📅
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Peak Season
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May - Sept
(Mediterranean Summer)
🌡️
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Weather
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60-90°F
Hot summers
💰
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Budget
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€6-30pp
Per activity
📶
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WiFi
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Terminal: Free
Town: Cafés
📍
Island Orientation
Understanding Corfu's Geography
The Island:
40 miles long (N-S), 20 miles wide (E-W). Lush, green, and mountainous—unlike arid Aegean islands.
Key Insight:
Ships DOCK at the New Port (Neo Limani). The walk from the ship to Old Town is approximately 2.5km to 3km (25-30min) along the coast, or a €10 taxi. No tender required.
Where You'll Dock
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New Port (Neo Limani):
Shared with ferries
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Terminal:
ATM, car rental, duty-free, WiFi
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Shuttle:
Free pier-to-terminal (5-10min walk)
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Some cruise lines run paid shuttles to town (~€8)
Main Zones
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Old Town:
UNESCO site, Venetian alleys, Liston
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Spianada:
Largest square in Greece
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Fortresses:
Old (east) & New (west)
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Kanoni:
Mouse Island viewpoint (5km south)
📍
Top 6 Destinations
🏛️
Old Town (UNESCO)
Venetian alleys, the Liston promenade, Spianada Square (largest in Greece), and St. Spyridon Church. Compact and walkable. Kumquat shops, leather goods, and olive wood souvenirs in every alley. Best explored without a plan—just wander.
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Cost
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Free
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Transport
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Walk 25-30min
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Time
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2-3 hours
🏰
Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio)
14th-century Venetian fortress on a promontory separated by a moat. Church of St. George inside. Climb to the lighthouse summit for sweeping views of the Ionian Sea and Albanian coast. Steep climb with limited shade—bring water, go early.
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Cost
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€10
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Transport
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Walk from town
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Time
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2-3 hours
👑
Achilleion Palace
Neoclassical palace built in 1890 for Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi") of Austria, themed around the Greek hero Achilles. Terraced gardens with statues and stunning Ionian views. ⚠️ Palace interior CLOSED for renovation—only gardens open (€7). Bus #10 from San Rocco, 30min.
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Cost
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€7 (gardens)
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Transport
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Bus #10 30min
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Time
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1.5-2 hours
🏖️
Paleokastritsa
Corfu's most famous beach area: six coves of turquoise water surrounded by cliffs and olive groves. 13th-century hilltop monastery. Boat tours to sea caves (~€10-15). Green Bus A9 from KTEL terminal (~45min, €2.50). Gets crowded in summer—go early.
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Cost
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Free (bus €2.50)
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Transport
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Green Bus 45min
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Time
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4-5 hours
📸
Kanoni & Mouse Island
Corfu's most photographed viewpoint. Tiny Vlacherna Monastery on a causeway, with Mouse Island (Pontikonisi) beyond. Also near Mon Repos Palace (birthplace of Prince Philip). Bus #2a from Spianada, 20min. Quick photo stop or combine with Mon Repos.
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Cost
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Free
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Transport
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Bus #2a 20min
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Time
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1-2 hours
🏰
New Fortress (Neo Frourio)
Built 1570s by Venetians atop St. Mark's hill. Less crowded than the Old Fortress with equally impressive views. Entrance can be tricky to find—start from New Fortress Square. Open April-October only. Closed Tuesdays. Free or low-cost entry.
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Cost
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€5
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Transport
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Walk from town
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Time
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1-1.5 hours
⚠️
Critical Warnings
🚶
Port to Town Options
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Walk: 25-30min along coast (flat, easy)
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Taxi: €8-10 to Old Town (5min)
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Blue Bus #16/#17: €1.80, every 15min
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Ship shuttle: ~€8 (check your line)
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Taxi queue tip: walk PAST tour cars to short-ride taxis
🚕
Transport Tips
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Blue Buses = town & nearby (San Rocco hub)
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Green Buses = island-wide (KTEL terminal)
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KTEL station is 2km south of town center
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Negotiate taxi price BEFORE getting in
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Hop-on/hop-off bus: €19/day, 2 routes
🏛️
Old Town Tips
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Streets are narrow, uneven, hilly
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Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes
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Avoid tourist-trap restaurants with "pullers"
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Side-street tavernas = better food, lower prices
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Try kumquat liqueur—Corfu's signature
📱
Connectivity & Safety
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Free WiFi in cruise terminal
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Cafés in town offer free WiFi
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English widely spoken
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Very safe for tourists
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Tap water drinkable but bottled preferred
Getting Back to Your Ship: The Work-Backwards Method
Golden Rule:
Never plan to arrive at the pier at all-aboard time. Plan to be back in your cabin. The port is straightforward but the walk back takes 20-25 minutes, and taxis can be scarce when multiple ships depart simultaneously.
Step-by-Step Calculation (Paleokastritsa):
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All-aboard time:
5:00pm
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Subtract security/boarding (15min):
4:45pm
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Subtract walk/taxi to port (25min):
4:20pm
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Subtract bus from Paleokastritsa (50min):
3:30pm
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Add safety buffer (30min):
3:00pm
RESULT: Board your return bus by 3:00pm
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Multiple ships in port (+20min)
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First time in port (+20min)
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Visiting Paleokastritsa (+30min)
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Achilleion Palace by bus (+20min)
Typical Travel Times:
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Old Town → Port: 20-25min walk
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Kanoni → Town: 20min bus
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Achilleion → Town: 30min bus
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Paleokastritsa → Town: 45-50min bus