Corfu Travel Information & Planning Guide

The Moorings
Marina Gouvia
PO Box 60
49083 Tzavros
Corfu, Greece
Tel: (+ 30) 26610 99132

UTC/GMT +2 hours; Daylight Savings Time is +1 hour

• Monday to Friday: 9.00 am-5.00 pm 
• Saturday: 9.00 am – 7.00 pm
• Sunday: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm 

Season: This charter destination is closed from early November to early April.

Tourist Information center, Corfu (GNTO) 
Platia Eleftheria, 49100 Corfu 
Tel: 30 26610 37638

The nearest telephone booth is 30m from the base.

Our base at Marina Gouvia has a wide range of brilliant facilities to kick your vacation off in style. Your comfort is assured by extensive amenities, including:

• Laundry room
• Hotels
• Parking
• Post office
• Restaurants
• Banks
• Supermarket
• The dock also has water and electricity
• The nearest telephone booth is 30m from the base

The old town: In the center of town near the old port there is a magnificent Venetian district with colorful streets lined with numerous shops and taverns.

Byzantine Art Museum: Arseniou Street in the Antivouniotissa Church.

Fortifications: Napoleon Bonaparte later modified the new fort from the 16th and 17th century. The old fort was occupied by the Venetians for a long time. A “Son and Lumiere” spectacle is frequently given in different languages.

The Liston: Across from the old fort there are arcades constructed by the French. There you will find a variety of terraced cafes overlooking an esplanade where traditional cricket matches are played.

Archaeological museum: Vraila Street at the end of the road of Garitsa Bay near Corfu Palace.  There are numerous examples of prehistoric tools and pottery exhibited.  Open from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Daily except Monday.

Horse Riding: Try the experience of riding in Trailriders. Reservations are essential – contact Ano Korakiana tel: 30 26630 23090 / 22503.

Some other fun sports in Corfu are: water ski, tennis, golf, and fishing (no permit is required).

For your convenience, you can add water toys to your charter prior to arrival at the base. They will be waiting on your boat upon arrival. You are able to rent these at the base; please keep in mind that we have limited availability. For more information, please view our Water Sports Options.

Scuba diving in Corfu offers crystal-clear waters, rocky reefs, and intriguing underwater caves. Known for its dramatic coastal scenery and marine biodiversity, it’s a great spot for both beginners and experienced divers. The island’s warm waters and relaxed vibe make diving here both scenic and serene.

For bareboat charters (where no staff from The Moorings are onboard the yacht) charterers are permitted to dive from the yacht. The Moorings does not provide such activities so you should ensure that any third parties that you engage with in order to dive should be through reputable third-party operators. Any diving activities are fully undertaken at your own risk and The Moorings shall have no responsibility or liability in connection with your participation in any diving activities, irrespective of whether this takes place from the yacht or an alternative location during your charter. Diving is not permitted under any circumstances whereby there is any skipper or other crew onboard the yacht which is provided by The Moorings.

We have a range of fins available in various different sizes. You will find them in cockpit lockers in each yacht. We do have limited children’s sizes therefore we recommend bringing your own to avoid disappointment. Please note that we do not provide snorkeling masks or snorkels onboard.

• When snorkeling, the diving flag and buoy should be deployed and visible to all passing nearby
• Swim vests should be worn at all times whilst snorkeling
• One person should remain out of the water, keeping watch of the others in the water

In Corfu you can find fashion, jewelry and many other stores with a wide range of tourist items, such as wonderful gifts and souvenirs to take back home to loved ones or cherish yourself. Gold and silver are worked with a skill which has its origins in the Byzantine days with influences from the West. Ceramics also have a long history as a Corfiot craft so keep an eye out for incredible pieces as you’re wandering around the towns.

Our intermediate sailing destinations, Level 2 sailing areas offer a greater challenge for sailors more comfortable on the open water. Enjoy strong winds and longer spells of open water sailing, suitable for more experienced skippers.

All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are issued at your chart briefing.

Starting from Corfu, navigation is only permitted in Greek territorial waters. Under no circumstances should you go to Albania.You must be moored at least one hour before sunset. Night Sailing is not allowed without permission from the base manager. The decision to allow night sailing is based on your skill level and can be requested in advance. You will need to fill out the Sailing or Power resume for the base to review but we cannot guarantee approval.

If you’re planning on mooring up and exploring the shores of Corfu, it’s important to understand that you cannot make a reservation at any ports in Corfu, or Greece more widely.

A passing through berth is usually available for the night but please note that your passage might not be recorded if you are passing through a small port. Occasionally, Port Authorities may request the boat’s papers and your charter contract but this is standard procedure and nothing to worry about, as long as you don’t forget to retrieve your documents before leaving!

Moorings fees and taxes vary depending on which port you’re mooring up at but they tend to be between 30-70 Euros.

