Islands from Corfu

Ferries leave from the Port of Corfu (New Port area, 15-minute walk from San Rocco). Regular routes include Paxos and Antipaxos (60–90 minutes — check corfuport.gr), Igoumenitsa on the mainland (45–90 minutes), and seasonal services to Italy (Bari, Brindisi, Venice) and Albania (Saranda). The Diapontia islands (Othoni, Erikoussa, Mathraki) have limited schedules — confirm at the port ticket office.

Fast passenger boats and conventional ferries use different piers — read your ticket for the gate letter. Arrive 30 minutes before departure in summer; vehicle decks fill first on Igoumenitsa sailings.

Paxos is the classic day trip — morning ferry, lunch in Gaios harbour, afternoon return (confirm last sailing locally). Antipaxos is often a short boat add-on from Gaios with beach time. Saranda, Albania works as a long day with passport control — allow 8 hours including Butrint if you join an organised tour from the port.

Overnight on Paxos is worthwhile in shoulder season when one-day schedules tighten. Diapontia islands need an overnight stay — do not attempt as a same-day return unless the timetable explicitly allows it.

Everything leaves the New Port, a 15-minute walk from San Rocco or Line 15 from the airport. Paxos and Antipaxos are the only island pair that behaves like a tourist day trip (60–90 minutes — confirm on corfuport.gr). Igoumenitsa is the mainland truck run, useful if you continue by car, dull as a day out. Italy (Bari, Brindisi, Venice) and Saranda (Albania) are overnight or long-day operations, not hop-on sightseeing.

We do not publish foot-passenger fares that change by week and operator. Read the price on the operator site or the kiosk. July–August Paxos boats sell out 2–3 days ahead. Fast boats and conventional ferries use different gates — the letter on the ticket matters. Passport for Albania; EU ID for domestic Greek hops. If the sea is up, Paxos cancels. Build a town backup from Itineraries rather than standing on the quay hoping.

Diapontia (Othoni, Erikoussa, Mathraki) have thin schedules. Treat them as overnights unless the printed timetable gives you a same-day return with margin. Vehicle decks to Igoumenitsa fill first — foot passengers still need to be at the gate 30 minutes early in summer.

Paxos is a Greek island day with a harbour lunch in Gaios and a possible Antipaxos beach add-on. Albania (Saranda, Butrint) is a passport day with a border and a UNESCO site on the other side. Eight hours if you include Butrint. Do not treat them as interchangeable “ferry fun”.

Italy sailings are overnight logistics. Igoumenitsa is how cars reach the mainland. Diapontia islands need an overnight unless the printed timetable is generous. Check corfuport.gr the evening before; weather cancels Paxos more often than people plan for.