Corfu Yacht Charter: 2027 Prices and a 7-Day Itinerary
Corfu is the northern gateway to the Ionian Sea: short flights, a large marina 15 minutes from the airport and easy sailing to Paxos, Antipaxos and the mainland coast of Epirus. A 38 ft sailing yacht from Gouvia lists at about US$1,800 a week in low season and US$4,200 in August 2027, and a 42 ft catamaran at up to about US$12,400 in summer. This guide covers where to start, what a week costs and a measured 7-day loop of about 96 nautical miles: Corfu Town, Petriti, Lakka, the Paxos sea caves, Antipaxos, Gaios, Parga and Sivota.
Key takeaways
- Most Corfu charters start from D-Marin Gouvia, a marina of about 1,200 berths 7 km north of Corfu Town.
- 2027 weekly prices run from about US$1,800 (38 ft, low season) to over US$5,000 (46 ft, August) for monohulls, before extras.
- The 7-day loop covers about 96 NM, with legs of 11 to 25 NM and short daytime hops to the caves and Antipaxos.
- The afternoon maistro, a north-westerly of Force 3 to 5, makes the Ionian one of the easiest sailing areas in Greece.
- Stay on the Greek side of the North Corfu Channel and check your contract: many charter contracts forbid entering Albanian waters.
Where to start: Gouvia and the other bases
D-Marin Gouvia is the main charter base on Corfu. It has about 1,200 berths, is about 15 minutes from Corfu airport and 7 km from Corfu Town (D-Marin, May 2025). Dream Yacht Charter and The Moorings both run fleets from Gouvia, alongside many local companies (Dream Yacht Charter base guide; The Moorings, March 2026). With more than 480 boats listed on 12knots, Corfu is one of the larger fleets in the Ionian.
Benitses, on the east coast south of Corfu Town, has a small marina of 86 berths that opened in 2021 (GTP), with a handful of charter boats.
The usual schedule at Gouvia is check-in on Saturday afternoon (Dream Yacht gives 17:00) and return by Friday evening, leaving the boat by 09:00 on Saturday. For the other Greek bases, see our Greece charter bases guide.
How much does a yacht charter in Corfu cost in 2027?
These are published weekly rates for boats based at Gouvia. The 12knots figures are in US dollars for 2027; the yacht-rent figures are in euros for 2026. All exclude extras.
| Boat | Low season | June | Peak (late July to mid-August) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria C38 (2023), 3 cabins | US$1,770 to US$1,863 | US$2,889 | US$4,193 | 12knots |
| Sun Odyssey 410 (2023), 3 cabins | US$1,856 | US$3,956 | US$4,981 | 12knots |
| Bavaria Cruiser 46 (2024), 4 cabins | US$2,264 (May) | US$3,697 to US$4,414 | US$5,158 | 12knots |
| Bavaria Cruiser 46 (2020), 2026 rates | €2,300 | €5,800 (from 13 June) | €6,600 | yacht-rent |
| Lagoon 42 catamaran (2018), 2026 rates | €3,300 | €7,900 (from 20 June) | €9,600 | yacht-rent |
| Sunsail 424 catamaran | US$2,539 (April) | US$9,026 to US$12,375 | US$10,049 to US$11,212 | 12knots |
On a per-person basis, yacht-rent calculates an average of €479 per person a week across 266 Corfu boats, rising to €742 in the peak week of early August 2026 (yacht-rent).
Extras to expect:
- End cleaning and linen: US$358 to US$403 on the 12knots monohulls above.
- Skipper: US$336 to US$358 a day on the same listings, plus the skipper’s food and a cabin. The Moorings quotes US$380 a night (The Moorings, August 2026).
- Security deposit: about US$2,800 to US$3,900 for monohulls and US$8,500 for the Sunsail catamaran, or a damage waiver instead.
- Moorings: town quays cost roughly €10 to €30 a night and private marinas €50 to €100 or more in high season, according to The Moorings.
