Corfu town harbours

[spencerd]

Planning to pick friends up from Corfu airport this June. what harbour would you all recommend to use? Thanks

 

[nimbusgb]

If they are going sailing with you one assumes that they wont be bringing 5 hard suitcases and a bundle of luggage. In which case chuck a hook out in Garitsa bay, south of the castle at around 39°36'44.26"N 19°55'20.02"E and pick them up off the beach or the jetty at the southern end of the bay.

That'll give them about a 700 metre walk from the airport terminal building and save the €15-€20 taxi fare into town ( 3 km )

 

[Tranona]

Gouvia marina is the most obvious place (apart from the beach already suggested). 20 euro/20 minute taxi ride from the airport.

 

[jimbaerselman]

If you're lucky you may be able to get a berth at the yacht club just inshore of the anchorage at Garitsa. Really convenient for the town centre, and a nicer welcome for visitors than Gouvia. Cheaper, too.

 

[Oliveoyl]

+1 for the yacht club. We walked from there to the airport to meet sister-in law (but cheated and got a taxi back). Much cheaper than Gouvia, but "facilities" fairly basic

 

[affinite]

Mandraki in the fort

Mandraki if you can get in - its in the fort (other (East) side from the yacht club) and when my sister in law flew in, the taxi driver didnt know where it was and I had to "con" him in !
Its a nice little spot with a convivial bar overlooking the harbour. Its closer than Gouvia and it feels like quite an adventure for your guests walking through the old fort to get to it.

 

[B&M]

The Corfu Yacht Club and Mandraki Harbour are the same place. It can get unconfortable at times from the ferry swell and would advise mooring into the harbour as far as possible. Taxis can drive into the fort and drop you quite close tothe harbour, but the last part down can be hard if you have heavy luggage.

 

[affinite]

The Corfu Yacht Club and Mandraki Harbour are the same place. It can get unconfortable at times from the ferry swell and would advise mooring into the harbour as far as possible. Taxis can drive into the fort and drop you quite close tothe harbour, but the last part down can be hard if you have heavy luggage.

Yes you are right it is a yacht club but I thought others were refering to the yacht club (NAOK) harbour to the West of the fort
Agree with the advice wrt the swell.

 

[charles_reed]

I'd agree that Mandraki is the most pleasant of all the possible alternatives.
Pleasant Club House, right in the centre of Kerkyra town - unlike Gouvia, which is miles away, expensive and, frankly, boring.
The Sailing Club Harbour to the S of the Old Castle, is the one which suffers worst from Ferry swell.

 

[jordanbasset]

We managed to find a space in the town harbour berthed alongside another yacht already on the wall. Advantage being it is free, but space is limited and it is a matter of luck as to whether you will find a space. The last 100 feet of the wall is the only part you can use as the rest is for tripper boats.

 

[NornaBiron]

NAOK were kind enough to allow us to tie up for a couple of hours so that we could collect family from the airport. As long as we were there for no longer than 3 hours there was no charge.

 

[lurob]

An alternative is Benitses. It's about half an hour from the airport by bus.

 

[SHUG]

An alternative is Benitses. It's about half an hour from the airport by bus.

Is that the harbour, as opposed to marina, North of Corfu Town which is quite close to the Airport? Its free, but a character called George expects his palm to be crossed with silver and all that.

 

[Appleyard]

No It's a few miles south.

 

[CharlesSwallow]

Only problem with Mandraki is that if you draw more than 2 metres then some of the berths in front of the clubhouse terrace are a bit shallow. Some of the pontoons are also a bit unstable and there are quite a few lines in the water. You can get a reasonable lunch there though, at very good prices. Nice walk to town past the ever melodious emissions from the University School of Music which overlooks the yacht harbour.

Chas

 

[B&M]

Benitses was full of boats with absent owners when I was last there. I had heard a rumour that it had been taken over and a shower block was being completed. Anyone been there recently?

 

[lurob]

Benitses was full of boats with absent owners when I was last there. I had heard a rumour that it had been taken over and a shower block was being completed. Anyone been there recently?

Haven't been there since late July. Yes, there were several apparently unattended boats, but we always managed to get a space. Work was ongoing in the "shower block" area. On our first visit water was available on the quay, but on subsequent visits the water on the harbour wall was switched off - there was water available for jerry-canning near the "shower block".