About Corfu
Corfu is second in size only to Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea. It is one of the most touristic islands of Greece with superb nature and landscapes, beautiful beaches, fortresses, and traditional settlements.The town of Corfu
Corfu is a beautiful city with unique color and inimitable charm. The old town, the jewel of the island, is the 17th Greek monument on the list of world Heritage of UNESCO and holds its strong Venetian character. It is characterized by wide boulevards, large squares, tall buildings, narrow streets and Venetian alleyways.
Spianada, the largest square in Greece, is the City Center. The old fortress dominates the east side of Spianada with its magnificent views of the sea and the mountains of Epirus. The Palaces of St. Michael and St. George are at the north side.
In the palaces halls, the Historical Archives of Corfu, the Archives of the Ionian Senate, the Public Library and the Museum of Asian Art are housed, together with the throne room.
One of the best known and most beautiful areas of Corfu is Kanoni, opposite to Pontikonisi, the latter being the symbol of Corfu, with the Byzantine church of the Almighty, and the historic Church of Vlacherna, connected to the mainland through a narrow path. Finally, Mon Repos is a Park of outstanding natural beauty with rare tree species, where the summer residence of the English Commissioner Adam still stands.
The trip to Corfu
Access to the island of Corfu is possible either by air or by sea.
Travelling by air:
The quickest way to reach Corfu is by air. Nowadays there are domestic flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Lefkada - Aktion.
The duration of the flight from Athens is about 50 minutes. The airport of Corfu, "Ioannis Kapodistrias", is located approximately 2 km from the city center and is easily accessed by taxi.
Travelling by boat:
Ferries leaving Patras, pass by Corfu before reaching Italy. From Italy (usually Brindisi) the same boats stop at Corfu before heading for Patras.
The town of Corfu and Igoumenitsa are linked by ferry service. In this line several open- or closed-type ferries are routed daily, every one hour and a half. The duration of the trip varies from one hour and a half for closed-type boats, to two hours for open- type ones.
Useful Numbers:
Ferry Schedules (Port Authority of Corfu): 26613-65200
Travelling by car:
By car, the trip to Igoumenitsa from Athens can be done either through Patras, or via the road connecting Lamia - Domokos - Trikala - Ioannina.
From Thessaloniki, the access is faster by Egnatia Odos. Another option is KTEL bus service, connecting Corfu with Athens and Thessaloniki.
Useful Numbers:
- Corfu Bus Service: 26610-30627, 39985
- Athens Bus Service: 210-5129443
- Thessaloniki Bus Service: 2310-528600
Transportation in Corfu:
On Corfu you will find plenty of taxis and a dense network of urban (blue) and intercity (green) buses. You can also rent a car since Corfu is a large island with a dense road network.
Within the city, pedestrian transportation is encouraged, as the distances are small and trails inside the old city allow strolling in one of the most important monuments of UNESCO.
Useful Numbers:
- Taxi Call Centre: 26610-33811
- Corfu City Bus Station: 26613-31595
