# Ionian Islands

Green islands of olive groves and Venetian heritage in the Ionian Sea. Corfu: how to get there from Spain, ferries from Igoumenitsa and Italy, when to go and what it costs.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/ionian-islands · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## Datos clave

| Dato | Valor |
|---|---|
| Mejor época | May – June · September |
| Cómo moverse | Bus or small car |
| Aeropuerto | Corfu (CFU) |

## What are the Ionian Islands?

The archipelago of the Ionian Sea, on the west coast of Greece, facing Epirus and Albania. They are nothing like the Cyclades: here it rains in winter, the islands are green, covered in olive groves, and the architecture is more Italian than Greek, a legacy of centuries of Venetian rule. The beaches are coves beneath cliffs, often reached by boat.

For now, on Geocalia you have Corfu, the northernmost and best connected. It is a good choice if:

You are interested in a city with history. Corfu's old town, between two Venetian fortresses, has been a World Heritage Site since 2007. You can walk it, from the Liston and the Spianada esplanade to the Old Fortress.

You want coves and boats. The west coast, from Paleokastritsa to Porto Timoni, has caves and beaches that are best reached by sea. Boats of up to 30 HP can be hired without a licence.

You walk. The Corfu Trail crosses the island from end to end, and Mount Pantokrator, at 906 m, has views to Albania.

You travel without a car. The green buses reach Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi or Agios Gordios, and the blue ones go to the airport, Kanoni and the Achilleion.

Allow four or five nights. If you are driving through northern Greece, Corfu combines well with Zagori, about 130 km from the port of Igoumenitsa, and with Meteora, an hour and a half from Ioannina along the Egnatia motorway.

## How do you get there from Spain?

By plane, with a connection. The route list for Corfu airport shows none from Spain, not even seasonal. The practical option is to fly to Athens and connect with Aegean, all year, or with Ryanair in summer: the flight lasts around 1 h 15. In summer Rome (ITA Airways, Wizz Air) and Milan (Wizz Air, Neos, Ryanair) also work. The airport is 2 or 3 km from the old town and the blue line 15 bus links it with San Rocco Square and the port roughly every hour.

By ferry from the mainland. Car ferries leave Igoumenitsa for the town's port, with up to 25 departures a day in high season and a crossing of 1 h 10 to 1 h 30; the adult fare starts at about €5 or €6 and the car is paid separately. For the south of the island there is a shorter crossing, from Igoumenitsa to Lefkimmi, of about 50 minutes. With so many departures, you don't need to sleep in Igoumenitsa to cross.

By ferry from Italy, with your car. In summer there are boats from Brindisi (about 6 h), Bari (8 to 10 h), Ancona (17 to 19 h) and Venice (once a week, about 25 h). It is the way to arrive by car or motorhome from Spain without crossing the Balkans.

## Do you need a car?

For the town, no: the old quarter is covered on foot and a car gets in the way. For the island, it helps, but is not essential. The green KTEL Kerkyras buses leave from Eptanisou Avenue: to Paleokastritsa it is about 50 minutes for €2.80, and to Kassiopi, 1 h 15 for €4.30. The blue city buses cost from €1.30 if you buy the ticket at the stop; on board it costs more. If you hire, take a small car: many roads are narrow with an uneven surface.

## When to go and what does it cost?

May, June and September. Average maximums run from 24 °C in May to 31.5 °C in August, when the coves fill up. October is already rainy and from November to March it rains a lot: Angelokastro closes, the Old Fortress opens from 8:30 to 15:30, campsites and beach hostels close and the ferries to Italy stop running.

Corfu is mid-priced, with a big difference between the resorts of the north-east coast and the campsites and hostels of the west. Some reference prices: the Old Fortress and Angelokastro, €10; the Achilleion, €7; a half-day boat hire, from about €50.

## Dónde está
- Cerca: Epirus (a 71.8 km), Thessaly (a 146.7 km), Apulia (a 211.9 km · Italy), Central Greece (a 256.4 km)

## Consejos

### One coast per day
Paleokastritsa and Kassiopi are on opposite sides, with narrow roads between them. Pick one and give it the day.

### The west-coast coves, by boat
Boats that need no licence can be hired from Alipa harbour in Paleokastritsa: you only need to be 18 and have ID.

### Angelokastro, before the heat
It opens at 10:00 from April to October and closes on Tuesdays. The climb from the ticket office is in the sun.

### Blue bus ticket at the stop
At the machine or the kiosk it is cheaper than on board.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Are there direct flights from Spain to Corfu?
No route from Spain is listed. The usual way is to connect in Athens, with a 1 h 15 flight to Corfu, or in Rome or Milan in summer.

### How many days do you need in Corfu?
Four or five nights: the town, Paleokastritsa and Angelokastro, the north and Pantokrator, and a day for the beach or the Corfu Trail.

### Can you go without a car?
Yes. The town is seen on foot and the green buses reach the main beaches. You miss the inland villages and the climb to Pantokrator.

### How do you combine Corfu with the mainland?
By the ferry from Igoumenitsa, an hour and a quarter. From there, Zagori is about 130 km away, and Meteora an hour and a half beyond Ioannina along the Egnatia.

### Can you camp wild?
No. In Greece it is banned outside authorised campsites, including on beaches. There are campsites in Paleokastritsa and near Gouvia.