Corfu cruise port

Venetian lanes, two fortresses and the greenest island in Greece.

Corfu is the Greek island that looks Italian: a UNESCO Old Town of shuttered Venetian houses, arcaded cafes on the Liston and a pair of fortresses facing the sea, all wrapped in cypress and olive groves. Ships dock at the New Port, about a mile and a quarter west of the Old Town, with a short walk, a cheap city bus or a 10 euro taxi putting you at the walls. Most cruisers wander the Old Town and the Old Fortress, ride out to Paleokastritsa or the Achilleion, or go for a swim at a nearby beach. SmartCruiser lists every cruise that calls at Corfu from every line, priced with taxes and fees included, with the sailings that carry SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit or instant savings at the top.

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DockedNew Port, no tenders, Old Town 20 to 30 min walk
Eurotaxi to the Old Town about 10 euros
May to Jun, Sep to Octwarm, dry and far fewer people
All inevery price includes taxes and fees
Start here

Three ways to do Corfu

The Old Town on foot, the west coast by coach, or a beach and a long lunch: pick the day you want and the button filters the list of sailings below.

Old Town on foot

The Liston, the lanes and the Old Fortress, all walkable from the ship

  • Walk 20 to 30 minutes along the flat waterfront, take the blue bus 15 for about 2 euros, or a taxi for about 10 euros
  • The Old Fortress (about 6 euros), the Liston arcades, St. Spyridon’s church and the Spianada square are all within a 10 minute walk of each other
  • Two to three hours covers it; finish with lunch under the arcades

Best for: first-timers, photographers, anyone with a short call

West coast and the Achilleion

Paleokastritsa’s bays, the monastery and Sisi’s palace in one coach day

  • Paleokastritsa is 30 to 40 minutes each way; a 15 euro boat ride into the sea caves is the highlight
  • The Achilleion, Empress Elisabeth’s palace, is 20 minutes south; as of 2026 only the gardens and terraces are open while the interior is restored
  • Ship tours run 4 to 5 hours and about $90 to $130; a private driver for four is similar money

Best for: repeat visitors, garden lovers, longer port calls

Beach and a swim

Dassia, Glyfada or a boat to Mouse Island

  • Dassia and Ipsos are 15 minutes north by taxi or green bus; Glyfada on the west coast is a 30 minute ride and the prettier sand
  • Kanoni and Mouse Island are 10 to 15 euros by taxi, with a 2.50 euro boat hop out to the chapel
  • Back at the port, the hop-on hop-off bus (about 22 to 35 euros) loops Kanoni and the Achilleion from the terminal

Best for: families, sun seekers, hot August days

Live from the cruise lines

Corfu cruises: SmartCruiser picks first

Every cruise that calls at Corfu from every line, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra: instant savings or bonus onboard credit. Below them, every other sailing that stops here, with full sorting by home port, line, month, length and price.

SmartCruiser picks

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Every cruise that calls at Corfu

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. SmartCruiser instant savings and bonus onboard credit are provided by SmartCruiser on top of the cruise line’s price and are not available when booking direct; amounts are per stateroom, vary by stateroom category and are shown for the lowest category offered. Special SmartCruiser rates are pricing SmartCruiser holds on that sailing for its clients, with extra onboard credit; you book your own stateroom and travel on your own. Senior fares apply to guests 55 and over; resident fares need proof of residency in a listed state or province at check-in; police and fire fares apply to active or retired police, fire and EMT personnel with ID. Qualifier-fare savings are measured against the best fare the cruise line offers the general public for the same stateroom category on the day the list was pulled, updated weekly.

In port

Things to do in Corfu

The Old Town is a short hop from the pier and the island’s best coast is 30 minutes away, so a seven or eight hour call fits either one comfortably.

