General Info
Situated on the homonymous island, the town of
Corfu plays the role of capital city of the prefecture and that of most important city of the island. Apart from being a well-known and appreciated Yacht Charter tourist attraction, Corfu is also an important old city that is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is in part due its long history and to its Italian-style architecture influenced by the Venetians who controlled the island for a long time.
The island and indeed the town is hugely popular among British Yacht Charter visitors which crowd the bars, the beaches and the streets, not to mention the hotels. But the locals don’t seem to mind, as life goes on in the old town as it has for centuries, with the clothes lines zigzagging between the old buildings in the narrow streets.
Travel & Arrival
One of the reasons Corfu is so popular is its accessibility, the relative ease with which a Yacht Charter traveler can arrive in the Greek resort. Most of the people coming here choose the plane, with the
Corfu International Airport being located 2km south of the city. The only downside is that there are no buses to and from the airport, which means you’ll either have to fetch a taxi (as usual, be weary of scammers) or rent a car. Some of the hotels take care of the transit to town but it’s better to ask in advance with your booker. The airlines flying here include Olympic Airlines, Aegean Airlines, EasyJet, Germanwings, Air Berlin, TUIfly, Wizz Air, Luxair and Transavia.
By water is the next possible choice, with ferries stopping in the new harbor. From here you can catch Yacht Charter trips to and from
Italy (
Venice) and other ports in
Greece such as Igoumenitsa and Patra. There’s another harbor, the old port, which is closer to the town center and which serves as a starting point for smaller cruise boats, private yachtsmen and a ferry to the neighboring island of Vidos.
By land, the choices are limited since Corfu happens to be on an island that is not connected to the mainland, but there is a bus service running from
Athens which can bring Yacht Charter groups in about 10 to 11 hours and then arrive by ferry.
Avant & Apres Sail
There’s no doubt that the city is very appeasing from an aesthetic point of view since it’s a mixture of architectural styles and civilaztions. The most important attractions for Yacht Charter visitors are the big arcade-like houses of the Spianada square, the cricket field, the old town with its fortress (from where one can get a lovely view of the Aegean Sea), the churches of Agios Spiridonas and Agios Jason Sossipatros, the many museums scattered around town (like the archaeology museum or the Byzantine museum).
As you walk around town to visit any of the numerous sights, you might be tempted to enter one of the many stores and buy something to remember your trip buy. Well, Corfu is full of shops and boutiques that sell an abundance of merchandise. Here are some of the most representative wares for Yacht Charter tourists: jewelry, leather goods, olives, handmade needlework, kumquat liquor (a Chinese fruit cultivated here since the 1800s) and, of course, souvenirs in the form of pottery, brass or textiles. Just take your pick and remember to bring your credit card.
By now, you must be hungry, so it’s time to find a nice cozy place to eat out. We’d recommend some of the places along the esplanade which have delicious sea food and decent prices. Of course, there are also swankier places to dine in the plazas around the old town or hidden on its narrow streets. Yacht Charter visitors should definitely take them into consideration because they serve an eclectic mixture of cuisines that has a lot to do with the varied influences starting with the Italians, French and British and finishing with the Asian.
As night falls, the other part of the city’s population comes to life and there’s plenty for any Yacht Charter adventurer to do, regardless if you’re looking for a quiet drink with your friends or a loud night out. For a quieter time, you should consider some of the cafes along the waterfront or some around the harbor. The flashy discos can be around the new harbor or even out of town, in the neighboring resort of Gouvia.
Events & Actions
Summer is a great time to arrive in
Corfu, regardless if you’re with your Yacht Charter buddies or just on a vacation with your significant other. The town esplanade becomes a busy point full of noise and light regardless if its night or day. Concerts, exhibits and different vendors fight to get your attention.
Also in summer, Corfu hosts the Ionian Summer Music Academy which features ancient Greek music, a great way for a Yacht Charter novice to delve into the mysterious ways in the ancient Greeks. It’s a series of free concerts so it’s worth checking out.