Kerkyra · day cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos and the Blue Caves · from about $51
A UNESCO-listed old town, more than 200 mountain villages by GNTO's count, and more international arrivals than any other Ionian island. Here is who Corfu suits, who should choose another island, and the day cruise to Paxos, rated 4.6 from 4,453 reviews.
The Experience
Food, drinks and towels are not included, and the meeting point depends on the option you book.
Good to know: There is a central meeting point and pickup time for each area of Corfu · If you have the booked pickup service, you will be informed via e-mail 48 hours before the departure for your detailed pickup instructions. Please check your spam box · The guided part of this tour is conducted in English, German, French, Italian every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday · Audio guide tour in Romanian and Spanish will be conducted every Monday · Audio guide tour in Russian will be conducted every Tuesday and Friday · Departure from the port of Corfu at 08:20. Embarkation starts from 07:40am till 08:10am. · The duration of the coach transfer depends on your hotel location (20-90 m) · You will have free time to explore Gaios village approx. 120m · Free time for swimming in Antipaxos will be between 50-70m, depending on the weather · The boat will stop inside the caves for photos · There is free parking in the B2 port area in front of the port authority building · Children must be accompanied by an adult · Not suitable for: People with mobility impairments, Wheelchair users · Not Included: Towels, Food and drinks
Four steps, from choosing your departure to the free time in Gaios.
The listing says the meeting point may vary depending on the option booked. Its options name Corfu port and Lefkimmi port, and some add a coach pickup from your area, 20 to 90 minutes depending on the hotel. Pickup instructions arrive by email 48 hours before, so check your spam folder.
For the departure from the port of Corfu the listing gives 08:20, with boarding from 07:40 to 08:10 and free parking in the port's B2 area. Food and drinks are not included, so bring water, lunch money, swimwear, a towel and sunscreen.
The boat runs down the west coast of Paxos and stops inside two of its sea caves for photos; the listing describes them as a natural habitat of the Mediterranean monk seal. At Antipaxos you swim off Mesovrika or Voutoumi beach for 50 to 70 minutes, depending on the weather.
The captain moors in Gaios, where you have about two hours to walk and eat at your own cost before the trip back. The guided commentary is in English, German, French and Italian on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
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Book Your Experience
Select your preferred date and time. The listing's terms: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
The Paxos cruise on this page against a coast cruise from Corfu Town and a short speedboat from Paleokastritsa. Prices checked in October 2026.
| Feature | THIS PAGE'S CALENDAR Paxos, Antipaxos and the Blue Caves (Ionian Cruises) | Full-Day Cruise From Corfu Town (Cruise Me Up) | Speedboat From Paleokastritsa (Paleo Sea Travel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From $51 per person; food, drinks and towels are extra | From $110 per person; a meal with house wine, juice and water is included | From $59 per person; food is not included |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 from 4,453 reviews | 4.9 / 5 from 884 reviews | 4.9 / 5 from 607 reviews |
| Where It Leaves From | The listing says the meeting point may vary depending on the option booked; its options name Corfu port and Lefkimmi port, and some add a coach pickup | The old port of Corfu Town; no hotel transfer; arrive 20 minutes early | Alipa port at Paleokastritsa, on the west coast; meet at the top of the boat ramp |
| How Long | A full day: 08:20 departure from the port of Corfu, 50 to 70 minutes swimming at Antipaxos, about 2 hours in Gaios | Sold as a full day, with two swim stops of about 30 minutes | About 2 hours |
| The Route | The west coast of Paxos and two of its sea caves, a swim off Mesovrika or Voutoumi beach on Antipaxos, then Gaios | North-east along Corfu's coast, with swims near Nissaki and in the bay below the Erimitis forest | Sea caves near Paleokastritsa, with swims off Chomi and Yali beaches |
| On Board | Captain, crew and multilingual guides; guided commentary in English, German, French and Italian on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays | Crew, swim stops, safety equipment and wifi; no guided tour | A skipper and a 175 hp speedboat for up to 10 people; it needs 4 to run |
| Limits | Not for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users; children must be with an adult | Not for wheelchair users, babies under 1 or people with motion sickness | No staying on the beach at Chomi; the operator says swimming inside the caves is not safe |
| Weather and Cancellation | Swim time at Antipaxos depends on the weather; free cancellation up to 24 hours before | In bad weather another day or a refund; free cancellation up to 24 hours before | Rescheduled in bad weather; free cancellation up to 24 hours before |
| Best For | The most time at sea for the price, with lunch at your own pace in Gaios | A slower day on Corfu's own coast with the meal and wine already paid | A short trip to the caves if you are staying on the west coast |
| Check Dates | See the Coast Cruise | See the Speedboat |
Five More Corfu Tours
A coast cruise with lunch aboard, a speedboat from Paleokastritsa, an Old Town food walk, an olive mill and a coach day to the north. Prices move over time.