- Cruising tax (TEPAI): paid by the boat owner; The Moorings says cruising taxes are included in its prices. Check that yours are.
For VAT, provisioning and a full budget, see how much a yacht charter in Greece costs.
A 7-day Corfu sailing itinerary
This loop suits a first week in the Ionian: no leg is longer than 25 NM, and the only open-water crossing, from the south of Corfu to Paxos, is short. Distances were measured on the OpenStreetMap coastline and rounded. They are consistent with the figures charter companies publish, for example Parga to Sivota 11 NM and Sivota to Corfu 22 to 24 NM (our 25 NM runs to Gouvia, north of Corfu Town) (12knots; The Moorings).
| Day | Leg | Distance | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Sat) | Check-in at Gouvia | D-Marin Gouvia | |
| 2 | Gouvia to Petriti, past Corfu Town | about 17 NM | Harbour or anchor, Petriti |
| 3 | Petriti to Lakka (Paxos) | about 14 NM | Anchor, Lakka bay |
| 4 | Lakka to the west-coast caves, Antipaxos, then Gaios | about 17 NM | Town quay, Gaios |
| 5 | Gaios to Parga | about 11 NM | Anchor, Valtos bay |
| 6 | Parga to Sivota (mainland) | about 12 NM | Town quay, Sivota |
| 7 (Fri) | Sivota to Gouvia | about 25 NM | D-Marin Gouvia |
| 8 (Sat) | Check-out |
Total: about 96 NM, or 2 to 5 hours of sailing a day.
Day 1: Gouvia
Check in, provision at the supermarkets near the marina and have dinner ashore. If you arrive early, take a taxi into Corfu Town.
Day 2: Gouvia to Petriti (about 17 NM)
Sail south past the Old Fortress of Corfu Town. The old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 for its Venetian fortifications and historic centre (UNESCO; Visit Greece). If you want to visit, a morning stop at anchor off the town is easier than a night there. Continue down the east coast to Petriti, a small fishing harbour with tavernas on the shore.
Day 3: Petriti to Lakka (about 14 NM)
Round the southern tip of Corfu and cross to Paxos. Lakka is a round bay at the north end of the island with very clear water. It is always busy in summer: anchor on the sandy north side, where holding is good, and let out 20 to 25 m of chain. The bay is well sheltered except from the north-east (CruisersWiki).
Day 4: Lakka to Gaios via the caves and Antipaxos (about 17 NM)
Motor-sail down the west coast of Paxos in the calm of the morning. It has dozens of sea caves reachable only by boat, including Ypapanti, as well as the Ortholithos rock and the Tripitos arch (Visit Greece). Avoid the caves when a westerly is blowing. Continue to Antipaxos for a swim at Voutoumi, a beach for daytime stops only, open to the east (Barbaros Yachting). In the late afternoon, sail the last 4 NM to Gaios. Its main quay is kept clear for tour boats during the day; yachts can moor there from about 17:00 to 10:00 (The Moorings, March 2026).
Day 5: Gaios to Parga (about 11 NM)
Cross to the mainland. Parga has no harbour for visiting yachts: anchor in Valtos bay, in the north-west corner close to the breakwater, in 4 to 5 m on sand and weed, and take a water taxi or walk over the hill to town (CruisersWiki). The bay can roll at night and is not tenable in strong southerlies. The castle above the town was built mainly by the Venetians after 1571, and Ali Pasha added a citadel in 1819 to 1820 (Hellenic Ministry of Culture).
Day 6: Parga to Sivota (about 12 NM)
Head north up the coast to Sivota (also spelt Syvota), on the mainland coast of Thesprotia; not to be confused with Sivota on Lefkas. The village sits behind a group of small islands with turquoise channels. Moor stern-to on the town quay with your own anchor. It gets very crowded on changeover weekends and can be uncomfortable in a strong north-westerly (CruisersWiki). Keep a little distance from the quay, as early ferries create wash.