Corfu Old Town and the ListonA UNESCO maze of Venetian lanes (kantounia), the arcaded Liston cafes modeled on the rue de Rivoli, the Spianada parade ground and St. Spyridon’s church with its silver-cased saint. Free, two to three hours, a 20 to 30 minute flat walk or 10 euro taxi from the New Port.
The Old FortressThe Venetian citadel on the headland east of the Spianada, with a moat, a British-built church and a lighthouse view over the town and the Albanian mountains. About 6 euros as of 2026, open from 8 AM in season, allow 60 to 90 minutes and wear real shoes for the climb.
PaleokastritsaSix horseshoe bays, a 13th century monastery on the cliff and water clear enough to count the pebbles, 30 to 40 minutes west by coach or taxi. Small boats run into the sea caves for about 15 euros; a taxi for the half day is about 80 to 100 euros for the car.
The AchilleionThe 1890 palace built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm, famous for its Achilles statues and terraced gardens 20 minutes south of town. As of 2026 the interior has been closed for restoration since 2021 and only the gardens and exterior can be visited, so check your tour description before you book.
Kanoni and Mouse IslandThe island’s postcard: the Vlacherna monastery on a causeway and tiny Pontikonisi behind it, with planes landing almost overhead. About 10 to 15 euros by taxi or bus 2A from San Rocco Square, 2.50 euros for the boat to the islet; 30 to 45 minutes is enough.
Beaches near the portDassia and Ipsos on the east coast are 15 minutes by taxi or green bus and have sunbeds and tavernas; Glyfada and Agios Gordios on the west coast are 30 to 35 minutes but have the real sand and sunsets. Figure 2 to 4 hours with the ride.
Paxos and Antipaxos boat dayA full-day cruise to the blue caves of Paxos and the white-sand coves of Antipaxos, usually 8 hours from the port. Only works on a long call with an early arrival; book it through the ship so the boat waits for you.
Lunch on the ListonSofrito (veal in white wine and garlic), pastitsada and a cold Corfu Beer or a kumquat liqueur under the arcades. Lunch for two runs about 40 to 60 euros; the lanes behind the Liston are cheaper and quieter.
Pick your style

Which lines call at Corfu?

Corfu is on most Adriatic and Greek Isles itineraries; these are the lines whose 2026 schedules we confirmed.

Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem call almost weekly on 7 night Greek Isles loops from Venice (Ravenna), with Norwegian Viva on longer itineraries.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit MSC CruisesThe most frequent caller: MSC Armonia and Sinfonia on 7 night Adriatic loops from Bari and Trieste, plus MSC Fantasia and Orchestra on Eastern Mediterranean itineraries into the winter.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Princess CruisesSun Princess, Enchanted Princess and Island Princess on 7 to 14 night Mediterranean cruises that call here in late summer and fall.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Celebrity CruisesCelebrity Ascent and fleetmates on 9 to 11 night Italy, Greece and Adriatic itineraries from Rome and Athens.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Legend’s 2026 European season puts Corfu on its 9 to 12 night Greek Isles and Adriatic cruises from Rome.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Holland America LineVolendam and Oosterdam call on 12 to 22 day Mediterranean voyages in the fall.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Costa CruisesCosta Deliziosa calls weekly on 7 night Greece and Croatia loops from Bari, Venice and Trieste.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Oceania CruisesAllura, Insignia and Sirena on 7 to 12 night Adriatic and Greek Isles voyages between Venice, Trieste and Athens.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit VikingViking Star, Sea, Sky, Neptune, Jupiter, Vesta and Mira all call on Empires of the Mediterranean and Adriatic itineraries between Venice and Athens.Live prices
Timing

When to go

Corfu is the wettest and greenest Greek island, with hot, dry summers and mild, showery winters; the best port days are May to June and September to October.