OLD TOWN ON FOOT, LUNCH INCLUDEDA food walk through Corfu's Old Town with a licensed English-speaking guide, starting at the Old Fortress and taking in the Church of St Spyridon, with tastings, ginger beer, ouzo and a two-dish Corfiot lunch.
COAST CRUISE, MEAL AND WINE ABOARDA full day on a boat from the old port of Corfu Town along the north-east coast, with swim stops near Nissaki and in the bay below the Erimitis forest, and a meal with house wine on board.
2-HOUR SPEEDBOAT, WEST COASTA two-hour speedboat trip from Alipa port in Paleokastritsa, on Corfu's west coast, into three sea caves, with swim stops off Paradise beach (Chomi) and at Yali beach, in a small group of about ten.
OLIVE MILL, HOTEL PICKUPA guided visit to the Governor's Olive Mill on Corfu, from the old press to the modern mill, with an olive-oil tasting and finger food, then old olive groves and Gardiki castle; pickup from two listed points.
COACH DAY NORTH, PORT PICKUPA seven-hour coach day around north Corfu from the port, with an English-speaking attendant: Kassiopi, a swim at Bataria and Pipitos bays, and Sidari's Canal d'Amour, where the boat trip costs extra.
Choosing Corfu
What the island is like, who should pick another one, the ferries and flights, how long to stay, and what changed in 2025 and 2026.
Corfu, Kerkyra in Greek, is two places at once: a port town whose old quarter is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and a green island of resorts, mountain villages and coves. It is also the busiest of the Ionian islands. Its airport had 2.08 million international arrivals in 2025, more than Zakynthos and Kefalonia combined, and 894,179 cruise passengers came ashore, the fourth-highest count of any Greek port after Piraeus, Mykonos and Santorini. Corfu is not a quiet island in summer.
UNESCO inscribed the Old Town of Corfu in 2007 as a fortified port, with forts of Venetian design and mostly neoclassical houses. GNTO calls it “a museum of a city”, with palaces, stone-paved alleys, squares and imposing churches, and points to its music festivals, its carnival and its Easter customs as reasons to visit all year. The walking tour on this page goes into the Church of St Spyridon, which its listing says holds the relics of the 4th-century saint. It is a working church, so dress modestly and keep your voice down.
Beyond the town, GNTO counts more than two hundred mountain villages. The Achilleion, in Gastouri about 10 km south-west of Corfu Town, was built around 1890 as a summer palace for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sissi. It is being restored, so only its outdoor areas and the Imperial Gardens are open, for €7. On the west coast, Paleokastritsa has a monastery founded in the 13th century (most of its present buildings are 18th-century) and small boats that visit the sea caves around its bays.
GNTO also notes that Corfu has long been identified with the island of the Phaeacians in Homer’s Odyssey.
Corfu suits a first trip to the Ionian, a holiday built around a town you can walk in the evening, and anyone who wants plenty of flight choices. Lonely Planet’s list of the best places to visit in Greece, published in September 2026, rates it best for boating, and three of the six tours on this page are boat trips.
