The Corfu pirate ship is a 75-minute boat cruise around Corfu Town on a ship styled as a pirate vessel. You see the fortresses and the old waterfront from the sea. This page covers the sights, the time on board, the season and the rules. The homepage lists more Greece Tours like this one.
Each tour card below opens a live GetYourGuide booking. Dates, departure times and group sizes are shown there.
What is the Corfu pirate ship cruise and who is it for?
The Corfu pirate ship is a small, pirate-themed boat that sails a 75-minute coastal cruise around Corfu Town. It suits families with young children, couples and solo travellers. The trip offers a relaxed look at the coast rather than a formal history tour.
The Corfu pirate ship cruise is a mini cruise along the coastline of Corfu Town. It lasts 75 minutes, which is one hour and fifteen minutes. The boat stays by the shore of the town. It does not sail away for a full day. The trip is short and easy to fit into a plan.
If you plan to cross into Turkey as well, the homepage also lists Turkey tours.
The boat has a pirate theme and resembles a galleon of the fifteenth century. It is small. That size keeps the mood intimate and relaxed. It also gives children easier access to the boat than a large tour boat does.
The cruise suits families with young children. The pirate theme adds a playful element for them. The small vessel also feels less intimidating than a big tour boat. The cruise is suitable for all ages, so a whole family can book one sailing together.
Adults do not need children to enjoy the trip. The Corfu pirate ship also works for couples, solo travellers and groups. These guests want a light, relaxed way to see the coast of Corfu. The mood on board is lively and casual, which suits lighthearted sightseeing.
The pirate theme and the small size set this trip apart from larger, more commercial tours. Instead of a formal, in-depth history tour, the Corfu pirate ship offers a playful outing with sea views. It is made for fun and quick sightseeing.
The short length helps travellers with limited time. A 75-minute sail gives a quick but complete look at the coast of the town. Boat trips around Corfu include day-long excursions and island-hopping. The Corfu pirate ship is the short alternative. A longer or more upscale outing means choosing a different boat.
Corfu Town sits on the east coast of Corfu and faces Albania across the water. Its Greek name is Kerkyra. The town is the capital of the island and of the Corfu regional unit. It also serves as the capital of the Ionian Islands region. It stands on the broad part of a peninsula.
Corfu is one of the Ionian Islands and lies in the north-western corner of Greece. Leaving its satellite islands aside, no other island on the west coast of Greece lies further north.
Straits between 3 and 23 kilometres wide separate the island’s north-eastern edge from the coast of Albania. Its south-east side lies off Thesprotia, in Greece. Cruise ships dock at the New Port and run shuttle buses into Corfu Town.
Which sights do you pass on the Corfu pirate ship cruise?
The Corfu pirate ship cruise sails along the old town coastline and past both Venetian fortresses, Faliraki and Garitsa Bay. It also passes Mon Repos Palace and goes up to Vlacherna Monastery and Corfu airport. All of it is seen from the water.
The Old Town of Corfu is on the UNESCO World Heritage List under cultural criterion (iv). Its core area covers 70 hectares. Experts who assessed the town call it a quintessential example of a fortified maritime city. The Corfu pirate ship cruise runs along this old town coastline.
The Old Fortress fills a rocky peninsula 600 metres long and 200 metres wide. The Venetians cut the Contrafossa, a sea channel linking the Gulf of Kerkyra to Garitsa Bay. That moat turned the fortress into an artificial island. The same channel also serves as a kind of marina.
Two peaks rise inside the Old Fortress, and strong towers have fortified both for centuries. The Old Tower, also called the Sea Tower, stands on the eastern peak and has Byzantine origins. A lighthouse sits on top of the Land Tower on the western peak. The Old Fortress is a named sight on the Corfu pirate ship cruise.
The New Fortress rises on the hill of Saint Mark. Venetian builders raised it in stages to defend the outer city. The buildings inside today date from British rule of the island. Its twin bastions have a commanding view of the sea and the mountains of mainland Greece. A dry moat spans the length of its western walls.
Corfu earned the name Kastropolis, which means Castle City, because of its two castles. The two castles are a legacy of the struggles against pirates and the Ottomans. The Corfu pirate ship cruise passes both Venetian fortresses on one short sail.
The Spianada is an open esplanade that sits right in front of the Old Fortress. Its name comes from a Venetian word for an open flat area. The Liston runs along its western edge as a pedestrian street about 150 metres long. French rule gave the town this street, and its design drew on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris.
Garitsa Bay lies south of the Old Fortress, and a promenade runs along the seashore toward it. Faliraki is a small organised beach below the Old Fortress, with views of the fortress and Vido island. The Corfu pirate ship cruise names both Faliraki and Garitsa Bay on its route.
