Where Is Corfu And How To Get There?
If you’ve seen photos of stunning Corfu landscapes and charming Italian-looking towns, you’re probably wondering where is Corfu.
I visited Corfu, so I’m here to help! This beautiful island is closer than you might think.
Corfu is a Greek island, situated in the northwest of the country, close to the Albanian coastline on the east and Italy on the west.
Corfu is easy to reach from many European destinations, making it a perfect island getaway destination.
Let’s see exactly where is Corfu island in Greece and how to get there!
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Where Is Corfu Located?
When you see the stunning Porto Timoni landscape you might think Corfu is a tropical island, but it is in Europe.
The island of Corfu is located in Greece!
This beautiful island lies in the Ionian Sea in the northwestern part of the country, right across the Albanian border.
Corfu is the northernmost of the bigger Ionian Islands and one of the greenest Greek islands!
The island is about 400km northwest of Athens, the Greek capital.
When you look at the map, you might wonder “Is Corfu in Greece or Albania?”
The island might be closer to the Albanian coast, but it belongs to Greece.
Albania-Greece maritime border runs through the canal between Corfu and coastal Albania.
The Greece-Italy maritime border is west of Corfu. You’ll notice a lot of Italian influence in the architecture of Corfu, especially the UNESCO-listed Corfu Town.
How Big Is Corfu Greece
Corfu covers a land area of almost 600 km2, making it the 7th biggest Greek island and about 200 km2 bigger than the biggest Cyclade Naxos.
The island is about 64 km long, and 32 km wide at the widest point.
There are over 20 villages and towns in Corfu, and the biggest one is Corfu Town.
While these distances might not seem major, I have to remind you that Corfu is quite a mountainous island.
The island is home to the highest mountain peak on the Ionian Islands, Mount Pantokrator standing at 906m. However, the whole island is quite hilly, especially on the western coast.
It takes longer to drive around Corfu than it might seem on the map, as you’ll probably end up on very steep and narrow mountain roads at one point.
Also, Corfu gets very busy in the summer, so driving the same distances will take longer than if you’re visiting Corfu in the low season.
As you can imagine, Corfu is not a walkable island. To get around, you’ll need to rent a car in Corfu or use public transport.
Funnily enough, there is about 190km long hiking trail from north to south of Corfu and you’ll need about 7 days in Corfu to complete it!
Greek Islands Near Corfu
When you see where is Corfu in Greece, you might wonder what other islands are nearby.
Popular islands like Paros or Santorini are in a completely different part of Greece.
So, what is there around Corfu?
Corfu belongs to the Ionian group of islands, and other popular islands in that group are Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Kefalonia.
The most popular island to visit on a day trip from Corfu is Paxos.
This significantly smaller Ionian island is located about an hour from Corfu by ferry, and a popular boat trip from Corfu!
There are several smaller islands around Corfu, Othonoi, Ereikoussa, and Mathraki – also known as Diapontia Islands.
Other Ionian islands are farther away, so island hopping the Ionian islands is not nearly as popular (or straightforward) as island hopping in the Cyclades.
How To Get To Corfu
So, now you know where Corfu is, it is time to figure out how to get there!
Corfu is one of the easiest Greek islands to reach, as it has an international airport with many daily flights throughout the year!
Also, you can take a ferry to Corfu if you’re coming from Albania or northern Greece.
Flying To Corfu
Corfu has fantastic connections to many European destinations, with direct flights from the UK, France, Germany, and more.
It is possible to fly directly to Corfu, without stopping in Athens.
Many airlines flying to Corfu are budget airlines, like easyJet, Ryanair, and Volotea.
That means you can find very cheap flights to Corfu if you plan your trip in advance.
Corfu is quite affordable, so it is worth flying to the island even on a short getaway.
How To Get From Corfu Airport To City Centre
Corfu Airport is quite close to the city center, and I even walked from the airport to my accommodation when I landed at 11 PM and the bus was not running anymore!
I was traveling with a backpack only, so that might not be a very fun option if you have a suitcase.
So, what are your other options?
You can take a bus from the airport to the city center. Corfu City bus line 15 goes from the city center to the airport and stops right in front of Terminal A.
If you land too late to catch a bus, you can also book a transfer or grab a taxi.
There is also Uber in Corfu if you prefer using the app!
Taking A Ferry To Corfu
You can take a ferry to Corfu from Greece, Albania, or Italy.
All ferries go to Corfu Town, the main town on the island.
Ferry from Italy is quite long and usually overnight, so Greece and Albania are a more common choice.
I use Ferryhopper to check all ferry routes as they compare the options from all operators, so I know I’m not missing any.
Ferry from Greece
The most frequent ferry line to Corfu is from the Greek mainland town of Igoumenitsa.
The ferry is very cheap, it costs about 5,60€ and takes about an hour to reach Corfu.
You can also take a ferry to Corfu from the smaller Ionian island of Paxi.
The Paxi to Corfu journey also takes about an hour, but it is significantly more expensive, usually 15-35€, depending on the operator.
Ferry from Albania
You can also take a ferry from Albania to Corfu!
In fact, it is a popular way to get to Greece if you’re backpacking the Balkans and going down the Albanian Riviera.
The ferry takes about 1 hour, but Albania and Corfu have a different time zone, so it will seem shorter or longer, depending on which direction you’re taking.
The ferry goes to the Albanian city of Sarandë, which is a bigger port town compared to the popular resort town Ksamil.
FAQ:
Corfu is an island in Greece. It is located in the northwest of the country, and It belongs to the group of islands called the Ionian Islands.
No, Corfu is not a part of Turkey. Corfu is a Greek island on the northwest coast of Greece, across the Albanian border.
Yes, Corfu is an island in Europe. It is part of Greece and it is located in the Ionian Sea in the northwestern part of the country.
Yes, Corfu is in the EU. Corfu is an island in Greece, which is a member of the European Union. All the rules for entering the EU apply to visiting Corfu too.
No, Corfu is not a country. Corfu is an island in the country of Greece, which is a European country in the southeast of the continent.
Kerkyra is the main town on Corfu island, also known as Corfu Town. If you see one or the other on the map, it is the same place. It is located in the middle of the eastern coast of Corfu.
Final Thoughts: Where Is Corfu Island
Corfu is a Greek island located in the northwest of the country!
It belongs to the Ioninan group of islands, and it is situated right across from the Albania-Greece border.
Whether you’re looking for an affordable summer holiday destination or you want to enjoy the winter sun in the low season, Greek Island Corfu is well worth visiting!
The island is easy to reach by flying from all over Europe or by taking a ferry from Greece or Albania.
Now that you know where’s Corfu, see how many days you need to visit Corfu!
