Getting Around Corfu: Buses, Cars, Taxis and Boats

Getting around Corfu is not difficult, but the best way to travel depends heavily on where you are staying and what you want to see. A bus may be perfect for a day in Corfu Town, a hire car can open up beaches and villages that are awkward to combine by public transport, a taxi makes sense for an early flight or evening meal, and in some parts of the island a boat is one of the best ways to explore the coastline.

The biggest mistake is assuming that one form of transport is best for every journey. Corfu is a long, mountainous island with winding roads, busy summer routes and very different resort areas. The most enjoyable trips usually come from using the right transport for the right day rather than feeling that you must hire a car for the entire holiday.

The quick answer: what is the best way to get around Corfu?

• For Corfu Town, the airport and nearby areas: Corfu City Bus is often the easiest public transport option.

• For travelling between Corfu Town and resorts around the island: Green Buses operate the main intercity network.

• For exploring several beaches, inland villages or less connected areas in one day: a hire car gives you the most freedom.

• For airport transfers, evenings out or journeys where the bus timetable does not work: taxis are convenient.

• For coves, coastal scenery and neighbouring destinations: organised boat trips or local boat hire can sometimes be better than travelling by road.

Understanding Corfu's two bus networks

Visitors often hear people talk about the blue buses and the green buses. They serve different purposes, and understanding the difference makes public transport in Corfu much easier.

Corfu City Bus

Corfu City Bus, also known as Astiko KTEL Kerkyras, serves Corfu Town and a number of nearby destinations. It is particularly useful if you are staying in or close to the town, arriving at the airport, visiting the port or travelling to nearby areas without needing a car.

Line 15 is especially useful for visitors. It links Corfu Airport with the city centre, the intercity Green Bus station and Corfu Port. In the centre it passes through San Rocco Square, which is an important departure point for a number of city bus routes.

This makes the city bus a practical way to reach Corfu Town from the airport if you are travelling light and your arrival time matches the timetable. It can also be used to connect with the Green Bus network if you are continuing to a resort elsewhere on the island.

Green Buses

Green Buses are Corfu's intercity bus network. They connect Corfu Town with many of the island's main resorts, villages and beaches. Current routes include services towards destinations such as Agios Stefanos Avliotes, Sidari, Roda, Acharavi, Kassiopi, Barbati, Nissaki, Afionas, Arillas, Glyfada and locations across the south of the island.

There are also some seasonal cross-island routes that can be extremely useful for visitors who want to explore without returning to Corfu Town between every journey. These can link popular holiday areas and beaches during the main season.

Important: bus timetables change through the season. Always check the current operator timetable before planning a day around a particular bus, especially for your return journey.

Is it easy to explore Corfu by bus?

Yes, if you plan your days around the network rather than expecting the network to work like an underground system. Buses are excellent for straightforward point-to-point journeys, particularly between a resort and Corfu Town. They are less convenient when you want to visit three small villages and two beaches in one day.

If you are staying in a resort with a good direct service, it is entirely possible to have a very enjoyable Corfu holiday without hiring a car. A week based around local beaches, one or two bus trips and an organised excursion can work brilliantly.

• Check the return time before you leave, not when you are ready to come back.

• Give yourself time to find the correct stop, especially in Corfu Town.

• Expect buses to be busier during the peak summer months.

• Do not rely on an old timetable saved from a previous season.

• For remote places, check exactly where the bus stop is in relation to the beach or village you want to visit.

Hiring a car in Corfu

A hire car gives you the greatest freedom to explore Corfu at your own pace. It becomes particularly valuable if you want to discover inland villages, stop at viewpoints, visit quieter beaches or change your plans during the day.

You do not necessarily need a car for the entire holiday. For many visitors, hiring one for two or three days gives the best balance: use buses, taxis and walking locally, then dedicate a couple of days to exploring the island independently.

What is driving in Corfu like?

Driving in Corfu is manageable, but it may feel very different from driving at home. Main roads are generally straightforward, while village roads can become narrow, steep and winding. You may encounter sharp bends, parked vehicles, scooters, coaches and oncoming traffic on roads that appear to have room for only one vehicle.

The best approach is to slow down and avoid setting an unrealistic itinerary. A short distance on the map can take longer than expected because of the road layout. This is particularly true in mountainous parts of the north, north-east and west.

• Choose a smaller car if you are comfortable doing so. It can make village streets and parking easier.

• Check whether your accommodation has parking before you hire a car for the full stay.

• Avoid planning too many stops in one day. Corfu is much more enjoyable when you have time to stop somewhere unexpectedly.

• Inspect the vehicle and understand the insurance terms before leaving the rental location.

• If you are visiting from the UK with a valid photocard driving licence, an International Driving Permit is not normally required for Greece, but you should still check the rental company's own requirements before booking.

