Unlike many other Greek islands, Corfu is very easy to reach by ferry. Corfu ferries depart from Igoumenitsa, but also from Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and even Venice in Italy, as well as Sarande in Albania. In this article I refer to Corfu ferries from Greece.
Depending on the type of boat, you’ll need between 45 minutes and two hours to get from the mainland to the Corfu island. If you’re in Athens, however, and you want to travel to Corfu as fast as possible, you’ll want to take a short flight instead of traveling all the way to Igoumenitsa to take the ferry.
This article is for those of you who want to take a road trip across mainland Greece. This is a rewarding experience, I promise. If you land in Athens, rent a car and start driving north-northwest. Stop by Arachova, Delphi and Meteora. Cross the Epirus mountains to get to Igoumenitsa. If time allows, visit Ioannina. Remember to stop by Thermopylae, to see the pass where Leonidas led the Greek army in battle to stop the Persians.
This road trip is the topic of another article. For now, let’s focus on Corfu ferries.
Contents of Corfu Ferries – How To Get to Corfu by Ferry
How To Get to Igoumenitsa To Catch the Corfu Ferries
From Athens, you can either drive or catch a bus. The bus is good because it allows you to relax and enjoy the road. On the other hand, I wouldn’t spend 50 Euro and almost seven hours on a bus when there are flights from Athens to Corfu every day.
If you’re keen on taking the bus, here’s the timetable of K-Tel buses – there are three buses per day, everyday, including weekends.
You may say driving also takes a lot of time and it isn’t cheap, either. You’re right, but nothing compares to a road trip across Greece, a trip that can unfold at your own pace.
If you choose to drive, you have two options (or even three, if I think that you may also want to visit Thessaloniki along the way).
The first one is the commonly used, fastest route that takes you to the Corinth Canal, then to Patras, Missolonghi, Arta and Ioannina (you’ll turn left before entering Ioannina). This route is 470 km long. The total driving time is almost 5 hours, but you should also count the stops, so you can expect your journey to take 6-7 hours. You’ll have lots of photo opportunities along the way. If you are like me, you’ll stop every hour or so to take photos and to enjoy the views.
The second option is about 600km long and it takes you to Delphi and Kalabaka, and then to Ioannina and to Igoumenitsa. I’d take this route if I wanted to visit Arachova, Delphi and Meteora. I’d spend the night in Kalabaka or Kastraki, just nearby Meteora. I’d visit the monasteries in the morning and then I’d move to to catch a ferry to Corfu.
This is actually exactly what I’ve done in my last road trip in Greece.
Corfu Ferries Tickets & Timetables
Every three hours there’s a car ferry to Corfu departing from Igoumenitsa.
I don’t think you have to book tickets in advance, at least if you’re not traveling during the high season. If you do want to take a look at the schedules and to book Corfu ferries online, you can do it by using the form below or by clicking here:
Very important! When you rent your car, check whether you are allowed to take it to the islands. Not all car rental companies grant this permission.
Some may close their eyes, but keep in mind that the insurance may not cover the event of boarding on a ferry. Should anything happen to the car while on the boat, you may not be able to use insurance to pay for the repairs. Besides, if the insurer doesn’t have a representative office in Corfu, you’re going to find yourself in a big trouble.
How Many Ports Are There in Corfu?
The are two ports in Corfu. The main port is in Kerkira Town, on the eastern coast of the island. The second port where Corfu ferries arrive is Lefkimi, located in the southern part of the island.
I’ve visited the southern part of the island about 20 years ago, so I don’t know what tips to share with you here. As far as I remember, the south of Corfu was rather wild and uninhabited. It had amazing views, though.
When Is It the Best Time to Visit Corfu?
The climate of Corfu is rainy in the winter. This makes it a very green island, much greener than the Aegean islands, Thassos, or Crete. Its location determines its climate. The sunbathing season is much shorter in Corfu than in the southern Greek islands.
Spring is a very good time to visit Corfu. In April and May there are flowers everywhere. The beginning of June is perfect for some beach time. The sea might be a bit too cold, but manageable.
September is probably the best month to visit Corfu. The water is perfect, the sun is milder than in summer, and there are still lots of tavernas, shops and and hotels open. The last time I’ve been to Corfu, it was in mid-September and the sea was warm and nice, great for swimming.
How To Get Around Corfu?
The best way to get around Corfu is by car or scooter. There are taxis on the island and they aren’t expensive. Buses are also good. The green buses connect Corfu Town (Kerkira Town) with all other parts of the island. The blue buses cover shorter distances around Corfu Town. You can find out more information about the blue bus lines and schedules here.
You can also book some guided tours. This one, here, for instance, is a history-focused tour includes a visit to the old Venetian style fortress
For a food-focused tour of Corfu, click here to read more details and to book it at the price of today.
Although some beaches and resorts in Corfu are within walking distance from each other, walking isn’t my favorite thing to do on this island. There are big parts of the road without sidewalks, so you’ll have to walk on the street. Roads are curvy and narrow, and there are lots of cars going back and forth. If, for instance, you want to walk the 7km from Barbati to Dassia, you’ll need to put up with a narrow, windy road with no sidewalks.
As most of the Corfu ferries arrive in Kerkira Town, you can find accommodation here and then take trips to different tourist objectives, beaches and parts of the island.
If you want to read this article about Corfu ferries later, pin it here:
