Getting To & Around Corfu | Villa Collective

Corfu feels effortless once a few basics are in place. Decide how you’ll arrive — a direct flight into Corfu International Airport (CFU) or an easy ferry hop — then choose simple ways to move about: a compact hire car for hillside lanes, taxis for evenings out, and at least one gentle day on the water, when the sea makes most sense. From our experience, this mix keeps plans clear and days unhurried, giving you the freedom to explore beaches, villages and viewpoints at a comfortable pace. Use this guide to settle the essentials, then let the rest of the trip fall into place naturally.

HOW TO GET TO CORFU

You can arrive by air into Corfu International Airport (CFU) or by sea via Igoumenitsa on the mainland. Flying is usually the most time-efficient option, particularly during the summer season when direct routes increase. The airport’s official website publishes live arrivals and departures alongside operating hours, useful when coordinating transfers or car hire.

If you’re touring mainland Greece by car, the ferry from Igoumenitsa is straightforward. Choose your Corfu port based on where you’re staying: Kerkyra (Corfu Town) for Town and the north, Lefkimmi for the south. Crossing times vary by operator and vessel type, so it’s worth checking schedules the day before you sail.

Flying: Corfu International Airport (CFU)

CFU (IATA: CFU, ICAO: LGKR) is a compact, practical airport with short walking distances and a clear layout. In peak summer weeks, allow a little extra time on busy changeover days, particularly for baggage reclaim.

Car hire desks operate both on-airport and just outside the terminal. If you’re collecting a vehicle, add your flight number to the booking so it’s held in case of delays.

Airport Transfers

On arrival, you have three straightforward options: a pre-booked private transfer, a taxi from the terminal rank, or car hire collected at the airport. Typical journey times are:

  • North-east Corfu: 40–60 minutes

  • North-west Corfu: 40–70 minutes (more bends)

  • South Corfu: 45–75 minutes

Exact timing depends on traffic and villa location.

Travelling with young children? Reserve ISOFIX seats in advance — they’re not always standard. Landing late? A pre-booked driver removes uncertainty and knows the lanes after dark.

Ferries from Mainland Greece

The mainland gateway is Igoumenitsa, with frequent sailings to Corfu Town and seasonal services to Lefkimmi. The shortest advertised crossings are around 1 hour 10 minutes to Corfu Town and approximately 50 minutes to Lefkimmi.

Choose Corfu Town if you’re staying centrally or in the north; Lefkimmi reduces drive time if your villa is in the south. Timetables change seasonally, so always check your specific date. In high summer, earlier sailings help avoid queues.

Inter-Island Ferries

If you want to combine Corfu with nearby islands, you have two workable patterns: fast hops to Paxos/Antipaxos, or a longer stepping-stone route down the Ionian chain.

Paxos & Antipaxos.

Seasonal services run between Corfu and Paxos, from fast hydrofoils to slower conventional ferries. Depending on the vessel and departure point, crossings range from around 45 minutes to roughly 2.5 hours.

Ionian island-hopping

The Lefkada Palace operates a scheduled multi-stop route on specific days (typically Monday, Wednesday and Friday in season), linking Corfu with Paxos, Lefkada, Meganisi, Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos. It’s a scenic way to move through the Ionian without returning to the mainland — just plan around fixed sailing days.

Diapontia Islands

Links from Corfu to Ereikoussa, Mathraki and Othonoi exist but are limited and highly seasonal compared with Paxos. Expect low frequencies and longer crossings. We recommend building your itinerary around published sailing days rather than assuming daily service.

Albania

Fast boats connect Corfu Town and Saranda for day trips with passports required. Useful if you’re curious about a quick international hop during your stay.

corfu-greece-getting-around-journal-1

GETTING AROUND CORFU

Corfu is easy to navigate once you match transport to terrain. Corfu Town rewards walking, the coastline and interior suit a compact car, buses work well on key corridors, and taxis are ideal for evenings or last-mile climbs to hillside villas.

corfu-greece-getting-around-journal-7

Walking

In Corfu Town, walking is the default: shops, markets, restaurants and landmarks sit within a compact radius. Along resort stretches such as Gouvia–Kontokali or parts of Dassia, walking between marinas and tavernas is possible, though pavements can be intermittent. In rural villages and hillside areas, distances add up quickly, and roads are often narrow and unlit — after dark, a taxi is the sensible option.

Rental cars

For most villas beyond the Town, a hire car offers the greatest flexibility. We recommend a compact model for narrow lanes and easier parking, and an automatic if you’d rather avoid hill starts. Download offline maps, pin your villa and nearest essentials, and look for full-to-full fuel policies. Parking at popular beaches is limited in peak weeks, so arrive early or allow time for a short walk.

Corfu public transport

Corfu’s Green Buses (KTEL) run reliable intercity routes, alongside an urban network around Corfu Town. Key lines — such as Town to Paleokastritsa or Town to Kassiopi — run frequently in summer. Always check the last return service before setting off; on some routes, it’s earlier than expected.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful at the airport and in Corfu Town. Elsewhere, booking ahead is wise for peak dinner hours, particularly along the north-east coast. Card payment is increasingly common, but smaller villages may still prefer cash.

Boat Taxis

In many harbour villages and along organised stretches of coast, boat taxis offer an easy and quietly romantic way to get around. They’re ideal for short hops between harbours or for returning to your villa after a waterfront lunch without tackling coastal roads. In places like the north-east, they’re often arranged informally — a quick word with the restaurant or house manager is usually enough. Availability varies by area and season, so it’s wise to agree on timings in advance, particularly in July and August.

SAILING AROUND CORFU

A day on the water removes parking from the equation and opens up multiple bays in a single outing. Gouvia Marina, just north of Corfu Town, is the island’s main yachting hub, offering fuel, provisioning and full services for charter and visiting yachts. Day boats and skippered charters often depart from here, with some operators delivering to local jetties by arrangement.

Two tips from the water: reserve lunch berths in July and August if you plan to tie up at a waterfront taverna, and swim in the lee of headlands later in the day when breezes freshen. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for pebbly coves and a dry bag for phones.

WE MAKE CORFU EFFORTLESS

Whether you arrive by plane at CFU, or via a ferry hop from the mainland or a nearby island, Corfu offers multiple ways in and plenty of ways to move once you arrive. From our experience, the most satisfying stays blend transport options sensibly: drive for range, buses for simple A-to-B, taxis for evenings, and at least one day on the water. Pair that with Villa Collective’s luxury villas on the island of Corfu and you’ve got the foundations of a trip that runs smoothly, keeps options open, and makes every day feel easy to navigate.

EXPLORE THE JOURNAL

DISCOVER MORE

The taste of Greece What makes Greek cuisine so tantalising? Check out our guide to the country’s drinking and dining culture.
Greece: on page and screen The wild beauty of Greece has appeared in countless works of film and fiction. We’ve pulled together some of its most iconic roles.