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Corfu Old Fortress overlooking turquoise water and a sailing yacht in the Ionian Sea

Greek Islands · yacht charter

Corfu.

Ionian cruising from Corfu: calmer waters than the Aegean, with day routes to Paxos and Antipaxos and longer extensions south through the Ionian chain.

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Overview

What to expect.

Corfu is the northern gateway to the Ionian, and its calmer water is the defining feature. The Meltemi that shapes the Cyclades does not reach this far west, so the sea here is gentler and the daily cruising more relaxed. Gouvia Marina, ten minutes from Corfu town, is the principal charter base; the Venetian old town, with its two fortresses and arcaded streets, sits at the working heart of the island and anchors the first and last nights of most weeks.

South of Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos hold the water the island is cruised for: the sea caves and pale coves of the smaller islands, Gaios and Lakka as harbour stops, and short, forgiving passages between them. It is a routing that suits a first charter as readily as a seasoned one. A yacht charter week in Corfu asks little in the way of open-water crossings, and the anchorages are close enough together that a day can be as full or as slow as the brief wants.

For a longer week the Ionian chain opens south. Lefkada, Ithaca and Kefalonia extend the routing beyond Paxos, with Zakynthos at the far end, and the same settled conditions hold the length of the chain. Cross-border extensions toward the Albanian coast or the Italian Adriatic are workable on two-week briefs, with documentation arranged in advance.

Private yacht charter in Corfu

Corfu is the northern gateway to the Ionian Sea. Its old town, listed by UNESCO in 2007 as a fortified Mediterranean port, looks across the strait to the Albanian shore, and the island's green coast runs south towards Paxos and Antipaxos. A Corfu yacht charter is a calmer affair than an Aegean one: the Ionian is protected from the full force of the meltemi, and the summer wind is the maistro, a north-westerly that builds in the early afternoon and dies down by evening.

The distances are short. Paxos lies about 15 kilometres off Corfu's southern tip and Antipaxos three kilometres beyond it, while the mainland harbours of Parga and Sivota are a few hours' cruise from either. Mornings at anchor, passages after lunch and a harbour or quiet cove by evening make up the rhythm of the week.

Corfu from the water

Corfu Town. The old town rises above Mandraki, the old harbour beneath the fortress, which is shallow and suits smaller yachts and tenders. Gouvia, the island's largest marina, is a few kilometres north.

The north-east coast. Kalami and Kouloura, two bays on Corfu's north-east coast, suit a lunch stop and a first swim on the day of embarkation.

Paxos. Gaios, the main port, offers a well-protected harbour; Lakka sits in the north and Loggos on the east coast. The west coast is a line of steep white cliffs, eroded at sea level into many sea caves, best seen by tender in calm weather. Anchoring is restricted in protected areas around Paxos and Antipaxos, and the captain works within those limits.

Antipaxos. Barely inhabited and largely covered in vineyards, with the white sand of Vrika and the pebbles of Voutoumi.

Parga and Sivota. On the mainland of Epirus, Parga has a sandy beach and tavernas, 13 nautical miles from Lakka. Sivota, 12 miles to the north, is a village set among islets, with the anchorage known as the Blue Lagoon off the outer islet.

Albania. Across the strait, Sarandë is the port for Butrint, the ancient city listed by UNESCO in 1992, a short drive to the south. The crossing leaves the European Union, so the yacht clears out of Greece and into Albania.

A week from Corfu

A classic loop runs from Gouvia to Corfu Town, then 26 miles south to Lakka on Paxos, with a day at Antipaxos, before crossing to Parga, Sivota and Sagiada on the mainland and returning to Gouvia: about 87 nautical miles in all, no leg longer than a morning. A longer charter continues south to Lefkada, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia, where the islands of the inner Ionian sit close together.

When to go

The season runs from May to October. The maistro blows from June to September, usually at Beaufort 2 to 5, so passages are planned for the afternoon breeze and the mornings are kept for swimming. July and August are the busiest months, peaking around the 15 August holiday. June and September bring fewer boats in the anchorages of Paxos and Antipaxos, and the same steady breeze.

Marinas and arrival

Corfu International Airport is about two kilometres south of Corfu Town, with scheduled and charter flights from European cities, busiest from April to October. Gouvia Marina, the largest on the island, is about 20 minutes from the airport by road. Mandraki, below the old fortress, suits smaller yachts, and customs and immigration are close to the commercial harbour.

Yachts and what a week costs

Corfu is one of the established charter bases in Greece, with bareboat and skippered fleets at Gouvia. Most of Greece's larger crewed yachts are based in Athens, and those that start a charter in Corfu usually add a positioning fee. Charter yachts generally carry up to 12 guests overnight.

As a Mediterranean guide, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week before running costs, a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000, and yachts above 50 metres from around EUR 250,000, quoted individually. Sailing yachts usually sit below motor yachts of the same length. The Advance Provisioning Allowance is typically 25 to 35 percent of the base rate, and gratuity customarily 5 to 15 percent. VAT on a Greek charter depends on the yacht's licence, the length of the charter and the route, and TEPAI, the Greek fee on yachts in Greek waters, is calculated on length; both are set out before anything is signed. What a yacht charter costs explains each line.

