Cruise Port Guide
Corfu Cruise Port
Quick answerCorfu is a docking port: ships berth at the New Port and a free port shuttle takes you to the passenger terminal. The Old Town is 2–3 km away: walk 30–40 minutes along the flat seafront road, take city bus 16 (€1.10 prepaid, €1.70 on board) or a taxi for about €10. Start back to the port 90 minutes before all-aboard.
Checked October 2026 · Sources
At a glance
Terminal to centre
City (blue) bus line 16
About 10 min · €1.10 prepaid ticket, €1.70 bought on board, €5 day ticket (2026)
Walkable to centre
Yes
About 35 min · 2.5 km
Tender
No
Dock port
Typical time ashore
~9h
Check your own itinerary
Buffer before all-aboard
90 min
PortTrip planning default
Currency
EUR
Greek
Transport and cost figures are estimates — always confirm current fares at the terminal.
Plan your Corfu day
Tell us two things and we'll build the whole day around your ship's schedule.
Free preview · no account needed
Know your ship? See which other ships are in Corfu with you →Leave-by calculator
When to head back to the ship in Corfu
Old Town (Spilia or Spianada)
Bus 16 or taxi, 10–15 min, plus shuttle
Leave by
15:45
Spianada, on foot
Walk the seafront, about 40 min
Leave by
15:45
Paleokastritsa
KTEL bus, about 50 min; in town by 15:00
Leave by
14:10
Where to leave from, and when
on foot bus, train, boat taxiPins show when to leave each place. Lines: route back to your ship.
Where people get it wrong: Trusting the west-coast KTEL buses to run as timetabled; departures can be cancelled at short notice.
Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins.
Open my full Corfu day, timed to 17:30 Get this for every port on your cruise, with alerts on the day Write about Corfu? Put these leave-by times on your blog, freeFees and limits in Corfu
Every cruise passenger visiting a Greek port pays a per-port fee that varies by season.
€5 (1 Jun–30 Sep); €3 (1 Apr–31 May and October); €1 (1 Nov–31 Mar), per person per port
Status and sources
Transport: Port of Corfu (New Port, Neo Limani) to Corfu Old Town
Corfu is one of the easiest Greek ports to do on your own. Ships dock, the walk into town is flat, and the Old Town is a UNESCO-listed grid of Venetian lanes, arcades and two fortresses that fills a whole day on foot. It feels more Italian than Cycladic: tall shuttered houses, the arcaded Liston and a large open square, the Spianada, between the town and the Old Fortress. If you want a beach or the island's west coast, green KTEL buses leave from the intercity station near the port, but with a normal call the Old Town, the Old Fortress and Kanoni are enough.
Walkable? Yes · about 35 min (2.5 km)
Leave the terminal and keep the sea on your left along the waterfront road. It is flat but busy and has little shade. About 2 km brings you to the western edge of the Old Town at the Old Port (Spilia), 30–40 minutes. The Spianada, the Liston and the Old Fortress are another 10–15 minutes across the Old Town.
Where your ship docks
- New Port (Neo Limani) cruise berths · 2.5 km to the centre — Ships berth along the New Port quays north-west of the Old Town. A free internal port shuttle runs from the ship to the passenger terminal; some berths are a 5–10 minute walk from the terminal.
- Passenger terminal · 2.5 km to the centre — Shared with ferries. Wi-Fi, ATM, first aid, car hire desks. Taxis queue outside; city buses 16 and 17 stop in the port area.
City (blue) bus line 16
€1.10 prepaid ticket, €1.70 bought on board, €5 day ticket (2026)About 10 min
Runs from the port to Spilia at the edge of the Old Town. Line 17 runs from the port to the upper Spianada (Ano Plateia Liston). Line 15 links the port with San Rocco Square and the airport. Have coins for the on-board fare.
Walk
Free30–40 min to the Old Town edge
Flat seafront route with the sea on your left. Hot in summer; take water.
