A sailing holiday in Corfu starts at Gouvia Marina, north of Corfu Town, where most charter boats are based. 150+ boats sail from Corfu: 100+ sailing yachts and 50+ catamarans. A week on a sailing yacht with 3-5 cabins costs €1,800-3,800 in May and October and €3,150-6,500 in July and August; obligatory extras come on top. Boat numbers, prices and booking months in this guide come from the boats listed on Yacht4Less (2027 prices, checked October 2026).
Corfu is the gateway to the North Ionian and a classic start for sailing holidays in Greece. Ready to rent a boat? Check our boat rentals in Corfu.
Corfu takes its name from the Greek word "Coryfi", which means mountain top. It is the northernmost and most cosmopolitan of the Ionian islands, with a strong Venetian influence.
| Category | Key information |
|---|---|
| Sailing season | May to September. June and September offer the best balance of weather and crowds. |
| Wind | North-westerly maistro, usually Force 3-5 in the afternoon; mornings are generally calm. |
| Busiest months | June, July, August and September (2026 bookings). |
| Starting points | Gouvia Marina and Benitses Port Yacht Marina. |
| Boats | 150+ boats: 100+ sailing yachts and 50+ catamarans, with 2-6 cabins. |
| Weekly price | Sailing yacht, 3-5 cabins: €1,800-3,800 in May and October, €3,150-6,500 in July and August. Catamaran, 4 cabins: €3,400-5,250 in May and October, €6,550-9,450 in July and August. Obligatory extras come on top. |
| Skipper | €210-250 a day, plus the skipper's food on most boats. |
| Licence requirements | Bareboat: a licence from your own country, or a certificate from a club or sailing school abroad (for example ICC, RYA Day Skipper or ASA 104), and an experienced co-skipper. Skippered or crewed: no licence needed for guests. |
| Key destinations | Paxos, Antipaxos, Sivota, Parga, Othonoi and Ereikoussa. |
Corfu is often voted the No1 holiday destination in the Mediterranean. A yacht charter from Corfu takes you to Paxos, Antipaxos and Sivota (mainland and islands), and to the unspoiled islands of Othonoi and Ereikoussa north-west of Corfu. Sailing distances are like the South Ionian's, the wind and weather are predictable, and there are many secure places for the night: ports, marinas, town quays and bays. Corfu Town is guarded by two Venetian fortresses, with a French-style arcade and the palace of St Michael and St George, and the north of the island has restaurants with panoramic views and white sandy beaches.
The North Ionian suits intermediate sailors, advanced sailors who wish to relax, groups with young children or older people, and mile-building trips. Are you a family? Read our guide to planning the perfect family sailing holidays. Further south, see our Lefkas and Kefalonia sailing guide.
Corfu's main sailing season runs from May to September, with a lush landscape in late spring and warm weather all summer. June, July and September are the standout months: steady north-westerly breezes and a warm sea, without the strong Meltemi found elsewhere in Greece. In 2026, 97% of booked charter days from Corfu fell between May and October, and August and September were the two busiest months, each with about 21% of booked days. From November to March, fewer than 1% of charter days were booked.
| Month | Air (average high) | Sea | Rain | Wind | Share of bookings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 24°C | 19°C | 37 mm | Maistro, Force 3-5 in the afternoon | 9% |
| June | 28°C | 23°C | 16 mm | Maistro, Force 3-5 in the afternoon | 16% |
| July | 31°C | 25°C | 9 mm | Maistro, Force 3-5 in the afternoon | 18% |
| August | 32°C | 26°C | 22 mm | Maistro, Force 3-5 in the afternoon | 21% |
| September | 28°C | 25°C | 88 mm | Maistro, Force 3-5 in the afternoon | 21% |
| October | 23°C | 22°C | 140 mm | More variable | 12% |
Air and rain: monthly averages for Corfu (HNMS). Sea: monthly average. Wind: Yachting Monthly. Share of bookings: booked charter days of the Corfu boats listed on Yacht4Less in 2026, all booking channels.
From spring to autumn, a north-westerly wind, the maistro, starts almost every afternoon (2-3 pm) and dies down after sunset. In summer it is usually Force 3-5 (about 7-21 knots, from a gentle breeze to a fresh breeze), far gentler than the Meltemi of the Aegean, and mornings are often calm. Sailing south it is behind you: the 21 NM from Petriti to Lakka on Paxos takes about 4 hours at 5 knots.
July and August bring peak heat, bath-warm water and a lively social scene; September is often the best month, with a warm sea and thinner crowds. May and early October are quieter and mild, with a higher risk of cool evenings or rain, and most charter operations close by late October as the wet winter approaches.
