Corfu is one of the most rewarding ports on any Greek Islands or Adriatic itinerary. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Venetian lanes, French arcades and two fortresses, and it repays slow exploration rather than a timed checklist. The one thing worth settling before you step ashore is how you get there, because the ship berths at the New Port and the centre is a good half hour away on foot.
The island has more to offer beyond the town as well: Paleokastritsa on the west coast, the Achilleion Palace, and the beaches in the north all make strong full-day options for those who want to see more of Corfu than the centre. The main decision is whether to stay local and unhurried, or commit to one longer island trip.
Port Overview
Corfu is generally a docking port. Ships berth at the New Port, or Neo Limani, on the north-western edge of Corfu Town, and you walk off rather than tender. Occasionally, if the port is extremely busy with three or more ships, a vessel may anchor and tender instead, but that is far less common than in places like Santorini.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Type | Dock (Rarely Tender) |
| Distance to Town | 1.5 km / about 20 minutes on foot |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | Greek (English widely spoken) |
| Best Known For | UNESCO Old Town, Venetian architecture & Paleokastritsa |
- New Port , The commercial and cruise dock
- Old Fortress , Venetian fortress separating port from the town
- Spianada , Largest square in the Balkans
- Liston , Elegant French-style arcade
- Old Port , Historic harbour for private boats and ferries
Corfu New Port (Cruise Terminal) · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Corfu Town centre is about 1.5 km from the cruise terminal, and free buses run between the ship and the terminal building. From the terminal it’s a flat walk of around 20 minutes along the water, so it’s worth deciding between your feet, a shuttle and a taxi before you disembark.
Walking: The Best Option
Free- Walk time: About 20 min to the town centre
- Free buses run between the ship and the terminal. From there, follow the waterfront towards the Old Fortress. It is flat the whole way and pleasant first thing, about 1.5 km to the town centre, so allow for it in both directions.
Local Bus
€1.80 – €3.00- The blue bus station is near the New Port market and city buses run into the centre. Use the green bus station at San Rocco Square for beaches like Glyfada and Paleokastritsa (every 30 – 60 min).
Taxi
€8 – €10- Taxis queue outside the terminal. Only really necessary if you have mobility issues or heavy bags – walking to the Old Town is quicker. Agree a fare before longer island journeys.
The New Port and the Terminal
Corfu’s cruise berths are at the New Port, Neo Limani in Greek, on the north-western side of Corfu Town. You will see the island called Kerkyra on local signage and timetables, which is its Greek name and the one used for the town as well, so the two are interchangeable once ashore.
Shuttle buses run between the berths and the main terminal building inside the port, which matters on a busy day when your ship is on the far mole. The terminal itself is properly equipped rather than a shed: check-in counters, information kiosks, security screening, a first-aid clinic, wi-fi and car-hire desks. Taxis queue directly outside it.
From the terminal gates you have three sensible options into the Old Town. Walking is about 1.5 km along a flat waterfront, roughly 20 minutes, and is the nicest of the three first thing in the morning. A taxi is 8 to 10 euros and a few minutes. Cruise-line and port shuttles run into town and drop near the New Fortress, at the top edge of the old streets.
The map above marks the New Port against the Old Port, which is a separate harbour closer to town used by ferries and private boats. They are easy to confuse when a taxi driver or a shuttle timetable refers to one or the other, and the difference is roughly a kilometre and a half of walking.
Top Excursions
Corfu’s interior is mountainous and the best beaches are away from town – excursions are the most efficient way to see the island’s highlights.
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Things to Do in Corfu
Corfu Town is a gem for wandering – walkable, flat, and full of history within a short distance of the port.
The Liston is a beautiful arcade of cafes modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Order a ginger beer – a non-alcoholic speciality unique to Corfu made from fresh ginger. Far more refreshing than the British version.
When visiting the Church of Saint Spyridon and other churches, shoulders and knees must be covered. Scarves are usually available to borrow at the entrance.
Planning how to spend your time ashore is half the pleasure. Our Port Day Planner will build a timed schedule around your ship’s arrival and departure. Choose your pace and it arranges the rest.
Eating Near the Cruise Port
Corfu cuisine is heavily influenced by Venetian and British history, making it uniquely different from the rest of Greece. Look out for sofrito and pastitsada – you won’t find them like this anywhere else.
