Corfu Without A Car: Where To Stay & What To Do
If you’re planning a trip to Corfu, you probably noticed that most people rent a car to get around the island. However, visiting Corfu without a car is more common than the internet might make you think!
I love how diverse Corfu is, and there is truly so much to discover on the island. And you don’t necessarily need a car to do it!
Corfu has a reliable public transport system and intercity buses connecting most major tourist hot spots on the island.
I used the bus for some of my trips while I was in Corfu, and it worked perfectly! Also, joining organized tours is an excellent way to reach more remote areas.
Let’s get right into everything you need to know to visit Corfu without a car!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I hope you find the information here helpful!
Do You Need A Car In Corfu?
First things first, do you really need a car in Corfu?
No, you don’t. You can visit Corfu, stay in the most beautiful areas, and get around the island without a car.
That being said, renting a car in Corfu could be easier and cheaper.
The easier part is valid anytime, but the cheaper part depends on when you visit Corfu.
If you visit Corfu in the low season, like I did in May, a rental car can cost you less than 10€ per day!
However, if you’re coming to Corfu in the peak summer season, rental cars are significantly more expensive.
A way to save money when renting a car in Corfu is to get a car only for a day when you want to go on a Corfu road trip.
Also, the ease of getting around the island depends on where in Corfu you decide to stay.
If you’re staying in a remote mountain village a car might be a necessity.
But if you’re staying in Corfu Town, you can easily grab a local bus and reach virtually any tourist attraction on the island.
Finally, there are tours. If driving in Corfu is not your thing, you can always join an organized tour and visit places that are not on the public bus route.
Where To Stay In Corfu Without A Car
To make the most of your time in Corfu without renting a car, you have to pick where to stay strategically.
The best place to stay in Corfu depends on the type of holiday you’re after.
If you want to spend a week on the beach, swimming during the day and enjoying restaurants at night, most seafront villages in Corfu offer just that!
However, if you’re more of an adventure traveler like me, and you want to explore the island you should stay along the intercity bus route.
If you have a week in Corfu, you could divide your time between two places.
First staying in Corfu Town for day trips, and then spending a couple of days in one of the beach towns.
Corfu Town
Most Corfu intercity buses depart from Corfu Town. That makes Corfu Town the best place to stay on the island for day trips.
Corfu Town is the biggest and the most lively town on the island. It is a place with many things to do, a charming Old Town, and lively nightlife.
Also, if you’re coming to Corfu in the low season like I did, it is the most lively area as most locals live there.
The downside of Corfu Town is the beaches. There is a beach in the city, but it is way too close to the port for my liking.
If you’re going to Corfu for beaches, Corfu Town is not the best option.
Where to stay in Corfu Town?
- TOP Pick: Vittori Corfu Rooms
- Mid-range Option: The Monastery Apartment
- Budget-Friendly Option: Local Hostel and Suites Corfu
Dassia
Now if you want to be close to Corfu Town, but have access to better beaches, you should consider Dassia.
This beachfront village is situated about 10 km from Corfu Town, and you can easily take a local bus to get to the city.
Where to stay in Dassia?
- TOP Pick: Senses Suites
- Luxury Option: Rodostamo Hotel & Spa
- Budget Option: Villa Karmar by Go4sea
Benitses
Another alternative to staying in Corfu Town is Benitses. This small seafront village is situated south of Corfu Town, and it is well connected by public transport.
The buses going to Benitses are local Blue buses, so more frequent than intercity Green buses.
It is a good compromise if you want to be close to the beaches and public transport!
While Benitses Beach is right in the city center, it is not as beautiful as some of the other beaches on the island.
Also, you might not enjoy the beach right next to the busy road passing through the village.
Where to stay in Benitses?
- TOP Pick: Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa
- Mid-range Option: Bella Vista Beach Hotel
- Budget-Friendly Option: Olive Grove Poolside Apartments
Sidari
Sidari is a popular resort town in northwest Corfu, and I stayed there for 2 nights exploring the northern Corfu.
I loved how the town was close to several impressive Corfu landmarks like Canal d’Amour and Cape Drastis.
You can easily take a bus from Sidari to Corfu Town for a day in the city. There is also a bus to Kassiopi if you’d like to visit another fishing village in the area.
Where to stay in Sidari?
- TOP Pick: Del Mare Beach Hotel
- Mid-Range Option: Harma Corfu
- Budget-Friendly Option: Jasmine Apartments
Paleokastritsa
Paleokastritsa is one of the best places to stay on Corfu’s western coast without a car.
