A Jewellery Lover’s Guide to Corfu
Your Corfu travel itinerary for finding the perfect jewellery souvenir 💍
Left: Rolandos, a jewellery shop in Corfu Old Town, Middle: Me showing off some of my Corfu jewellery finds, Right: One of the beautiful streets of Corfu Old Town
If there’s one thing I know how to do on holiday, it’s find a jewellery shop.
After visiting Corfu twice this year alone, as well as many times over the years, I think it’s safe to say I’ve done enough extensive research to share some of my favourite places to find the perfect jewellery souvenir.
As you might already know, whenever I go on holiday I like to add a ring to my ever-growing collection as a little way of remembering the trip. And Corfu, in my opinion, is one of the best places to do it.
I’m talking specifically about Corfu Old Town, which is filled with hidden alleyway boutiques, independent makers and family-run shops. I’ve happily lost hours just mooching around and treasure hunting, and I fully recommend allowing yourself to wander without too much of a plan.
That being said, there are a few jewellery shops you absolutely shouldn't miss...
Left: Three rings from my personal Rolandos collection, Middle: Some of the quirky eye jewellery inside the shop, Right: The beautiful handmade displays inside Rolandos
Rolandos - For arty and quirky pieces
Starting with the best. Not only is Rolandos my favourite jewellery shop in Corfu, it might be one of my favourite jewellery shops of all time.
It’s safe to say I’ve never managed to leave empty-handed, and I now have a little collection of four sterling silver rings from them.
You’ll find the shop on Nikiforou Theotoki Street and, behind the till, you can see straight into the workshop where you might even catch Rolando himself making the pieces.
This is what I’d describe as proper artisan jewellery. I’m personally always drawn to the illustrated pieces, eyes, hearts and other slightly surreal motifs, but there’s a complete mix of beautiful and unusual designs.
The shop itself is just as special as the jewellery. There are handmade cabinets, pieces hanging from the ceiling and treasures absolutely everywhere you look. It feels less like walking into a traditional jewellery shop and more like stepping into someone’s wonderfully eccentric little world.
Find them: Instagram @rolandos_art
Left: The wooden ring displays outside the shop, Middle: Handmade gemstone silver bracelets, Right: Some of the wonderfully quirky earrings inside
And The Ship Sails On - For handmade chunky silver rings
Another favourite, And The Ship Sails On, happens to be just a few doors down from Rolandos, so you can very easily tick both off in one jewellery-filled wander.
Similarly, the pieces are handmade in-store by Greek artist Archipelagos. They also sell artwork alongside the jewellery, which gives the whole shop a lovely nautical, whimsical feel.
This would be my go-to recommendation if you’re looking for chunky sterling silver gemstone rings. Think big, raw and statement stones in gorgeous handmade bezel settings, basically the sort of rings that immediately make your hand look about ten times more interesting.
My cousin bought a pair of earrings here a few years ago, sadly I don’t have any photos, but they’re still going strong.
My favourite part, though, has to be the wooden display boxes outside the shop filled with one-of-a-kind chunky rings. I could happily stand there rummaging through them for a very long time.
Find them: Instagram @to.ploio
Left: Trays and trays of chunky stacking rings, Middle: A picture from their Insta, Right: A closer look at one of their mixed-metal stacking rings
K and Corfu - For chunky stacking bands
I can’t believe this summer was the first time I stepped into K and Corfu Jewellery, but I’m very glad I finally did.
I’d describe their jewellery as the ultimate version of a chunky ring stack. They specialise in layered bands that essentially create an entire stack for you in one piece.
Think of them as seriously upgraded spinner rings, with multiple bands joined together featuring different stones, mixed metals and gorgeous organic settings. If you love the look of a maximalist ring stack but don’t want to spend ten minutes assembling one every morning, these are a dream.
When I visited, they had all the rings laid out across a huge table and I spent an unreasonable amount of time going through them and trying everything on.
I didn’t buy anything this time because they are definitely an investment piece, but best believe I’ll be saving up for my next visit. The craftsmanship is beautiful and I think they're absolutely worth the price.
Find them: Instagram @k.and.corfu, Website
Left: My Muses necklace still going strong, Middle: Inside the colourful Muses concept store, Right: Just some of the jewellery I had to resist bringing home
Muses - For colourful and contemporary pieces
Muses is another shop I visited for the first time this summer. Can you tell I did some serious research before this trip?
