Welcome to our guide to visiting the Greek Islands Paxos and Antipaxos on a Day Trip from Corfu Greece! In this guide, we will provide you with all the information you need about the islands of Paxos and Antipaxos, including the must-see places for a day trip from Corfu. We will start with an introduction to these beautiful yet relatively unknown Greek Islands. Unlike many other popular Greek islands, Paxos and Antipaxos have managed to maintain a low-key, authentic, and laidback charm, making them true hidden gems.
Paxos and Antipaxos are small Greek Islands, part of the Ionian Islands, situated in the Ionian Sea, near the west coast of mainland Greece. The closest island to Paxos and Antipaxos is the popular Island of Corfu, and they can easily be included in your Corfu itinerary. In Greek mythology, Poseidon created Paxos Island by striking Corfu with his trident, so that he and his wife Amphitrite could have some peace and quiet. And that is what this day trip from Corfu is all about, as Paxos and Antipaxos are a perfect getaway for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty.
Now, what is so special about Paxos and Antipaxos? They are heaven for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts, with crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, high cliffs, and deep blue caves. On this day trip from Corfu, you can visit charming Greek villages, sail around the islands admiring the geology and the unique rock formations, explore the deep caves, and swim and snorkel in the clearest waters on amazing beaches. We will tell you all about the beautiful day we had visiting Paxos and Antipaxos.
We will begin with some information on their location, how to get to them, and when to visit them.
Note that all photography on this guide (and throughout our website) was shot by me (Alina) and if you wish to purchase any, it is available at my Etsy shop.
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Where are Paxos and Antipaxos located?
Paxos and Antipaxos are located in the Ionian Sea, just off the west coast of mainland Greece. The red mark on the map above marks the islands, you can see the close location to Albania and you can even see Italy on the left side of the map. Paxos lies 15 km from the southern tip of Corfu and the same distance from the mainland.
How to get to Paxos and Antipaxos?
Corfu International Airport (CFU) in Corfu Town is the closest airport to Paxos and Antipaxos. There are ferry services from Corfu that take around 1 hour and from the mainland, Praga or Igoumenitsa, that take around 1.5 hours. Also, many boat tour providers from Corfu organize boat tours to Paxos and Antipaxos, and that is what we chose. We will tell you about the company we chose and why.
When to Visit Paxos and Antipaxos
The Greek Islands, Paxos and Antipaxos, have a Mediterranean climate, with mild wet winters and hot dry summers.
TEMPERATURE – As you can see in the chart below, the summer months can get pretty hot from June until September with temperatures ranging from 32°C (90°F) to 18°C (64°F). The winter months are quite mild with temperatures ranging from 17C (62°F) to 5°C (41°F).
RAINFALL – In the chart below, you can see the precipitation throughout the year. June and July are the driest months with the lowest rainfall averages and November and December are the wettest months.
WATER TEMPERATURE – Swimming in the crystal clear waters in Paxos and Antipaxos is a must-do, therefore, you might be interested to know the water temperatures throughout the months. As you can see in the chart below, from the end of June until the beginning of October the water temperature is the warmest, ranging between 23°C (73°F) to 25°C (77°F).
Overall, we recommend visiting Paxos and Antipaxos during the summer months, between July and September. We visited at the end of June and the weather was perfect, sunny and warm without any rain but the water temperature was a bit on the colder side for us.
Our Recommended Boat Trip from Corfu
We did a lot of research on the companies providing boat trips from Corfu to Paxos and Antipaxos. One of our key considerations was the number of participants, as we preferred a more intimate experience with fewer people. Additionally, we were looking for a smaller boat that would allow us to explore the inside of the caves in Paxos.
We chose Trident Speedboat Cruises and had a blast! The crew members, Captain Spiros and Vasilis, were both friendly and professional. They took everyone’s photos several times, even underwater (check out below the amazing photo they took of us!), and sent them to us via email. We had long swimming and snorkeling opportunities at different places in Paxos and Antipaxos and a long stop for exploring the lovely Gaios, for lunch as well. On top of that, we were provided with a bottle of water, a glass of champagne, and chocolates on board.
The boat itself was clean, modern, and equipped with a toilet, and it could take up to 16 passengers. Another thing that stood out from other tour companies was the addition of visiting the Blue Lagoon Beach on the mainland, which is typically offered as a separate day trip. It was definitely a bonus as it was a great spot for snorkeling with hundreds of fish. Check out the amazing photo of us below that they took underwater!
