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Gouvia Marina on Corfu, with around 1,200 berths, is the island's large marina and starting point for many trips from Corfu. It is located in the sheltered bay of Gouvia, around six kilometres north of Corfu Town. Here you'll find out how to berth there and get there from the airport, what there is nearby on the first day and which berths Corfu Town itself has (as at: October 2026).
The essentials at a glance
- Gouvia Marina lies in Gouvia Bay, around six kilometres north of Corfu Town and about seven kilometres from the airport. With around 1,200 berths and space for about 500 boats ashore, it is the largest marina on the island.
- The marina monitors VHF channel 69. You should call ahead on this channel before entering.
- The marina has a fuel station, supermarket, sanitary facilities, laundry, restaurants and a pool. Customs and harbour police are on site.
- Corfu Town also has the small Mandraki harbour beneath the Old Fortress and the harbour with berths for ferries and cruise ships.
- The Old Town of Corfu has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. From the marina you can get there by city bus route 7 or by taxi.
Which marinas and harbours are there in Corfu?
Around Corfu Town there are three destinations for sailing yachts: Gouvia Marina north of the town, the small Mandraki harbour beneath the Old Fortress, and the town harbour with ferry and cruise operations. Gouvia Marina is by far the largest and the one with the full facilities of a modern marina.
The three locations are not next to each other. Between Gouvia Marina and the Old Fortress it is a good six kilometres by road, around 5 nautical miles by water. When arriving, you should therefore tell the taxi driver the full name, i.e. "Gouvia Marina" or "Mandraki, Old Fortress", and not just "Corfu harbour".
| Feature | Gouvia Marina | Mandraki | Corfu Town Harbour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Gouvia Bay, around 6 km north of the town | North side of the Old Fortress, at the edge of the Old Town | Northwest of the Old Town, ferry and cruise berths |
| Type | Large marina with boatyard and dry storage | Small club harbour of the Corfu sailing club | Commercial, ferry and cruise harbour |
| Berths | around 1,200 in the water, about 500 ashore | few guest berths, enquire in advance | enquire with the harbour in advance |
| VHF channel | 69 | enquire in advance | enquire in advance |
| Facilities | Fuel station, supermarket, showers, laundry, boatyard | Old Town within walking distance | Town within walking distance |
| Way to the old town | City bus route 7 or taxi | on foot | on foot |
Where is Gouvia Marina on Corfu?
Gouvia Marina lies on the east coast of Corfu in the bay of Gouvia, in the district of Tzavros between the villages of Kontokali and Gouvia. The bay is largely enclosed by land and opens eastwards to the channel between Corfu and the mainland.
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More Information
Gouvia was the first privately operated marina in Greece. Today it belongs to the D-Marin marina chain. It also accommodates large yachts up to 5.5 metres draught, with berths alongside both fixed and floating pontoons.
Many charter companies have their base in Gouvia Marina, and on changeover days the pontoons are correspondingly busy. If you arrive on a changeover day, allow a bit more time for taxis and provisioning.
| Gouvia Marina at a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | 39° 38′ 59″ N, 019° 51′ 07″ E |
| Waters | Bay of Gouvia, east coast of Corfu, Ionian Sea |
| Berths | around 1,200 on fixed and floating pontoons |
| Dry storage | approximately 500 boats |
| Maximum draught | 5,5 m |
| VHF channel | 69 |
| Power | 220 and 380 V at all berths |
| Technology | Travellifts 75 t and 65 t, mobile cranes 60 t and 45 t |
| Fuel | Fuel station in the marina |
| Operator | D-Marin |
| Phone | +30 26610 99500 |
| Website | d-marin.com |
Berth numbers and facilities may change, so a quick enquiry to the marina is worthwhile before arrival.
How do you berth in Gouvia Marina?
You call the marina on VHF channel 69 before entering, are assigned a berth and report to the marina office after making fast. You do not choose your own berth.
- Before entering: call the marina on channel 69 or by phone and wait for instructions. You will also be told which pontoon you are on and how to make fast there.
- After making fast: register at the office. You should bring the boat's registration, proof of insurance and the owner's or skipper's ID or passport.
- If available, also present the transit log or Greek vignette and a power of attorney from the owner if you are not the owner yourself.
- Electricity, water and security service are available round the clock, and the marina is monitored by cameras and security personnel.
Customs, port authority and harbour police are based in the marina. Which formalities are required when arriving from outside the Schengen Area can be checked there with the port authority.
What facilities does Gouvia Marina offer?
