For Expats and Newcomers

Andrioti School (Andrioti Language School)

Greek lessons for foreigners · Garitsa, Corfu Town

Long running Corfu language school (since 1977) teaching Modern Greek as a foreign language to adults and children, in class or online, and an official exam centre for the Certificate of Attainment in Greek.

How to join: Contact the school (+302661025715, info@andrioti.com); new students are placed after a level test; the official site says registrations for 2026 2027 are open.

Sources: andrioti.gr, andrioti.com, languageinternational.com, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026.

My Language Exchange: Corfu members

language exchange (online partner finder) · Corfu (online, then meet in person by arrangement)

A free international partner finder; its Corfu page lists local members who want to swap Greek for English, German, Italian and other languages, with new Corfu profiles posted in May and June 2026.

How to join: Create a free profile on the site and message Corfu members.

Sources: mylanguageexchange.com, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026 (member posts dated 2026).

Corfu Donkey Rescue

volunteering (animal welfare) · Near Doukades, northwest Corfu (about 6 km from Paleokastritsa)

Nonprofit sanctuary founded in 2004 for old, sick, injured and abandoned donkeys, also caring for cats, dogs and horses; run by staff and volunteers, open to visitors on a donation basis.

How to join: Visit, donate or offer volunteer time through the official site; contact +306947375992 or infocorfudonkey@gmail.com.

Sources: corfuandbeyond.com, sunshineseeker.com, corfuhops.com, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026 (2026 visitor report; 2026 fundraiser by the rescue).

Ambelonas Corfu (Corfiot cooking classes)

cooking classes · Karoumpatika, about 6 km from Corfu Town

Family vineyard estate where owner and cook Vasiliki Karounou runs hands on and demonstration classes in traditional Corfiot cooking, ending in a five course meal with house wine; she also wrote the cookbook Corfiot Cuisine, In Search Of The Origins.

How to join: Book a shared or private class through the official site or ambelonas.corfu@gmail.com, +306932158888.

Sources: ambelonas-corfu.gr, ambelonas-corfu.gr, corfuandbeyond.com, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active (official site live in 2026, footer 2017 2025).

Lyceum of Greek Women, Corfu branch

folk dance, traditional choir, crafts · Corfu Town

Corfu branch (since 1990) of the national Lyceum of Greek Women. It teaches Greek traditional dance, runs a traditional choir and holds seminars, shows and a yearly folk dance festival in the old town.

How to join: Contact the branch on its Facebook group or by phone (697 745 2063) about dance classes for the new season.

Sources: corfuevents365.com, kerkyraikiapopsi.gr, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2025 and 2026 (festival 20 and 21 May 2026; cultural weekend 1 and 2 November 2025).

Corfood Bites, cooking classes by Christos

cooking classes · Home kitchen outside Corfu Town (meeting point given by booking listings as Eparelia, 49100)

Small group class (up to 9) in a family garden kitchen: you pick vegetables when ripe, cook starters, a Greek salad, a main such as sofrito or gemista and a dessert, then eat together. Taught in English or French.

How to join: Book through the contact page of the official site.

Sources: corfoodbites.gr, experiencecorfu.com, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026 (dated 2026 listings).

Tierhilfe Korfu e.V.

volunteering (animal welfare) · South Corfu, shelter between Kavos, Neohori and Lefkimmi

German registered charity that supports the dog shelter near Lefkimmi and recruits volunteers for feeding, grooming, walking and helping the vet.

How to join: Volunteers must be 18 or over and stay at least 2 weeks; taking part is free but travel, housing and food are self paid; apply by email to Uta.Engelhardt@gmx.de.

Sources: tierhilfe-korfu.de, tierhilfe-korfu.de, tiervermittlung.de, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026 (home page notices dated September to November 2026; adoption listings September 2026).