If nightlife is the reason for the trip, the five guides we counted (GNTO, Lonely Planet, both Condé Nast editions and Rick Steves) all point to Mykonos.
If you want a dry beach late in the season, Corfu is the wrong bet. The Ionian gets far more autumn rain than Crete or the Cyclades: EMY’s long-term normals give Corfu 140.4 mm in October, against 59.4 mm at Heraklion on Crete and 38.6 mm on Naxos.
For fewer people, look at Kefalonia, whose airport had about 377,000 international arrivals in 2025 against Corfu’s 2.08 million. And if Navagio is on your list, that is Zakynthos, though landing there is banned until 31 October 2026.
No ferry links the Ionian islands with Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio, so you either fly or cross from the mainland port of Igoumenitsa. Igoumenitsa to Corfu Town takes 1 h 10 to 1 h 30 with Kerkyra Lines or Kerkyra Seaways; Kerkyra Lines listed about twelve departures a day from Igoumenitsa in October 2026, between 03:00 and 22:30. Igoumenitsa to Lefkimmi, in the south of the island, takes 50 minutes with Lefkimmi Lines, which had six sailings on 6 October 2026.
Corfu’s airport, Ioannis Kapodistrias, is one of the fourteen run by Fraport Greece, which says it is nearing capacity. GNTO gives about 1 h 15 for the flight from Athens and about 55 minutes from Thessaloniki. In winter 2025-26 the airport was open from 07:30 to 22:30 every day, and Fraport will close the runway for works from 20 to 28 January 2027.
No official body recommends a number of days, so this is our suggestion: four or five. That covers one full day on the water, a day in the old town, a coach day north to Kassiopi and Sidari (seven hours, by its listing) or a morning at an olive mill, and a beach day. A week lets you add the west coast without rushing. Plan around the season, too: across Greece, 62% of hotels are seasonal, open 5.8 months a year on average.
Two charges changed. Since 21 July 2025 cruise passengers pay a fee for each port where they go ashore, regardless of age: at Corfu it is €5 from June to September, €3 in April, May and October and €1 from November to March. The €20 rate you may have read about applies only at Santorini and Mykonos, and passengers arriving by plane or ferry pay nothing. The climate resilience fee, which replaced the overnight-stay tax in 2024, rose in 2025. It is charged per room, not per person: €2 to €15 a night by star rating from April to October, €8 for short-term rentals, less from November to March.
Traffic kept growing. The Corfu Port Authority counted 556,479 cruise passengers from January to July 2026, up 17.3% on the year before, and Fraport’s airport traffic for January to August 2026 was up 7.2%.
Midday heat closures are decided site by site by each regional Ephorate. In the heatwave of 13 June 2024, Corfu’s archaeological sites stayed open while many sites in Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese closed from 12:00 to 17:00.
The featured day is Ionian Cruises’ cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos and the Blue Caves, from $51 as of October 2026, rated 4.6 from 4,453 reviews. The price covers the boat, the crew and multilingual guides; food, drinks and towels are extra, and lunch in Gaios is at your own cost. The boat stops inside two Paxos sea caves, gives you 50 to 70 minutes in the water off Antipaxos and about two hours in Gaios. On where it leaves from, the listing says the meeting point “may vary depending on the option booked”; its options name Corfu port and Lefkimmi port, and some include a coach from your area. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
If you want one long day at sea from Corfu for the lowest price on this page, this is the one to book. Bring lunch money and a towel.
See dates for the Paxos cruise →
Cruise Me Up’s full-day cruise from Corfu Town ($110, 4.9 from 884 reviews) leaves from the old port and heads up the north-east coast, with swims near Nissaki and in the bay below the Erimitis forest and a meal on board: bruschetta, a gyros bowl with Greek salad and fruit, with house wine, juice and water. There is no hotel transfer. It is not for babies under one or people prone to motion sickness, and bad weather means another day or a refund.