Taxi
About €10 to the Old Town (2026)10–15 min
Taxis wait outside the terminal. The first drivers usually offer island tours; for a short ride, go to the end of the line. Agree the fare before you get in.
Cruise-line shuttle to town
Some lines charge about €8 (2026)10–15 min
Not all ships offer one. The public bus is cheaper and as quick.
Green KTEL intercity bus (e.g. A9 Paleokastritsa)
€2.80 one way to Paleokastritsa (2026)About 50 min
Leaves from the intercity bus station on Eptanisou Avenue, near the New Port. Timetables changed on 10 October 2026 and some departures are cancelled at short notice; check ktelkerkyras.gr on the day.
Know your all-aboard time? Build the whole day around it.
Return timing: getting back to the ship on time
Leave the Old Town by 15:45 for a 17:30 all-aboard, so you are on board by 16:30.
The bus takes about 10 minutes, but you may wait 15 minutes for one, and a taxi can take 15 minutes in traffic. You then need the port shuttle from the terminal to your berth. On foot, allow 40 minutes from the Spianada to the terminal. If you go to Paleokastritsa, take a bus that gets you back to Corfu Town by 15:00, since return trips are infrequent and can be cancelled.
If you're running late
Take a taxi from the rank at the Spianada or San Rocco Square; the ride to the port is 10–15 minutes and about €10. Call the ship's port agent (number in the daily programme) if you will be late.
Cruise ships in Corfu this week
A one-day plan for Corfu (all aboard 17:30)
Assumes docking at 08:00.
08:15 Port shuttle to the terminal, then bus 16 or walk along the seafront to Spilia.
09:00 Walk through the Old Town lanes to the Church of Saint Spyridon.
09:30 Cross the Spianada to the Old Fortress (€10) and climb to the lighthouse for the view.
11:15 Coffee or ginger beer under the Liston arcades.
12:00 Museum of Asian Art in the Palace of St Michael and St George, or the city bus to Kanoni for the view of Mouse Island.
13:30 Lunch in the Old Town.
14:45 Walk the lanes towards the Old Port and the New Fortress side, buying kumquat sweets on the way.
15:45 Bus 16 or taxi back to the port. On board by 16:30, 60 minutes before all-aboard.
What to see in Corfu on a cruise day
Old Fortress
Venetian fortress on a rocky headland, separated from the town by a sea moat. Climb to the lighthouse for views over the Old Town and the Albanian coast.
⏱ 1.5 hours€10 full, €5 reduced (2026)
Tip: Open 08:00–20:00 from April to August, closing earlier in September and October. The top is steep and exposed; go before noon.
Spianada and the Liston
One of the largest squares in Greece, with a cricket ground, and the French-built arcade of cafés along its western side.
⏱ 45 minutesFree
Tip: Coffee is cheaper standing at the counter than seated under the arcades.
Church of Saint Spyridon
The church of the island's patron saint, with a tall red-domed bell tower and the saint's relics.
⏱ 20 minutesFree
Tip: Cover shoulders and knees. Queues form to see the relics.
Museum of Asian Art
A large collection of Chinese, Japanese and Indian art in the Palace of St Michael and St George, the former British residence on the Spianada.
⏱ 1 hour€10 full, €5 reduced (2026)
Tip: Open 08:00–20:00 from April to October. A good indoor option on a hot afternoon.
Old Town lanes (Kantounia)
Narrow paved lanes between tall Venetian-era houses, with small squares, churches and laundry lines overhead. The area is UNESCO-listed.
⏱ 1–2 hoursFree
Tip: Get away from the main shopping streets (N. Theotoki and Agiou Spyridonos) for quieter lanes.
Kanoni and Mouse Island
Viewpoint over Vlacherna Monastery on its causeway and Pontikonisi (Mouse Island), with planes landing just overhead.
⏱ 1.5 hours including the busCity bus fare (2026)
Tip: City bus line 2 leaves from the lower Spianada next to the Liston.
