Overview
Corfu (Kerkyra) is the greenest of Greece's Ionian islands, a lush blend of Venetian, French and British heritage wrapped around a UNESCO-listed old town. With cypress-covered hills, olive groves and calm west-coast bays, it is one of the most popular summer escapes for UK travellers, and flights to Corfu from the UK are plentiful between spring and autumn. This guide covers when to fly, which airlines serve the route and how to keep the cost down.
Best time to fly to Corfu
Corfu is a seasonal destination: most UK flights run from late April to late October, peaking in July and August when the island is hot, busy and at its priciest. For the best balance of warm weather, open tavernas and lower fares, aim for May, June, September or early October, when the sea is still pleasant and the crowds thinner. Winter flights are very limited and usually require a connection. See the When to book chart above to check how prices move across the year.
Airlines and routes
Seasonal direct flights to Corfu are operated by easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Ryanair and British Airways, with departures from airports including London Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Heathrow, plus Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Typical flight time from London is around 3 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes; from northern UK airports allow a little over three and a half hours. Outside summer you will normally connect through Athens with Aegean Airlines or via another European hub.
Things to do in Corfu
The island rewards a hire car, but the highlights are easy to reach:
- Corfu Old Town: UNESCO-listed lanes, two Venetian fortresses and the arcaded Liston promenade.
- Achilleion Palace: Empress Elisabeth of Austria's hillside villa with formal gardens and sweeping sea views.
- Paleokastritsa: a cluster of turquoise coves, sea caves and a clifftop monastery on the west coast.
- Mount Pantokrator: the island's highest point, with views to the mainland and Albania on a clear day.
- Pontikonisi (Mouse Island): the tiny chapel-topped islet off Kanoni, right beneath the approach to CFU.
At Corfu International Airport (CFU)
Corfu International Airport (Ioannis Kapodistrias) sits about 3 km south of Corfu Town, so transfers are short. Taxis wait outside arrivals and reach the centre in roughly 10 minutes; fares are modest, but agree the price or ask for the meter. The local blue bus (route 15) passes near the terminal for the town centre, while many package travellers are met by pre-booked coach transfers to resorts such as Kavos, Sidari and Acharavi, which are 40 to 60 minutes away.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Corfu
- Book early for July and August: popular Saturday departures and school-holiday weeks sell out and rarely get cheaper. For shoulder-season trips, roughly two to four months ahead is a sensible window.
- Fly midweek: Tuesday and Wednesday departures are often cheaper than weekend flights, and very early or late slots usually cost less.
- Stay flexible: shifting your dates by a few days, or travelling in June or September rather than August, can cut the fare noticeably. Use the price charts on this page to compare.
- Compare carriers and airports: check easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and TUI side by side, and weigh a cheaper fare from a further airport against the cost of getting there.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for a holiday in Greece and can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter and valid for at least three months after you plan to leave. The local currency is the euro, so budget in pounds against the euro rate; cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small tavernas and kiosks. Bring a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for state healthcare, alongside travel insurance.
