Corfu Cruise Port Guide: Old Town, Old Fortress and Kanoni
Corfu is one of the easiest Greek ports to do on your own. Ships dock, the route into town is flat, and the Old Town is a UNESCO-listed grid of Venetian lanes, arcades and two fortresses. It fills a day on foot.
Quick answer
Ships berth at the New Port, and a free port shuttle takes you to the passenger terminal. The Old Town is 2–3 km away. Walk 30–40 minutes along the flat seafront, take city bus 16 (€1.10 prepaid, €1.70 on board) or a taxi for about €10 (2026). Leave the Old Town 105 minutes before all-aboard.
The port: what you need to know
- ·Where ships dock: New Port (Neo Limani) quays, north-west of the Old Town
- ·Tender port: No
- ·Port shuttle: Free, from the ship to the passenger terminal. Some berths are a 5–10 minute walk from the terminal.
- ·Terminal: Shared with ferries. Wi-Fi, ATM, first aid and car hire desks. Taxis queue outside.
- ·Passenger fee: Greece charges €5 per disembarking cruise passenger from June to September, €3 in April, May and October, and €1 from November to March. Your cruise line charges it.
Getting to the Old Town
City bus 16: About 10 minutes from the port to Spilia, at the edge of the Old Town. €1.10 prepaid, €1.70 on board, €5 day ticket (2026). Have coins for the on-board fare. Line 17 runs from the port to the upper Spianada.
Walk: 30–40 minutes. Leave the terminal and keep the sea on your left. The road is flat but busy, with little shade. About 2 km brings you to the Old Port (Spilia). The Spianada, the Liston and the Old Fortress are another 10–15 minutes across the Old Town.
Taxi: About €10, 10–15 minutes (2026). The first drivers in the queue usually want island tours. For a short ride, go to the end of the line and agree the fare first.
Cruise line shuttle: Not every ship offers one, and some lines charge about €8 (2026). The public bus is cheaper and as quick.
The Old Town
The Old Town costs nothing to walk. Its narrow lanes, the kantounia, run between tall Venetian-era houses with small squares and churches.
- ·Old Fortress — a Venetian fortress on a headland, cut off from the town by a sea moat. Climb to the lighthouse for views over the Old Town and the Albanian coast. €10 full, €5 reduced (2026). Open 08:00–20:00 from April to August, closing earlier in September and October. Allow 1.5 hours. The top is steep and exposed, so go before noon.
- ·Spianada and the Liston — one of the largest squares in Greece, with a cricket ground, and the French-built café arcade along its western side. Free. Coffee is cheaper standing at the counter than seated under the arcades.
- ·Church of Saint Spyridon — the church of the island's patron saint, with a red-domed bell tower and the saint's relics. Free. Cover shoulders and knees.
- ·Museum of Asian Art — Chinese, Japanese and Indian art in the Palace of St Michael and St George on the Spianada. €10 full, €5 reduced (2026). Open 08:00–20:00 from April to October. A good indoor option on a hot afternoon.
- ·New Fortress — the larger Venetian fortress above the Old Port, with tunnels and harbour views. Close to the bus 16 stop at Spilia.
- ·The lanes — get away from N. Theotoki and Agiou Spyridonos for quieter streets. Allow 1–2 hours.
Kanoni and Mouse Island
The viewpoint over Vlacherna Monastery on its causeway and Pontikonisi (Mouse Island), with planes landing overhead. City bus line 2 leaves from the lower Spianada next to the Liston and costs the standard city fare. Allow 1.5 hours including the bus.
What about the Achilleion?
Many ship tours are sold on the Achilleion palace. Its interior has been closed for restoration for about five years, and a new works contract was tendered in August 2026. Check what is open before you plan a day around it.
A day plan for a 17:30 all-aboard
Assumes docking at 08:00.
| Time | Activity | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:15 | Port shuttle to the terminal, then bus 16 or walk to Spilia | €1.10–1.70 |
| 09:00 | Old Town lanes to the Church of Saint Spyridon | Free |
| 09:30 | Across the Spianada to the Old Fortress; climb to the lighthouse | €10 |
| 11:15 | Coffee or tsitsibira (ginger beer) under the Liston arcades | Varies |
| 12:00 | Museum of Asian Art, or bus 2 to Kanoni for Mouse Island | €10 / city fare |
| 13:30 | Lunch in the Old Town: pastitsada, sofrito or bourdeto | Varies |
| 14:45 | Lanes towards the Old Port and New Fortress; kumquat sweets on the way | — |
| 15:45 | Bus 16 or taxi back to the port | €1.10–1.70 / about €10 |
| 16:30 | On board, 60 minutes before all-aboard | — |
Return timing
The rule: leave the Old Town 105 minutes before all-aboard. That is 15:45 for a 17:30 all-aboard, so you are on board by 16:30.
The bus takes about 10 minutes, but you may wait 15 minutes for one. A taxi can take 15 minutes in traffic. You then need the port shuttle from the terminal to your berth. On foot, allow 40 minutes from the Spianada to the terminal.
| All-aboard | Leave the Old Town by | On board by |
|---|---|---|
| 16:30 | 14:45 | 15:30 |
| 17:00 | 15:15 | 16:00 |
| 17:30 | 15:45 | 16:30 |
| 18:00 | 16:15 | 17:00 |
If you are running late, take a taxi from the rank at the Spianada or San Rocco Square: 10–15 minutes and about €10. Call the port agent (number in the daily programme) if you will be late.
Ship excursion or DIY?
Ship excursion prices vary by line. For the Old Town a ship tour adds little: it is close, flat and easy to navigate.
A tour is worth it if you want the west coast (Paleokastritsa, Pelekas) and the inland villages in one day. Green KTEL buses are infrequent and cancellations happen.
Paleokastritsa on your own: green KTEL bus A9 from the intercity station on Eptanisou Avenue, near the New Port. €2.80 one way, about 50 minutes (2026). Timetables changed on 10 October 2026 and some departures are cancelled at short notice, so check ktelkerkyras.gr on the day. Be back in Corfu Town by 15:00.
Practical notes
- ·Beaches: Faliraki, 10 minutes' walk from the Spianada, is a swimming platform and café below the Old Fortress. Mon Repos, a small pebble beach, is about 30 minutes' walk south of the Spianada.
- ·Liston cafés: check the menu for cover or service charges before you sit down.
- ·Restaurant touts: offers of a free drink can end in a bill with extra items. Choose places with a printed menu and prices.
- ·Heat: the walk from the port and the Old Fortress have little shade. Carry water.
- ·Pickpockets: watch your bag in the lanes around Saint Spyridon and on crowded buses.
Build your Corfu ship-safe plan with exact return timing → Use the PortTrip Planner
Related guides
- ·Santorini cruise port without excursion →
- ·Kotor cruise port guide →
- ·Are cruise excursions worth it? →
Sources
- ·Hellenic Heritage – Old Fortress of Corfu (tickets and hours)
- ·Hellenic Heritage – Corfu Museum of Asian Art
- ·Visit Corfu (Municipality) – Corfu city bus
- ·KTEL Kerkyras – A9 Paleokastritsa route
- ·MSC Cruises – Greece cruise passenger fee
- ·CruiseMapper – Corfu port
- ·Enimerosi – Achilleion Palace new contract (Aug 2026)