Parking in Corfu

Parking is one of the main reasons we would not recommend using a car for every journey. Corfu Town can be busy, and popular beaches and villages can have limited parking in peak season.

For a day focused entirely on Corfu Town, public transport or a taxi can often be less stressful than driving in, finding a space and then walking back from wherever you manage to park. If you are road-tripping and Corfu Town is one stop among several, allow extra time for parking rather than planning to arrive at a precise minute.

Using taxis in Corfu

Taxis are useful when convenience matters more than keeping the cost as low as possible. They are particularly good for airport transfers, travelling with heavy luggage, getting home after an evening out, or reaching somewhere that would involve several bus connections.

Corfu Airport has an official taxi stand opposite Terminal A. During busy arrival periods, there can be a queue, and at peak times it is sensible to think ahead if you have an important connection or a long journey to your resort.

If you are staying in a resort, your accommodation or a local travel office can often help arrange a taxi. For an evening meal in another village, consider booking the return journey in advance rather than assuming a taxi will be waiting nearby when you finish.

Boats as a way of getting around Corfu

In Corfu, boats are not only sightseeing excursions. In some coastal areas they are one of the most enjoyable ways to move between bays, beaches and nearby destinations.

Organised boat trips operate from a number of resorts and can include beach stops, swimming, coastal sightseeing and journeys to nearby islands or mainland destinations. The exact routes vary by departure point and season, so it is worth checking what leaves from the resort where you are staying before travelling elsewhere to join a trip.

Hiring a small boat

Small self-drive boats are available from a number of coastal resorts and are particularly popular around sheltered parts of the north-east coast. They can give you access to small bays and waterside tavernas that feel completely different when approached from the sea.

Never assume that every rental boat has the same licensing rules or operating area. Requirements can vary according to the type and power of the boat and the operator's conditions. Follow the rental company's safety briefing, stay within the permitted area, check the weather forecast and do not treat a boat like a car on water.

What about airport transfers?

There is no single best airport transfer for everyone. If you are staying in Corfu Town, the city bus or a taxi is straightforward. If you are travelling to a resort elsewhere on the island, your best option depends on your arrival time, luggage, group size and whether a convenient onward bus is available.

• City bus: good value for Corfu Town and useful for connecting with the intercity bus station.

• Green Bus connection: useful if your flight time and the resort timetable line up comfortably.

• Taxi: easiest if you have luggage, children, a late arrival or simply want to get straight to your accommodation.

• Pre-booked transfer: useful for larger groups or when you want the journey organised before you land.

Can you stay in Corfu without a car?

Absolutely. The key is choosing the right base. If your accommodation is within walking distance of the beach, restaurants and shops, and your resort has useful bus links or excursion operators, you may barely miss having a car.

Corfu Town is the obvious choice for public transport flexibility, but larger resorts including places such as Sidari, Acharavi and other established holiday centres can also work well without a car because you have more facilities close at hand.

A quieter villa on a hillside several kilometres from the nearest village is a different situation. Always check the exact accommodation location rather than relying on the resort name in a booking description.

The Corfu & Beyond approach: mix your transport

For many visitors, the best answer is not bus or car or taxi. It is a combination of them.

1. Use the bus for a day in Corfu Town, so you do not have to think about parking.

2. Hire a car for two or three days and explore the beaches, villages and viewpoints that are harder to reach independently.

3. Take a boat trip for a completely different view of the island and coastline.

4. Use a taxi for the journey where convenience really matters, such as the airport or a special evening out.

This approach usually gives you more flexibility without paying for a hire car that spends half the holiday parked outside your accommodation.

Transport tips that will make your Corfu holiday easier

• Check current timetables shortly before you travel. Seasonal transport information changes.

• Save the location of your accommodation in your phone, particularly if it is outside the centre of a village.

• When using buses for a day trip, identify the final return service before you leave.

• If driving, download an offline map as a backup. Mobile coverage is generally good, but it is useful on rural roads.

• Do not judge driving time by distance alone. Corfu's roads can make a short journey surprisingly slow.

• For popular beaches in July and August, arrive earlier if parking matters to you.

• If you are booking a taxi or transfer for your flight home, build in sensible extra time rather than relying on a perfect road journey.

Which transport option is right for you?

• Choose buses if you are budget-conscious, staying somewhere well connected and happy to plan around a timetable.

• Choose a hire car if exploring independently is one of the main reasons you are visiting Corfu.

• Choose taxis when comfort, luggage, timing or convenience matters most.

• Choose boats when the journey itself is part of the experience and you want to discover Corfu from the sea.

Final thoughts

You do not need to drive every day to see Corfu, and you do not need to rely entirely on buses either. The island is at its best when you slow down and choose transport that suits the journey.

Use public transport when it makes life simpler, hire a car when freedom matters, take a taxi when convenience wins, and get on the water at least once if you can. Getting around is not just a practical part of a Corfu holiday. Done properly, it becomes part of the experience.