How to Get to Corfu: Flights, Ferries and Buses From Athens

From Athens you have two ways to reach Corfu. You can take a direct flight, or you can travel overland to the mainland port of Igoumenitsa by bus or car and finish with a short ferry. For a first trip, fly. It's the fastest and simplest option, and you land about 2 miles (3 km) from Corfu Town. The overland route is slower, often cheaper, and far more scenic.

How do you get to Corfu from Athens?

There is no ferry from Athens to Corfu. Boats to the island leave from Igoumenitsa, a port in northwestern Greece, so the sea route starts with a long day crossing the mainland. The other option is a quick hop from Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" to Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport (CFU).

Flying from Athens

Flights run daily on Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines and Sky Express, and budget carriers fly the route too. Departures stretch from early morning to late evening. Summer brings more flights and winter fewer.

Fares are lowest in the off season and climb in summer. For July and August, book early to get the best prices and times. Budget airlines tend to charge extra for bags, so add that in before you celebrate a cheap fare.

Allow time for the airport itself. From central Athens, the metro from Monastiraki station reaches the airport in about 45 minutes, and you should arrive about 90 minutes before departure. Both the Athens metro and the airport are fully accessible, with ramps and elevators. Even once you add check-in and the trips to and from the airports, flying usually still comes out faster than combining the road and the ferry.

By bus and ferry

If you don't want to drive, take a long-distance KTEL bus from Athens to Igoumenitsa. The ride takes 6 to 7 hours. The Igoumenitsa bus station sits near the port, so getting to the boat is easy. A KTEL through-ticket covers both the bus and the ferry and keeps the connection coordinated. With transfers, the whole trip takes 8 to 9 hours. It's the slowest way to Corfu, but it's easy on the budget.

By car and ferry

The drive north from Athens to Igoumenitsa takes around 5 hours without stops or traffic, on roads in good condition. A realistic plan is 6 to 7 hours for the drive and ferry together. Breaking up the drive is the whole appeal of this option. Delphi, Nafpaktos and Ioannina all make good stops on the way north.

Car ferries carry cars, motorbikes, campers and trucks. Bringing a vehicle costs more than going as a foot passenger, but you get your own wheels on the island and a road trip on the way there.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Corfu?

• First trip: fly. It's quickest and has the fewest moving parts.
• Family with luggage: fly, or drive and bring the car aboard so you have your own wheels once you land.
• Tight budget: bus plus ferry.
• Road-trip lovers: car plus ferry, with stops at Delphi or Ioannina.

Season matters too. In winter, ferry schedules thin out, while flights keep running with fewer options. On any route, transportation strikes in Greece can interrupt public transportation, taxis, seaports and airports. Leave some slack in any plan with a tight connection.

How long is the ferry to Corfu?

Crossings from Igoumenitsa to Corfu Town take 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on the boat and the weather. Kerkyra Lines runs the fastest sailing, at about 1 hour 10 minutes. The shortest hop of all goes to Lefkimmi in the island's south, where Lefkimmi Lines and Makedonia IV can make the trip in as little as 50 minutes.

The type of boat also matters. Open-deck ferries are slower and usually sail only in good weather. The larger closed ferries sail in any weather and are quicker. In the warm months, boats leave often, about every hour or so. On board you'll find indoor seating, shaded decks and snack bars.

Corfu Town Port, in the capital, is the largest and the one most visitors use. Lefkimmi Port in the south mainly serves the Igoumenitsa route. Check which port your ticket uses before you choose a hotel.

How do you book ferries to Corfu?

Boats fill up in summer and on weekends, so book ahead then. Booking online saves real stress in July and August. Booking platforms let you compare operators, prices and vessels in one place. Outside peak times, you can simply buy an Igoumenitsa to Corfu ticket at the port when you arrive, which suits flexible travelers. Timetables change by season, so confirm sailings for the exact day you travel.

How do you get to Corfu from other islands and from abroad?

Boats link Corfu with Paxos and Antipaxos to the south. To the northwest are the small Diapontian islands of Othoni, Mathraki and Ereikoussa. Albania is close by, with daily crossings to Saranda.

Ferries also arrive from Italy. Brindisi is the shortest crossing at roughly 6 to 8 hours. Bari takes 8 to 9 hours, Ancona about 20 hours, and Venice up to about 25 hours. These services run mostly in high season. In the low season, take an Italian ferry to Igoumenitsa instead and catch the local boat across.

How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?

The airport sits just south of the Old Town, so the last stretch is easy.

• Taxi: cabs wait outside arrivals, and the ride into town is short. Agree on a price before you get in.
• Bus: a bus to Corfu Town leaves from the stop in front of Terminal Building A. Blue city bus line 15 also connects the airport, the port and San Rocco Square, the main bus hub in town.
• Private transfer: book one in advance if you want to skip the logistics after a long travel day.

The domestic terminal is the one closer to town. The international terminal handles ferries to Albania and Italy, and the official taxi stand and a bus stop sit beside it. The port is about 1 mile (1.5 km) from the Old Town, a walk of 20 to 30 minutes depending on your luggage. With heavy bags, a taxi or bus is easier. Taxis from the port to the airport take under 10 minutes, and car rental offices sit inside or near the port.

Corfu is more spread out than it looks, with winding coastal roads and mountain villages. A rental car is the best way to see the whole island. If you'd rather not drive, the Blue city buses and Green island buses reach many towns and beaches.

What do Americans need to know before traveling to Corfu?

The U.S. State Department describes Greece as a generally safe destination. U.S. citizens can enter without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, with a passport that has at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date. Carry your passport or a photo ID at all times. If you rent a car, Greek law requires both a valid U.S. driver's license, and insurance companies may require an international driver’s permit. Thieves in Greece break into rental cars to steal passports, valuables and luggage, as the U.S. State Department warns, so it's wise to keep those things with you rather than in the car.