This seafront village is well connected to Corfu Town by public transport and there are so many things to do in Paleokastritsa!
From beach hopping to hiking and sightseeing, it is one of the most diverse areas to stay in Corfu.
Where to stay in Paleokastritsa?
- TOP Pick: Akrotiri Beach Resort Hotel
- Mid-range option: Hotel Apollon Corfu
- Budget-friendly option: Thalassa Studios
How To Get Around Corfu Without A Car
If you don’t hire a car in Corfu, you can get around by:
- local bus
- intercity bus
- taxi
- joining organized tours
Sure, you also rent a scooter or a quad. However, in my opinion, that’s the same as renting a car as you can reach all the same spots as easily!
Public Transport In Corfu
The most budget-friendly way to get around is a local bus.
There are two types of buses in Corfu: Blue buses and Green buses.
Blue buses are Corfu city buses. Those are local Corfu Town bus lines that connect different neighborhoods of the city and several nearby villages including Dassia, Benitses, and Pelekas.
City buses are frequent and affordable. You can see the itineraries and departure times online to plan the trip.
Further villages are connected to Corfu Town by Green intercity buses.
These buses depart from the Green bus terminal in Corfu Town, and you can buy the tickets at the terminal or online.
You’ll need to take an intercity bus to places like Kavos, Paleokastritsa, or Sidari.
Buses are more frequent on some routes than others, so you’ll need to check the itineraries.
Corfu Taxis
You won’t have an issue finding a taxi in Corfu. However, you might have an issue financing frequent taxi rides.
When you compare it to the average prices in Corfu, taxis are not cheap if you want to use them for day trips around the island.
One of the reasons I don’t like taxis is that prices can be unpredictable.
I get very stressed sitting in that car not knowing how much money the taxi driver will ask once we arrive at the destination.
Luckily, there is an Uber in Corfu and you can see exactly how much the ride will cost you when booking it!
Also, you can book a transfer with Welcome Pickups or arrange a pick-up with your hotel and they can tell you the price in advance.
As I said, Corfu taxis aren’t cheap – expect to pay around 50€ for a 20km trip.
Also, there are boat taxis in certain areas too! Like a boat transfer from Sidari to Cape Drastis or Agios Georgios to Porto Timoni.
Joining Tours
Finally, joining organized tours is the best way to discover the island and make friends as a solo traveler.
You don’t have to do complex maths to figure out exactly how much time can you spend at each location to catch the next bus and figure out bus lines and bus stops.
It is also a great way to explore the island if you don’t have many days in Corfu, as you can visit multiple attractions in one day.
Corfu Itinerary Without A Car
So, what activities should you add to your Corfu itinerary if you don’t have a car?
Honestly, you can do almost everything you would do with a car!
Of course, there are some differences. You might not be able to visit some of the more remote villages which are not on the public transport route, or you might have to pay a bit more to join a tour to take you there.
What I didn’t like about getting around by public transport was that you can’t really visit multiple locations on the same day.
You’ll have to commit to one or two activities a day and make sure that they work logistically if you need to take multiple buses in a day.
However, remember that most people coming to Corfu don’t rent a car, and still have a fantastic time on the island!
If you need a sample itinerary, here is how I suggest you spend 7 days in Corfu without a car:
- DAY 1: Corfu Town sightseeing
- DAY 2: Day trip to Paleokastritsa by bus
- DAY 3: Day trip to Sidari, Canal d’Amour and Cape Drastis by bus
- DAY 4: Boat tour to Paxos and Antipaxos
- DAY 5: Beach day and sunset at Kaiser’s Throne by bus
- DAY 6: Corfu mountain villages tour
- DAY 7: Beach day or Corfu Town before a flight home
Of course, you can add more activities, rearrange the days, or spend more days on the beach depending on how active you want your holiday.
So, here are the best things to do in Corfu you don’t need a car for!
1. Stroll The Cobblestone Streets Of Corfu Old Town
Corfu Old Town is the best place to stay in Corfu without a car and is easily the most picturesque area of the island.
I love the Venetian architecture, colorful houses, and cobblestone streets of this seafront town.
Some of the main tourist attractions are the Venetian Fortress, the burgundy Holy Metropolitan Church, and the Holy Church of Saint Spyridon, known for its painted ceiling.
However, my favorite thing to do in Corfu Town was to wander the cobblestone streets and admire the architecture.
I loved taking narrow winding streets and finding hidden corners and unique restaurants.
2. Take A Greek Cooking Class
If you’re a fan of Greek cuisine like I am, you can join this cooking class in Corfu and learn how to make all the Greek delicacies at home too!
