Greece — Corfu & Paxos

Best Anchorages in Corfu & Paxos

Corfu and Paxos sit at the northern gateway of the Ionian Islands — UNESCO Old Town, emerald-green Antipaxos beaches, landlocked Paxos inlets, and the monastery cliffs of Paleokastritsa. These 11 anchorages have been verified for depth, holding, Posidonia zones, and anchor alarm radius.

About Corfu & Paxos Sailing

The Maestro — Not the Meltemi

Corfu and the northern Ionian are completely outside the Aegean meltemi zone. The prevailing summer wind is the Maestro — a NW thermal sea breeze building from 12:00–15:00, typically reaching F3–4 (10–18 kn), easing at sunset. Mornings are usually calm — the ideal time for passages. Gentle and predictable compared to the Aegean.

Corfu Channel Shipping

The Corfu Channel (between Corfu and the Albanian/Greek mainland) is a major commercial shipping and ferry route — Igoumenitsa to Corfu to Brindisi. Cruise ships, car ferries, and high-speed ferries operate continuously. Maintain careful watch, keep AIS running, and cross the channel quickly. Do not anchor in the channel.

Antipaxos — Posidonia Warning

Vrika and Voutoumi beaches on Antipaxos are among the most beautiful anchorages in the Mediterranean. However, both bays have significant Posidonia seagrass beds. Anchoring on Posidonia is illegal under Greek Law 3937/2011 and EU Habitats Directive. Always snorkel to verify your anchor is in a sandy patch, not on seagrass. Fines are substantial.

Peak Season Crowds

Paxos in August is one of the busiest anchorages in the Mediterranean. Antipaxos Vrika and Voutoumi receive over 50 day-trip boats on August mornings — arrive before 09:00 to secure a sandy patch. Lakka and Gaios on Paxos fill by early afternoon. May, June, September, and October are dramatically quieter and the water temperature is still warm.

Antipaxos — Posidonia Seagrass Anchoring Prohibition

Paxos and Antipaxos have significant Posidonia seagrass beds. Posidonia is protected under EU Habitats Directive and Greek Law 3937/2011 — anchoring on it carries heavy fines. At Antipaxos Vrika and Voutoumi, you MUST anchor in the sandy patches only. Snorkel or use an underwater camera to verify before settling in. If in doubt, relocate. Fines are issued by the Hellenic Coast Guard.

Antipaxos Vrika & Voutoumi — Arrive Before 09:00 in July–August

Vrika and Voutoumi beaches on Antipaxos are among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean — and two of the most crowded anchorages in Greece in peak season. Day-trip boats from Corfu and Paxos begin arriving from 09:30. By 11:00 in July–August the bay is a raft of vessels. Arrive before 09:00 to secure a sandy patch in reasonable space. The anchorages clear dramatically after 17:00 — evening stays are magical.

Corfu Old Town — UNESCO World Heritage Site

Corfu Old Town (Kerkyra) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — one of the finest Venetian towns in the eastern Mediterranean. The Mandraki anchorage is directly adjacent to the Old Fortress. DEKPA transit logs and TEPAI tax compliance can be handled at the port police office in Corfu Town or at Gouvia Marina (6 nm N). Most visiting yachts base themselves at Gouvia and visit the Old Town by water taxi.

11 Verified Anchorages

Gouvia Bay

(Gouvia Marina)Excellent holdingCorfu — NE Coast

Gouvia Bay houses the main yacht marina on Corfu — the largest and best-equipped in the northern Ionian.

Depth

25m

Bottom

mud

Alarm Radius

40m

Crowds

Busy

Protected: N NE E SE S SW W NWRestaurantFuel

Full anchoring guide →

Benitses

(Μπενίτσες)Good holdingCorfu — SE Coast

Benitses is a small fishing village on the SE coast of Corfu, with a modest harbour offering reasonable shelter from the prevailing NW Maestro.

Depth

24m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

65m

Crowds

Quiet

Protected: N NE E NWExposed: S SE SWRestaurantFree anchoring

Full anchoring guide →

Lefkimmi

(Λευκίμμη)Good holdingCorfu — South

Lefkimmi is the southernmost town on Corfu, and its small harbour sits in a canal at the island's southern tip.