Paxos and Antipaxos Day Trip Itinerary
In the map below, you can see that we’ve marked 1 the port of Lefkimmi, from where the boat trip departs Corfu Island. 2-7 marks all the stops we had in Paxos and Antipaxos and 8 marks the final stop at the Blue Lagoon Beach near Syvota on the mainland, before returning to Lefkimmi in Corfu.
Note that Lefkimmi Port is quite far from Corfu Town. It took us 1.5 hours to travel the 50 km distance from our hotel, Domes of Corfu, in Glyfada Beach. If you do not plan to rent a car in Corfu, consider this budget-friendly alternative to Trident Speedboat Cruises – a highly rated Paxos and Antipaxos boat trip that departs from Corfu Port:
Paxos, Greece:
Paxos Island is the larger of the two, about 9 km long and 3 km wide. Paxos is the more populated island, renowned for its picturesque landscapes, charming scenic villages, crystal-clear waters, high cliffs, and deep blue caves. Much of its hilly landscape is covered in olive groves and vineyards, while the west coast is dominated by steep, chalky cliffs that have eroded over time creating caves, including the famous blue caves. Paxos is a great choice for a longer stay, with several hotels located on the island.
Gaios, the Capital of Paxos
We had about 1.5 hours to explore the charming Greek village of Gaios, which is the Capital of Paxos. A vibrant port village with Venetian-style architecture and cobbled streets, lined with many cafes and numerous small shops, perfect for picking up some local souvenirs. This was one of our last stops on our day trip, making it an excellent spot for having lunch at one of the many harborside restaurants serving fresh fish, although we opted for some pizza instead.
Lakka, Paxos
Lakka is another lovely village in Paxos with similar Venetian-style colorful small buildings with many tavernas and boutiques shops. The colors of the water are amazing with a greenish blue tint.
Ypapanti's Cave, Paxos
Next, we will move to the scenic part of our Paxos and Antipaxos day trip itinerary, where we explore the amazing geology and natural beauty of the islands. Ypapanti’s Cave is the first cave we encounter and explore from the inside. It is located on the west side of Paxos Island at the bottom of a dramatic high cliff scenery.
Blue Caves, Paxos
The famous Blue Caves in Paxos are the definite highlight of this Paxos and Antipaxos day trip. The colors of the water are simply mesmerizing – crystal clear waters with a light turquoise hue. We had a half-hour stop for scenic swimming and snorkeling in the caves. Inside one of the caves there is a hole, don’t miss how the sun lights its interior. Also, you can relax at the adjacent tiny beach.
Tripitos Arch, Paxos
Next on our Paxos and Antipaxos day trip itinerary, we will pass under Tripitos Arch, a natural rock formation formed as a bridge.
Near Tripitos Arch, we passed another monolith rock formation. Next, we will be heading to Antipaxos!
Antipaxos, Greece:
Just 2 kilometers south of Paxos lies the even smaller island of Antipaxos (anti means opposite), just 3 km long and 1 km wide. It is famous for its pristine beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, white sand, and vibrant underwater world. It offers an idyllic escape from the crowds as there are no hotels on the island. Moreover, there are no shops or even normal roads on the island, and it is visited mainly for its beautiful secluded beaches.
Vrika Beach, Antipaxos
We stopped at the small Vrika Beach on Antipaxos, less crowded than the adjacent Voutoumi Beach, which is more visited by bigger boat tours. Vrika Beach is simply beautiful! This tropical scenery of turquoise waters and white sand beach does not fall out of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. For a second, you might forget that you are in fact in Greece! Check out the best Greece Instagram captions for your photos.
We had one and a half hours to relax and swim there. Consider having lunch at one of the three tavernas offering local cuisine and grilled fresh fish.
Bonus: Blue Lagoon Beach on the Mainland
As most of Paxos and Antipaxos day tours end here, Trident took us to the Blue Lagoon Beach on the mainland, near Syvota. Here as well, the colors of the water were amazing crystal clear turquoise. This was an amazing spot for snorkeling as there were hundreds of fish. We had 45 minutes for this last stop on our itinerary before returning to Lefkimmi in Corfu.
Well, this is it! We hope that this guide to the Greek Islands Paxos and Antipaxos helps you plan your day trip from Corfu.