How a Corfu charter is arranged

Corfu suits a first charter, a family week or a slower pace than the Aegean, and a two-week route can continue north along the Albanian coast to Montenegro. We shortlist the yachts that suit your group, weigh a yacht based at Gouvia against one positioned from Athens, and set the route. The Greek islands yacht charter guide and the Greek islands page cover the rest of the coast.

Tell us your dates, the size of your group and what you have in mind, and we will come back with a shortlist. Start the conversation.

Fleet

Yachts available in Corfu.

Bilgin 50-metre

Bilgin 50m

12 guests · 6 cabins · 2024

Season

When to cruise.

Best months
May to October
Prevailing winds
Meltemi, July and August
Typical base ports
Gouvia Marina · Mandraki Marina (Old Port)
Luxury yacht anchored in a turquoise bay off Corfu in the Ionian Islands

May through October. The Ionian is less wind-influenced than the Aegean, and the cruising is materially calmer for it, which makes Corfu one of the gentler grounds in the Greek islands. June and September are the settled shoulder windows; July and August are busier through Paxos and Antipaxos but rarely taxing. The same easy conditions hold south along the Ionian chain toward Lefkada, Ithaca and Kefalonia.

Ports

Marinas and anchorages.

  • Gouvia Marina

    The principal charter base, about ten minutes from Corfu town. International arrivals and the usual embarkation.

  • Mandraki Marina (Old Port)

Frequently asked

Practical questions.

When is the cruising season in Corfu?
From May to October. The Ionian is sheltered from the full force of the meltemi that drives the Aegean summer; its prevailing wind is the maistro, a north-westerly that builds in the early afternoon and dies down by evening, so the cruising rhythm is calmer than in the Cyclades.
Where do Corfu charters depart from?
Most charters embark at Gouvia Marina, the largest on the island, a few kilometres north of Corfu Town and about 20 minutes from the airport by road. Mandraki, the old harbour below the fortress, is shallow and suits smaller yachts and tenders.
How long is a typical charter from Corfu?
Seven nights covers Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos and the mainland coast at Parga and Sivota, with no leg longer than a morning. Ten nights or more continues south to Lefkada, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia, where the islands of the inner Ionian sit close together.
Can a Corfu charter cross to Albania?
Yes. Albania lies across the strait from Corfu Town, and Sarandë, the port for the ancient city of Butrint, is a short passage away. The crossing leaves the European Union, so the yacht clears out of Greece and into Albania, which we arrange in advance, and a two-week route can continue north along the Albanian coast to Montenegro.
What does a yacht charter in Corfu cost?
As a Mediterranean guide, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week before running costs, and a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000. The Advance Provisioning Allowance adds 25 to 35 percent. Larger crewed yachts are mostly based in Athens, so one that starts in Corfu usually adds a positioning fee.
Which islands and anchorages are worth the trip from Corfu?
Paxos and Antipaxos first. Paxos has the harbours of Gaios, Lakka and Loggos and a west coast of white cliffs and sea caves, and Antipaxos, three kilometres south, has the beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi. On the mainland, Parga and the islets of Sivota, with the Blue Lagoon anchorage, complete the week, and Kalami and Kouloura suit a first lunch stop on Corfu.
How do we get to Corfu?
By air, to Corfu International Airport, about two kilometres south of Corfu Town. It receives scheduled and charter flights from European cities through the season, from April to October. Gouvia Marina, where most charters embark, is about 20 minutes away by road, so guests can usually step aboard on the day they land.
Can we charter a yacht in Corfu for a day?
Yes. A day from Gouvia can take in the bays of Corfu's north-east coast, Kalami and Kouloura among them, with lunch at anchor, or run south to Paxos and Antipaxos, about 30 nautical miles away, for a swim off Vrika or Voutoumi. Mornings are usually calm and the maistro rises in the early afternoon, so the return is planned around it.
Is a Corfu charter suitable for children?
Yes, it is one of the gentler Greek cruising grounds for a family. Passages are short, Paxos lies about 15 kilometres off Corfu's southern tip, and the afternoon maistro is usually moderate. Sandy beaches such as Vrika on Antipaxos and Parga on the mainland suit younger swimmers. Tell us the children's ages and we ask each yacht about cabins, life jackets and water toys.
What is there to do ashore in Corfu?
Start with Corfu Town, whose old town UNESCO listed in 2007 as a fortified Mediterranean port, with the old fortress above Mandraki. On Paxos, the harbours of Gaios, Lakka and Loggos are made for an evening ashore. Across the strait in Albania, the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO site, is a short drive from Sarandë once the yacht has cleared in.

Plan your charter

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Marinas & ports

  • Gouvia Marina
  • Mandraki Marina (Old Port)

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Field notes

Related reading.

Plan a yacht charter
The Greek islands yacht charter guide.. Field note

Guides

The Greek islands yacht charter guide.

Athens embarkation, the Cyclades anchorage rotation, the Dodecanese as a second-week extension, and the meltemi wind that decides July and August routes.

May 2026

Plan a charter

Plan a charter in Corfu.

A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.

Speak to a yacht advisor
+971 4 608 6008
enquiries@balthazaryachting.com
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