Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- Olympic Airways provides at least three flights daily from and to Athens, and three flights weekly from and to Thessaloniki. Round-trip fare for each route is about 220€ ($286). The Olympic Airways office in Corfu town (tel. 26610/38-694) is at 11 Polila, down from the Ionian Islands Tourism Office, but agents all over town sell tickets. Aegean Airlines also offers occasional flights; in Athens, call tel. 210/626-1000; in Corfu, call tel. 26610/27-100. And now Airsea Lines provides hydroplane connections with several points: Brindisi, Italy; Patras on the Greek mainland; and the Ionian islands of Ithaka, Lefkada, Kefalonia, and Paxoi. Fares range from 40€ to 120€ ($52-$156). In Greece, their toll-free number is tel. 80111/800-600 or check out their website, www.airsealines.com.

Corfu airport is about 4km (2 1/2 miles) south of the center of Corfu town. Fortunately, the flight patterns of most planes do not bring them over the city. Everyone takes taxis into town; the standard fare should be 8€ ($10) but may fluctuate with destination, amount of luggage, and time of day. Airsea Lines hydroplanes put down at Gouvia, a few miles just north of Corfu town.

By Boat -- Many lines and ships link Corfu to both Greek and foreign ports. Ferries run almost hourly between Corfu and Igoumenitsou, directly across on the mainland (1-2 hr.), and several go weekly to and from Patras (about 7 hr.). At least during high season, there is now a twice-daily hydrofoil express (about 30 min.) between Corfu and Igoumenitsou. Also in high season are daily ships linking Corfu to ports in Italy -- Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, Venice -- or to Piraeus and/or Patras. The schedules and fares vary so much from year to year that it would be misleading to provide details here; work with a travel agent in your homeland or Greece; or check www.ferries.gr. The ship lines are: Adriatica (tel. 210/429-0487 in Piraeus), ANEK Lines (tel. 210/323-3481 in Athens), Fragline (tel. 210/821-4171 in Athens), Hellenic Mediterranean Line, or HML (tel. 210/422-5341 in Piraeus), Minoan Lines (tel. 210/414-5700 in Piraeus), Strintzis Lines (tel. 210/422-5015 in Piraeus), and Ventouris Line (tel. 210/988-9280 in Piraeus). In high season, the typical one-way cost from Brindisi to Corfu is about 200€ ($260) to 250€ ($325) for two people in a double cabin with a standard-size vehicle.

Note: If you're coming by yacht from a non-E.U. country, Corfu town is one of Greece's official international entry/exit harbors, with Customs and health authorities as well as passport control.

By Bus -- KTEL offers service from Athens or Thessaloniki; its ferry carries you between Corfu and Igoumenitsou on the mainland opposite. Buses allow you to get on or off at main points along the way, such as Ioannina. The buses are comfortable enough, but be prepared for many hours of winding roads. The KTEL office (tel. 26610/39-627) is located along Leoforos Avramiou, up from the new port.

Visitor Information

Ionian Islands Tourism Directorate (tel. 26610/37-520) is on the second floor of a modern, unnumbered building at the corner of Rizospaston and Polila in the new town, a block across from the post office. It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 1pm; in July and August, it's also open on Saturday. The office may have brochures with maps of the town and island. Those with a particular interest in environmentally responsible tourism can check a most helpful website of a British organization, Friends of Ionia (www.foi.org.uk).

Getting Around

By Bus -- The dark-blue public buses service Corfu town, its suburbs, and nearby destinations. The semiprivate green-and-cream KTEL buses offer frequent service to points all over the island -- Paleokastritsa, Glifada, Sidari, and more. The KTEL office (tel. 26610/39-627) is located along Leoforos Avramiou, up from the new port.

By Taxi -- In and around Corfu town, a taxi is your best bet -- sometimes the only way around, such as to and from the harbor and the airport. Although taxi drivers are supposed to use their meters, many don't, so you should agree on the fare before setting out. You may also decide to use a taxi to visit some of the sites outside Corfu town; again, be sure to agree on the fare beforehand.

By Car -- You'll find car-rental agencies all over Corfu. Even so, in high season it can be very difficult to get a vehicle at the spur of the moment. If you're sure of your plans on Corfu, make arrangements with an established international agency before departing home. Otherwise, try Greek Skies Travel Agency, in Corfu town at 20A Kapodistriou (tel. 26610/33-410; fax 26610/36-161); or Avanti Rent A Car, 12A Ethnikis Antistasseos, along the new port (tel. 26610/42-028).

By Moped -- It's easy to rent mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles, but the roads are so curving, narrow, and steep that you should be very experienced before taking on such a vehicle. And insist on a helmet.

Fast Facts

The official American Express agent for Corfu is Greek Skies Travel Agency, 20A Kapodistriou (tel. 26610/33-410; fax 26610/36-161). There are numerous banks in both the old town and new town; you'll find ATMs at most of them. The British Consul is at 1 Menekrates (tel. 26610/30-055), at the south end of the town, near the Menekrates monument. There is no U.S. consulate in Corfu. The hospital is on Julius Andreatti, and is signed from around town.

There are two convenient Internet cafes: Online Cafe, 28 Kapodistriou, along the Esplanade (cafe_online1@yahoo.com); and Netoikos, on 14 Kalochairetou, behind Ayios Spiridon Church. Both are open daily from late morning to late evening. You can count on quick, careful, and fair-priced laundry or dry cleaning at the Peristeri, 42 Ioannis Theotikos (leading from San Rocco Sq. on the way to the KTEL Bus Terminal). It's open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 2pm, with additional hours on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6 to 8pm. The police station (tel. 26610/39-575) is at 19 Leoforos Alexandros (near the post office). The post office (tel. 26610/25-544) is at 26 Leoforos Alexandros. It's open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 8pm; in July and August, it's also open for a few hours on Saturday. The main telephone office (OTE) is at 9 Mantzarou; it's open Monday through Friday from 7am to midnight, to 10pm on Saturday and holidays.