Comparison · Corfu vs Thessaloniki · Greece
Corfu vs Thessaloniki
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: StefanosKozanis, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Corfu for Venetian old town and Olive groves; choose Thessaloniki for White Tower, Byzantine churches and a short break. Thessaloniki is generally less expensive, and the two are about 281 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 281 km
- Less expensive
- Thessaloniki
- Best time for Corfu
- May–June and September
- Best time for Thessaloniki
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Corfu | Thessaloniki | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Greece | Greece |
| Known for | Venetian old town, Olive groves and Achilleion Palace | White Tower, Byzantine churches and Bougatsa |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $110–$190 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Beaches | Glyfada | Kassandra peninsula |
| Airports | CFU | SKG |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Corfu for…
Venetian old town and Olive groves. Corfu is the greenest of the major Greek islands, lying in the Ionian Sea just off the coast of Albania and north-western Greece. Its capital, Corfu Town, is a UNESCO-listed old town shaped by four centuries of Venetian rule and later French and British…
Choose Thessaloniki for…
White Tower, Byzantine churches and a short break. Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, curves around the Thermaic Gulf with a seafront promenade running for several kilometres from the port past the White Tower. Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers sit side by side: the Rotunda and Arch of Galerius, a ring of…
Top sights compared
| # | Corfu | Thessaloniki |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corfu Old Town | White Tower |
| 2 | Spianada and the Liston | Rotunda of Galerius |
| 3 | Old Fortress | Arch of Galerius (Kamara) |
| 4 | Church of Saint Spyridon | Church of Hagios Demetrios |
| 5 | Achilleion Palace | Hagia Sophia |
Food compared
| Corfu | Thessaloniki |
|---|---|
| Pastitsada | Bougatsa |
| Sofrito | Thessaloniki koulouri |
| Bourdeto | Trigona Panoramatos |
| Bianco | Mussels |
Which is cheaper?
Thessaloniki is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$190 per person there, against $120–$220 in Corfu (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Thessaloniki on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Corfu and Thessaloniki are about 281 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Corfu and 3 in Thessaloniki.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Corfu or Thessaloniki cheaper?
Thessaloniki is usually less expensive: about $110–$190 a day mid-range against $120–$220 (estimates).
+Is Corfu or Thessaloniki better for a first trip?
Pick Corfu for Venetian old town and Olive groves, or Thessaloniki for White Tower, Byzantine churches and a short break.
+How far is Corfu from Thessaloniki?
About 281 km in a straight line.