- Dock
- About 20 min (1.5 km)
- Euro (€)
What else to eat in Corfu
Bourdeto is the island’s fish stew, cooked with a great deal of red pepper and traditionally made with scorpion fish, and it is properly hot by Greek standards. Kumquats grow here and almost nowhere else in Greece, turned into liqueur, spoon sweets and jam. Nουμπουλο, smoked and wine-cured pork, is the Corfiot charcuterie. The Venetian centuries left pasta on Corfiot menus in a way you don’t see elsewhere in Greece.
What to drink
Tsitsibira is Corfu’s ginger beer and it is a direct leftover of the British protectorate: brewed here since the 1840s for the garrison, and Corfiots kept drinking it after the British left. It’s sharp, cloudy and non-alcoholic. Kumquat liqueur is the other island drink, bright orange and sweet. Local wines from the Ionian and the Robola of neighbouring Kefalonia are the ones to order.
Where to find it
It’s five to ten minutes from the berth into the Old Town, a UNESCO site of Venetian lanes called kantounia. The tavernas on the Liston arcade are handsome and priced for the setting. Walk into the narrow streets behind it for the family-run places. The old market near the New Fortress is where locals shop.
Good for a short port call
The Old Town is minutes away and compact. A plate of bourdeto and a tsitsibira in the kantounia is the local version rather than the arcade one.
Getting Around
Corfu Town itself is easy to cover on foot from the port, and that is the best approach for most port days. The Old Town lanes, the Spianada, the Liston, and the Old Fortress are all within comfortable walking distance of each other. For the rest of the island, the green bus network from San Rocco Square reaches Paleokastritsa and the main northern beaches, though services run every thirty to sixty minutes. Taxis are the most flexible option for reaching outlying sights on a tight schedule, and the fares are reasonable by European standards. The roads inland are narrow and winding, which makes self-drive a poor choice for a first-time visit on a short port day.
The roads into Corfu’s interior are extremely narrow and winding. For day-trippers this is not recommended – excursions or taxis are far less stressful and you won’t waste time navigating.
Port Day Tips
Kumquat liqueur – Corfu is the only place in Europe where kumquats grow commercially, try the liqueur or sweets as a souvenir. Ginger beer – a unique non-alcoholic local speciality. The views from the Old Fortress – the climb is absolutely worth it.
Nearby cruise ports: Athens (Piraeus) and Santorini.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually no – it’s a docking port and you walk off the ship. It may tender only if the port is at maximum capacity with three or more ships, which is uncommon.
About 1.5 km to the town centre, which is roughly 20 minutes on foot. The route runs along the waterfront and is flat the whole way, with no hills and no steps. A taxi covers it in a few minutes for 8 to 10 euros, and cruise-line and port shuttles run into town as well.
Absolutely. It’s widely considered the most beautiful spot on the island – six incredible bays and a cliff-top monastery dating back to the 13th century.
Its UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, stunning Venetian architecture, kumquat liqueur (unique to Corfu), ginger beer, and being the greenest of all the Greek islands.
At the New Port, known locally as Neo Limani, on the north-western edge of Corfu Town, which is also called Kerkyra. It is about 1.5 km from the town centre. The terminal has check-in counters, information kiosks, security screening, a first-aid clinic, wi-fi and car-hire desks, and shuttle buses run between the berths and the terminal building.
Around 8 to 10 euros each way. Taxis queue outside the terminal building and the ride takes a few minutes against about 20 on foot. Worth it in the afternoon heat, or if anyone in the party would rather not cover 3 km across the day.
Yes, and plenty of people do. It is about 1.5 km each way on a flat waterfront route, so budget around 20 minutes in each direction and factor both legs into your all-aboard time. If that sounds like a lot of the day spent walking, take the shuttle or a taxi one way and walk the other.
Corfu Town is flat, walkable and close to the port, so most of a call can be spent on foot. It rewards wandering the old town rather than a fixed itinerary. Our Port Day Planner will build a timed schedule around your ship’s arrival and departure.
A Port Day That Earns Its Place on Any Greek Islands Itinerary
Corfu is a lush, welcoming island with a capital city that feels like an open-air museum. Few cruise stops manage this combination as naturally: walkable enough for a genuinely relaxed morning, yet rich enough in history and scenery to fill a full day without effort.
How We Verify Port-Day Details
We aim for practical, low-risk guidance. Before publishing and during updates, we check core planning details against official sources and current operator information.
What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
- Details that change frequently, such as fares and schedules, with up-to-date notes where relevant
Typical Sources
- Official port authority and terminal updates
- Cruise line port notes and day-of-call instructions
- Local transport operators and official tourism resources