The Strait of Otranto is the narrowest stretch of sea between Italy and Greece, and the crossing feels short in the best sense: one long day on a yacht takes you from the baroque towns of the Salento to the Diapontia Islands, three small Greek islands that see a fraction of Corfu’s boat traffic. Or take a car ferry, sleep in a cabin and wake up in Corfu Town with your car below deck.
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Quick answer: Italy to Greece by boat
- Best departure harbour: Brindisi for the shortest summer car ferry to Corfu; Otranto or Santa Maria di Leuca for a private yacht.
- Best half day route: a loop of Othonoi, Erikoussa and Mathraki once you are anchored in the Diapontia Islands.
- Best full day route: Otranto to Othonoi, roughly 46 nautical miles of open water.
- Best months: June and September.
- Book ahead: a summer ferry cabin and car space, a marina berth in Corfu, and the Greek cruising tax (eTEPAI) before you enter Greek waters.
This guide is the bridge between our Italy by boat series and our new Greece yacht charter guide. Read it alongside our Puglia by Boat guide.
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Corfu is where most ferries from Italy call in summer, and the island’s port of entry for yachts arriving from the Salento.
Harbours and marinas: where the boats leave from
The ferry lines
Figures come from the operators’ 2026 material; times vary by ship and by the number of calls, so check the timetable for your date.
- Venice to Igoumenitsa and Patras (Superfast): the longest crossing, roughly a day to Igoumenitsa and well over a day to Patras. In summer some sailings also call at Corfu.
- Ancona to Igoumenitsa and Patras (Superfast, Grimaldi Lines): frequent sailings all year, typically an overnight crossing of 16 hours or more to Igoumenitsa, with summer calls at Corfu.
- Bari to Corfu, Igoumenitsa and Patras (Superfast, with seasonal Ventouris sailings): an overnight crossing of roughly 9 to 11 hours to Corfu in summer, and the most practical year round option from Puglia.
- Brindisi to Corfu and Igoumenitsa (Grimaldi Lines): the shortest car ferry. Grimaldi’s 2026 schedule lists the Corfu calls from 2 July to 11 September 2026, with a night departure from Brindisi reaching Corfu at around 05:30 and Igoumenitsa about three hours later. Outside those dates the ships run to Igoumenitsa only.
Superfast says its Venice, Ancona and Bari routes call at Corfu in summer, without giving dates. From Igoumenitsa, local ferries cross to Corfu frequently.
The yacht harbours
- Otranto: the closest Italian harbour to Othonoi and the natural departure point for a crossing. Roughly an hour by car from Brindisi airport, around 45 minutes from Lecce. See our guide to the Salento: Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli.
- Santa Maria di Leuca: at the tip of the heel, slightly further from Othonoi; good after a few days on the Salento’s Ionian side. Allow about an hour and a half from Brindisi airport.
- Brindisi: a marina a short drive from the airport, but more than 30 extra nautical miles compared with Otranto.
- Greek landings: Corfu Town (the port of entry, with the old harbour below the Old Fortress), Gouvia Marina just north of town and about 15 minutes from Corfu airport, and the small harbours of Othonoi, Erikoussa and Mathraki.
The routes in detail
Distances are our own straight line estimates; the real course will be a little longer. Times assume about 20 knots by motor yacht, about 6 under sail.
Route 1, full day: Otranto to Othonoi
The classic crossing: roughly 46 nautical miles of open sea from Otranto to Othonoi, Greece’s westernmost inhabited island. Allow two and a half hours by motor yacht, or a long day of seven to eight hours under sail, leaving at first light. The harbour at Ammos has a small quay and tavernas for a late lunch. Swim at Aspri Ammos, a white pebble beach under pale cliffs, easiest reached by sea. Othonoi is not a port of entry, so ask the port police in advance whether you may stop before clearing in at Corfu.
Route 2, half day: the Diapontia loop
Once you are in the islands, a half day loop of Othonoi, Mathraki and Erikoussa covers around 20 nautical miles: about an hour of running time by motor yacht, a full morning under sail. Othonoi to Mathraki is about 6 miles, Mathraki to Erikoussa about 7. Mathraki is the quietest of the three. Erikoussa has a sandy beach right by its harbour, a swim stop with a taverna lunch a few steps away. These waters are a Natura 2000 site, so anchor on sand.
