By Blaise Jaeger · Updated July 23, 2026

That’s it. You’ve decided to visit Corfu during your next vacation. The first question you’re probably asking yourself now is: how do I get to Corfu? There are two main options. By air, into Corfu International Airport (CFU) — usually followed by renting a car — or by sea, on a ferry from mainland Greece, Italy or Albania.

Having travelled to Corfu dozens of times over the past decade, by plane and by ferry, here’s everything I’ve learned about getting there: which airlines fly direct, how to reach town from the airport, the ferry routes and how long they take, and where to rent a car once you land.

Get to Corfu by air

Corfu Airport (CFU): the basics

Corfu International Airport “Ioannis Kapodistrias” (airport code CFU) sits just about 3 km southwest of Corfu Town, so arrivals are quick and easy. It’s a single-terminal airport that stays fairly small and manageable, though it gets very busy at peak times in July and August when the charter and low-cost flights arrive back to back. Its short runway right by the sea also makes for one of the more spectacular landings in Greece.

From Corfu airport to town or your resort

Because the airport is so close to the centre, getting to Corfu Town takes only a few minutes:

• Public bus — the blue city bus line 15 runs between the airport and the town/port for about €1.70 (roughly every 30 minutes in season, 10–20 minutes’ ride).
• Taxi — a short ride into Corfu Town costs from around €20 and takes about 10–15 minutes.
• Private transfer — pre-booked transfers meet you in arrivals with a name sign, which is handy if you’re heading to a resort further out.
• Rental car — the easiest option if you’re staying outside town and want to explore the island (see below).

Get to Corfu from the UK

From London

Ryanair and EasyJet typically start their direct London flights in late March, in time for the Easter and summer season, and run them through late October. EasyJet usually flies daily while Ryanair operates a few times a week. The flight time is a little over 3 hours.

During high season there are more companies (including Tui and British Airways) and many more options — in peak summer EasyJet can run up to 4 direct flights a day, from Gatwick and Luton.

From the rest of the UK

If you don’t live close to London, you’ve got plenty of choice, whatever region of the UK you live in. Corfu airport has seasonal direct connections with Bristol in the West, with Manchester, Leeds and Doncaster in the North, Birmingham in the centre of the country, Glasgow in Scotland and Cardiff in Wales, amongst others.

Get to Corfu from France

From Paris

Transavia flies direct from Paris from spring (usually early April) through to late October, several times a week. The flight time is a little over 2 hours 30 minutes, and you can often find fares around €70 return — even in July and August — if you book early enough.

In peak summer, EasyJet adds a daily direct Paris CDG – Corfu flight, and Aegean also serves Paris CDG. In July and August, many more options open up, including Air France.

From the rest of France

Transavia also runs direct flights from Nantes to Corfu in July and August, while EasyJet flies directly from Lyon to Corfu.

From other European cities

You can fly direct from Corfu airport to a dazzling range of destinations across Europe and beyond. Try Milano, Frankfurt, Rome, Munich and Brussels for a start. Corfu airport routes also include major European cities like Prague, Stuttgart, Berlin, Amsterdam and Barcelona, plus Basel, Budapest, Cologne and Copenhagen. Even further afield, seasonal routes have linked Corfu with hotspots such as Tel Aviv, Cairo and New York.

In recent seasons, the direct routes served by the main low-cost airlines have included:

Direct flights with EasyJet

Amsterdam, Belfast, Berlin, Bristol, Geneva, London Gatwick, London Luton, Lyon, Manchester, Milano Malpensa, Napoli and Paris CDG.

Direct flights with Ryanair

Aarhus, Barcelona, Berlin, Birmingham, Bologna, Bratislava, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Cologne, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Gdansk, Karlsruhe, Krakow, London, Manchester, Milano, Munster, Napoli, Nuremberg, Paris, Pisa, Poznan, Prague, Roma, Shannon, Sofia, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Torino, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Vilnius and Warsaw.

Direct flights with Transavia

Amsterdam, Nantes, Paris Orly and Rotterdam.

From Greece

There are of course many options to fly to Corfu from within Greece, mainly with Aegean and Olympic Air.

You can fly between Corfu and Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, and other Greek destinations. So as well as being a great place for a standard holiday, Corfu also makes a handy jumping-off point to start a longer, wider Greek adventure.

Get to Corfu by sea

Corfu is very well connected by ferry, which is the way to go if you’re travelling with your own car, coming overland through the Balkans, or combining the island with mainland Greece, Italy or Albania.

