Boat hire and yacht charter in Corfu

Where Corfu boat hire starts: Gouvia, Benitses and Corfu Town

D-Marin Gouvia Marina, in a sheltered bay just north of Corfu Town, is home to almost all of Corfu's charter fleet and is a short drive from the airport. A smaller fleet is based at Marina Benitses on the coast south of town, and a few boats start from the old port in Corfu Town itself.

Most of the fleet is sailing yachts and catamarans, with a few crewed motor yachts and traditional gulets. Each listing shows its base, so you can see at a glance where your charter begins.

Where to sail from Corfu

South: Paxos and Antipaxos are the classic destination for a week from Corfu, with the harbours of Gaios and Lakka and the clear water of Antipaxos.

North-east: the coast towards Kassiopi and Kalami is lined with small coves and fishing villages, and is an easy first day out of Gouvia.

The mainland: across the strait, the coast at Sivota has islets and quiet anchorages. The water between Corfu and the mainland is sheltered, and the breeze usually builds in the afternoon, which suits relaxed family sailing.

With more time, head further south to Lefkada, the Ionian's other big charter area.

Do you need a licence to hire a yacht in Corfu?

For a bareboat charter in Greece, the skipper needs a recognised sailing licence, such as the ICC, and one more crew member needs sailing experience. If nobody in your group holds one, hire the boat with a skipper, or choose a crewed yacht with a skipper and host on board. Each listing shows which options it offers.

When to go and how booking works

The season runs from April to October. May, June and September bring warm water and quieter anchorages; July and August are the busiest weeks. Most yachts are chartered by the week, Saturday to Saturday, and each listing shows the price and availability for your dates before you book and pay securely online.

Compare other sailing areas on the Greece yacht charter page, or see all catamarans for charter in Greece.

Chartering a boat on Corfu

On Corfu the charter boats are gathered in one bay, Gouvia, about 8 km north of Corfu town and home to the island's largest marina. D-Marin Gouvia has room for around 1,200 boats, a fuel station and a boatyard, and it is only about 7 km from the airport, close enough for a handover on the day you land. Beside the marina stand the remains of a Venetian shipyard.

Nearly everything here is a sailing yacht or catamaran rented by the week, with a wide spread of sizes and ages.

From Gouvia you choose between two directions. North-east, the coast runs past Kassiopi into the strait that separates Corfu from Albania, only about 3 km wide at its narrowest. South, past the walls of Corfu's Old Fortress, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the old town, you reach Paxos, about 15 km away, with its harbour at Gaios and Antipaxos next door. Our Corfu and Paxos sailing week turns this into a full route.

A practical detail: Gouvia marina works on VHF channel 69, so call ahead when you come back in at the end of the week.