Corfu Private Tours & Custom Day Trips (2026)
Explore Corfu your way with a private tour - your own driver-guide, flexible itinerary and hotel, airport or port pickup. Sample routes, prices and how to book.
A private tour is the most relaxed, flexible and personal way to see Corfu – your own driver-guide, your own itinerary, and door-to-door pickup from your hotel, the airport or the cruise port. No fixed departure times, no waiting for a coach to fill, and no compromise on what you want to see. We're the Corfu-based team behind Corfu Discovery, so this guide is built on years of driving these roads and knowing what visitors actually enjoy – and where the coaches don't go.
Below: why a private tour is worth it, the routes guests request most, honest pricing, what to expect on the day, and how to book. Ready to start? Browse private and small-group options in our Corfu tours & activities listings.
Why book a private tour in Corfu
- Flexibility. Start when you like, linger where you love, skip what you don't. Stop for photos at a viewpoint or a coffee in a mountain village on a whim.
- Local knowledge. A Corfiot driver-guide knows the back roads that avoid the coach traffic, the best time to hit Paleokastritsa before the crowds, and where to eat away from the tourist menus.
- Comfort. Air-conditioned car or minibus, door-to-door – ideal in summer heat, with families, or for anyone who'd rather not drive Corfu's winding coast roads.
- Value for groups. Split between four people, a private day often costs little more per head than a group ticket – with far more freedom.
- A pace that suits you. Travelling with grandparents, toddlers or someone with limited mobility? A private tour adapts in a way a fixed coach itinerary never can.
A private tour pairs naturally with a pre-booked airport or port transfer, so your whole trip is handled smoothly from arrival. You can arrange the pickup through our transfer and taxi listings.
Most-requested private itineraries
1. The "Best of Corfu" – Achilleion, Old Town & Paleokastritsa
The classic full day: the neoclassical Achilleion Palace, a guided wander through the UNESCO Corfu Old Town, and the turquoise bays and clifftop monastery of Paleokastritsa. The island's three headline sights in one well-timed loop – and the most popular request we see.
2. North Corfu & the mountains
Mount Pantokrator, the restored ghost village of Old Perithia, pretty Kassiopi harbour and the "Durrell country" of the northeast coast. A scenic day mixing villages, views and swim stops – and a great fit with our Kassiopi guide and Durrells filming locations guide.
3. South Corfu & the wild west coast
Lake Korission, the dunes and the dramatic west-coast beaches around Agios Gordios, with traditional inland villages along the way. Pairs with our Corfu west coast beaches and Agios Gordios guides.
4. Food & wine country
A relaxed loop through the hills tasting Corfu's native Kakotrygis wine, olive oil and kumquat, with a long village lunch. See our Corfu wine tours, olive oil & kumquat tours and food tours & cooking classes guides for the experiences we build in.
5. The photographer's Corfu
Golden-hour viewpoints, the Kanoni and Pantokrator panoramas, empty coves and old villages – a route timed around the best light rather than the busiest hours. Perfect for keen photographers and anyone who hates crowds in their pictures.
Private vs group – cost & value
| Factor | Private tour | Group tour |
|---|---|---|
| Itinerary | Fully yours, change on the day | Fixed, set stops |
| Pickup | Door-to-door (hotel/airport/port) | Central meeting point |
| Pace | Yours | The group's |
| Cost per person (group of 4) | From ~€60–90 pp | ~€45–70 pp |
| Best for | Families, couples, small groups, cruise guests | Solo travellers, budget |
For a family or four friends, the per-person gap is small – and the experience is in another league. Solo travellers and couples on a tight budget often do better on a well-reviewed small-group tour, which you can also find in our tours & activities listings.
Hotel, airport & cruise-port pickup
We can arrange pickup wherever you are:
- From your hotel or villa anywhere on the island.
- From the airport at the start of your trip – combine a transfer with a half-day tour on arrival, a great way to beat check-in dead time.
- From the cruise port, with timing planned around your ship's all-aboard time. This is exactly what our Corfu shore excursions service is built for.
Sample plans
Full day (about 8 hours): Hotel pickup → Achilleion Palace → Corfu Old Town with free time for lunch → Paleokastritsa bays & monastery → optional swim stop → back to hotel.
Half day (about 4 hours): Hotel pickup → Old Town highlights → Kanoni & Mouse Island viewpoint → Achilleion → return. Ideal for arrival day, cruise guests or families with younger children – see our Corfu with kids guide.
Food & wine day: Hotel pickup → hill-village winery and Kakotrygis tasting → olive mill → long village lunch → kumquat producer → return.
You can mix any of these; that's the point of going private. Map your wider trip with our Corfu itinerary guide.