International Coastal Cleanup 2026, coordinated in Greece by HELMEPA

volunteering (environment) · Nationwide; any group can register a beach on Corfu

National volunteer beach cleanup season open to residents, schools, clubs and companies, with litter recorded in the Marine Debris Tracker app.

How to join: Register a cleanup online through the HELMEPA page; the 2026 window runs 19 September to 30 November 2026.

Sources: helmepa.gr, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026.

The Corfu Trail (official guide site)

walking · Whole island, from near Kavos in the south to the Agia Ekaterini headland in the north

Waymarked long distance footpath created by Corfu resident Hilary Whitton Paipeti, first walked in 2001; about ten days end to end, with yellow CT signs. The official guide is sold as a PDF and app.

How to join: Walk it independently with the official guide; for an accommodation list email info@thecorfutrail.com. It is a route, not a club.

Sources: thecorfutrail.com, thecorfutrail.com, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026 (site footer 2001 2026; mentions a 2025 press award).

Society for Corfiot Studies, public talks at the Dionysios Solomos Museum

talks and discussion (closest local match to a Socrates Cafe) · Mouragia, Corfu Town

Learned society founded in 1952 that runs a season of free public lectures on history, literature and science, many in 2026 at the Solomos Museum.

How to join: Attend the talks; contact info@eksmouseiosolomou.gr or +302661030674 about membership.

Sources: corfuevents365.com, read 4 Oct 2026. Status: active 2026 (talks listed February to September 2026).

Meetup, Athens

The busiest thing going, and free to browse. Active groups include Athens International Friends, Nomad Hub Greece, Digital Nomads and Socialites in Athens, Athens Conversation Exchange and Athens Brunch Club, the largest of them with thousands of members each. On a normal week there are social nights, game nights, karaoke, brunches, hikes on Hymettus, pickup basketball and boat trips out to Agistri and Aegina.

InterNations Athens

The more formal end of the expat scene, aimed at people who have relocated for work. Monthly official events plus smaller interest groups. Some events are members only.

A note on meeting singles

The honest answer is that the mixed social nights work better than anything aimed explicitly at dating. The Thursday and Saturday socials, karaoke nights and brunch clubs are where people actually meet, because nobody is under pressure. Greek social life runs late, so a 21:30 start is normal rather than antisocial.

Greek lessons in Athens

The Hellenic American Union runs Modern Greek courses for foreigners alongside its English and professional programmes, and is one of the longest established options in the city. The Athens Centre in Plaka is the other name people mention. Both run structured terms rather than drop in classes.

Language exchange in Athens

Free, and the fastest way to actually use the Greek you are learning. Athens Conversation Exchange on Meetup pairs Greek speakers wanting English with the reverse. Turn up, buy a coffee, swap an hour.

Cooking classes in Athens

Athens has a deep bench of small cooking schools running half day classes, usually a market walk followed by cooking what you bought. Most run in English and take individuals rather than groups only. Book directly with the school where you can.

Wine tasting

Greek wine has changed beyond recognition in twenty years, and assyrtiko, xinomavro and agiorgitiko are the three to learn first. Tastings run in the city, and the Nemea vineyards are close enough for a day out. Harvest season, September into October, is the time to go.

Greek dancing classes

Worth doing, and not just for tourists. Syrtos, kalamatianos and the island dances come up at every wedding, name day and panigyri, and knowing three steps changes how those evenings go. Look for classes at local cultural associations, which is where Greeks themselves learn.

Socrates Cafe Athens

Open philosophical discussion, in English, in the city where the format started. Small and deliberately unstructured. There is something quietly appropriate about arguing about the good life a short walk from where Socrates did it.

Book and film clubs

Modern Books and Cinema Club pairs a novel with its film adaptation and discusses both. Runs in English.

Running, hiking and pickup sport

Founders Running Club meets on Saturday mornings. There are pickup basketball games several nights a week. The SNFCC running track is free and has an organised club and a kids' team. Hymettus and Parnitha are both within reach for hiking without a car.