Sailing holidays in Corfu

The Old Town of Corfu, a World Heritage Site, is made up of a wonderful ensemble of beautiful Baroque and Venetian buildings. Enjoy wandering around the cobblestone streets, passing through Liston and Splanada or visiting one of many archaeological or art museums before departing on your sailing holiday in Corfu.

Take in the sun on Corfu's beaches or enjoy watersports such as windsurfing. The southern beaches are generally more popular, with sandy shores and several seafront bars, restaurants and resorts. At Gouvia, enjoy relaxed dining at Romeos and 9 Muses restaurants, or visit the more relaxed My Place Bar and lively Old School Rock Bar nearby. You'll have the choice of sandier shores to the west, such as Issos and Prasoudi, or the quieter Messonghi and Halikounas beaches.

For nature enthusiasts, head to the mountains in the north of Corfu to enjoy hiking or biking trails that take you through the island’s rugged, yet beautiful, landscapes. The trail around Mt Pantokrator offers breathtaking scenery and is a great way to see more of this charming island. The small town of Acharavi on the northern tip of Corfu has some of its best water parks as well as museums and bars. Alternatively, Adios Georgios to the north-west is a great destination for hiking from the shore to the inland mountains.

A Corfu sailing holiday also gives you the unique advantage of being able to visit the nearby islands, including Paxi and Lefkada at your own leisure.

The Ionian Sea remains a great sailing location due to favourable weather conditions and calmer seas than the nearby Aegean. To see the best of the Ionian Islands, start at Gouvia Marina and work your way south to Pylos on the mainland, in the gorgeous Navarino Bay. Along the way you’ll see Sivotas Island, Port Gaios and Lefkas, the second largest on the island chain.

From Lefkada (Lefkas), enjoy safe and easy sailing along the canal. You can make stops at the small harbours in Lygia and Nikiana before heading out to the nearby islands of Meganisi and Kalamos. On Meganisi, you can make a visit to the historic Papanakolis sea cave.

Continue south, stopping at Vathi and Zakinthos, with its remarkable Venetian Fortress and the stunning Blue Caves that rises from the sea. A boat trip to Zakinthos is not complete without a visit to the iconic Navagio or Shipwreck beach.

You'll find that the above mentioned locations offer excellent moorings, with Sivotas, Abelike Bay and Pylos offering anchorages to stop off and relax at the beach. For more information and tips about sailing around the Ionian Islands, check out our magazine where you'll find more sailing routes in Greece. 

Experience the varied beauty and culture of this island chain too often missed by travellers on your sailing yacht in Corfu.

The waters around Corfu are generally calm and make for enjoyable sailing holidays in Greece. Tides are low, reaching 0.5m at the extreme, but usually far lower. The Ionian Sea generally experiences a north-west to west-north-west wind that ranges from 10 to 15 knots. It should be noted that winds in northern Corfu can blow strong at times, making for an exciting sailing trip. Air temperatures on the island of Corfu are at an average of 25°C in high summer, but often into the 30s. The average sea temperature is a pleasant 25°C or so.

This is a preferred destination in Greece for beginner sailors or those looking for a more relaxing sailing holiday.

The south of Corfu is a popular area for sailing holidays thanks to the region's excellent summer weather and easy sailing conditions with calm waters and ideal wind speeds. This is a preferred destination in Greece for beginner sailors or those looking for a more relaxing sailing holiday. Sailors in the area need only to watch out for occasional gusts when travelling alongside mountainous areas. Anchoring is possible at all the major ports, and each island is well provisioned with harbours for stopping at your leisure. Remember, you can also enjoy booking a skippered sailing holiday with Zizoo.

To learn more about the Greek Islands, read our guide to island hopping in Greece.