Getting from Astypalaia to Paxos

If you are heading to Paxos from Astypalaia you are making your way from a butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to a small island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of Greece. It has ancient olive groves, turquoise coves and a Venetian harbour at Gaios that is one of the most charming in Greece.

Take the ferry

There are no scheduled ferries from Astypalaia to Paxos. No Aegean island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. Getting there means taking the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus, which runs around 5 times a week and takes around 8 to 12 hours, and then flying to Corfu and taking the ferry from Corfu to Paxos, which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. Alternatively fly from Astypalaia to Athens and then fly to Corfu and take the ferry across to Paxos.

Getting there by air

Paxos has no airport. The nearest airport is Corfu. Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Astypalaia to Athens and then Athens to Corfu, followed by the ferry from Corfu to Paxos, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Astypalaia to Athens and then fly to Corfu and take the ferry across to Paxos. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus and drive northwest to Igoumenitsa for the daily car ferry to Paxos from there, as the Corfu to Paxos ferry does not carry vehicles.