graced a 6th century BC temple and depicts the moment before the snaked-haired Gorgon was beheaded.

Further afield, the less-developed stretches of Corfu's coast are dotted with pebble and sandy beaches lapped by crystal clear Ionian Sea, small coves sandwiched between towering cliffs and beachside seafood tavernas.

The island's fertile interior is punctuated with cypress trees, hilltop villages and woods and is a draw for mountainbikers, hikers and horse riders. Panoramic island vistas are offered from the top of Mount Pantokraor (906m).

Back on the coast, scuba divers can find out what lies beneath the ocean's sparkling aquamarine surface, and if you really want to get away from it all, catch a boat to Corfu's satellite islands where there's no chance of being subjected to drunken Brits crooning Come on Eileen outside your window at 3am.

Corfu's rainy season is between October and May. Its airport lies 2km south of Corfu Town. Corfu is serviced by ferries from Italy, mainland Greece and the island of Paxi.