The second-largest and greenest Greek Island, lush Corfu is equal parts party island and relaxed beach retreat. Such a heady mix makes the island perfect for a varied hostel holiday, with plenty of secluded coves, unspoilt villages and breathtaking beaches to balance out the wilder resorts.

Choose a hostel in Corfu and you’re guaranteed some of the best backpacker accommodation around – many are right on the beach, have a whole host of activities like boat trips, kayaking and cliff diving, and cheap bars and discos on site. But if you fancy exploring the island on a budget, there’s plenty of free things to do beyond boozing and beach parties.

1. Climb Mount Pantokrator
With a wide range of water-sports and mountainous landscapes, Corfu attracts a fair amount of adrenaline junkies. For real adventure kudos, or to earn a few days on the beach, trek to the top of Corfu’s highest mountain, towering a giddy 1000 meters high in the North of the island. You can drive or hike the mountain road to the very top, and the views are stunning – on a clear day you can spot the southern tip of Italy!

2. Discover an Abandoned Village
Hidden in the hills of Corfu, Old Perithia was built in Byzantine times, and this mountain village was once home to 1,500 people. But since the advent of tourism in the coastal resorts, more and more villagers fled their homes, only returning to tend to their olive groves in the summer. Today only six people live in Perithia, and the rest of the village is a jumble of crumbling stone walls, deserted squares and empty houses. A trip to this relic makes for an eerie but fascinating afternoon.

3. A Tour of Corfu Town
At the other end of the scale, Corfu Town is the island’s bustling capital, packed full of interesting architecture. Spend a day wandering around the city and exploring the maze of narrow streets, gardens, chapels and old mansions, dominated by a 16th century fortress. Discover Corfu’s colonial heritage by strolling along the Liston, an elegant eighteenth-century boulevard built by the French in the style of the Rue de Rivoli. Close by is the cathedral St Spiridion’s, home to the tomb of the patron saint of the island. This huge Greek Orthodox Church is beautiful inside and out, and is the starting point for the Saint Spiridon parade in Corfu Town.

4. A Game of Cricket on the Green
Bizarrely, cricket is a popular game on the island, a hangover from when the Royal Navy and British Garrison were stationed at Corfu. The first game took place here between the two military groups on St George’s Day in 1823, and today you can have a game all over the island. The best greens are the Esplanade at Corfu Town, and the brand new ground at Kontokali Marina.

5. Paleokastritsa Moni Theotokou
This 17th century monastry is perched high on a headland overlooking a beautiful bay. Surrounded by wild flowers, the sun-baked buildings are wonderfully ornate inside, and visitors are welcome to see the famous ceiling carving of the ‘Tree of Life’.

For more beach break bargains, HostelBookers are giving away a hostel holiday for just 5 cents a night this week (from 1 to 5 June)!

Images – Thanks to timniblett, toni, G Travels, Murkmad and gingerbeardman.