From our apartment door to the Old Port is a five-minute walk through the quiet morning lanes of the Old Town. Most boat-trip operators heading to Paxos and Antipaxos leave from exactly that port between 7:45 and 8:30am. For the town-based traveller, this is the one day-trip that is easier to do than any other on Corfu.
If you are reading this while choosing whether Paxos is worth the hours at sea, the short answer is yes. The longer answer, with all the details, follows.
Why the Town-Based Traveller Has the Advantage
Every boat-trip company on the island runs a shuttle bus to pick guests up from beach resorts across Corfu — buses that leave an hour before the boat, that stop at five hotels, and that deposit everyone at the Old Port visibly ruffled.
Staying in the Old Town means none of that. A coffee in the kitchen, a walk through the still-empty Liston, and you are on the dock before the first tour-group coach has parked. That forty-five minutes saved on each end is the difference between a tiring day and a lovely one.
The Two Islands
Paxos
An olive island — Venetian-planted groves cover half of it — and three fishing harbours (Gaios, Lakka, Loggos) that have survived the centuries mostly intact. Quiet, whitewashed, the kind of place a Durrell would have written about in the 1940s.
Antipaxos
The smaller sister. Two beaches (Voutoumi, Vrika), a handful of vineyards, and water so shallow and clear that photographs look fabricated. This is the reason the trip exists.
A Town Traveller's Day
Wake at 7am. Coffee on the terrace. Walk the empty lanes down to the Old Port by 7:45. Board a small-group boat at 8:00, crossing south along the coast for 90 minutes. Stop at Paxos' Blue Caves for photographs and a swim. Continue to Antipaxos — Voutoumi beach, anchor, two hours of swimming and a simple lunch at the cliff-top taverna. Back via Gaios on Paxos for 60–90 minutes ashore, return to the Old Port around 6pm.
You are back in the apartment by 6:15, with time for a long shower and the evening volta on the Liston.
The Three Stops
The Blue Caves
Sea arches carved into the western cliffs of Paxos. Smaller boats can enter properly, the light on the walls glows a cobalt that is genuinely remarkable. If your operator's boat is small enough to go inside, you'll remember it.
Voutoumi Beach
The turquoise one. White pebble underfoot, water you can see your toes through in 2 metres of depth, and two simple tavernas up the cliff path. Bring reef shoes and cash; leave your expectations behind and they will be exceeded.
Gaios
Paxos' working harbour, protected from the open Ionian by a small offshore island. Pastel Venetian houses line the quay, the kafeneia have the day's catch chalked on blackboards, and the back lanes are cool and stone-paved. One hour walking is enough to fall slightly in love with it.
Which Boat
Small-Group Tour
Our first recommendation. €80–120 per person, a fast rigid-inflatable or catamaran, proper entry to the Blue Caves, and longer swim windows. Most operators have desks directly at the Old Port; walk up the evening before and book in person.
Large Tour Boat
€35–55 per person. Cheapest. The boat is big, the caves are admired from outside, and the swim windows are shorter. Good value but a noticeably different day.
Private Charter
€400–900 for a group of up to eight. The civilised choice if you are four or more — the per-person cost lands close to the small-group rate and the itinerary is yours. Some charters will include a sunset return from Antipaxos.
The Ferry
€25 return, twice daily, to Paxos only. Perfect if you want a long unhurried lunch in Loggos rather than a tour schedule. Note: no Antipaxos, no Blue Caves on the ferry.
From the apartment
We keep a handful of small-group operator cards by the welcome binder — the ones we trust after hearing back from guests. Speak to us when you arrive and we'll point you to the right desk at the Old Port. Booking the day before is usually enough.
What to Bring
Reef shoes or aqua socks. The Voutoumi pebble is sharp.
Rash vest, SPF 50. Hours on open water multiply the sun.
Cash. The Antipaxos tavernas do not take card.
Motion sickness tablets. Even mild Ionian swell troubles some travellers. Take them before boarding.
A light sweater. The return crossing can be breezy.
When to Book
Weather is the variable. We suggest booking the Paxos trip for the middle of your week, so you have a day on either side to reschedule if winds rise. June and September are the calmest months, July and August are reliable but busier, May and October are beautiful but sometimes cancelled.
Herbie Cars
If you plan to combine the boat trip with beach days on the west coast, a hire car helps. Herbie delivers to the apartment door, which means no airport shuttle.
Book a CarFor Beach-Side Days
The day after a boat trip, most guests want to do nothing but swim somewhere calm. Our neighbours at Corfu Beach and Town keep beach houses on the east coast which suit that day perfectly — sheltered water, a short drive from town.
Corfu Beach and Town
Beach houses on the east coast and town residences in the centre — a good option for splitting a Corfu holiday between water and walls.
View PropertiesFurther Reading
If a full day at sea appeals to you, also read our guide to Corfu's hidden beaches reachable only by boat. And for the calm side of Corfu, see the east coast beaches guide.