New Fortress
The larger Venetian fortress above the Old Port, with tunnels and views over the harbour.
⏱ 1 hour
Tip: Close to the bus 16 stop at Spilia, so it can be your first or last stop.
Beaches near Corfu cruise port
Paleokastritsa
Green KTEL bus A9 from the intercity station · About 50 min · €2.80 each way (2026)
Coves with clear water and a monastery on the headland. Only for a long call; check return times and cancellations.
Mon Repos beach
Walk south from the Spianada along the seafront · About 30 min on foot · Free
Small pebble beach by the Mon Repos estate. The closest proper beach to the Old Town.
Faliraki
Walk from the Spianada to the waterfront below the Palace of St Michael and St George · 10 min on foot
A swimming platform and café rather than a beach, with views of the Old Fortress.
What to eat in Corfu
Pastitsada (spiced beef or rooster with pasta)
Rex Restaurant, Kapodistriou Street, behind the Liston
Sofrito (veal in garlic and white wine sauce)
Tavernas in the Old Town; on most traditional menus
Bourdeto (spicy fish stew)
Tavernas in the Old Town and around the Old Port
Tsitsibira (Corfiot ginger beer)
Cafés under the Liston arcades
Kumquat liqueur and candied kumquats
Specialist shops along the Old Town lanes
Ship excursion or do it yourself?
Varies by line
Ship excursion avg, per person
€14
DIY day avg, per person
Depends on line
Saving, per person
Ship tour prices differ by cruise line and change often, so we only show ones we could verify. Check your line's cruise planner.
| Item | Ship tour | On your own | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town and Old Fortress | Guided walking tour; price varies by line | €2.20–3.40 bus return + €10 fortress (2026) | Not calculated |
| Paleokastritsa | Coach tour; price varies by line | €5.60 bus return (2026) | Not calculated |
| Kanoni and Mouse Island | Part of island tours; price varies by line | City bus from the Spianada (2026 city fares) | Not calculated |
For the Old Town, a ship tour adds little: it is close, flat and easy to navigate. A ship tour is worth it if you want to see the west coast (Paleokastritsa, Pelekas) and the inland villages in one day, because green bus connections are infrequent and cancellations happen. Do not book a tour sold mainly on the Achilleion palace without checking what is open: the palace interior has been closed for restoration for several years.
Common mistakes cruise passengers make in Corfu
Paying for a ship shuttle or tour just to reach the Old Town
Instead: Walk 30–40 minutes on the flat seafront or take bus 16 for €1.10–1.70.
Planning a day around the Achilleion palace
Instead: The palace interior has been closed for restoration for about five years; a new works contract was tendered in August 2026. Check what is open before you go.
Taking the first taxi in the queue for a short ride
Instead: The front taxis want island tours. Walk to the end of the line for a ride to town and agree the fare.
Leaving the fortress climb until the afternoon
Instead: The Old Fortress is exposed and hot. Go in the morning.
Assuming the west-coast buses run as timetabled
Instead: Green KTEL departures can be cancelled at short notice. Check ktelkerkyras.gr and build in a buffer.
Safety: is Corfu safe for cruise passengers?
Corfu Town is safe. Pickpocketing happens in the busy lanes around Saint Spyridon and on crowded buses. Traffic on the seafront road from the port is heavy and pavements are narrow in places. Summer heat is the most common problem on the walk and at the Old Fortress; carry water.
Scams and tourist traps
- Taxi drivers at the port quoting a high fixed price for the short ride to town. Agree the fare first or use bus 16.
- Cafés and restaurants on the Liston adding a cover or service charge you did not expect. Check the menu for charges before sitting down.
- Touts outside Old Town restaurants offering a free drink or discount, then a bill with extra items. Choose places that show a printed menu with prices and check the bill.