Ferry from Igoumenitsa (mainland Greece)

The main gateway is Igoumenitsa, on the Greek mainland. The crossing takes roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on the vessel, and it is remarkably frequent: there are more than 20 departures a day, year-round, with the first ferry leaving around 03:00 and the last one late in the evening (about 22:30). The route is operated by companies such as Kerkyra Lines, Kerkyra Seaways and Ventouris Ferries, and a foot-passenger ticket costs only around €7–€13 (cars are charged on top). Because departures are so regular, you rarely need to plan far ahead as a foot passenger — but book ahead if you’re bringing a car in high season.

👉 The most useful crossing for most visitors is Corfu ↔ Igoumenitsa. You can check live schedules and book your ferry directly here:

Ferry from Italy

Corfu is also reachable by ferry from Italy, particularly from the ports of Venice, Ancona and Bari. Many of these services run to Igoumenitsa, from where you hop across to Corfu, while some sailings call directly at Corfu in the summer months. These routes are especially convenient for Italian and central European travellers who want to bring their own car, though the crossings are long (often overnight), so booking a cabin ahead is a good idea.

Ferry from Albania (Saranda)

Corfu is only a short hop from Saranda, on the Albanian coast — an easy add-on if you want to combine the island with a few days in Albania. The crossing takes anywhere from 25–35 minutes by fast hydrofoil to about 75–90 minutes on a conventional ferry, with roughly 4–6 sailings a day each way in summer (fewer in spring and autumn). It’s run by operators such as Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways, and foot-passenger tickets cost about €10–€20 one way. Note that this is an international crossing, so you’ll go through border control and need a valid passport (EU nationals can use an ID card).

Air or ferry: which should you choose?

For most visitors flying in from the UK, France or the rest of Europe, a direct flight is by far the fastest and usually cheapest way to reach Corfu, especially if you book early. Take the ferry instead if you’re travelling with your own car, arriving overland from mainland Greece, Italy or the Balkans, or if you simply enjoy the slower, scenic approach by sea. Many people also combine the two: fly in, then use the short Igoumenitsa or Saranda crossings for a day trip or a wider trip around the region.

Where to rent a car at Corfu airport

A car is the best way to explore Corfu, as many of the finest beaches and villages are spread around the island and poorly served by buses. I usually rent mine from Green Motion Greece. They are very professional and very kind, and they have never taken advantage of a small scratch on the car to charge a colossal sum for repairs, as some rental companies do.

However, to be sure you get the best price, I recommend comparing offers with DiscoverCars, a powerful search engine that puts all the local and international agencies at Corfu (CFU) airport side by side. Booking ahead is far cheaper than renting at the desk on arrival, and prices climb quickly in July and August.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting to Corfu

How do you get to Corfu?

There are two main ways to get to Corfu: by air, flying into Corfu International Airport (CFU) — which has direct flights from across the UK, France and the rest of Europe — or by sea, on a ferry from mainland Greece (Igoumenitsa), Italy or Albania (Saranda).

How far is Corfu airport from Corfu Town?

Corfu Airport (CFU) is only about 3 km southwest of Corfu Town. You can reach the centre by city bus line 15 for around €1.70, by taxi from about €20 (10–15 minutes), or by pre-booked private transfer.

Which airlines fly direct to Corfu?

The main low-cost airlines flying direct to Corfu are EasyJet, Ryanair and Transavia, plus Aegean and Olympic Air from within Greece. In high season many more carriers add routes, including Tui, British Airways and Air France.

How long is the ferry from Igoumenitsa to Corfu?

The ferry from Igoumenitsa to Corfu takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, with more than 20 departures a day from early morning until late evening. Foot-passenger tickets cost roughly €7–€13.

Can you reach Corfu by ferry from Italy or Albania?

Yes. Ferries run to Corfu from several Italian ports (Venice, Ancona and Bari), mostly via Igoumenitsa with some direct summer sailings, which is convenient if you’re travelling with a car. There is also a short Corfu–Saranda crossing to and from Albania — remember your passport, as it’s an international border.

Do you need to rent a car in Corfu?

A car is the best way to explore Corfu, as many of the finest beaches and villages are poorly served by buses. Renting at Corfu (CFU) airport and booking ahead is the cheapest option — you can compare car hire prices here.

Plan the Rest of Your Corfu Trip

Once you’ve sorted how to get to Corfu, it’s time to plan the rest. Start with my Corfu Travel Guide, then browse the best beaches in Corfu, the best things to do, and my guide on where to stay in Corfu.