I’d describe it as a concept store filled with dopamine-inducing pieces from local Greek designers. It almost feels like stepping into an avant-garde exhibition celebrating Greek culture and heritage through a very modern lens.
Jewellery is only a small part of what they offer, but it’s very much worth having a look.
Think chunky, colourful, playful and statement-making: beads, animals, charms, Greek motifs and generally a maximalist’s dream.
You know the fun jewellery you see in souvenir shops all over Greece? This is basically the cooler, better-made version. It has all the colour and classic Greek motifs, but actually feels like something you’ll want to wear rather than shove in the bottom of your suitcase.
I bought a necklace from them and proceeded to wear it for about six weeks straight, including sleeping and showering in it because, no, I do not take my jewellery off, and it still looks amazing. So I can personally vouch for the quality.
Find them: Instagram @muses.corfu, Website
Left: The Ariadne Jewellery shopfront, Middle: Some of the silver rings that caught my eye, Right: One of their beautiful Greek-inspired gold rings
Ariadne Jewellery - For classic Greek motifs
If you want the full antique-shop experience, and I know some people hate this, but I personally LOVE it, complete with that unmistakable old, slightly musty antique smell, head to Ex Oriente Lux.
I would highly recommend putting this one into Google Maps rather than relying on stumbling across it because it’s slightly tucked away.
This is one of those brilliant shops that sells a little bit of absolutely everything. Jewellery-wise, it leans towards chunky, bohemian pieces: big turquoise necklaces, coral, heavy bangles and statement silver.
It doesn’t have quite the same Greek focus as some of the other shops on this list. Instead, it has more of a Mediterranean meets Far Eastern feel, which makes it a really fun place to rummage through.
This one can be slightly hit-or-miss, which I actually think is half the fun of antique shopping. I’ve been in once and found absolutely nothing that screamed my name, then returned another time and suddenly wanted half the shop.
Go in with an open mind and prepare to rummage.
Find them: @ariadne_jewellery, Website
Left: Exactly the kind of jewellery tray I love rummaging through, Middle: The slightly hidden Ex Oriente Lux shopfront, Right: Inside the wonderfully eclectic shop
Ex Oriente Lux - For vintage and antique treasures
If you want the full antique-shop experience, and I know some people hate this, but I personally LOVE it, complete with that unmistakable old, slightly musty antique smell, head to Ex Oriente Lux.
I would highly recommend putting this one into Google Maps rather than relying on stumbling across it because it’s slightly tucked away.
This is one of those brilliant shops that sells a little bit of absolutely everything. Jewellery-wise, it leans towards chunky, bohemian pieces: big turquoise necklaces, coral, heavy bangles and statement silver.
It doesn’t have quite the same Greek focus as some of the other shops on this list. Instead, it has more of a Mediterranean meets Far Eastern feel, which makes it a really fun place to rummage through.
This one can be slightly hit-or-miss, which I actually think is half the fun of antique shopping. I’ve been in once and found absolutely nothing that screamed my name, then returned another time and suddenly wanted half the shop.
Go in with an open mind and prepare to rummage.
Find them: @orienteluxcorfu_
Left: More rings I very nearly brought home from and the ship sales on, Middle: A few of the more traditional Greek-inspired pieces I spotted in Ariadne, Right: Jewellery stands for sale in Rolandos
Happy treasure hunting...
So, these are my favourite jewellery spots I’ve rummaged through in Corfu so far, but I’m sure I’ll be back again and hopefully uncovering even more hidden gems to add to the list.
I appreciate you probably have to be a certain level of jewellery obsessed to plan parts of your holiday around visiting jewellery shops, but I genuinely think it’s such a lovely way to experience the local culture and creativity of somewhere new.
I might be biased because I spend a lot of time on the Greek islands, but I’ve always loved Greek jewellery. You can see so much craftsmanship, creativity and history in the pieces, whether you’re looking at a contemporary designer or rummaging through a tray of old silver rings.
And unlike a magnet or a keyring, a piece of jewellery is something you can wear for years afterwards and instantly be transported back to where you found it.
These are just a handful of my personal favourites, and every single shop is filled with things I absolutely would have brought home with me if budget did not exist.
Unfortunately, it does.
Happy treasure hunting 💍✨