What's usually included (and what's not)
Most private tours include an air-conditioned vehicle, a local English-speaking driver-guide, door-to-door pickup and a flexible itinerary. Entrance tickets, meals and boat trips are normally extra unless agreed in advance, and many "driver-guide" tours are led by an excellent driver rather than a licensed archaeological guide for interior site commentary. If you need a formally licensed guide inside a specific monument, say so when booking. Always confirm the vehicle size, the language, and exactly what's covered.
How to choose the right itinerary for you
With a private tour you can go anywhere, so the hardest part is choosing. A few pointers:
- First visit to Corfu? The "Best of Corfu" loop – Achilleion, Old Town and Paleokastritsa – covers the headline sights in one day.
- Returning visitor? Go deeper with the north-and-mountains route, the wild south, or a food-and-wine day away from the coaches.
- Travelling with young children or older relatives? Keep it half-day and close to base, with a swim stop and a relaxed lunch.
- Cruise passenger? Choose a focused route timed around your ship; see our Corfu shore excursions guide.
- Special occasion or keen photographer? Ask for a route built around golden hour and the best viewpoints.
The beauty of going private is that none of this is fixed – tell the operator your interests and they'll shape the day, and you can still change your mind on the road.
What to confirm when you book
To avoid surprises, check a few details before you commit: the vehicle and group size, whether your guide is a driver-guide or a fully licensed guide, the language, the total hours, the pickup point (hotel, villa, airport or port), and exactly what's included versus extra (entrance tickets, meals, boat trips). Agree the route loosely in advance but keep it flexible for the day. If you have specific needs – car seats, wheelchair access, dietary requirements for lunch stops – flag them when booking so the right vehicle and plan are arranged.
How to book
Browse and reserve private and small-group options in our Corfu tours & activities listings, where each listing shows what's included and how to book. Arrange your pickup and transfers at the same time, or hire a car if you'd rather self-drive part of the trip. Whatever you choose, give the operator your hotel, group size and must-see sights, and book ahead for July and August.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can join a private tour?
Private tours run from a couple up to a family or small group, with the vehicle sized to suit – a car for up to four, a minibus for larger groups. The price is usually per vehicle or per group rather than strictly per person, so larger groups often pay less each.
Can a private tour collect us from different hotels?
Usually yes, if your group is staying nearby – just tell the operator the pickup points when booking and they'll plan the route. For groups spread across the island, a single central meeting point is sometimes easier and keeps the day running smoothly.
How much does a private tour in Corfu cost?
As a guide, a full private day is often around €60–90 per person for a group of four, or roughly €280–420 for a private car with driver-guide for the day. Prices vary with group size, vehicle, season and route. Larger minibuses cost more but lower the per-person price.
What's included in a private Corfu tour?
Typically an air-conditioned vehicle, a local English-speaking driver-guide, door-to-door pickup and a flexible itinerary. Entrance tickets, meals and boat trips are usually extra unless agreed in advance, so confirm the details when booking.
Can a private tour pick me up from the cruise port?
Yes. A private port pickup is one of the most popular options for cruise passengers because timing is planned around your ship's all-aboard time. Give the operator your ship name and departure time when booking.
How long is a private tour in Corfu?
Most are half-day (about 4 hours) or full-day (about 8 hours). You can customise the length, and a private guide will adjust stops on the day to match your pace.
Is a private tour better than a group tour?
For families, couples and small groups it usually is – you get door-to-door pickup, a flexible route and a private guide for only a little more per person. Group tours suit solo travellers and the tightest budgets.
Can you build a custom itinerary?
Absolutely – a custom day is the whole idea. Tell the operator your interests (beaches, history, food and wine, villages, photography) and they'll design a route, including swim and lunch stops, around them.
Are private tours suitable for older travellers or limited mobility?
Yes – that's one of their biggest advantages. With door-to-door pickup, an adjustable pace and the freedom to skip strenuous stops, a private tour is far more comfortable than a coach for older travellers, families with toddlers, or anyone with limited mobility. Mention any needs when you book.
What's the difference between a driver-guide and a licensed guide?
A driver-guide drives you and shares local knowledge along the way, which suits most island tours. A formally licensed guide is qualified to give in-depth commentary inside specific monuments and archaeological sites. If you want detailed guided commentary at a particular site, request a licensed guide when booking, as it may cost extra.
Can a private tour include lunch and swim stops?
Yes – that flexibility is the whole point. Tell the operator you'd like a taverna lunch or a swim stop and they'll build it into the route. Meals and entrance fees are usually paid separately unless agreed in advance, so confirm what's included when you book.
