Buses on Corfu: Corfu Town, Beaches and the Length of the Island

On a Corfu morning the ferries and cruise ships unload at the port of Corfu Town, and travelers stand with maps in hand, wondering how to get from the old streets to a beach on the other side of the island. That is the moment the bus question comes up. Corfu is long and varied, and the bus is one way to think about stitching its pieces together.

How do the buses on Corfu work?

A bus trip on Corfu starts from the shape of the island itself, and that shape is long and narrow, with Corfu Town as the hub where the airport sits and where most cruise ships and long-distance ferries dock. Whatever you plan to see, you are probably starting from or passing through that town.

Corfu is the northernmost of the Ionian Islands, off the far northwest coast of Greece, with Italy to the east across the Adriatic and Albania to the northeast. The island stretches a long way from end to end and is nearly a third as wide at its broadest point. A single day rarely covers all of it, so it helps to choose a side or a theme before you choose a route.

Corfu Town as your starting point

The old town of Corfu Town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it rewards a slow first day on foot before you go anywhere else. You find arcaded streets near the Liston, the wide green Spianada square beside them, and the Old Fortress by the water.

At lunch, look for the island’s own dishes on taverna menus: pastitsada (pasta with slow-cooked meat in a spiced red sauce), sofrito (veal in white wine and garlic) and bourdeto (a peppery fish stew). Kumquat liqueur and sweets made from the fruit are sold in the shops of the old town. Knowing where you will end the day helps you decide when to head back to town.

West coast and east coast beaches

Where you head depends on what you want from the water. On the west side of Corfu the beaches are sandier, while the east tends to have calmer waters. That single contrast is a useful guide for choosing a day: sand and open sea on one side, gentler water on the other.

Pack a swimsuit, a towel and sun protection for either side, and bring water and a snack, since a beach day often runs long.

Aqualand and the center of the island

Aqualand sits in Central Corfu and is one of the biggest water parks in the world, with 51 slides, pools and a variety of other games. For families with children who want a day of slides rather than a beach, it is a stop that changes the usual island routine. Bring swimwear and a change of clothes.

Not everyone wants a water park, and Corfu offers quieter alternatives inland. Olive groves cover much of the island’s interior, and villages with a square, a church and a kafenio (a traditional coffeehouse) reward a wander between visits to the coast.

Mount Pantokrator and the Corfu Trail

Mount Pantokrator is the highest point on the island, and its summit gives views across the water to the mainland. The Corfu Trail, a long-distance footpath, covers the full length of the island, so walkers can follow it for a stretch and see the countryside at their own speed.

You can also take a different approach altogether. Boats up to 30 HP do not require a licence to hire in Corfu, which opens up the coastline for anyone who wants to reach a cove from the water instead of from a road. Each style of travel gives a different view of the same island.

How do you pay?

You pay in euros, the currency used throughout Greece, and a small amount in coins is handy for the little things that fill a Corfu day. Think of a coffee on the Liston, a spinach pie from a bakery, an ice cream by the Spianada or a bottle of water on the way to the beach.

Small purchases around town

Corfu Town is full of places to spend a few coins. Bakeries sell cheese pies and sesame-topped pastries, and kiosks called periptera sell water, snacks and newspapers on many corners. Sweet shops pack kumquat treats in small boxes that travel well in a bag.

Tavernas usually bring bread to the table and plates meant for sharing, such as fried zucchini, tzatziki, grilled octopus and a Greek salad with a thick slab of feta. Ordering a few dishes to share is a common habit, and it lets you taste more of the island’s cooking in one sitting.

At the beach and at Aqualand

A beach day brings its own costs, from a cold drink at a seaside taverna to a lunch of grilled fish with lemon and olive oil. On the sandier west side you often find simple places to eat close to the water. Aqualand, in Central Corfu, is another place where a day out involves spending on food and drink.

Keep a few euro notes in a pocket or a waterproof pouch so you are not digging through a bag with wet hands. Carry your cards separately and keep them dry. Plan what you want to buy at each stop, and the day runs smoothly.

Good to know before you go

Corfu sits at the northern end of the Ionian Islands, and the pace there suits a slow plan with one area per day. Carry a bottle of water, sun protection and comfortable shoes for the cobbled lanes of the old town.

The lanes can be slick, so choose shoes with grip. In the heat of summer, a hat and a long lunch in the shade make the middle of the day pleasant, and the evening is for the waterfront.