Route 3, full day: Erikoussa to Corfu Town via the north coast
From Erikoussa it is about 7 nautical miles to Cape Drastis and Sidari on Corfu’s north coast, where soft sandstone has been carved into the inlets of the Canal d’Amour. Turn east along the coast to Kassiopi for lunch in the harbour below the ruined castle, then run the last 9 or so miles down the channel to Gouvia Marina or Corfu Town. Around 35 miles in total, a relaxed day by motor yacht.
Route 4, longer: Santa Maria di Leuca to Corfu over three days
Day one, Leuca to Othonoi (roughly 49 nautical miles). Day two, the Diapontia loop, anchoring off Erikoussa if settled. Day three, south past Mathraki to the sea caves at Paleokastritsa on Corfu’s west coast, ending at Corfu Town. From Corfu, our Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos by Boat guide continues south.
Route 5, ferry plus day charter
Take the summer ferry from Brindisi or Bari, then charter a skippered boat for a day from Gouvia or Corfu Town. Kassiopi and the north east coast make an easy half day; Erikoussa a long full day.
The rules: entering Greece by sea, protected areas and fees in 2026
This is the section to read twice. Enforcement varies from port to port, so confirm everything with the port police at your first Greek port.
- Schengen: Italy and Greece are both in Schengen. Keep passports and a signed crew list aboard; non-EU crew are bound by the 90 days in any 180 rule.
- Port of entry: Corfu is an official port of entry. Report to the port police (Limenarchio) with registration, insurance, crew list and passports.
- Cruising tax (TEPAI): according to AADE, every recreational boat over 7 metres in Greek waters must pay this monthly tax, whatever its flag, on or before the day it enters. It is charged for a minimum of one month and paid online through eTEPAI on the AADE website, which publishes the rates and fines by length.
- Transit log and DEKPA: foreign-flagged private yachts need a Greek transit log, now issued digitally through the myAADE portal; apply before arrival. On the DEKPA for EU-flagged boats our research turned up contradictory information: a 2020 Greek draft law proposed scrapping it, while cruiser reports from 2025 and 2026 still describe it in use and port police asking EU boats to check in. It was not clear to us which applies in 2026, so ask the Corfu port police before you sail.
- Natura 2000: the Diapontia Islands and their islets are a Natura 2000 site and an important bird area. Anchor on sand, never on seagrass, and avoid landing on the uninhabited islets.
- Ionian national marine park: announced in 2025 for the waters around Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca and the small islands to their east, not Corfu; in August 2026 its presidential decree was still being finalised, with submission to the Council of State expected in the autumn, so check whether it has taken effect before you sail south. Heading south? See our Lefkada, Meganisi and Scorpios by Boat guide.
- Swimming zones and speed near beaches: each port authority issues its own summer rules. In Heraklion, for example, the 2026 decision bans vessels within 100 metres of swimming buoys from June to September. Check Corfu’s current decision and keep well off beaches with swimmers.
- Archaeology: removing antiquities from the seabed is illegal and diving on declared underwater sites is restricted; ask the port police before diving.
- Cliffs and closures: we found no official 2026 closures for north Corfu or the Diapontia Islands, but the sandstone at Sidari and Cape Drastis is eroding. Do not moor or swim beneath the cliffs, and check with the skipper or harbour for new restrictions.
Types of boat and what a skippered charter includes
For a crossing of 45 miles or more, think of a sailing yacht or catamaran of 12 metres upwards, or a motor yacht with real range; RIBs are for the islands once you arrive. A private skippered charter typically includes the boat, the skipper, fuel for a set number of hours on day trips, and snorkelling gear. Often excluded: fuel on longer motor yacht hires, marina berths, port fees, the cruising tax, lunch, drinks and crew tips. Get it in writing.
If you charter a crewed yacht in Italy, ask the provider to confirm in writing that it may carry charter guests in Greek waters. For bareboat charter in Greece, the skipper must hold a licence the port authorities recognise, and a second experienced crew member must be on the crew list. The ICC is widely accepted in practice, though Greece has not formally adopted the UN resolution behind it, and some sources say the RYA Day Skipper is no longer accepted. Confirm your own licence with the charter provider and the Hellenic Coast Guard before you book.