Day 7: Sivota to Gouvia (about 25 NM)
The longest leg, back up the channel to Corfu. Leave in the morning: the afternoon north-westerly blows on the nose for this leg. Refuel before you return to the marina.
With an extra day: Kalami
North of Gouvia, about 6 NM away, the bay of Kalami is where Lawrence Durrell lived in the White House, now a taverna (PBS). It makes a gentle first or last afternoon. Further north, the channel narrows towards Albania.
Albania and the North Corfu Channel
At its narrowest the channel between Corfu and Albania is only about a mile wide (Noonsite). Many Corfu charter contracts forbid sailing to Albania or approaching its coast; one rental listing on Click&Boat, for example, states that sailing towards Albania is strictly prohibited (Click&Boat). Stay on the Greek side, and read your contract if you plan to sail north of Kassiopi.
Winds and the best time to sail
The summer wind in the Ionian is the maistro, a north-westerly of Force 3 to 5 that builds from midday and dies away at sunset (Yachting Monthly). It is much gentler than the meltemi of the Aegean, which is why the Ionian suits first-time skippers. Spring and autumn can bring gusty downdrafts of Force 5 to 6 (Yachting.com, 2025).
- May and early June: quiet anchorages and the lowest prices of the sailing season.
- Late June and September: warm water, a reliable breeze and fewer crowds than in August.
- July and August: the busiest and most expensive weeks, with crowded quays at Gaios and Sivota.
See our best time to sail in Greece guide for month-by-month detail.
Licence and crew
To charter without a skipper in Greece, the skipper needs a recognised qualification such as the ICC, RYA Coastal Skipper or ASA 104; RYA Day Skipper has not been accepted since 2019. A second crew member with sailing experience must also be on the crew list (Filovent, May 2026). Full details are in our guide to boat licence requirements in Greece.
Getting to the marina
Corfu airport is about 8 km from Gouvia, around 15 to 20 minutes by car, and Dream Yacht Charter gives about €25 for a taxi. With a crew of five or more and luggage, book a minivan in advance, for example with Welcome Pickups, which offers fixed-price airport transfers in Corfu.
Useful to bring
- Ionian by Rod and Lucinda Heikell (Imray, 11th edition): the standard pilot for Corfu, Paxos, Lefkas and the mainland coast.
- A dry bag: for dinghy trips ashore from Valtos bay and Lakka.
- A snorkel set: for the caves of Paxos and the water at Antipaxos.
- Reef-safe sunscreen: for long days at anchor.
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More of the Ionian
With a second week, or a base further south, continue to Lefkas, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia. Our Ionian sailing guide includes a 7-day loop from Lefkas.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in Corfu?
For 2027, a 38 to 41 ft sailing yacht from Gouvia lists at about US$1,800 a week in spring and US$4,200 to US$5,000 in August. A 46 ft yacht reaches about US$5,200 in August, and a 42 ft catamaran US$9,000 to US$12,400 in summer. Add cleaning, fuel, moorings and a skipper if needed.
Where do yacht charters in Corfu start?
Most start from D-Marin Gouvia, about 7 km north of Corfu Town and 15 minutes from the airport. A few boats are based at the small marina of Benitses.
Can you sail from Corfu to Paxos in a day?
Yes. Lakka, at the north end of Paxos, is about 14 NM from Petriti on Corfu’s east coast, or about 3 hours under sail. From Gouvia direct it is a longer day of around 30 NM.
Can you sail from Corfu to Albania on a charter yacht?
Usually not. Many charter contracts forbid entering Albanian waters, so stay on the Greek side of the North Corfu Channel unless your charter company has agreed otherwise in writing.
Is Corfu good for beginners?
Yes. The Ionian has short distances, a moderate afternoon breeze and plenty of sheltered harbours, which make it one of the easiest sailing areas in Greece for a first bareboat charter.
