Europe > Greece > Corfu (CFU)
The Car or no Car advice for Corfu can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Corfu ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Corfu ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Corfu?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Corfu is one of those destinations that seems small on the map but feels surprisingly large once you start exploring it. The island is long and stretched out, and travel times increase quickly because roads are narrow, winding, and often slow. This leads many first-time visitors to ask: should you rent a car in Corfu? The answer depends entirely on whether you plan to remain near Corfu Town or venture to the island’s edges.
🏰 Corfu Town: One of Europe’s easiest capitals to explore on foot
Corfu Town is compact, walkable, and beautiful. The old Venetian streets are narrow and full of atmosphere, and many are blocked to through-traffic. You can stroll from the airport to the city centre, which is almost unheard of elsewhere in the world. Even better, the Green Buses terminal sits very close to the northern end of the runway. This makes it easy to transfer into town or head to nearby resorts.
Walking is, in fact, the best way to enjoy the old town. Everything sits close together. You can wander from the Liston to the fortresses, then into the quieter neighbourhoods without ever needing a car or bus.
🚍 Public transport: Useful, but not fast across the island
Corfu’s famous Green Buses connect many villages and beaches, and the Blue Buses cover local routes around Corfu Town. These systems work well outside peak hours, yet they slow down significantly in summer. Roads become crowded, overtaking is difficult, and buses often sit in the same traffic as everyone else.
This means that although public transport is reliable, it is not quick, especially when crossing the island north–south. Journeys that look short on the map can take well over an hour.
🚗 Island scale: Much farther than it feels
Corfu Town sits near the centre of the east coast, but the island stretches a long way in both directions. For example:
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Reaching Kassiopi in the northeast takes time because of narrow coastal roads.
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Heading toward Paleokastritsa involves steep, twisting routes.
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Driving down to Kavos or the southern capes also requires patience.
Because of this, a car becomes extremely helpful if you want to visit remote villages, hidden coves, or sunset viewpoints. It also helps when returning late from beaches long after the last bus has run.
🛳️ Ferries: Why Corfu is a perfect staging post
Corfu is more than just a holiday island. It is one of the great maritime crossroads of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
You can continue easily:
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To mainland Greece via Igoumenitsa
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To Albania via ferries to Sarandë
If you’re planning a multi-country or multi-island adventure, Corfu works beautifully as a starting point. You can even pick up or drop off a rental car on the mainland if you prefer not to bring it on the ferry.
🧭 When a car makes the difference
A car transforms your experience if you want to explore:
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Remote beaches on the west coast
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Hilltop villages in the centre of the island
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Long-distance viewpoints such as Cape Drastis or Pantokrator
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Resorts far from Corfu Town
Traffic is slow in high season, but the flexibility of choosing when to travel usually outweighs that inconvenience.
🎬 Film, TV, and Literary Connections
Corfu has inspired writers and filmmakers for decades, and two connections stand out immediately. First, Gerald Durrell’s memoir My Family and Other Animals is set almost entirely on Corfu. Durrell moved to the island as a child in the 1930s, and the book describes his experiences with the island’s wildlife, people, and landscapes. The semi-chaotic, warm-hearted Durrell family became so iconic that the story was later turned into TV adaptations, including the recent ITV series The Durrells.
Although Gerald Durrell is also associated with Jersey, where he founded the world-famous Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, his childhood in Corfu shaped his entire outlook on conservation. Because of this double connection, Corfu and Jersey both claim elements of his legacy, but Corfu is where the storytelling magic began.
🎥 James Bond on Corfu: For Your Eyes Only
Corfu also features prominently in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981). Several scenes were shot around the island, using its dramatic coastline and mountain roads as a backdrop. The most famous sequence takes place near Agios Georgios, where Bond’s car chase unfolds along winding cliffside routes.
Even today, the island still feels exactly like the film: rugged, sunlit, and full of hairpin bends. Fans often visit locations such as Kanoni, Paleokastritsa, and the surrounding hills to see filming spots, although the movie blends locations for cinematic effect.
🧭 Conclusion — Should you rent a car in Corfu?
Should you rent a car in Corfu? Yes, if you intend to explore the wider island, visit off-peak beaches, or reach its northern and southern extremes. However, if you plan to base yourself mainly in Corfu Town, you can enjoy almost everything on foot and use the buses for occasional trips. Corfu offers both options, and the best choice simply depends on how far you want to roam.
