Corfu is the second largest and the most northern island in the Ionian Sea and a favourite starting point for a sailing holiday. It is located just off the coast of Greece and Albania, so Corfu offers a perfect yacht charter spot as well. The landscape of the island is very diverse, from long sandy beaches to high mountains. Corfu Island is known from mythology as Scheria, Odysseus’s last stop before his return to Ithaca. When it comes to historical heritage, the island was occupied many times over the years, by the Roman and Byzantine empires, Venetians, French, British, Italians and Germans.
Sailing Corfu is not complete without walking around some of its olive groves. Made up of trees that are hundreds of years old, these groves are the reason this island is one of the greenest islands in Greece! Sail around Corfu and spend a wonderful sailing holiday aboard a sailing yacht or a catamaran getting to know its nature, history and culture.
Find Your Ideal Yacht in Corfu Sailing Region
Why is Corfu Popular Among Sailors?
Chartering a yacht in Corfu is not only popular because of its important history but for its coastline which has over 90 different beaches. Corfu International Airport (CFU) Ioannis Kapodistrias is very close (a 20-minute taxi ride) to the biggest marina, Marina Gouvia. For international travellers, there are daily domestic flights from Athens. You can also reach Corfu by boat from Igoumenitsa on the coast of mainland Greece. Corfu sailing region has very pleasant summer weather
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The south of Corfu is a popular area for yacht charters thanks to the region’s excellent weather and easy sailing conditions with calm waters and ideal wind speeds. This is a preferred sailing destination in Greece for beginner sailors or those looking for a more relaxing sailing holiday. Sailors in the area need only to watch out for occasional gusts when travelling alongside mountainous areas. Anchoring is possible at all the major ports, and each island is well-provisioned with harbours for stopping at your leisure.
Decide between sailboat or catamaran charter in Corfu and soak up the sun on its beaches or enjoy water sports such as windsurfing. The southern beaches are generally more popular, with sandy shores and several seafront bars, restaurants, and resorts. You will have a selection of sandier shores to the west, such as Issos and Prasoudi, or the quieter Messonghi and Halikounas beaches.
Yacht Charter in Corfu Sailing Region
Charter a yacht on Corfu Island and start your Ionian sailing holidays. The most popular marinas to choose from are Gouvia Marina and Naok Marina. Corfu is a part of the Ionian Islands archipelago on the west coast of Greece. From here, you can sail to some other Greek islands such as Lefkada, Ithaca and Zakynthos.
Despite being a popular starting point for sailing the Greek islands, Corfu is mostly rural and less crowded in comparison to some other islands. There is plenty for you to do here as well. For example, Corfu is one of the most fortified places in Europe. Hop off your Corfu sailing yacht and walk around the Old Fortress in Corfu Town. Its old core is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Enjoy a romantic stroll along its narrow streets and take a photo in Spianada Square, the largest square in Greece.
The best time to sail Corfu, as in the rest of Greece, is from April to November with the high season during summer.
Best Places to Visit in Corfu Sailing Region
Corfu has many beautiful sandy beaches and some of the most favoured are Paleokastritsa, Agios Gordios, Rovinia, Bataria Kassiopi and Kavos.
A small village and fishing harbour, Mourtos is located on the mainland of Greece opposite the southern part of Corfu. The harbour has a small marina. Nearby are several anchorages, including around the Sivota islands, which offer good shelter in the prevailing winds.
Paxos and Antipaxos are together known as Paxi or Paxoi. They are very crowded during July and August. There is a harbour Port Gaios on Paxos, and there are Lakka, Mongonisi and Antipaxos that have several beautiful anchorages, but none of them is suitable for an overnight stop unless the weather is settled.
Preveza is located at the entrance of a large inland gulf, the Ambrakikos Gulf, five miles northeast of the town of Lefkas and the northern entrance to the Lefkas Canal. The town of Preveza on the northwest side of the entry has a half-mile-long quay, while on the southeast side, in the area of Aktion, are three large boatyards Cleopatra Marina, Ionion Marine and Aktio Marine.
Lefkada is another big island in the Ionian which is a must to visit. It hides many beautiful beaches, anchorages, and marinas.
Important Info for Sailing in Corfu Sailing Region
Best time to sail
April to November
Most popular marinas
Gouvia Marina, Naok Marina
Nearest airports
Corfu International Airport (CFU)
Number of charter yachts
200+
Popular regattas
International Regatta Brindisi - Corfu
Top attractions
Old Fortress of Corfu, Achilleon Palace, Paleokastritsa Monastery
Gastronomy Highlights of Corfu Sailing Region
After WWII, tourism became the main industry in Corfu, leading to changes in menus to cater to international tastes, causing some traditional recipes to become less popular. Corfiot cuisine, which is Mediterranean with a distinct local flavour, uses ingredients such as wine, eastern spices (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, pepper), cured pork loin, sweet mustard, and kumquat, the latter of which originates from China but has become a staple in Corfu.
When sailing Corfu, be sure to try local dishes such as Pastitsado (red wine stew with beef or rooster, served with pasta), Sofrito (Corfiot version of Italian dish with garlic-infused beef), Fish Bianco (fish cooked with white wine and served with garlic and olive oil-fried potatoes), Veal Fricando (braised or roasted veal), and Zorka (pies with seasonal veggies).
