4Driving on Narrow, Unfamiliar and Poorly Maintained Roads
Some of Corfu’s rural and coastal roads are narrow, steep or uneven, with sharp bends and limited visibility. A route suggested by a navigation application may technically be passable but still be unsuitable for an inexperienced visitor or a large rental vehicle.
This can be particularly difficult for British and Irish visitors, who are accustomed to driving on the left. In Greece, vehicles drive on the right. After a few relaxing days, it is surprisingly easy to forget this when leaving a quiet parking area, petrol station or side road.
My personal advice: I do not recommend that tourists rent scooters or quad bikes in Corfu. The condition and layout of many roads, unexpected potholes, loose gravel, sharp bends and heavy summer traffic can make them dangerous. A quad bike may look stable and easy to operate, but it does not offer the protection of a car.
If you rent a vehicle, choose a small car, drive slowly and remain on the main roads whenever possible. Do not blindly follow GPS shortcuts through villages, olive groves or extremely narrow lanes. If a road looks unsafe, turn back while you still have enough room.
Remember to refuel early. Many staffed petrol stations outside the busiest areas close at approximately 21:30–22:00, although individual opening hours vary. Later at night, you may only find a limited number of stations with automatic self-service pumps. Do not wait until the fuel warning light appears, and check beforehand whether an automatic machine accepts your card.
