Corfu Town\'s historic Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site — and pedestrian-only. The newer part of town has streets, but parking there is genuinely tight, especially in summer. This is the local view from a rental company that fields calls about Corfu Town parking every day.
The basic rule
You cannot drive into the Old Town. Period. Vehicle access is restricted to residents and deliveries via permit. Anyone else gets a fine. Even residents struggle to park.
What you do instead: park in the New Town or at one of the larger car parks on the perimeter, and walk into the Old Town. The walk is short — 5-10 minutes from any of the recommended spots below.
Where to park (best to worst)
1. New Port underground car park (recommended)
Cost: ~€8-12/day · Walk to Old Town: 8 minutes
Modern, secure underground car park at the new ferry port. Always has space. Walk along the seafront promenade into the Old Town, past the New Fortress. Best balance of price, convenience and security.
2. Saroko Square car park
Cost: ~€10/day · Walk to Old Town: 5 minutes
Centrally located, multi-storey, close to the Spianada. Often full by 10:30 in peak season — arrive early.
3. Free street parking around the Spianada / Garden of the People
Cost: Free (white lines) · Walk to Old Town: 5-10 minutes
White-painted street parking is free and unrestricted. Easy to find in spring and autumn, very tight in July-August. Look around Akadimias Street, Mantzarou and the streets behind the Public Library.
4. Paid street parking (blue lines)
Cost: ~€1/hour, max 3 hours · Walk to Old Town: 5-10 minutes
Blue-painted street parking is paid via prepaid card or mobile app. Maximum stay is usually 3 hours — so not suitable for a full-day visit. Buy the card from any kiosk (€2 for 1 hour, €5 for 3 hours), scratch the date and time, leave on dashboard.
5. Old Port car park
Cost: ~€8/day · Walk to Old Town: 3 minutes
Smaller, often full. The closest paid car park to the Old Town entrance, but you may not find a space.
What NOT to do
- Yellow lines. Reserved for residents, taxis, or loading zones. Tow risk is real.
- Red lines or red curbs. No stopping under any circumstances. Tow guaranteed.
- "Parking inside the Old Town." You will get a fine and quite possibly tow if you ignore the restricted-zone signs.
- Trying to drive through a pedestrian alley because Google Maps says so. Google occasionally routes through alleys that have been pedestrianised since the map was last updated. If a road has bollards, walking-people signs, or is paved with marble, it is pedestrian. Reverse out.
- Leaving valuables visible. Corfu is generally safe, but break-ins happen in tourist car parks. Boot luggage out of sight.
Drop-off shortcut
If you are spending the day in the Old Town and have luggage, the simplest approach is:
- Drop your passengers and luggage at one of the Old Town entry points (the area around the Liston is ideal — there is a short-stay drop-off zone).
- Park alone at the New Port (8 min walk).
- Meet your group inside the Old Town.
How long can I park free?
White-line free parking has no time limit. The catch is finding it. Blue-line paid parking has a 3-hour maximum. Beyond 3 hours, you must move the car or risk a ticket.
What if I get a parking fine?
Tickets are usually €40-80, payable at any post office or online via the municipality website. Ignoring the fine results in collection through your rental company — and yes, we will charge it back to your card with a small admin fee. So pay it at the post office on your way out of town.
Visiting Corfu Town for a single day?
Pick the New Port underground car park and budget €10. It is the simplest, safest option. From there:
- 5-min walk to the Old Town along the seafront.
- Visit the New Fortress, then the Old Fortress (entry €6 each).
- Lunch at Pomo d\'Oro or Mouragia.
- Coffee on the Liston.
- Walk back to the car by sunset.
For more on driving the rest of the island, see our complete driving guide and day trips from Corfu Town.