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Prices are per week for the whole boat, not per person, and depend on the season, the type of boat and the number of cabins.
| Boat | May and October | June and September | July and August |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sailing yacht, 3 cabins (sleeps 6) | €1,800-2,550 | €2,600-3,450 | €3,150-3,950 |
| Sailing yacht, 4 cabins (sleeps 8) | €2,300-3,350 | €3,450-4,500 | €4,000-5,000 |
| Sailing yacht, 5 cabins (sleeps 10) | €2,600-3,800 | €4,400-5,850 | €4,950-6,500 |
| Catamaran, 4 cabins (sleeps 8) | €3,400-5,250 | €5,400-7,900 | €6,550-9,450 |
2027 bareboat prices on Yacht4Less, checked October 2026. Each range leaves out the cheapest quarter and the most expensive quarter of the listed weekly prices. "Sleeps" counts the berths in the cabins. Boat sizes with fewer than 10 bareboat boats in Corfu are left out.
On top of the boat price come obligatory extras, such as a charter pack or a damage waiver: €300-500 for a week. They are not hidden: the boat page lists them as "Obligatory", and checkout shows them before you pay.
A skipper costs €210-250 a day, and on most boats you also pay for the skipper's food. Browse bareboat charters in Corfu or catamarans in Corfu.
Example: a 3-cabin sailing yacht for a week in July. The boat costs about €3,150-3,950. Obligatory extras add €300-500. A skipper for the 7 days adds €1,470-1,750, plus the skipper's food. Without a skipper, the week comes to about €3,500-4,500. With a skipper, it is about €5,000-6,300 plus food. The refundable security deposit, usually €800-3,500, is not included.
Fly in and out of Corfu airport, with frequent flights from the UK and other European countries, mainly from April to October. The airport is 15 minutes from Gouvia Marina; a taxi costs from €10 each way, depending on your group and luggage. Taxis are few in high season, so we recommend booking yours in advance. Ferries connect Corfu with the mainland from the port of Corfu and from Lefkimmi in the south.
Most boats start from Gouvia Marina, north of Corfu Town. A smaller number start from Benitses, on the east coast south of Corfu Town. Boats have 2-6 cabins and sleep 4-12 people in the cabins.
Gouvia Marina is well organised, with bathrooms, showers, bars, restaurants, a chandlery and laundry. Security guards the main entrance 24/7, so you can park your car inside at no extra cost. The showers are for marina guests only; buy shower cards, and water and shore power cards, at the marina offices. A small supermarket inside the marina opens on Sundays, a big-name supermarket 5 minutes away delivers to your yacht for free, and a large supermarket in the seaside village of Ypsos, 10 minutes away, also opens on Sundays.
Yes, for a bareboat charter one person in your group acts as skipper. Greek law accepts a licence from your own country, or a certificate from a club or sailing school abroad, for example an ICC, RYA Day Skipper or ASA Bareboat Cruising certificate. A certificate from outside the EU that is not in Greek or English needs a translation into one of them. Charter companies also ask for an experienced co-skipper, who may need to sign a declaration of competence. Charter companies in Corfu check these documents at the marina and keep a firm "no licence, no boat" policy. The same licences are valid for trips to nearby Albania or Italy.
No licence? Book a skippered charter (the skipper's fee is in the cost section above), or join a flotilla, where a professional lead crew guides you. Not sure your certificate is accepted? Ask us before you book.
Corfu offers bareboat, skippered, flotilla and crewed charters. Bareboat charters are popular with capable sailors, who chart their own course to Paxos and Antipaxos, anchor in clear bays and visit seaside villages at will. Browse bareboat boats in Corfu.
With a skippered charter, a local expert takes you to quiet coves, across to the Greek mainland or north along the coast of Albania (after clearing out, see the rules), while you relax and look at Corfu's Venetian fortresses from the deck. Most boats in Corfu list a skipper as an extra; add one when you book.
On a crewed yacht, a professional crew looks after you and handles everything, and the trip around Corfu becomes a private cruise. Fully crewed yachts are rare in Corfu, so ask us if you are looking for one.
Both routes start and end at Gouvia Marina. The 7-day route stays between Corfu, Paxos and the mainland coast: 9 to 27 NM a day, about 2 to 5½ hours of sailing. The 14-day route goes south to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Lefkada and is for experienced crews: 3 of its days are 56 to 61 NM, 11 to 12 hours at sea.