April to JuneHighs from the upper 60s in April to the low 80s in June, the sea warming to 70 by June, wildflowers everywhere and only occasional showers. The west-coast boats start running in May.
July to AugustHighs around 90 with almost no rain and the sea in the upper 70s. The Old Town lanes stay shady but the fortress and Paleokastritsa bake; go early. The 5 euro per person Greek cruise fee applies June through September.
September to OctoberLow 80s in September easing to the low 70s in October, the sea still warm, and the first autumn showers in late October. The best balance of weather and crowds; the cruise fee drops to 3 euros in October.
November to MarchMild, 55 to 60 degrees, but Corfu’s wettest months, with November and December each averaging 7 to 8 inches of rain. Beach tavernas close, the Achilleion gardens and Old Town stay open, and only a few ships call; the cruise fee is 1 euro.
Good to know

Corfu questions we answer every day

Where do cruise ships dock in Corfu, and how far is the Old Town?

Ships dock at the New Port (Neo Limani), the island’s ferry and cruise port about a mile and a quarter (2 km) west of the Old Town walls; there is no tendering. A free port shuttle runs from the pier to the terminal building. From there it is a flat 20 to 30 minute walk along the waterfront to the Old Town, blue city bus 15 runs to San Rocco Square for about 2 euros, taxis wait outside at about 8 to 12 euros to the Old Town, and some cruise lines sell a shuttle to the edge of the Old Town. The hop-on hop-off bus also starts at the port.

How do I get around Corfu and what do taxis cost?

The Old Town is pedestrian only once you are inside the walls. For anywhere else, taxis are the practical choice: about 10 to 15 euros to Kanoni, 20 to 25 euros to Dassia, and 80 to 100 euros for a half-day run to Paleokastritsa, all per car and agreed before you set off. Blue city buses cover town and Kanoni (about 2 euros); green KTEL buses leave from the station on Ethnikis Antistaseos near the port for Paleokastritsa, Glyfada and the beaches for about 2 to 4 euros, but check the return times against your all-aboard.

What currency, language and time zone will I find?

Greece uses the euro; cards work almost everywhere in town but keep small cash for buses, boats and village tavernas. English is spoken everywhere tourists go. Corfu is 7 hours ahead of US Eastern time. US phones work on EU roaming plans and carrier day passes. Since July 2025 Greece charges cruise passengers a per-visit fee that the cruise line bills to your onboard account: at Corfu it is 5 euros per person June through September, 3 euros in April, May and October and 1 euro in winter (the 20 euro summer fee applies only at Mykonos and Santorini). You pay nothing at the pier and nothing if you stay aboard.

Is Corfu safe for cruise passengers?

Yes. The U.S. State Department rates Greece at its lowest advisory level and Corfu is a relaxed family island. The practical cautions are pickpockets on a crowded Liston, scooters in the narrow lanes, slippery marble at the fortress and strong sun on the coast roads. Agree the taxi fare before you get in and leave a 45 to 60 minute cushion to get back from the west coast.

What is the best excursion, and should I book it through the ship?

Paleokastritsa is the one that makes the day: the bays, the cliff-top monastery and the sea-cave boat ride are what people remember. Do it on your own by taxi if you are a party of three or four and the ship is in port 8 hours or more; book the ship’s version if your call is shorter, you want a guide, or it pairs the coast with the Achilleion. The Old Town itself needs no tour at all. Note that the Achilleion interior is closed for restoration as of 2026, so only tours that describe the gardens are telling you the truth.

Do I need a passport for a Greek Isles cruise?

Yes. Every Mediterranean cruise starts and ends outside the United States, so a passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip is required (the closed-loop birth-certificate rule applies only to round trips from a US port). Greece is in the Schengen area; US citizens get 90 days visa free, and the EU’s ETIAS travel authorization is expected to begin in late 2026, so check the requirement before you fly.

Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?

Yes. Every price on SmartCruiser includes the cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses. Flights, hotels, shore excursions and gratuities are extra, and the Greek per-port cruise fee is billed by the line to your onboard account.

Talk to a Corfu cruise specialist

Tell us your dates and we will pull every sailing that calls at Corfu, flag the ones with a long enough call for Paleokastritsa, and put the SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit sailings first. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.

1-800-444-1560