Mon Repos Palace lies south of Corfu Town in the forest of Palaeopolis. Frederick Adam, a British Lord High Commissioner, had it built as a summer residence. The three-storey villa is neoclassical, in the style of the English Regency period. Prince Philip was born there.
Vlacherna Monastery is a small monastery on an islet in the bay south of Kanoni. A narrow jetty leads out to it, and Mouse Island lies close by. Planes approaching Corfu airport fly low as they land, so the monastery is a spot for watching them. The route reaches both the monastery and the airport.
What happens on board the Corfu pirate ship cruise?
The Corfu pirate ship cruise is a pirate-themed sail where children wear hats, hold plastic swords and pretend to steer. A bar sells drinks and snacks, a sound system plays music, and a short commentary names the sights.
The pirate theme shapes life on deck from the first minute. Crew members wear costumes to match the ship, and they keep the children busy. The adults relax and look at the coast. On the Corfu pirate ship, the 75 minutes mix play with sightseeing.
Children can put on pirate hats and wield plastic swords. Costumes are on hand for children big and small. Chests on board hold more pirate props, including toys and hats. The crew are friendly and welcoming, and they play along in costume while the ship moves along the shore.
Children can also pretend to steer the Corfu pirate ship, with the captain supervising. While the children take their turn at the wheel, the adults sit back and take photos. A camera or a smartphone is worth packing for those moments.
A sound system plays Caribbean-style tunes, which add to the pirate mood. The sound can be tricky to follow in the indoor area. It is clear when you move around the ship. If the music or the commentary is hard to hear inside, walk around the ship and it becomes clear.
The commentary on the Corfu pirate ship is brief and informative. It comes in two parts, one at the start of the sail and one on the return journey. The commentary runs in Greek and in English. The talk holds the attention of both children and adults.
A pirate-themed bar on board sells soft drinks and alcoholic drinks. Snacks and ice cream are on sale too. Visitors cannot bring their own food or drink aboard, so you buy what you want at the bar. Alcoholic drinks are not part of the ticket.
The ship has an outdoor deck and an indoor area, so you choose a spot to match the weather. The top deck gives shade and wide views of the coast. The indoor area has fans. Seats on board are shaded and comfortable, and the staff are warm and friendly.
Before you leave the ship, the crew offer photos and small souvenirs for sale, such as keyrings and magnets. You can buy one at the end of the Corfu pirate ship cruise or skip it.
When does the Corfu pirate ship cruise run and what do the rules say?
The Corfu pirate ship leaves from the old port in Corfu Town and sails for 75 minutes. Free cancellation ends 24 hours before departure. Severe weather can cancel a sailing, with a new date or a full refund.
Boarding for the Corfu pirate ship is at the old port in Corfu Town. It is across the street from a petrol station. Public transport is available nearby.
Your booking voucher is swapped for a ticket at the ticket counter before you board. Arrive early for check-in, which keeps you clear of a last-minute rush at the counter. Both mobile tickets and paper tickets are accepted.
The Corfu pirate ship takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, and departures run every 2 hours. The booking calendar lists the slots on sale for each date. A separate two-hour sunset cruise also exists, and it is a different trip from the 75-minute one.
Book ahead in peak season, because cruise slots can fill up. The reserve now and pay later option holds a place without an upfront payment. The live calendar shows what is still free for your dates.
Corfu city sits in the hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. The long-term record from the Greek national weather service shows July as the driest month. It has 8.7 mm of rain over 3.3 rainy days. December is the wettest, with 189.9 mm over 16.5 rainy days.
July is also the sunniest month in that record, with 364.5 hours of sun against 110.9 hours in December. July and August have mean daily highs of 31.2 °C and 31.5 °C. In December it is 15.2 °C.
Severe weather can cancel a Corfu pirate ship sailing. In that case, tickets can be exchanged for another date or refunded in full. A sailing can also be cancelled when not enough travellers book. The same two choices apply: a different date or a full refund.
When you cancel yourself, the Corfu pirate ship returns the whole amount. The cancellation must come at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure. Inside that window the amount paid is not refunded. The booking cannot be changed inside the final 24 hours before the start time. Cut-off times follow Corfu local time.
The Corfu pirate ship is wheelchair accessible, and it welcomes every age and fitness level. Service animals are allowed. The cruise is offered in Greek and English. Food and drinks from outside are not allowed on the ship.
- Booking voucher, as a mobile ticket or on paper
- Early arrival at the old port for check-in at the ticket counter
- A phone or camera for photos
- No food or drinks from outside
- A look at the forecast for your date