On the west coast, Paleo Sea Travel’s speedboat from Paleokastritsa ($59, 4.9 from 607) leaves Alipa port for two hours with up to ten people: sea caves, then swims off Chomi and Yali beaches. The operator does not allow anyone to stay on the beach at Chomi and says swimming inside the caves is not safe; the trip needs four people to run, and food is not included.
On land, Corfu Walking Tours’ Old Town walk with food tastings ($101, 4.9 from 417) meets “at the statue of General Schulemburg in front of the entrance to the Old Fortress”, with a licensed English-speaking guide, tastings along the way and a lunch of pastitsada and sofrito. Corfu Olive Tour’s Governor’s Olive Mill ($77, 4.7 from 161) picks you up within 25 km at around 09:30 for the old and the modern mill and a tasting; groups run from 20 to 30 people, so it is not private.
Ammon Express’s Kassiopi and Canal d’Amour day ($56, 4.8 from 432) collects you at the port or at Sette Venti for a seven-hour coach day: Kassiopi, a swim at Bataria and Pipitos, then Sidari. Its listing pitches it at cruise passengers. The boat ride past the Canal d’Amour, sunbeds and food all cost extra.
Guest Reviews
"10/10 – Absolutely amazing experience! The water was incredibly clear and just as beautiful as in the pictures. Our guide was very kind, friendly, and did a fantastic job creating a great atmosphere throughout the trip. On the way back, there was music, dancing, and lots of fun! We got to see so many beautiful places and had an unforgettable day. Highly recommended! Thank you for an amazing experience! ❤️"
"A brilliant adventure. I really do recommend it. The crew are brilliant, really dedicated and positive. I didn’t expect to have quite so much fun on board."
"very cool! nice views, the best one was swimming in the turquoise water. We also liked the Greek dances and party atmosphere on the way back"
"The guide was very super good, keeping the boat atmosphere just right. We felt like the day went on forever and we got to see so many things. And swimming for an hour in Antipaxos was an absolute highlight. I would reccommend this to anyone visiting Corfu. This was the highlight of the trip."
"Just pure perfection! The water was unbelievable. I recommend a 100%!"
"Excellent day, great guide and being on a catamaran made it so smooth. Fantastic sites, plenty of space and a good selection of indoor air con area or sun terrace. A small but fully stocked bar. No pressure for after sales. I fully recommend this trip."
"We had a wonderful time. Our guide was so charismatic and a lor of fun. She gave us so many interesting details about the sights we were passing. The place where we stopped for bath was amazing and so close to the shore that everyone could have a bath. And on our way back we had so much fun at the party, the dj was incredible, we danced, sang, had a blast. I strongly recommend the entire experience with those guys."
"Bruh what can I say, this activity was amazing. Our guide was full of energy and you can tell she really likes doing her job. She does her best to cater to every country that she can. Shout out to the captain as well for giving us the best views possible. This is really worth the money and I highly recommend this activity to any. For people who can't swim, they offer life jackets once you get to Antipaxos. You get into the water from the boat so your feet will not touch the bottom just FYI. I was one of those people and I had a blast. Swimming in the crystal clear water there. My family enjoyed it as well. You guys are amazing and we appreciate everything."
Read all 4,453 verified reviews
See All ReviewsIonian Cruises' boat to two of the Paxos sea caves, a swim off Antipaxos and about two hours in Gaios, rated 4.6 from 4,453 reviews. Food and drinks are not included, and the meeting point depends on the option you book. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $51 per person.
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
More tours on this island. Each listing states its own cancellation terms.
The questions people type about Corfu, answered in the first sentence. Tour details come from each operator's listing; the rest from GNTO, UNESCO, Fraport, the ferry operators and the Greek ministries, as of October 2026.
Its Old Town, on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 2007: a fortified port with forts of Venetian design and mostly neoclassical houses. GNTO calls Corfu perhaps the most famous of the Ionian islands and points to its Easter customs and more than 200 mountain villages. Outside town are the Achilleion, built around 1890 for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and the 13th-century monastery at Paleokastritsa.