It is a really fun inside look into the local life. You’ll start by browsing the local market and then heading to their family home to cook with freshly sourced ingredients.
3. Enjoy Corfu Beaches
You don’t need a car to enjoy Corfu beaches.
It can be even easier to go to the beach by public transport as you don’t have to worry about finding parking.
Yes, the best beaches in Corfu can get crowded, but you can only imagine how crowded small parking lots get!
You can reach so many beaches by public transport. The quickest and the easiest are the beach towns around Corfu Town like Dassia, Ipsos, or Benitses.
However, you can also take a bus to Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, Barbati, and Glyfada Beach.
4. Go On A Boat Tour
If you want to discover more remote and secluded beaches without a car, you can join one of many boat tours from Corfu!
There is no shortage of different sailing routes you can choose, whether you want to discover the northern or southern coast of the island.
You can even take a boat tour to the beaches in mainland Greece!
I found this full-day cruise with lunch and drinks to be the best value-for-money tour of the island.
It is a full-day sailing cruise where you’ll get to discover some of the most picturesque beaches and see Corfu’s famous landmarks.
Drinks and lunch are included, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the day!
5. Visit Paleokastritsa
A day trip to Paleokastritsa is one of the easiest day trips in Corfu by public transport.
I like Paleokastritsa because there are so many things to do in the area you don’t need a car for!
You can go sightseeing and visit Paleokastritsa Monastery, go on a hike to Lakones village and admire the stunning view over the island, or stay on the beach and see the unique Blue Eye Cave.
6. Watch Sunset From Kaiser’s Throne
The small hilltop village of Pelaks is home to one of the best spots for watching the sunset in Corfu – Kaiser’s Throne.
Pelekas is situated about 10 km from Corfu Town and is easy to visit by frequent city bus line 11.
Kaiser’s Throne is a historic observation deck offering some of the island’s best views!
You get a full 360 view of the island and it is a fantastic spot to watch the sunset or sunrise if you visit in the low season when sunrise is later!
7. Swim In Canal d’Amour
Canal d’Amour could be the most romantic spot in Corfu. At least that’s what the legend says!
The unique landscape of Canal d’Amour is known for a local legend that if you swim in the canal with your lover you’ll stay together forever.
But wait, there’s more!
If you’re single and you swim to the edge of the canal, you’ll find love. See, there’s something for everyone!
Jokes aside, it is a unique landscape to admire even if you don’t swim.
8. Admire Cape Drastis
I was completely mesmerized when I first saw the cliffs along the northwestern coast of Corfu. It looked nothing like the eastern coast or the sandy beaches in the south.
While driving is the easiest way to get here, you can also take a boat shuttle from Sidari Beach or walk to the Cape and take a boat back!
9. Discover Corfu Mountain Villages
One of my favorite things to do in Corfu is to explore all the quaint villages in Corfu. They are usually not as touristic as beach resort towns, so you can enjoy the authentic local atmosphere.
Unfortunately, most of these villages are not easy to reach by public transport.
To be fair, I’d be worried if I’m driving in Corfu and see a bus heading in my direction on some of the roads leading to these villages!
However, you can always join a tour! This North Corfu tour takes you to several mountain villages, including the oldest village on the island – Old Perithia.
10. Go On A Day Trip To Paxos And Antipaxos
Island hopping is one of the best things to do in Greece, so you should add it to your Corfu itinerary too!
The closest islands to Corfu are Paxos and Antipaxos and you can take a ferry or join a boat tour to visit them.
While I like organizing activities, joining a boat tour is more affordable and easier than getting a ferry.
Of course, it won’t be cheaper if you go for a luxury private cruise, but you can find Paxos group tours for under 60€ per person!
FAQ:
Yes, you can explore Corfu without a car by taking local buses or joining organized tours. Corfu has a reliable and frequent bus network, connecting Corfu Town to almost every tourist attraction on the islands.
Corfu is a large island, and it would take you a week to walk from north to south of the island. However, Corfu towns and villages are very walkable once you reach them. Even the main Corfu Town is compact and you don’t need a car to explore.
Summary: Corfu Travel Guide Without A Car
Corfu is a fantastic island to explore whether you rent a car or not!
Corfu is so diverse, so you can choose to have a relaxing beach holiday or go on adventures every day.
I spent a week exploring the island, and there were still things on my wishlist that I had to save for the next time.
A reliable and frequent public transport network makes it easy to get around the island, and you can always join fun and creative tours to reach more remote areas.
Whether you’re visiting Corfu on a budget, or you want to treat yourself to a Greek summer holiday, I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time!