Routes at a glance
| Route | Departure | Duration | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otranto to Othonoi | Otranto | Full day | Open sea crossing, Aspri Ammos | Experienced crews |
| Diapontia loop | Othonoi | Half day | Three quiet islands, sandy shallows | Swimming, solitude |
| Erikoussa to Corfu Town | Erikoussa | Full day | Canal d’Amour, Cape Drastis, Kassiopi | Scenery and lunch ashore |
| Leuca to Corfu | Santa Maria di Leuca | Three days | Islands, Paleokastritsa caves | A short cruise |
| Ferry plus day charter | Brindisi or Bari | Overnight plus a day | Kassiopi, north east coast | Families, travellers with a car |
Best months, winds and practical tips
June and September bring warm water and fewer boats than July and August. The Ionian summer wind is the maistro, a north westerly that usually builds in the afternoon and fades at dusk, so cross early. The strait funnels wind between the Adriatic and the Ionian, and a strong northerly or scirocco raises a steep sea. The meltemi is an Aegean wind and matters only if you continue to the Cyclades. Wait for a settled forecast and keep a spare day.
- What to bring: papers in a waterproof pouch, the eTEPAI receipt, reef-safe sun cream, a fleece for the early start.
- Seasickness: take any remedy before departure and stay on deck.
- Booking timing: book summer ferry cabins and car spaces in spring, and August berths in Corfu well ahead.
- Albanian waters: off Kassiopi the channel is narrow; stay on the Greek side.
Charlotte’s tip: pay the paperwork before you see Greece
Pay the eTEPAI and, where it applies, file the digital transit log in the week before departure, while you still have reliable Wi-Fi in Otranto, and print the receipts. Plan the crossing for the first calm morning in your window, and treat Othonoi as a bonus: if you must clear in at Corfu first, the north coast route still makes a beautiful arrival.
Where to stay near the departure harbours
Hotel Palazzo Papaleo, Otranto
A five star palazzo hotel in Otranto’s old town, near the cathedral and castle and a short walk from the harbour. Breakfast is on a roof terrace with sea views, there is a spa with a hammam, and the Peccato di Vino restaurant. Ask the hotel about seasonal opening.
Best for: walking down to the harbour before an early crossing.
Check rates at Hotel Palazzo Papaleo
Masseria Montelauro, Otranto
A converted masseria in the countryside, under ten minutes by car from Otranto’s harbour. Its 25 rooms have stone vaulted ceilings, some with terraces; there is a garden pool, a small spa and a restaurant with dinner under a vine-covered pergola. Ask the hotel about winter opening.
Best for: a quiet few days in the Salento before or after the crossing.
Check rates at Masseria Montelauro
Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa, Corfu
On a small peninsula between Kontokali beach and Gouvia Marina, about 15 minutes from Corfu airport and around 15 to 20 minutes north of Corfu Town. It has an adults-only pool, a spa with an indoor pool, four restaurants including the fine dining Asterias, and beach water sports. Ask the hotel about opening dates.
Best for: stepping straight from your room to a boat at Gouvia Marina.
Check rates at Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa
Corfu Imperial, Corfu
A Grecotel resort at the tip of the Kommeno peninsula, just south of Gouvia across the bay and a short drive from the marina. It has private beach coves, villas with pools, the Elixir Spa and seafront restaurants. It is seasonal and says it will reopen for the 2027 summer; check dates.
Best for: a few days of rest on the water after the crossing.
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Compare hotels around Corfu Town and Gouvia Marina, the landing point for both ferries and yachts from Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortest ferry from Italy to Greece?
Brindisi to Corfu, about seven hours on Grimaldi Lines’ summer sailings (listed from 2 July to 11 September 2026). Bari to Corfu takes roughly 9 to 11 hours.
How far is it from Otranto to Corfu by yacht?
Roughly 46 nautical miles to Othonoi, and around 80 to Corfu Town round the north of the island. Under sail, plan a night in the islands.
Do I need to pay the Greek cruising tax for a short trip?
Yes, if your boat is over 7 metres. AADE charges TEPAI for a minimum of one month, payable online before or on the day you enter Greek waters.
Is the crossing suitable for a first-time sailor?
Only with a professional skipper, as the strait can turn rough quickly. Otherwise, take the ferry and charter a day boat in Corfu.