Yes, if you want a real town to stay in and easy flights; less so for a late-season beach trip. Its airport had 2.08 million international arrivals in 2025, the most in the Ionian, so it is not quiet. Lonely Planet rates Corfu best for boating. It is also wet in autumn: EMY's normals give 140.4 mm of rain in October, against 38.6 mm on Naxos. Kefalonia is the quieter Ionian choice.
No official source ranks island prices, but Lonely Planet's budget guide lists Corfu among the places in Greece with the most hostels. It also warns that bargains are hard to find from July to September. Hotel nights carry the climate resilience fee, €2 to €15 per room by star rating from April to October. On this page the Paxos day cruise starts from $51 and the Old Town food walk from $101.
They suit different trips: Crete for archaeology and a drier autumn, Corfu for a UNESCO-listed old town and boat days. Lonely Planet rates Crete best for archaeology buffs and Corfu for boating, and both Condé Nast editions pick Crete for families. Crete is Greece's largest island. EMY's normals give Heraklion 59.4 mm of rain in October against Corfu's 140.4 mm. The Crete page covers it.
Mykonos if nightlife is the point, Corfu if you want a town, green hills and boat days. All five guides we counted tie Mykonos to nightlife, and Lonely Planet rates Corfu best for boating. The Cyclades are windier: EMY's normals give Naxos a July wind of 13.3 knots against 3.6 at Corfu. Cruise passengers pay €20 per port at Mykonos in summer and €5 at Corfu. The Mykonos page has more.
On summer afternoons, slightly: EMY's 1955-2010 normals give Corfu a mean July maximum of 31.2 °C, against 28.9 °C at Heraklion and 30.7 °C at Chania. The July means are almost equal (26.7, 26.4 and 26.7 °C). Corfu is far wetter from autumn, with 140.4 mm of rain in October against 59.4 mm at Heraklion. July 2024 was Greece's hottest July since 1960, so the normals understate recent summers.
By air, or by ferry from Igoumenitsa on the mainland; no ferry sails from Piraeus to the Ionian islands. GNTO gives about 1 h 15 for the flight from Athens and 55 minutes from Thessaloniki. Igoumenitsa to Corfu Town takes 1 h 10 to 1 h 30 with Kerkyra Lines or Kerkyra Seaways, and Igoumenitsa to Lefkimmi, in the south, 50 minutes with Lefkimmi Lines. Corfu's runway is closed from 20 to 28 January 2027.
Partly: during restoration only the outdoor areas and the Imperial Gardens are open, and admission is €7. The reduced ticket is €5 (ages 6 to 18, students, over-67s and others), and under-6s go free. Hours are 08:00 to 20:00 from April to October and 08:00 to 16:00 from November to March, with e-tickets sold online. The palace is in Gastouri, about 10 km south-west of Corfu Town.
Yes: €5 a passenger from June to September, €3 in April, May and October, and €1 from November to March. The fee has applied since 21 July 2025, per passenger and per port, regardless of age, and the cruise line collects it. The €20 rate applies only at Santorini and Mykonos. Visitors who arrive by plane or scheduled ferry pay no cruise fee; hotel stays carry the climate resilience fee instead.
The listing says the meeting point may vary depending on the option booked. Its options name Corfu port and Lefkimmi port, and for the departure from the port of Corfu it gives 08:20, with boarding from 07:40 to 08:10. If you book the pickup option, the details arrive by email 48 hours before, and the coach ride takes 20 to 90 minutes depending on your hotel. Food, drinks and towels are not included.
No official figure exists; we would allow four or five days. That fits one full day on the water such as the Paxos cruise, a day in the Old Town, a coach day to Kassiopi and Sidari (seven hours by its listing) or a morning at an olive mill, and a beach day. A week adds the west coast. Check opening months before you book a room: across Greece, 62% of hotels are seasonal, open 5.8 months on average.
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