The Achilleion is the best-known building on Corfu outside the town. Empress Elisabeth of Austria, always called Sisi, built it in the 1890s at Gastouri, about ten kilometres south of Corfu Town, as a private retreat devoted to the Greek hero Achilles, and she filled it with statues and paintings of him. After her assassination in 1898 it passed to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who added his own touches, and in the twentieth century it served as a military hospital and later as a casino. The garden is terraced down the hillside toward the sea, with marble statues of gods, philosophers and the Muses, and the most famous piece is the large Dying Achilles figure. Inside, a mural of the Triumph of Achilles by the Austrian painter Franz Matt covers the main staircase. The honest caveat for 2026 is that the palace is under restoration. Greek press reports from September 2026 say a new tender for the works is in progress, with completion aimed at 2029, and that visitor access has varied over recent seasons, so treat the interior as uncertain and the gardens as likely but not guaranteed.
How it works
The link for this entry is a half-day tour that pairs the Achilleion with Corfu Old Town, which is a sensible way to see it because the palace is a short drive out of town and public buses are awkward to time. Because the restoration has changed what visitors can enter, read the tour details for what it includes on your date rather than assuming a full interior visit, and expect a modest entry fee wherever the palace or gardens are open. If you drive yourself, the village of Gastouri has limited parking, and a taxi from the town is straightforward.
What to expect
The story is the draw, and it works even when parts are closed. Sisi was a restless traveller who found a measure of peace on Corfu, and the palace is a monument to her taste and her grief, which is why guides tell it as a human story rather than a lecture on architecture. The terraces give wide views toward the coast and the Ionian Sea, and on a clear day the light on the white statues is lovely.
In winter the gardens can be damp and the stone steps slippery, so wear shoes with grip. Cruise groups make the site busy in the middle of the day in summer, so early morning or late afternoon is calmer when the site is open.
Making the most of it
Pair the palace with Kanoni and Mouse Island, which lie on the same side of town, and finish in the old town so the day ends among cafes rather than on a coach. Read a little about Sisi before you go, because the statues and paintings make more sense once you know her fixation on Achilles.
If the interior is closed, do not cancel: the garden walk, the views and the setting in Gastouri are still worth the trip, and the village has simple places for coffee. Because the restoration timetable is not settled, check the current access on the day before you set off.
A word on expectations helps here. Corfu has been through a long period in which the palace has been partly closed, reopened in sections and then closed again, so visitors who arrive expecting a polished interior tour can be disappointed, whereas visitors who come for the story and the terraces rarely are. Ask your guide to explain what has changed since the gardens last held their full display, and note that digital storytelling installations were added to the gardens in 2025 to help fill the gap while works continue.
What to expect
The experience
A half-day coach or minibus tour that combines the Achilleion at Gastouri with a walk in Corfu Old Town, with a guide telling the palace story.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon for softer light and fewer groups; dry days for the gardens.
How long
About two hours at the palace and gardens, within a half-day outing.
Tips
The palace is under restoration, so confirm what the tour includes on your date, wear shoes with grip for the stone terraces and bring a layer in the cooler months.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and royal-story lovers who want the island's most famous building framed by a guide.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the statues and the Achilles story; the terraces have steps, so keep young children close.
- Couples
- A romantic story and sea views from the terraces make it a good couples half-day.
- Pair with
- Kanoni and Mouse Island, Mon Repos and Corfu Old Town.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive.
Good questions
Is the Achilleion Palace open to visitors?+
The palace is under restoration, and access to the interior has varied in recent seasons. The gardens have often stayed open, but check current access before you travel.
Who built the Achilleion Palace?+
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, built it in the 1890s as a private retreat. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany bought it after her death in 1898.
Where is the Achilleion and how far is it from Corfu Town?+
It is in the village of Gastouri, about ten kilometres south of Corfu Town, a short drive or taxi ride.
What are the highlights of the Achilleion?+
The terraced gardens with marble statues, the large Dying Achilles figure and the Triumph of Achilles mural on the grand staircase are the best-known features.
Is a tour better than going alone?+
A tour handles the transport and tells the story of Sisi and Wilhelm II, which gives the site its meaning. Independent visitors can take a taxi or a hire car.