In summer, the maistro builds during the afternoon from the north-west and dies down at sunset. The tables show how it meets you each day: on days marked "against you", leave in the morning, before the wind is strong. Keep on reading: Top 5 Reasons to Go Sailing in the Ionian.
| Day | Route | Sailing | Afternoon wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check-in | ||
| 2 | Gouvia to Petriti | 16 NM, 3 h | behind you |
| 3 | Petriti to Lakka | 21 NM, 4 h | behind you |
| 4 | Lakka to Gaios | 9 NM, 2 h | partly against |
| 5 | Gaios to Parga | 15 NM, 3 h | from the side |
| 6 | Parga to Sivota | 14 NM, 3 h | against you |
| 7 | Sivota to Gouvia | 27 NM, 5½ h | against you |
Day 1: Gouvia Marina (Check-in)
Check-in is at 17:00. Gouvia Marina is 15 minutes from the airport: settle in, have dinner in Gouvia and set off in the morning.
Day 2: Gouvia Marina to Petriti Bay (16 NM)
A gentle sail down Corfu's east coast to Petriti Bay, a quiet fishing village with a traditional Greek atmosphere. Anchor off the beach and have fresh seafood in a family-run taverna.
Day 3: Petriti Bay to Panorama Bay (swim stop) to Lakka Bay, Paxos (21 NM)
Sail south to Paxos and stop at Panorama Bay for a midday swim. In Lakka Bay, colourful houses and olive-covered hills set the scene for the evening.
Day 4: Lakka to the Blue Caves, Mongonisi and Gaios, Paxos (9 NM)
Explore the sea caves of Paxos by dinghy, then anchor for lunch at Mongonisi, a calm lagoon for paddleboarding. In the afternoon, moor in Gaios, the island's capital, and have dinner along the waterfront.
Day 5: Gaios to Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos, to Parga (15 NM)
Swim at Voutoumi Beach on Antipaxos, with white pebbles and clear water; on days of high fire risk, boat trips there may be banned (see the rules below). Continue to Parga on the mainland, with pastel-coloured houses, a Venetian castle and a lively harbourfront.
Day 6: Parga to Katsonisi (swim stop) to Sivota (14 NM)
About 3 hours against the wind up the Epirus coast, with a swim at Katsonisi, a small islet with striking blue water. Anchor in Sivota, a sheltered village with lively tavernas and views of the islets offshore.
Day 7: Sivota to Benitses, Mandraki and Gouvia Marina (27 NM)
The longest day, about 5½ hours against the wind, so leave in the morning. Stop for lunch in Benitses, a seaside village with a long seafaring tradition, then sail past Mandraki, under the walls of the Old Fortress, for a last look at Corfu Town before Gouvia Marina. Check-out is at 09:00 the next morning.
| Day | Route | Sailing | Afternoon wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check-in | ||
| 2 | Corfu to Paxos | 32 NM, 6½ h | behind you |
| 3 | Paxos to Assos | 61 NM, 12 h | behind you |
| 4 | Assos to Argostoli | 28 NM, 5½ h | partly against |
| 5 | Argostoli to Katakolo | 56 NM, 11 h | behind you |
| 6 | Katakolo to Vathi | 57 NM, 11½ h | against you |
| 7 | Vathi to Petalas | 20 NM, 4 h | behind you |
| 8 | Petalas to Kalamos | 16 NM, 3 h | against you |
| 9 | Kalamos to Nydri | 15 NM, 3 h | against you |
| 10 | Nydri to Preveza | 20 NM, 4 h | against you |
| 11 | Preveza to Antipaxos | 29 NM, 6 h | against you |
| 12 | Antipaxos to Parga | 11 NM, 2 h | from the side |
| 13 | Parga to Igoumenitsa | 21 NM, 4 h | against you |
| 14 | Igoumenitsa to Corfu | 22 NM, 4½ h | against you |
Days 1-2: Corfu and Paxos
Check-in at Gouvia Marina, then sail south to Paxos, with olive groves and quiet coves. Anchor in Lakka or Gaios for a slow first evening on the island.
Day 3: Paxos to Assos, Kefalonia (61 NM)
The longest day of the route, 61 NM, about 12 hours with the wind behind you: set off at first light. Assos is a harbour village under a Venetian fortress on the north coast of Kefalonia, a quiet spot for dinner by the water at sunset.
Day 4: Assos to Argostoli (28 NM)
Cruise down the coast of Kefalonia to Argostoli, the island's lively capital. Walk the promenade and the local markets, and look for loggerhead turtles near the fishing boats.
Day 5: Argostoli to Katakolo (56 NM)
Another long passage, about 11 hours, to the mainland port of Katakolo, the gateway to ancient Olympia. Take a tour inland, or relax in the port's cafés overlooking the Ionian Sea.
