Corfu Shore Excursion: Paleokastritsa Beach & Old Town

Four to five hours on Corfu's coast and in its layered capital, timed to your ship's schedule.

A half-day shore excursion from Corfu's cruise port takes you to Paleokastritsa Beach on the western coast, includes an optional 45-minute boat trip through the caves, and ends in Corfu Town's UNESCO-recognized historic center. A professional local guide leads the route. Air-conditioned transport picks you up and drops you at the ship. The tour is built around cruise schedules, so you return on time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Corfu shore excursion highlights

• Board transport at cruise ship port
• Visit Paleokastritsa village and beach
• Optional boat tour of Paleokastritsa caves
• Explore historic Corfu Town streets
• Return to cruise ship by transport

The experience

The tour starts at the ship and moves straight to Paleokastritsa, a village on Corfu's western shore known for its emerald waters and pebbly beach backed by cliffs and green hillsides. You have time to swim in the sea, rest on the beach, or take an optional 45-minute boat trip through the caves and along the coastline for 15 euros per person. The boat option depends on weather and season. The beach itself is the anchor of the first half. The caves are an add-on you choose at the moment.

From there, the route moves inland to Corfu Town, the island's capital. The old center is UNESCO-recognized and layers medieval, Venetian, French and British architecture across its streets: each layer marks a different period of rule. You walk through the town with your guide, who points out how those styles shaped what you see. The guide is a local and speaks English.

Transport is air-conditioned throughout, and the schedule is locked to your ship's departure time. You're picked up at the port and returned there, so there's no guessing whether you'll make it back. The operator has twenty years running these excursions for cruise travelers, and the timing is the whole point. You get the island without the stress of a clock.

What’s included

• Professional local guide who speaks English.
• cruise port pickup and drop-off at your ship.
• air-conditioned transport throughout the tour.
• guaranteed timely return to the ship so you don't miss departure.

Options for this experience

3 options

Shore excursion from the port to Corfu, Greece's picturesque paradiseGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:30Pickup is included

Private tour with guide and driverUp to 15 people · Guide in English · 12 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 15:00(two staff members) pickup is included

Private tour with a driving guideUp to 3 people · Guide in English · 12 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 15:00(one staff member) pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day, 12 start times, from € 60 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (1 to 14 years)

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by JAT

Is this one for you?The fixed schedule is what makes this work for cruise travelers: the operator times the whole route to your ship's departure, so you explore Paleokastritsa and Corfu Town without watching the clock or risking a missed sailing. If you're traveling with infants or small children, they're welcome from age one. Note that the tour is not wheelchair accessible and may be difficult for anyone with limited mobility.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 14 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Paleokastritsa Beach actually like when you get there?

Paleokastritsa Beach sits on the western coast with clear water, pebbly shores, and steep cliffs wrapped in green vegetation rising behind it. The beach is small and serene rather than crowded, and the water is shallow enough for a swim. If you book the optional boat trip, you see sea caves and hidden coves from the water: a different view of the same coastline.

Can I swim at Paleokastritsa, or is it just a stop to look?

You can swim. The itinerary includes time at the beach itself, and the water is described as gentle. The boat trip to the caves is separate and costs 15 euros extra if you want it. The beach time stands alone.

What does Corfu Town actually show you that makes it worth the second half of the day?

Corfu Town's old center mixes four different architectural styles (medieval, Venetian, French and British) layered across centuries of rule. Your guide walks you through the streets and explains how each period left its mark on the buildings and layout. It's a UNESCO site, so the history is the draw, not the size or the crowds.

How much time do you actually spend at each stop?

The tour runs four to five hours total from ship to ship. The itinerary doesn't break down the minutes at each site, so ask for the exact timing when you get your pickup details: the operator emails those at least 12 hours before your tour.

What if the boat trip to the caves isn't running on the day I go?

The optional cave boat trip is subject to weather and seasonal availability. If conditions don't allow it, you still have the beach and the time there. The boat is an add-on, not the core of the stop.

Do I need to arrange anything special to get picked up, or does the ship know where to send me?

The operator picks you up at the cruise port and drops you there, but you need to check your email at least 12 hours before the tour for the exact pickup location, signage to look for, and your precise pickup time. Those details are specific to your ship and your sailing date.