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Othoni Cultural Association

CHOOSING A DAY TRIP

The famous one, or the quiet one

If you are in Corfu and looking for a day trip to another island, you will probably hear about Paxos and Antipaxos first. They are beautiful, but also very popular. The Diapontian Islands are the other direction — more remote, quieter, and much less visited. Here is the difference.

Getting to the Diapontia

What you are really choosing between

Paxos and Antipaxos are located south of Corfu and are the island’s classic day trip for a reason: turquoise waters, sea caves, and the famous beaches of Antipaxos. However, their beauty has made them very popular, and this is especially noticeable in July and August. There are many boats, more visitors, and the smaller beaches can become quite crowded.

The Diapontia — Othoni, Ereikousa, and Mathraki — lie northwest, beyond the edge of Corfu. They are more remote and therefore quieter: fewer boats, more space, and a slower pace.

The choice is simple: Paxos and Antipaxos for impressive scenery with more activity, the Diapontian Islands for tranquillity and an authentic island experience. The trade-off is fewer facilities, less frequent connections, and a greater dependence on the weather.

Which one is for you

Choose Paxos if you want the famous turquoise waters and sea caves, don’t mind the crowds, and prefer an easy, well-organised day trip. In June or September, it is one of the best island excursions from Corfu.

Choose the Diapontia if you are looking for peace and quiet: fewer people, emptier beaches, tavernas with time for conversation, and a sky full of stars. They require a little more planning and depend more on the weather, but that is also what keeps them authentic.

Paxos for the iconic scenery. The Diapontian Islands for escaping the crowds.

The comparison

What people ask when they are deciding.

Are the Diapontia islands less crowded than Paxos?
Considerably. Paxos and Antipaxos are the busiest day trip from Corfu, with large boats and, in high season, roped-off swimming areas at the popular beaches. The Diapontia get a fraction of the visitors — fewer boats, no queues, and beaches you can sometimes have to yourself.
Which is easier to reach from Corfu?
Paxos, generally. It has more operators, more departures and a shorter, more reliable crossing. The Diapontia are further out to the north-west, with fewer boats and a greater dependence on the weather. You trade some convenience for a lot more quiet.
Which is better for a family day out?
If you want an easy, well-organised trip with famous beaches, Paxos and Antipaxos are the straightforward choice. If your family would rather have space, quiet and simple beaches without the crowds, Erikousa in the Diapontia is the gentlest of the northern islands.
When is the best time for either?
June and September for both — warm enough to swim, calm enough for the boats, and without the peak crowds of July and August. For the Diapontia in particular, the shoulder months are quieter still, though connections thin out and the weather has more of a say.

If quiet is the point

The Diapontia are reached only by boat from Corfu — the Corfu Town line or the faster boat from Agios Stefanos in the north. Here are the routes and times.

Boat routes & times