Corfu’s position — close to the Albanian coast, with a historically significant Old Town and varied landscape — gives it a different set of day-trip options than most Greek islands. The choices range from beach exploration to a genuinely different country. Prices listed here are approximate as of 2026.
Day Trips at a Glance
| Destination | Distance | Price (from) | Transport | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paleokastritsa Sea Caves and Monastery | 25km | from €35/person | Coach or guided tour | Sea cave boat trip, monastery visit, turquoise coves, local taverna |
| Saranda, Albania Day Trip | 35km | from €40/person | Ferry from New Port (35 min) | Saranda promenade, Butrint UNESCO ruins, Albanian cuisine |
| Achilleion Palace and South Corfu | 12km | from €25/person | Coach or local bus | Empress Sisi’s palace, Achilles statues, hilltop sea views |
| Canal d’Amour and North Coast Tour | 40km | from €40/person | Coach | Sidari rock formations, north-coast beaches, Agios Stefanos village |
| Corfu Town and Venetian Fortress Walking Tour | In town | from €18/person | Walking tour | UNESCO Old Town, Old Fortress, Liston arcade, Spianada square |
Browse all Corfu day trips and guided excursions → GetYourGuide
Paleokastritsa
Paleokastritsa is Corfu’s most visited single destination — a series of coves on the north-west coast backed by green mountains, with a Byzantine-era monastery perched on a headland above the main bay. It deserves its reputation.
The monastery of Theotokos was built in the thirteenth century on the site of an earlier church and has been continuously inhabited since. Visitors are welcome (free entry, modest dress required — cover shoulders and knees). The museum inside holds Byzantine icons and ecclesiastical objects. From the monastery terrace, the view down over the coves and into the Ionian Sea is one of the best on the island.
Beaches: the main Paleokastritsa bay has pebbly coves and clear water. The calm sheltered water is particularly good in the morning before the day-trip crowds arrive. Sunbeds and umbrellas approximately €10/set.
Boat caves: from the main beach, small wooden caiques offer tours of the sea caves at the base of the cliffs. Approximately €15–20 per person, 30–40 minutes, and the boats will enter the larger caves directly.
Getting there: KTEL bus from Corfu Town (San Rocco square), approximately €3.50 each way, 45 minutes. Bus runs approximately 4–5 times daily in summer. Car from Corfu Town: 25km, approximately 35 minutes.
Saranda, Albania (by ferry)
Saranda is directly across the water from Corfu — visible on clear days from the east coast — and the ferry crossing takes approximately 35 minutes. It is one of the most genuinely unusual day trips available from a Greek island: a different country, a different language, and a noticeably different character.
Saranda itself is a mid-sized coastal city with a beach promenade (upgraded significantly in recent years), a busy café culture, and Lekursi Castle above the city for views. The main reason to cross is Butrint — a UNESCO World Heritage Site 18km south, with Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian ruins layered over 2,500 years of history. An afternoon at Butrint is better value than a morning in Saranda town alone; combine both.
Ferry operators: Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways operate from Corfu’s New Port. Return fares approximately €20–25 as of 2026. Sailings are frequent in summer (multiple daily departures). Documents: EU citizens can enter Albania with an ID card; non-EU citizens should check current Albanian visa requirements before travelling — the policy has changed in recent years. Butrint entry: approximately €7 as of 2026; arrange a taxi from Saranda (approximately €20–25 return including waiting time).
Achilleion Palace
The Achilleion is 12km south of Corfu Town, set on a hilltop above the east coast. It was built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who chose Corfu as a retreat partly for its climate and partly to escape her royal obligations. After her assassination in 1898, it was purchased by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who used it as a summer residence until World War I.
The palace is a neoclassical confection with a notable garden featuring two large bronze statues of Achilles — one dying (the original commission by Sisi, an admirer of Greek mythology) and one triumphant (commissioned by the Kaiser). The interior contains period furniture, royal memorabilia, and some paintings. Entry approximately €7 as of 2026.
Getting there: local blue bus from Corfu Town (ask at the Old Town bus stops for the Achilleion route), approximately €1.50–2. Taxi: approximately €15–20 one way. Car: 20 minutes from Corfu Town.
Canal d’Amour, Sidari
Sidari is at the north tip of Corfu — a resort town with a distinctive stretch of eroded sandstone cliffs forming narrow sea channels. The most famous channel is the Canal d’Amour, where local legend holds that couples who swim through it together will marry. The water is clear and calm within the channel, and the eroded formations are striking.
Getting there: KTEL bus from Corfu Town, approximately €4 each way, 55 minutes. From Sidari village, the Canal d’Amour is a 15-minute walk. Sidari itself has hotels and restaurants if you want to extend the day.
Corfu Town (for resort-based visitors)
For visitors staying in resort areas on the east or west coast, Corfu Town itself makes a well-structured half-day or full-day trip. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a remarkably intact Venetian and French colonial urban fabric with narrow lanes, the Liston arcade (modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris), the vast Spianada square, the Old Venetian Fortress, and the Palace of St Michael and St George.
Allow half a day minimum. Combine with lunch on the Liston or in the nearby Splanada square tavernas. Avoid peak midday heat in the Old Town in July and August.
For getting between these destinations, see our Corfu transport guide. For the full island overview, see the Corfu travel guide.
Search hotels in Corfu on Booking.com
See Also
- Corfu Travel Guide - island overview, when to go, and what to expect
- Getting Around Corfu - KTEL buses, car hire, and taxi costs
- Things to Do in Corfu - full activity and sightseeing guide
- Best Beaches in Corfu - Myrtiotissa, Agios Gordios, and Canal d’Amour
- Where to Stay in Corfu - Corfu Town vs Paleokastritsa vs east-coast resorts
- Corfu Tours and Excursions - organised day trips to Paleokastritsa, Achilleion, and Albania