# How to Get to Paxos: Ferries from Corfu and Igoumenitsa > How to get to Paxos in 2026: passenger ferries from Corfu Town, car ferries from Igoumenitsa, crossing times, the new port of Gaios and practical tips. URL: https://theauthenticgreece.com/how-to-get-to-paxos/ Last updated: 2026-10-20 --- Paxos has no airport, so almost everyone arrives by sea: the usual route is to fly to Corfu and take a passenger ferry from Corfu Town to Gaios, a crossing of roughly one to two hours depending on the boat. If you are driving or need to bring a car, take the car ferry from Igoumenitsa on the mainland instead. The information below reflects the 2026 season; schedules on these routes change every year, so always check the current timetable before you travel. ## Quick facts - **Nearest airport:** Corfu (CFU), with seasonal flights from much of Europe. - **Main route:** Corfu Town to Gaios by passenger ferry, about 1 to 2 hours depending on the vessel. - **With a car:** Igoumenitsa to Gaios by car ferry, about 1.5 to 1.75 hours, usually once a day. - **Arrival port:** the new port of Gaios, about 1 km from the town centre. - **Season:** the most sailings run from June to September; services are much reduced from October to May. - **Weather:** strong winds can delay or cancel sailings, especially outside summer. ## Step one: getting to Corfu For most visitors, the journey to Paxos starts with a flight to Corfu. In summer, Corfu airport has direct flights from many European cities, and year-round connections via Athens. The airport is only a few kilometres from Corfu Town’s port, so a taxi from the terminal to the ferry takes minutes rather than hours. Our guide to [Corfu airport transfers](https://theauthenticgreece.com/corfu-airport-transfer/) covers the taxi rank, buses and pre-booked options. If your flight lands late, or the timing is tight, it is often wiser to spend a night in Corfu Town and take a morning boat. An evening in [Corfu’s Old Town](https://theauthenticgreece.com/corfu-old-town/) is hardly a hardship, and you will not be racing to catch the last sailing of the day. ## Corfu Town to Paxos by passenger ferry This is the main route to the island. Passenger boats leave from Corfu Town’s port and arrive at the new port of Gaios, the island’s capital. For the 2026 season, ferry booking platforms list two operators on this route, **Kerkyra Lines** and **Ionian Blue Wave**, with departures during the morning and afternoon. Crossing times vary by vessel: the fastest boats take under an hour, while slower ones take up to about one hour and 45 minutes. These are foot passenger services; they do not carry cars. Luggage is usually limited to one main piece per passenger, which matters if you are travelling with sports equipment or several large suitcases. In peak season boats fill up, so book in advance online or at the port agencies in Corfu Town. ### How often do the boats run? In high summer there are several sailings a day in each direction. From October to May the timetable shrinks to a few crossings a week, and winter services are vulnerable to bad weather. If you are travelling in spring or autumn, check the schedule carefully before booking accommodation, and build some flexibility into your return plans in case a sailing is cancelled. ## Igoumenitsa to Paxos by car ferry If you are driving from mainland Greece or arriving by ferry from Italy, the port to know is Igoumenitsa in Epirus. In 2026, the car ferry route to Paxos is listed with **Kerkyra Lines** and **Kerkyra Seaways**, with roughly one sailing a day, mostly in the morning. The crossing takes about one and a half to one and three-quarter hours and the ships carry cars, motorbikes and campers. Before bringing a car, think about whether you really need one. Paxos is only about 10 kilometres long, its roads are narrow and parking in Gaios, Loggos and Lakka is very limited in summer. Many visitors are happier hiring a small car, scooter or boat on the island for a day or two. Our [Paxos travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/paxos-travel-guide/) explains how to get around once you arrive. ### Reaching Igoumenitsa Igoumenitsa is linked to Corfu by frequent car ferries throughout the year and to Italian ports by international ferries. By road, it is on the Egnatia motorway, and it is roughly 100 km from Preveza, whose airport at Aktion is an alternative for travellers combining Paxos with Lefkada or the mainland coast. ## Day trips and excursion boats If you only want to see Paxos for a day, excursion boats run from Corfu Town and from ports in southern Corfu in summer, usually combining Paxos with a swim stop at Antipaxos and a cruise past the sea caves. These trips give you a few hours ashore in Gaios or Lakka, but they are a taste rather than a visit. Read our honest guide to the [Corfu to Paxos day trip](https://theauthenticgreece.com/corfu-to-paxos-day-trip/) to see what to expect. In summer, excursion boats also run day cruises to Paxos from Parga on the mainland coast. Private water taxis and chartered boats can also take you from Corfu or the mainland to Paxos at a time that suits you. They are much more expensive than the ferry but useful for groups or late arrivals. ## Arriving in Gaios Ferries and hydrofoils dock at the new port of Gaios, a short distance north of the old harbour and about 1 km from the town centre. Taxis meet arriving boats in season, but the island is small and demand peaks when a ferry comes in, so if you are staying in Loggos or Lakka it is sensible to arrange a transfer with your accommodation in advance. From Gaios, small taxi boats cross to Antipaxos in summer, a trip of around 15 minutes; see our guide to [Antipaxos beaches](https://theauthenticgreece.com/antipaxos-beaches/) for where to swim. Gaios is also where you will find the island’s widest choice of places to eat, covered in our guide to [Paxos restaurants](https://theauthenticgreece.com/paxos-restaurants/). ## Paxos as part of a longer trip Paxos fits naturally into a wider tour of the Ionian Islands, but direct boats from Paxos to Lefkada, Kefalonia or Zakynthos are infrequent and change from year to year. Most travellers return to Corfu or Igoumenitsa and continue from there. Our guide to [Ionian island hopping](https://theauthenticgreece.com/ionian-island-hopping/) explains the realistic connections. ## Which route should you choose? | Your situation | Best route | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Flying in, staying a week or more | Corfu Town to Gaios by passenger ferry | Most sailings, shortest transfer from the airport | | Driving from mainland Greece or Italy | Igoumenitsa to Gaios by car ferry | The only regular route that carries vehicles | | Short on time | Excursion boat from Corfu or Parga | A few hours ashore without overnight plans | | Arriving late at night | Overnight in Corfu Town, morning ferry | Avoids rushing for the last boat | Whichever route you pick, remember that the journey across is part of the experience. On a calm morning the crossing from Corfu runs along the island’s green east coast before heading out into open water, and the first sight of the small harbour of Gaios, sheltered behind the islet of Agios Nikolaos, is one of the nicest arrivals in the Ionian. ## Practical tips - **Check the 2026 timetable before booking.** Operators publish their schedules each spring and adjust them during the season. Check the operator’s website, a booking platform or the port agencies close to your travel date. - **Look for the island’s other names.** Timetables and booking sites often list Paxos as Paxi or Paxoi. - **Book ahead in peak season.** Boats in July and August, especially at weekends, can sell out. - **Allow a buffer for your flight home.** In windy weather sailings can be delayed or cancelled. Do not plan to take a morning ferry from Paxos and catch a flight from Corfu the same afternoon without a margin. - **Pack light.** Passenger boats have luggage limits and the walk from the new port to the town is easier with one bag. - **Fares.** Prices vary by operator, vessel and season, so compare current fares when you book rather than relying on figures from previous years. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does Paxos have an airport? No. The nearest airport is Corfu, from where passenger ferries run to Gaios. Aktion airport near Preveza is an alternative if you are combining Paxos with the mainland or Lefkada, but you then need to reach Igoumenitsa or another port. ### How long is the ferry from Corfu to Paxos? Between roughly one hour and one hour 45 minutes, depending on the vessel. The fastest boats take under an hour, while slower ones take longer. Check the crossing time when you book. ### Can I take a car to Paxos? Yes, but only on the car ferries from Igoumenitsa, as the passenger boats from Corfu Town do not carry vehicles. Paxos is small and parking is scarce in summer, so many visitors prefer to hire a car, scooter or boat on the island. ### Do ferries to Paxos run in winter? Yes, but far less often. In 2026 the route from Corfu has many sailings a week in summer and only a few between October and May. Winter crossings are also more likely to be cancelled by bad weather. ### Can I visit Paxos as a day trip from Corfu? Yes. In summer, excursion boats from Corfu Town and southern Corfu combine Paxos with Antipaxos and the sea caves. You can also use the regular passenger ferry, checking the return times before you go. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Paxos have an airport? No. The nearest airport is Corfu, from where passenger ferries run to Gaios. Aktion airport near Preveza is an alternative if you are combining Paxos with the mainland or Lefkada, but you then need to reach Igoumenitsa or another port. ### How long is the ferry from Corfu to Paxos? Between roughly one hour and one hour 45 minutes, depending on the vessel. The fastest boats take under an hour, while slower ones take longer. Check the crossing time when you book. ### Can I take a car to Paxos? Yes, but only on the car ferries from Igoumenitsa, as the passenger boats from Corfu Town do not carry vehicles. Paxos is small and parking is scarce in summer, so many visitors prefer to hire a car, scooter or boat on the island. ### Do ferries to Paxos run in winter? Yes, but far less often. In 2026 the route from Corfu has many sailings a week in summer and only a few between October and May. Winter crossings are also more likely to be cancelled by bad weather. ### Can I visit Paxos as a day trip from Corfu? Yes. In summer, excursion boats from Corfu Town and southern Corfu combine Paxos with Antipaxos and the sea caves. You can also use the regular passenger ferry, checking the return times before you go.