An hour or so south of Corfu, the coastline gets quieter and the water gets clearer. Paxos and its smaller neighbor Antipaxos are a regular day-trip destination from Corfu, and while Paxos gets the bulk of the visitors, it’s the short extra crossing to Antipaxos that most people remember afterward.
Where Paxos and Antipaxos Are
Paxos is the smallest of the main Ionian islands, a short boat ride south of Corfu, covered largely in olive groves and fringed by sea caves along its west coast. Its main harbor town, Gaios, sits on a narrow channel sheltered by two small islets, giving it one of the most protected natural harbors in the Ionian. Antipaxos lies a few kilometers further south — smaller still, largely uninhabited, and known almost entirely for two beaches.
Getting There by Boat from Corfu
Day-trip boats to Paxos and Antipaxos run regularly from Corfu Town and a few other departure points through the summer season, typically as a full-day excursion. Most itineraries stop first at Gaios or another point on Paxos for a couple of hours of free time, then continue on to Antipaxos for a swim stop, before heading back to Corfu in the late afternoon. Because there’s no regular ferry port on Antipaxos itself, reaching its beaches almost always means arriving as part of an organized boat trip or private charter rather than under your own power.
Voutoumi and Vrika: Antipaxos’ Two Beaches
Antipaxos is built around two coves, Voutoumi and Vrika, both known for water so clear and blue it’s regularly compared to the Caribbean rather than the Mediterranean. Vrika is the smaller and more sheltered of the two; Voutoumi is longer, backed by pine trees, and slightly busier when day-boats are in. Neither beach has significant year-round infrastructure — a seasonal taverna or two is typical, nothing more.
Why Antipaxos Is Worth the Extra Crossing
It would be easy to treat Paxos as the destination and skip the last leg to Antipaxos, but the color of the water there is a genuine step up even from Paxos’ own coastline. The island’s small size and lack of development mean the beaches stay relatively uncrowded even in peak season, especially earlier in the day before the bulk of the day-trip boats arrive.
What to Bring
Cash for the seasonal beach tavernas, since card payment isn’t guaranteed. Sun protection and water, particularly if your itinerary includes free time on Antipaxos with limited shade. A light jacket for the boat ride itself — open water crossings are cooler than the beaches suggest.
Best Time to Visit
Early-season and early-in-the-day departures tend to mean calmer water and fewer boats crowding the same coves. By midsummer, both Voutoumi and Vrika can see several day-trip boats anchored at once during peak hours, so an early departure from Corfu makes a real difference.
Book Your Trip with Corfu Compass NSK
Corfu Compass NSK’s Cruises service can connect you with a day trip to Paxos and Antipaxos, taking the planning off your hands so you can focus on the swim stops.
Contact Corfu Compass NSK to book your Paxos and Antipaxos day trip.
