From how to take public transportation to ATV adventures, here you’ll learn the best ways for getting around Corfu without a car. After visiting Corfu for a week, these are all the tips I wish I knew before arriving.
One of many greek islands, Corfu brings its own unique twist to a summer adventure in Greece. Corfu is the island for adventurers, budget travellers, and lovers of the outdoors. You’ll find the most extraordinary beaches, fantastic hiking, and adventures of a lifetime.
With all the amazing positives that come with travelling to Corfu, there is one small challenge you might experience. And that is transportation around the island. Unless you are choosing to rent a car, transportation around Corfu is not the most straightforward.
There are many reasons why renting a car might not be in the cards for everyone. For one, the cost these days is atrociously high. In addition to this, the driving conditions in Corfu are not the best, especially if you are a nervous driver. The roads are filled with potholes, there are lots of curvy switch back style roads, and Corfu drivers can be pretty fast and furious
If renting a car is not your jam, then you are absolutely in the right place. Because it is still VERY possible to enjoy an amazing adventure filled trip to Corfu without renting a car. All you need is a little more preparation.
I visited Corfu without a car and was still able to check off all the things on my to do list. It was definitely not easy at first. We had to figure it out along the way. But after travelling the island for a week, I can confidently tell you that it is very possible to have your dream greek vacation without renting a car. Here are all the tips I wish I knew before travelling to Corfu, so you don’t have to struggle with it like I did!
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Essential Tips for Getting Around Corfu Without Renting a Car
1. Choose a Central Place to Stay in Corfu
The best tip for getting the most out of your trip to Corfu without a car is to locate yourself central to the things you want to do.
If the things you want to do in Corfu are pretty spread out, then another great option is to choose a central location for the entire island. I stayed at the Pink Palace Hostel in Agios Gordios. This was the halfway point between the North and the South part of the island. It was also only a 30 minute drive directly across the island from Corfu town.
Agios Gordios was a great place to stay because it was central to getting everywhere we wanted to go. The Pink Palace itself was also pretty good. You do not need to be a hostel lover to stay there because it is actually more like a resort/hotel. Only a small section remains a hostel, with the majority of rooms being private.
*** If you need a transfer from Corfu Airport to central Corfu Town, here is a great private transfer service that you can arrange in advance without the stress of dealing with taxi drivers and their inflated prices: Easy Private Transfer From The Corfu Airport. ***
2. Take Local Buses to Get Around Corfu Without a Car
I’ll be honest, the local public transportation system on Corfu is not great. Not because of the quality, but really because there just aren’t a ton of bus lines. This is a huge part of why you’ll see others online recommending against relying on public transportation to get around Corfu, instead suggesting a car rental. As a sole mode of transportation, you won’t go far. But in combination with other sources, the public buses can be a great option for getting to some cool places on the island.
The buses are super cheap and due to Corfu’s small size, don’t take very long to get to your destination. I also found them to be average for comfort and felt safe on each ride.
A lot of the buses run from Corfu town, the central hub on the island. This makes staying in Corfu town a great option for accommodation. Or if you are a short bus ride away from Corfu town (like in Agios Gordios), you can use it as a waypoint. From Corfu town, you can bus to Paleokatrista, Agios Gordios, the Achilleion Palace, Lefkimi, and to various other beaches or villages on the island.
How To Take Buses in Corfu
The green line buses take you outside of Corfu town and around the island. The blue lines are Corfu town’s city buses.
You can find the schedules for the green buses here. And those for the blue line buses here.
The main bus station in Corfu town can be found here on google maps. It is located in a different spot than where the bus will drop you off when arriving in Corfu town.
Paying for the buses can be a bit odd sometimes. When you are leaving from Corfu town, you can pay for your ticket in the bus station with a ticket agent. You can use either cash or card for this. Otherwise, you can usually pay for your ticket on the bus. If there is a store right beside the bus stop (like a convenience or grocery store), then it might be good to go inside and ask if you need to purchase the bus ticket there. For the bus we took in Agios Gordios, the first time we took the bus we just paid with cash with the driver. The second time we took the same bus, we needed to have bought a ticket from the store beside the stop.
What to Expect When Taking Public Buses in Corfu:
There are a few things to note about taking public buses in Corfu.
- The roads are very windy and narrow at times. If you get motion sick like me or are nervous on the road it is good to be mentally prepared.
- There are not as many bus times on the weekend, especially Sundays. Make sure you check the schedule before you leave.
- Like many places, the buses will take slightly longer than the drive time on google maps.
3. Rent an ATV To Get Around Corfu
The most fun, and my personal favourite way of getting around Corfu without a car is by renting an ATV /quad bike.