Around our Moorings base in Corfu, you’ll find a selection of fantastic accommodation options, including:

• Hotel Debono – distance from the base: 500 m
• Corfu Palace Hotel – 2 Leoforos Dimokratias Avenue
• Kontokali Bay Hotel – distance from the base: 1 km

Money changing facilities are present in the majority of towns, although they are not that readily available and off the beaten track which is why it is best to exchange your money when you first arrive at the airport, providing you’ve arrived during opening hours:

• Monday – Thursday: from 8.00 am – 2.00 pm
• Friday: from 8.00 am – 1.30 pm.

Money changing should be done either with cash or by travelers’ checks and Euro checks. Visa and MasterCard are accepted but American Express may only be accepted at limited locations and most local tavernas accept only cash.

During your cruise, you will find banks in the town centers of Corfu, Gaios, Parga Preveza, Levkas and Nidri so there’ll be plenty of opportunities to exchange more money if you need. There is one ATM outside Gouvia marina, and one inside the marina in front of the Marina Office. Most banks have a 24 hour cash machine.

If you want to send postcards of your fabulous adventures, a post office can be found in the center of Corfu: Open Monday to Friday: 7:30am to 8:00pm. There is also a mailbox in the marina next to the Marina Office.

Some of our favorite dining spots close to the Marina Gouvia base include:

• Pipilas – Greek specialties, 600m south of the base
• Gereko – Kontokali village – Fish specialties, 600m south of the base
• Melina’s Restaurant and Bar- Gouvia village – 500m north of the base
• Zorbas Restaurant – 500m north of the base in Kontokali village

If you want to pick up food and supplies for your yacht charter ahead of time, there is a supermarket at the base for all your provisioning needs. Moorings Care packages are included on every yacht. These packages contain some of the basics to get you started for your vacation.

General Conditions

Corfu offers warm weather, steady seasonal winds and relatively easy cruising conditions through the main sailing season. With warm temperatures, calm waters and little rain, you’re in paradise! Between April-November, temperatures reach between 76°F and 82°F, met with Northwest winds from 10-15 knots. 

The Mediterranean enjoys an average of 315 cloudless days each year and Corfu is no different so pack your bags and get ready to set sail on the adventure of a lifetime!Much like the rest of the Ionian Islands, the best time to sail in Corfu is between April-November, with many people choosing to charter a yacht and explore the stunning islands between May-October. During this time, you’ll experience beautiful weather, very low tidal currents, and relatively straightforward navigation.

During the winter, outside of the sailing season, you’ll find North-Easterly and Southerly winds, whereas in the summer and the height of the cruising season, Corfu welcomes North-Westerly winds. There are two dominant winds in Greece:

The Meltemi: Varying from 15 to 40 knots. It begins in May and reaches its peak in July, then slows down in September.

The Sirocco: Southeast More frequent in winter, it corresponds to the passage of a depression. It can occasionally blow in April or the end of October.

As with the rest of Greece, including Athens, the tidal range is very low in Corfu. In most places, you’ll find that the tidal currents are almost nonexistent, with a range of just one to two feet and therefore tidal currents are practically nonexistent. There are a couple of exceptions, such as in the sea level Lefkas Canal (no locks), where currents are noticeable.

When you arrive at Marina Gouvia, we will provide you with a weather forecast for the next 24 hours. The weather forecast during your cruise can be seen on all television channels; Tavernas and Restaurants show weather programs just after the news at 8.50 pm.

Harbor offices receive a weather forecast regularly and a Corfu weather forecast is also available online.

On your radio receiver, on the Greek national station, forecasts are broadcast in Greek and English.

• 1.10 pm Corfu 1008 kHz 298 m
• 6.30 am Athens 729 kHz 412 m
• 1.30 pm Rhodes 1494 kHz 200 m
• 12.00 pm Patras 1485 kHz 202 m

The Italian station, Radio One announces forecasts for the Ionian Sea at approximately 7.40 am and 11.45 pm on 567, 657, 666, 675, 1032, and 1332 kHz frequencies.

East of the Greek archipelago, the forecast is in German at approximately 9.45 am and 2.00 pm on short wave on 6150 MHz/49 m frequency. 

On your VHF, it is possible to call HELLAS RADIO on channel 16 in English. You will be given the weather forecast for your zone, after you give them your VHF code signal and the name of your boat.

At The Moorings, we’re passionate about preserving the beauty of the oceans we explore. Through Our OCEAN Promise, we’re working to reduce our environmental footprint and support the communities that make each destination so special. From more responsible operations to cleaner cruising practices, sustainability is at the heart of what we do.

You can make a difference too. Before you depart, pack a reusable water bottle, choose to support local businesses, and anchor mindfully to help protect the waters we all enjoy. Small choices make a big impact.

Learn more about Our OCEAN Promise