Day 6: Katakolo to Vathi, Ithaca (57 NM)
Another long day, about 11½ hours against the wind: start early. Anchor in Vathi, the sheltered capital of Ithaca, rich in Homeric legend, and walk its quiet alleys to a traditional taverna.
Day 7: Vathi to Petalas (20 NM)
Petalas is a large, secluded bay often called the "fjord of the Ionian": swim, and spend a quiet night at anchor.
Day 8: Petalas to Kalamos (16 NM)
Kalamos is a mountainous island with dramatic landscapes. Anchor in the main harbour for a low-key evening.
Day 9: Kalamos to Nydri, Lefkada (15 NM)
Dock in Nydri on Lefkada, a busy port with lively tavernas and waterfalls nearby: a good place to restock or enjoy the nightlife.
Day 10: Nydri to Preveza (20 NM)
This passage goes through the Lefkas canal, whose bridge opens only at set times: check the schedule before you go. Preveza, at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf, has Venetian-style architecture; explore the old town or visit ancient Nikopolis nearby.
Day 11: Preveza to Antipaxos (29 NM)
Anchor off Voutoumi or Vrika beach on Antipaxos and snorkel in some of the clearest water in the Ionian.
Day 12: Antipaxos to Parga (11 NM)
A short hop to Parga, backed by forested hills and crowned by a Venetian castle. Walk the colourful alleys and have dinner with views over the bay.
Day 13: Parga to Igoumenitsa (21 NM)
Igoumenitsa is an important port with quiet coves and beaches nearby: a convenient stop before Corfu.
Day 14: Igoumenitsa to Corfu (22 NM)
The last sail passes through the strait between Corfu and the mainland, against the wind. Dock at the marina and celebrate your last evening aboard. Check-out is at 09:00 the next morning.
Hours: at an average of 5 knots. Afternoon wind: the summer north-west wind, compared with the day's course.
NM: the shortest sea route between the harbours, rounded to whole nautical miles; days with a swim stop include it. With wind and tacking you will sail more.
Sailing around Corfu follows standard Greek rules, and the charter company handles the boat's papers. Corfu is a main entry and exit point. To cross into Albania, which is outside the EU and Schengen, ask us before you book whether the boat may leave Greece. Then clear out of Greece with the port police, customs and passport control, and enter Albania only at a port of entry such as SarandëRYA.
In Gouvia Marina, and when you Med-moor in local harbours, keep the ferry lanes clear and don't discharge black water, to protect the sea and its turtles. Mind how close the Albanian coast is, and follow basic anchoring etiquette.
In the 2026 season, on days of high fire risk, the Corfu port authority banned boat trips to Antipaxos, Vidos, Porto Timoni and Erimitis (all day at fire risk level 4 or 5; at level 3 from 13:00 for most of these places)Enimerosi news report. Both routes above stop at Antipaxos, so check the day's fire risk level before you go.
Moor in Corfu Town and you step into a UNESCO-listed town shaped by Venetian, French, British and Greek rule: two fortresses, the Parisian-style Liston arcade and British-influenced cricket matches. Beyond it are the mythological landscapes of Paleokastritsa, the island's famed philharmonic bands and the landscapes the Durrell family wrote about. Don't miss Gouvia town, Kassiopi in the north, and Paleokastritsa's sandy beach and clear, cool water.
The food departs from standard Greek fare. In the evening, order Venetian-inspired pastitsada (rooster or beef in a spiced red sauce over thick pasta) or sofrito, and finish with spiced fig cake and kumquat liqueur, which has EU protected status.
The yachting community's most-asked questions, answered by our experts.
Rarely. Two boats in Corfu offer one-way trips, to Lefkas; the boat page shows the fee. To book one, ask us. Most charters start and end in Corfu.
Yes. The base takes a refundable security deposit at check-in; on the Corfu boats that list one, it is usually €800-3,500. On some Corfu boats a damage waiver is also an obligatory extra, usually €300-500 for a one-week charter. The waiver lowers what you pay if something is damaged, and it is not refunded. Ask the base how it takes the deposit (card hold or cash).
Charters in Corfu run from Saturday to Saturday. On most boats, check-in is at 17:00 and check-out at 09:00. Book flights that land by the afternoon on arrival day and leave after mid-morning on departure day.
Most coastal villages, such as Kassiopi and Petriti, have dedicated quayside services. In smaller ports, fuel is often delivered by a mini-tanker truck that meets yachts on the town quay. It is best to top up your water tanks in the morning, as pressure can drop in the late afternoon when the local demand from nearby tavernas increases.
Yes. Yacht4Less can arrange for groceries to be delivered to your boat before you arrive; you pay for the food itself. Tell us what you need when you book.
