Vlacherna Monastery is one of those Corfu places that looks familiar before you arrive: a little white church, a bell tower and a tall cypress, sitting almost in the water. Seeing it in person was still a highlight of our holiday. We could walk beside the lagoon, visit the church and watch aeroplanes passing overhead, all in the same small area.

We were staying at Anita Hotel in Perama. It took us about five minutes to walk from the hotel to the nearby plane-spotting bridge. The monastery itself is on the Kanoni side, so allow extra time to cross the long pedestrian bridge and continue to its separate, shorter walkway.

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Vlacherna is beside Kanoni, south of Corfu Town, close to the end of Corfu Airport’s runway. The white monastery stands on a tiny islet joined to the waterfront by a short walkway. Beyond it is the larger, wooded island of Pontikonisi, usually called Mouse Island.

These are two different places. You can walk to Vlacherna; reaching Mouse Island requires a boat. The long concrete bridge between Kanoni and Perama is another separate crossing, and that is the bridge we used for the photographs with planes overhead.

From Anita Hotel, head down towards the waterfront and look for the long, narrow concrete pedestrian bridge connecting Perama with Kanoni. Our walk to this viewing spot took around five minutes. You will recognise the bridge by the lagoon on both sides and the airport runway nearby.

For the church, continue across towards Kanoni. Once on the Kanoni waterfront, follow the shore towards the white bell tower and take the short walkway out to Vlacherna. Use “Vlacherna Monastery” for the church on your map, and “Kanoni–Perama bridge” for the longer plane-spotting crossing.

The planes were a big part of the experience for us. From the long Kanoni–Perama bridge, the runway is close enough to see aircraft approaching and moving on the ground. When a plane came over, we had our phones ready — and managed to capture one above my head and another above my wife’s.

The photographs make this look like a quick stop, but it is easy to stay longer waiting for the next arrival. How often planes pass, and which direction they use, depends on the day’s flights and conditions. Keep the narrow crossing clear while taking pictures; other people are using it to get across.

The short walk to Vlacherna feels different from standing beneath the planes. Small boats sit beside the approach, and the white bell tower marks the entrance. It is a compact visit, so take time to notice the details rather than expecting a large monastery complex.

The monastery dates to the seventeenth century. Inside the little church, our photographs show painted icons, hanging lamps and blue-and-gold cloths. Dress respectfully for a church visit, keep voices low and follow any instructions about access or photography on the day.

Mouse Island is the wooded island beyond Vlacherna, with its own small church. Local boats leave from the quay beside the monastery for the short crossing. Look for signs mentioning “Pontikonisi” and ask the boat operator about the return journey, landing arrangements and current fare.

Our photograph shows a €3 sign at the departure point during our visit. Treat that as a record of what we saw, rather than a guaranteed price for your trip. Boats and access depend on the conditions and the arrangements on the day.

• The long bridge and monastery walkway can feel crowded and are narrow in places.
• Aircraft are loud; this is an airport-side setting.
• There is limited shade on the crossings, so bring water and sun protection.
• The walk down from upper Kanoni can involve slopes or steps, and the boat crossing needs separate planning.

Allow time for the church, photographs and waiting for planes. Wear comfortable shoes for the concrete paths, bring water and avoid blocking the walkways. If you add a boat trip, agree the return arrangements before boarding. For wider holiday planning, we have also written about the travel insurance we considered.

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No. Vlacherna is the white monastery on the small islet connected to the waterfront by a short walkway. Mouse Island, or Pontikonisi, is the separate wooded island beyond it, reached by boat.

We took our overhead-plane photographs from the long concrete Kanoni–Perama pedestrian bridge beside the runway. It is separate from the shorter walkway leading to Vlacherna Monastery.

Local boats operate from the quay beside Vlacherna. Ask about the current fare, landing and return arrangements. Longer sightseeing cruises may sail near Mouse Island without providing the same island landing.

Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The hotel walk, parking observations and photographs are from our own visit; transport services and prices can change.