CLIMATE
The islands of the North Ionian Sea are somewhat isolated and the climate differs from the rest of Greece. There are no “meltemia”, the famous winds that blow in the Aegean Sea, during the summer months. The winds in Corfu are light and the climate is mild and sweet. Many tourists prefer this side of Greece, avoiding the strong winds of the Aegean.
During the winter months, southern winds, usually lasting for days, strike the island with an intensity that can reach up to 8 Beauforts. The strong winds rarely cut off access to the mainland, due to the small distance from the shores of Epirus. The island also experiences high humidity and heavy rain falls, during the witner months, which explain its rich vegetation.
TELEPHONE
The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad.
The area codes for Corfu are 26610, 26620 and 26630 and the local phone numbers have 5 digits. If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialing the other country’s national prefix (i.e. for Germany is 0049, for England is 0044, etc.) and then continue with the desired area code and number.
CURRENCY
The currency of the island is Euro (€). Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver color) 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold color) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper color) 1 euro = 100 cents/centimes.
The banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Please bear in mind that it’s not always easy to get change from 100, 200 and 500 banknotes.
Kerkyra is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. Every year the island welcomes an enormous number of tourists, who come from every part of the world, but mainly from Europe. This is why it’s very well connected with the mainland, as well as with numerous countries, by air and by sea.
Kerkyra is connected by boat from:
• Igoumenitsa (within an hour and a half – 14 nautical miles)
• Patra (within 7-8 hours)
• Kefalonia, the Diapontian Islands
• Paxoi Islands (within one hour – 27 nautical miles
• Bari, Venice, Ancona and Brindisi in Italy and Agioi Saranta in Albania (within 30 minutes)
During the summer months there are frequent commercial and charter flights that connect the island with almost every European capital.
BY BOAT
Blue Star Ferries – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Bari, Ancona and Venice. For accurate timetables and tickets visit the company’s website at www.bluestarferries.gr.
Superfast Ferries – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Bari and Ancona. For accurate timetables and tickets visit the company’s website at www.superfast.com
Minoan Lines – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Venice and Ancona. For accurate timetables and tickets visit the company’s website at www.minoan.gr
Anek Lines – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Ancona and Venice. For accurate timetables and tickets visit the company’s website at www.anek.gr
Ventouris Sea Lines – From Igoumenitsa to Corfu, Bari and Durres (Albania). For more information and contact details visit the company’s website at www.ventouris.gr
Endeavor Lines – From Patra, Igoumenitsa, Kefalonia, Corfu and Brindisi. For more information and reservations visit the company’s website at www.endeavor-lines.com
Petrakis Lines – From Corfu and Paxoi Islands. For more information call at +30 26610 31649 or 26610 38690
Corfu Flying Dolphins – From Corfu, Igoumenitsa and Paxoi Islands. For more information call at +30 26610 31649 or 26610 38690
BY AIR
Aegean Airlines – From Athens International Airport El. Venizelos to Corfu within approximately 45 minutes. For timetables, prices and reservations please visit the company’s website at www.aegeanair.com. Local telephone number (at Corfu Airport): +30 26610 27100
Olympic Airlines – From Athens International Airport El. Venizelos to Corfu within approximately 45 minutes. For timetables, prices and reservations please visit the company’s website at www.olympicair.com. Local telephone number: +30 26610 38694
BY CAR
If you are travelling by car, there are many alternatives to access Corfu.
If you are driving from Athens, you need to follow the Athens-Patra national highway towards Patra. Once you reach Patra (216 km) you have two choices; either go by boat or drive up to Igoumenitsa (another 349 km), passing the Rio-Antirio bridge. Once you reach Igoumenitsa, you can take the ferry to Corfu. The trip with the ferry lasts for about an hour and a half.
If you are travelling from Thessaloniki, you need to follow the Egnatia Odos towards Igoumenitsa (500 km) and then take the ferry to Corfu.