Paleokastritsa
A9 · 45 min · €2.50
Day trips from Corfu
Where to go, how long it takes, and how to get there without a car.
Shortlist
The five best day trips, ranked
Paxos
Ferry · check corfuport.gr
Sidari
A2 · 75 min · €3.70
Angelokastro
Cliff fortress · pair with Paleokastritsa
Agios Gordios
West-coast swim · bus or car
Kanoni / Vlacherna
Half day · blue bus from town
- Paleokastritsa & northwest coast — ~45 min by green bus A9 (€2.50, ktelkerkyras.gr, Aug 2026). Multiple coves, clifftop monastery, clearest water without a car.
- Paxos & Antipaxos — ~60–90 min by ferry from Corfu port (schedule and fare on corfuport.gr — check locally). Smaller-island pace, sea caves on boat trips.
- Pelekas — ~20 min, blue bus Zone B €1.80 (Astiko KTEL, Aug 2026). Hill village sunset viewpoint above the west coast — easy half-day.
- Sidari & Canal d’Amour — ~75 min, green bus A2 €3.70 (ktelkerkyras.gr, Aug 2026). North-coast geology and sandy beaches; long day but busable.
- Albania (Saranda & Butrint) — full day; ferry from Corfu port (schedule varies — verify before travel). UNESCO Butrint ruins plus a foreign-country stamp in the passport.
See also the dedicated Paleokastritsa coast guide and island ferries page for detail beyond this shortlist.
Logistics
Buses, trains and hire cars
Green buses (KTEL Kerkyras) leave from the terminal on Leoforos Eptanisou — reachable on blue-bus Line 15 from the airport or San Rocco. Buy tickets at the station or on board (cash on many routes — confirm on ktelkerkyras.gr). Route A9 to Paleokastritsa is the most popular coach day trip; A2 serves Sidari and the north.
Blue buses cover Pelekas and southern villages on Zone B fares (€1.80, Astiko KTEL Kerkyras, Aug 2026). There is no passenger train on Corfu. Hire cars unlock remote beaches but parking at Paleokastritsa fills by noon in August — go early or take the bus.
Ferries for Paxos and Albania depart the New Port; foot-passenger tickets and times change by season (corfuport.gr). Allow buffer time for return coaches — last green buses north leave mid-afternoon in shoulder season.
Half day
If you only have half a day
Pelekas fits a four-hour window: blue bus up, café at the summit, sunset if you stay until evening. Achilleion gardens (€7, achillion-corfu.gr) pair with Kanoni on the same southern loop — allow 60–90 minutes at the palace plus bus time.
Mon Repos and Garitsa bay need no coach — walk or blue-bus from town for a swim and the palace grounds. These options keep you south of Corfu Town and back for a Liston dinner without a rental car.
Full day
Trips that need the whole day
Paleokastritsa deserves a full day: morning bus A9 (€2.50), swim at two coves, monastery visit, lunch on the harbour — return on an afternoon coach. Paxos needs ferry time both ways plus exploration of Gaios harbour; check first and last sailing on corfuport.gr.
Albania (Saranda ferry + Butrint UNESCO site) is only sensible as a long day with an early boat and pre-booked border-ready documents — verify visa rules for your nationality before booking. Sidari via A2 is doable by bus but tiring; stay for sunset or book a room if you want a relaxed pace.
Tours
When an organised tour is actually worth it
Independent buses cover Paleokastritsa and Pelekas cheaply — skip tours unless you want a guided boat into sea caves or a hotel pickup. Paxos boat excursions from the port bundle crossing and Antipaxos swim stops; compare operator safety briefings and return times rather than star ratings alone.
Albania day packages simplify ferry tickets and Butrint entry but lock you to group pace — worth it if border formalities intimidate you. Cruise-ship shore excursions cost more than DIY green buses; only pay the premium if your ship’s timetable is tight.
Common questions
Day-trip questions
What is the best day trip from Corfu?
Paleokastritsa tops the list for first-timers: green bus A9 takes about 45 minutes and costs €2.50 one-way (ktelkerkyras.gr, Aug 2026). You get multiple coves, the clifftop monastery and clear water without a hire car. Go early in August before coaches and parking fill up.
Can you do day trips from Corfu without a car?
Yes. KTEL green buses reach Paleokastritsa (A9) and Sidari (A2); blue buses cover Pelekas on Zone B €1.80 fares (Aug 2026). Paxos and Albania need ferries from Corfu port — foot passenger only, no car required. Download timetables before travel day.
How far in advance should I book?
Green and blue buses need no booking — buy tickets on the day. Book Paxos ferries and Albania day boats ahead in July–August when schedules fill (corfuport.gr). Organised Albania tours and Paxos boat packages should be reserved at least a few days early in peak season.