Gouvia Marina has everything you need before and after a sailing trip: fuel berth, supermarket, sanitary facilities with showers, launderette, chandlery, boatyard, restaurants and cafés.
For the yacht there are maintenance and repair services, a slipway, two travellifts for 75 and 65 tonnes and two mobile cranes. Around 500 boats are kept in the dry storage over winter. For the crew there is a swimming pool with catering, Wi-Fi and sports facilities, including a cricket pitch. The marina also hosts car, scooter and boat hire companies.
Good to know for the first day in Gouvia
You can do your first provisioning at the supermarket in the marina, parking is in the marina car park, and the island's hospital is in the neighbouring village of Kontokali. In an emergency, dial 112 anywhere in Greece.
Shopping
There is a supermarket and other small shops for ship's stores on the marina site, so you only walk a few steps from the pontoon. For a major shop before a long trip, ask at the marina office for the nearest larger supermarket.
Parking and car hire
The marina has an outdoor car park. Hire cars and scooters are available directly at the marina, which is convenient for an island excursion on a harbour day.
Doctor and hospital
Corfu General Hospital "Agia Eirini" is located in Kontokali on the road to Paleokastritsa, just a few kilometres from the marina. For minor ailments, ask at the marina office for the nearest pharmacy.
Emergency numbers in Greece
- 112: European emergency number, free from all networks
- 166: ambulance
- 100: police
- 199: fire brigade
- 108: coastguard, also for emergencies at sea
At sea you can reach help via VHF channel 16, which is continuously monitored by Greek coast radio stations.
How do you get from Corfu airport to Gouvia Marina?
Corfu airport is close to the town, about seven kilometres from Gouvia Marina. By taxi you're there in about 15 minutes; by bus you need to change in town.
City bus line 15 connects the airport with the harbour and the town centre. At San Rocco Square, the central interchange for city buses, you change to line 7 towards Dasia and Ipsos. It runs via Kontokali, Gouvia and Tzavros, where the marina is located. Timetables and frequency depend on the season; you can get current schedules at the information kiosk at San Rocco Square.
With lots of luggage and a full crew, a taxi is usually the easier option.
Where is Mandraki in Corfu Town?
Mandraki is a small harbour on the north side of the Old Fortress, right on the edge of the old town. It is used by the Corfu Sailing Club (NAOK) and has only a few berths for visiting yachts.
The charm of Mandraki is its location: you lie beneath the fortress walls and are just minutes from the Spianada and the lanes of the old town. However, there are no facilities like those at a large marina. Whether a berth is available and what it costs should be enquired in advance from the club.
What is Corfu's town harbour?
Corfu's town harbour lies northwest of the old town and is primarily a harbour for ferries and cruise ships. Ferries dock here, and next to it is the cruise ship terminal.
The harbour is managed by the Corfu Port Authority. For sailing yachts there is heavy traffic here, and visitor berths are not organised as at a marina. Anyone wishing to berth in town anyway should enquire in advance with the harbour. As a departure harbour for a sailing trip the town harbour plays scarcely any role; you're more likely to arrive here by ferry.
What other harbours are there on Corfu?
Further south on the east coast lies the small marina at Benitses, about 10 nautical miles from Gouvia. It was opened in 2021 as an extension of the fishing harbour, belongs to the Central Corfu municipality and is run by private operators.
Benitses is a stop-over on the way south; for the start of a trip the marina plays scarcely any role. Whether visitor berths are available should be enquired in advance.
What is the weather like on Corfu for sailing?
In summer the weather around Corfu is usually stable, with moderate winds that can change markedly during the course of the day.
The channel between Corfu and the mainland is wide in the south; in the north near Kassiopi it becomes narrow. What looks like light winds in the sheltered bay of Gouvia can be different out in the channel. Therefore plan longer legs according to the current weather forecast. An overview of the wind systems is given in the article on the main winds in the Mediterranean.
Which marine weather forecast applies around Corfu?
The authoritative forecast is the marine weather report from the Greek weather service EMY. You receive it via Greek coast radio on VHF, via NAVTEX and on the marine weather page of the weather service.
Greek coast radio stations broadcast weather reports for shipping in English and partly in Greek, and announce them beforehand on VHF channel 16. For NAVTEX, the automatic reception of weather and warning messages on board, one of the three Greek transmitters is on Corfu itself; the other two are on Limnos and Crete. Gale warnings are broadcast immediately after issue. Get the report before setting out, especially before heading north into the narrow part of the channel or south across the open stretch to Paxos.