Depth

24m

Bottom

mud

Alarm Radius

40m

Crowds

Quiet

Protected: N NE E SE S SW W NWRestaurantFuel

Full anchoring guide →

Vrika Beach, Antipaxos

(Βρίκα Αντίπαξοι)Excellent holdingCorfu — Antipaxos

Vrika is one of the most breathtaking beaches in the Mediterranean — white sand, shallow turquoise water of extraordinary clarity, and the emerald-green hillside of Antipaxos rising behind.

Depth

36m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

60m

Crowds

Very Busy

Protected: E SE S SWExposed: N NW WRestaurantFree anchoring

Full anchoring guide →

Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos

(Βουτουμί)Excellent holdingCorfu — Antipaxos

Voutoumi is the second of Antipaxos's two world-famous beaches, located around the headland SE of Vrika.

Depth

48m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

65m

Crowds

Very Busy

Protected: N NE E SEExposed: S SW WRestaurantFree anchoring

Full anchoring guide →

Lakka, Paxos

(Port Lakka)Good holdingCorfu — Paxos

Lakka is the prettiest and most sheltered anchorage on Paxos — tucked into a long NW-facing inlet fringed by olive groves and a small whitewashed village.

Depth

35m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

70m

Crowds

Very Busy

Protected: S SE E SW WExposed: N NERestaurantFree anchoring

Full anchoring guide →

Loggos, Paxos

(Longos)Good holdingCorfu — Paxos

Loggos is arguably the most picturesque village on Paxos — a cluster of Venetian-style buildings around a tiny quay, olive presses, and a handful of excellent tavernas.

Depth

35m

Bottom

mud

Alarm Radius

65m

Crowds

Moderate

Protected: N NW W SWExposed: E SERestaurantFree anchoring

Full anchoring guide →

Gaios, Paxos

(Port Gaios)Good holdingCorfu — Paxos

Gaios is the capital of Paxos and one of the finest natural harbours in the Ionian — a long, narrow channel between the main island and St Nicholas island, with breakwaters sealing both N and S entrances.

Depth

58m

Bottom

mud

Alarm Radius

55m

Crowds

Very Busy

Protected: N NE E SE S SW W NWRestaurantFuel

Full anchoring guide →

Mandraki, Corfu Town

(Μαντράκι Κέρκυρα)Good holdingCorfu — Town

Mandraki is the historic small-boat harbour of Corfu Town, sitting directly below the Old Venetian Fortress and just minutes' walk from the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town.

Depth

24m

Bottom

mud

Alarm Radius

55m

Crowds

Busy

Protected: S SW SE E WExposed: N NERestaurant

Full anchoring guide →

Paleokastritsa

(Παλαιοκαστρίτσα)Fair holdingCorfu — NW Coast

Paleokastritsa is one of the most photographed locations in Corfu — a series of dramatic coves beneath the white monastery of Theotokos, perched on a cliff 100m above the sea.

Depth

615m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

80m

Crowds

Busy

Protected: S SE E NEExposed: N NW WRestaurantFree anchoring

Full anchoring guide →

Agios Georgios Bay (North Corfu)

(Άγιος Γεώργιος Βορείου)Excellent holdingCorfu — NW Coast

Agios Georgios Bay on the NW coast of Corfu (not to be confused with Agios Georgios on the SW coast) is a wide, sweeping sandy bay with excellent holding.

Depth

48m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

70m

Crowds

Quiet

Protected: S SE E NE NExposed: NW WRestaurantFree anchoring

Full anchoring guide →

Greek Anchoring Rules — Corfu & Paxos

Anchoring in Corfu and Paxos is generally free in most bays. Key requirements for visiting yachts:

  • !DEKPA (Transit Log): Required for all foreign yachts over 7m. ~€30. Obtain at first Greek port of entry — Corfu Town port police or Gouvia Marina.
  • !TEPAI Cruising Tax: ~€8/m per month for yachts 7–12m. Pay online at e-tepai.gr before arrival. Keep the receipt on board.
  • !Posidonia Seagrass: NO anchoring on Posidonia in Paxos and Antipaxos. Anchor in sandy patches only — snorkel to verify. Greek Law 3937/2011 and EU Habitats Directive. Heavy fines.
  • !Corfu Channel: Major commercial shipping and ferry route. Keep watch, run AIS, cross quickly. Do not anchor in the channel.
  • !UNESCO Corfu Old Town: No specific anchoring restrictions, but respect the historic harbour environment. