Sailing Corfu and Paxos: a 7-day itinerary

Corfu and Paxos are the gentlest start to a Greek sailing holiday: short legs, green coasts and a narrow channel between the island and the mainland that keeps the sea small. A typical week leaves Gouvia marina, runs north to Kassiopi where Albania is only a few miles away, passes Corfu town's Old Fortress, then heads south to Paxos and Antipaxos before crossing to Parga and Sivota on the Epirus coast and back to base. Most legs are 10 to 20 nautical miles.

Where to charter a yacht for Corfu and Paxos?

Gouvia marina, a few kilometres north of Corfu town, is the island's charter base. Compare sailing yachts and catamarans on our Corfu page, or look at Preveza further south and the whole of Greece, and book on Ship O'Hoi, bareboat or with a skipper. Charter weeks usually run Saturday to Saturday. To sail bareboat, the skipper needs a licence the charter company accepts: see our guides to the boat licence in Greece and the ICC certificate. If nobody in your crew has one, hire a skipper or book a crewed yacht.

A 7-day sailing itinerary from Gouvia

The Greek National Tourism Organisation describes this route itself: untie at Gouvia, then sail to Paxos and Antipaxos. The loop below adds the north-east coast and the mainland. Distances are rough estimates from the chart. Plan every leg with up-to-date charts, a pilot book and the morning forecast.

Day 1–2: Gouvia to Kassiopi

Approx. 12 nm. After Saturday check-in most crews stay the first night in Gouvia marina, which has about 1,200 berths, a fuel station and customs and port authority offices on site. Call the marina on VHF channel 69 when you come back in. On Sunday, motor out of Gouvia bay and sail north-east along Corfu's coast into the narrowing strait between the island and Albania. Kassiopi, on the north-east tip, is a small harbour village looking across to the Albanian coast. Overnight in Kassiopi harbour, which the Corfu Port Authority lists for small fishing boats and pleasure craft. Tip: the harbour is small, so arrive early in the afternoon and have Gouvia as your plan B.

Day 3: Kassiopi to Corfu town and Petriti

Approx. 10 nm to Corfu town, then approx. 12 nm on to Petriti. Run back south down the channel and pass close to the Old Fortress, the Venetian fortification on a two-peaked rock at the eastern end of the old town. The fortress and the old town are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and from the sea you see why: the walls rise straight out of the water. Continue down the east coast to Petriti, a fishing village on the south-east of the island. Overnight in the small harbour, which the port authority lists as a fishing port that also takes small pleasure and professional boats. Tip: this is the busiest stretch of water in the area. Keep well clear of the ferries entering and leaving Corfu port.

Day 4: Petriti to Lakka (Paxos)

Approx. 15 nm. Round the south of Corfu and cross the open water to Paxos, about 7 miles south of Corfu. The east coast of Paxos is gentle, the west coast is sheer cliffs, caves and arches. Lakka lies at the northern tip in a sheltered bay, the spot the tourism organisation recommends for the sunset. Overnight in Lakka harbour (listed for small fishing and pleasure craft). Tip: in a north-westerly, the crossing is a pleasant reach, but check the forecast before you leave the lee of Corfu.

Day 5: Lakka to Loggos, Gaios and Antipaxos

Approx. 5 nm down the east coast to Gaios with a stop in Loggos, then approx. 3 nm to Antipaxos. Loggos is a small fishing village with a harbour, known for fresh fish. Gaios, the main village of Paxos, sits behind two green islets, Agios Nikolaos and Panagia, which form a narrow channel to the harbour. Continue to Antipaxos, 3 nm south-east of Gaios, for a swim off Voutoumi, a white-sand beach with clear, turquoise water. Return to Gaios for the night: the harbour is the island's main port and takes pleasure craft. Tip: Antipaxos has Posidonia seagrass meadows and lies in a Natura 2000 area. Drop your anchor on sand only.

Day 6: Gaios to Parga and Sivota

Approx. 12 nm to Parga, then approx. 11 nm to Sivota. Cross to the Epirus coast. Parga climbs the hillside around a bay with the islet of Panagia in front of it and a Venetian castle above. Stop for a swim and a look from the water, then continue north to Sivota. The village faces four uninhabited islets, Agios Nikolaos, Mavro Oros, Megalo Mourtemeno and Mikro Mourtemeno, with beaches such as Bella Vraka and Pisina that are easiest to reach by boat. Overnight in Sivota's harbour, a tourist refuge for about 140 boats with water and electricity. Tip: you can book a Sivota berth online in advance through Epirus Marinas.

Day 7: Sivota back to Gouvia

Approx. 18 nm. Cross the channel back to Corfu and head north to Gouvia. Charter yachts usually have to be back at base on Friday evening for fuel and check-out on Saturday morning. Tip: call the marina on VHF 69 before you enter.

Rules and safety in Corfu and Paxos

Albania. At Kassiopi the Albanian coast is only a few miles away, and the North Corfu municipality lists Kassiopi as a port with links to Albania. Sarandë is tempting, but Albania is outside the EU and the Schengen area. Crossing means clearing out of Greece and into Albania at official ports of entry, with passport and customs checks on both sides, and back again. Only plan it after you have asked the charter company whether the yacht may leave Greek waters and what the formalities are. Without that, stay on the Greek side of the strait.

Harbours. Kassiopi, Petriti, Lakka and Loggos are small harbours built for fishing boats and small pleasure craft, as the Corfu Port Authority's harbour list shows. Berths for yachts are few, so arrive early in high season.

Ferries and shipping. Corfu port handles ferries to Igoumenitsa, Paxos, Italy and Albania, cruise ships and seaplanes. Lefkimmi in the south and Gaios on Paxos also have ferry traffic. The channel between Corfu and the mainland is narrow, so keep a proper lookout and give ferries plenty of room.

Protected areas. Antipaxos lies in a Natura 2000 area with Posidonia seagrass meadows, monk seals, dolphins and sea turtles. Anchor on sand, never on seagrass, and take your rubbish back to a harbour.

Beaches. Under the Greek port rules our licence guide describes, keep 200 m from swimmers and don't go faster than 5 knots within 200 m of the shore.

Licence. In Greece you can only drive small motorboats without a licence: an outboard up to 30 hp on a conventional hull, or only 15 hp on a RIB, V-hull or multihull. For a bareboat charter the skipper needs a recognised licence, the ICC being the safest, and the charter company checks it. With a hired skipper, nobody on board needs one. Details are in our Greece licence guide.

Winds. The typical summer wind in the Ionian is the maistro, a north-westerly. On this route it is often a fair wind going south towards Paxos and a beat on the way back north, so plan the return legs with time to spare.

Best time to sail Corfu and Paxos

The sailing season runs roughly from May to October. Early summer and September tend to be quieter. July and August are the busiest months, when the small harbours of Paxos fill up early in the day. In spring and late autumn the weather is more changeable, but the short legs and sheltered channel keep a week here manageable. Always check the official forecast before each leg.

FAQ

Is Corfu good for a first sailing holiday?

Yes. The channel between Corfu and the mainland is sheltered, legs are short and there are harbours or bays every few miles. If you have little experience, book a skipper for the first days.

Can I sail from Corfu to Albania on a charter yacht?

Only with the charter company's permission and after clearing out of Greece and into Albania at official ports of entry. It takes paperwork and time. Ask the charter company before you plan it.

How far is Paxos from Corfu?

Paxos lies about 7 miles south of Corfu, but from Gouvia it is a long day. That is why this itinerary breaks the trip with a night in Petriti.

Where do you stay overnight on Paxos?

Lakka in the north and Gaios in the south-east are the usual stops, with Loggos in between. All three are small, so arrive early in July and August.

Do I need a licence to charter a yacht in Corfu?

For bareboat, yes: the skipper needs a licence the charter company accepts, usually the ICC. With a hired skipper you don't need one.

More sailing guides for the Ionian

Heading further south? Read our guide to an Ionian sailing week from Lefkada or sail on to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos.