Getting from Santorini to Corfu

If you are heading to Corfu from Santorini you are crossing from the Aegean to the Ionian and the difference hits you the moment you land. Where Santorini is bare volcanic rock and blinding white plaster, Corfu is dense and green, an island of olive groves, cypress trees and Venetian architecture that spent centuries under Venetian, French and British rule before joining Greece in 1864. The old town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. The beaches on the west coast, particularly around Paleokastritsa and Glyfada, are spectacular. The island is large enough that you need several days to cover it properly and most people who go once find themselves going back.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Corfu. The two islands sit on opposite sides of Greece and are not connected by sea. Getting there by ferry would mean taking the ferry from Santorini to Piraeus, travelling by road across Greece to Igoumenitsa on the northwest coast and then crossing to Corfu, a journey that takes the better part of a day. Flying is the only practical option.

What about flying?

Both Santorini and Corfu have airports, which makes this a clean connection by air. There are no direct flights between the two islands. The journey goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Corfu, with total travel time around 4 hours door to door. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly via Athens. The connection is easy and Corfu Airport sits right on the edge of the old town, so you are in the heart of things within minutes of landing. Book ahead for July and August as Corfu is one of the most popular islands in Greece and flights fill up fast.