What sailing destinations lie near Corfu?
From Gouvia you head north into the narrow channel towards Kassiopi or south, past the town, towards Paxos and the mainland coast. The distances are rounded over-water distances on the usual course from Gouvia Marina; for precise planning the chart applies.
| Destination | over water from Gouvia Marina | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Corfu Town (Mandraki) | about 5 nm | below the Old Fortress |
| Benitses | around 10 nm | east coast heading south |
| Kassiopi | about 12 nm | through the narrow northern part of the channel |
| Petriti | around 16 nm | east coast, towards the southern tip |
| Sivota (mainland) | around 25 nm | across the channel to the mainland coast |
| Erikousa | around 28 nm | round the northern tip of Corfu |
| Lakka (Paxos) | about 30 nm | north coast of Paxos |
| Gaios (Paxos) | around 34 nm | main town of Paxos |
A week-long sailing trip from Corfu often heads south via Petriti and the mainland coast at Sivota to Paxos and Antipaxos and back. Those sailing north reach Kassiopi and the small Diapontian Islands with Erikousa off the northwest coast.
To the northeast, the Albanian coast lies within sight. Albania is not part of the Schengen area, so departure and entry formalities apply for a visit there. Check with Corfu harbour office beforehand and stay in Greek waters until then.
Further south in the Ionian Sea we present the Marina Preveza , and on the other side of Greece the Alimos Marina near Athens.
What applies to yachts in Greece?
There are two rules for yachts in Greek waters you should know: a monthly charge for boats over seven metres and the digital registration of commercial charter contracts.
The charge is called TEPAI and applies to private sports boats over seven metres and to commercial yachts. It is 16 to 33 euros per month for boats up to twelve metres, and above that 8 euros per metre of length per month, and is paid in advance via the Greek tax authority's portal (as at October 2026). For charter yachts the operator takes care of this. Details are in the FAQs of the tax authority AADE (in Greek).
Commercial charter contracts have been registered since 2026 via a state online platform of the Greek Ministry of Shipping. As crew, have your ID ready. The harbour office in Corfu, which also has a presence at Gouvia Marina, gives authoritative information on documents and notifications.
What can you do ashore in Corfu?
The most important destination is Corfu Old Town with its two fortresses, around six kilometres from Gouvia Marina. Right in Gouvia lies an old Venetian shipyard; for the Achilleion you need a taxi or hire car.
- Corfu Old Town: The fortified harbour town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. Its appearance is shaped by the fortresses of Venetian builders, later rebuilt under British rule. From Gouvia it is around six kilometres; bus line 7 takes you as far as San Rocco Square.
- Old Fortress and Spianada: The 15th-century fortress stands on a rocky promontory at the eastern edge of the Old Town, directly above Mandraki harbour. In front of it lies the Spianada, a wide square from Venetian times, with the arcades of the Liston on the town side.
- New Fortress: The second fortress lies at the western edge of the Old Town above the town harbour. The Venetians greatly expanded it in the 16th century.
- Venetian shipyard in Gouvia: The Venetians built the shipyard in 1716 as part of their defence against the Ottomans; it was abandoned in 1798. The remains lie in the village of Gouvia on the bay.
- Achilleion: The palace in the village of Gastouri, around ten kilometres south of the city, was built by Empress Elisabeth of Austria around 1890. Later, Emperor Wilhelm II used it as a summer residence. From the gardens you look out over the city and the Ionian Sea.
Trips from Corfu on Törnfinder
Many trips depart from Corfu. You can get an overview of the sailing area on Törnfinder at Sailing in the Ionian Sea, trips in all Greek sailing areas under Sailing in Greece. All current offers are listed in the trip overview.
Frequently asked questions
Which marina is the most important on Corfu?
Gouvia Marina. It has around 1,200 berths, lies around six kilometres north of the city, and many charter companies have their base there.
How far is Gouvia Marina from Corfu Town?
By road around six kilometres, by water to Mandraki around 5 nautical miles. You can get to the city by the number 7 town bus or by taxi.
On which VHF channel can Gouvia Marina be reached?
On channel 69. You call up there before entering and are allocated your berth.
Is there a supermarket at Gouvia Marina?
Yes. On the marina site there is a supermarket and small shops for boat supplies, plus a petrol station and restaurants.
Can you berth a yacht in Corfu Town?
Yes, but only a few places. In the small harbour of Mandraki beneath the Old Fortress there are some visitor berths, which you should enquire about in advance with the sailing club. The town harbour is primarily a ferry and cruise port.