ATVs are actually street legal in Corfu, meaning you can drive them on any road just like a regular car. They are a super unique way to see the island and are an entire experience in themselves. They obviously move much slower than a car, but you can still get to a large variety of places on the island. Plus, the slower pace just allows you to take in more of the views!
If you are unsure of your comfortability on an ATV, I recommend starting with this awesome ATV/quad bike tour here. You’ll learn some tips from the guide and then drive around with a guided group for a few hours to help you get confident.
They are cheaper to rent than a car, you don’t need to have any experience driving them, and they are fricken awesome. You can rent them from shops located in the popular towns around the island. Typically you would rent them for the duration of a 12 hour day. The shop workers will give you a quick run down on how to safely drive the ATV and then you’ll be off on your adventure.
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4. Book Tours That Pick You Up From Your Hotel
Another great way to get around the island is by letting someone else handle the transportation for you. Booking a tour or experience can be a great way to check off your adventures without having to drive yourself to them.
There are a variety of tour companies located all around Corfu. Specifically, in the more popular towns and places to stay on the island. You can choose from a few different fun day activities, such as boat tours to neighbouring islands, snorkeling, Corfu town sightseeing tours, and even a boat trip to Albania!
A boat tour was at the top of our list but they all left from ports in Corfu town. We decided to book a tour through Ionian Cruises and it was the best thing we did on our entire trip. The tour company picked us up in the morning and dropped us back off afterward, saving us the hassle of finding our way there. We got to visit the neighbouring islands of Paxos and Antipaxos and had so much fun.
Some tours you may be interested in doing while visiting Corfu:
- Boat tour to Paxos, Antipaxos and the Blue Cave – This was my favourite experience on the entire island!
- Corfu Quad Bike Tour and Greek Food Tasting Tour – I took the Quad Bike tour as my first experience in Corfu. It was a great way to get comfortable on a quad bike before renting my own and get a good feel of the island. Plus it’s so much fun!
- All-Inclusive Northern Corfu Coastline Jeep Tour – This tour leaves from Corfu Town, but that is the easiest place to take a bus to on the island.
5. Be Open to Friendly Opportunities
You never know who you will meet while travelling or what opportunities you might come across.
When trying to figure out how to get to Porto Timoni, we had pretty much decided the only way was to pay the expensive fee for a taxi there and back. We didn’t want to rent a car to get there, but it was also the number one place we wanted to see on the island. However, when we were talking to the guy at the taxi rental place he insisted that it was going to be too expensive. He then thought about it and said ‘Hey, I have a friend who also works in tourism. I bet he would be interested in driving you guys.’
We ended up working it out with this guy’s friend and for a fee much cheaper than a taxi, he picked us up the next day and drove us there and back.
While I can’t condone getting into a car with strangers, I do think this taught me a valuable tip on being open-minded to unique opportunities. You never know what opportunity could fall into your lap. Trying to meet people and make friends while you are there could be a great way to make connections that help you get around. Maybe you meet some friends who have a car and can tag along with them.
It is always good to stay open-minded!
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Plan Your Trip to Corfu – Logistical Tips:
📱 Stay Connected Without Expensive Roaming Fees
I never travel without an E-Sim now. Stay connected at a fraction of the price of roaming fees, and my favourite part, you can simply download the E-Sim to your phone and don’t have to switch SIM cards around. The service I always use is Airola. You can also get plans that cover multiple countries in Europe if you are travelling beyond Greece.
🏠 Book Your Accommodation
I always use Booking.com to find and book the best hotels at the cheapest rate. If you are interested in staying in a hostel to meet people and take advantage of their activities, you can book private rooms and dorms through Hostelworld.
🏄♀️ Book Your Tours and Excursions
The best search tool I use to book tours in Greece and the rest of Europe is Viator. It has the largest selection of tours with local operators and offers flexible cancellation. I’m also a big fan of Manawa, a small tour company that offers adventure travel tours and great personalized customer service. You can find a curated list of Corfu tours by Manawa here.
Final Thoughts on Getting Around Corfu Without a Car
Corfu is the perfect adventure lovers destination in Greece. From unique beaches you won’t see anywhere else to ATV exploring, you will leave already wanting to go back. It is the perfect alternative to other Greek islands if you are looking for a more budget-friendly experience while also skipping the crowds.
It can be a bit tricky to get around Corfu without a car. This is a fact. But it is not as hard as you may think. You can still have an amazing trip and see so many great things without needing a car.
These 5 tips are things I wish I had known before travelling to Corfu. It would have made planning our itinerary a lot easier and we wouldn’t have had to waste any time trying to figure it out. With this knowledge in advance, you are sure to have a jam-packed itinerary of amazing things to do all without needing a car.
Happy adventuring!
* Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. I only recommend products and companies that I use. Thanks for the support!
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