Emergency number: 112
Practical information
Crowds
Several ships can be in on the same day, and the Old Town fills from about 09:30 to 13:00 when coach groups arrive. Saint Spyridon and the main shopping streets are busiest late morning. Go to the Old Fortress at opening and keep the lanes for the afternoon, when groups have moved on. Kanoni is quietest early or late.
Accessibility
Corfu is one of the more accessible Greek ports: ships dock, there is a port shuttle to the terminal, and the seafront route to the Old Town is flat. Within the Old Town, the Spianada and the Liston are level, but many lanes are narrow and paved with uneven stone. The Old Fortress is steep in its upper parts; the Ministry of Culture has worked to make parts of it accessible, so ask at the entrance. Kanoni can be reached by bus without steps to the viewpoint.
If it rains
Corfu is greener and wetter than the Aegean islands, and autumn calls can bring heavy showers. The Museum of Asian Art, the Liston arcades and the churches of the Old Town give cover. The Old Fortress is mostly outdoors and slippery when wet.
Money, language, time
Currency: EUR · Language: Greek · Time zone: EET (UTC+2), EEST (UTC+3) in summer
Your whole cruise, planned like this
This is one port. Pro plans every port on your cruise.
The day plan above assumes a 17:30 all-aboard. Your ship's times will differ, and so will every other stop. Pro builds the plan from your ship's real times: a timed day in Corfu and every other port, a leave-by time for each stop, and a Plan B if you run late. Ultimate adds a live leave-by countdown from where you are on the day. Every plan uses the same checked facts as this guide. Nothing is made up.
Cruise Pass
€14.99
One sailing, up to 10 ports. Pay once, nothing renews.
- Every port of your cruise timed to your all-aboard, in port time and ship time
- Live on the day: Google Maps travel time back to the pier, alerts at 30, 15 and 0 minutes
- The full planner for each port, with a Plan B if you run late
- An offline copy for when there is no signal
Year Pass
€39/yr
Every cruise you take for 12 months. Cancel any time.
Everything in the Cruise Pass, for as many sailings as you like.
30-day full refund. Secure checkout with Stripe.
Other ports on cruises that call at Corfu
Kotor cruise port guide
Tender portKotor has a quay right opposite the Old Town's Sea Gate; smaller ships and one larger ship berth there, while others anchor in the bay and tender t…
Read the Kotor guide
Dubrovnik cruise port guide
Walk or short rideMost ships dock at Gruž, about 3 km north-west of the Old Town; one ship at a time may anchor off the Old Town and tender passengers into the old h…
Read the Dubrovnik guide
Bari cruise port guide
Walk to townShips dock at the cruise terminal by the Varco della Vittoria gate; Bari is not a tender port.
Read the Bari guide
Athens (Piraeus) cruise port guide
Transport neededShips dock at Piraeus, about 10 km from the Acropolis, at Terminal A (Miaoulis, Gate E11) or Terminals B and C (Themistocles and Alkimos, Gate E12).
Read the Athens (Piraeus) guide
Corfu Cruise Port — Common Questions
Was this accurate?
Your answer helps the next cruiser — it takes one tap.
Sources & method
Facts checked against official sources: October 2026
- Hellenic Heritage – Old Fortress of Corfu (tickets and hours)
- Hellenic Heritage – Corfu Museum of Asian Art
- Visit Corfu (Municipality) – Corfu city bus
- KTEL Kerkyras (green buses) – home and station info
- KTEL Kerkyras – A9 Paleokastritsa route
- MSC Cruises – Greece cruise passenger fee
- Cunard – Corfu port page
- CruiseMapper – Corfu port
- What's in Port – Kerkyra (Corfu)
- Greeka – Corfu ports
- Enimerosi – Achilleion Palace new contract (Aug 2026)
Independently researched
None confidenceRelated Cruise Planning Guides
Authority Guide
The Ultimate Mediterranean Cruise Port Planning Guide
We use essential cookies. Analytics and marketing only if you allow them. Privacy policy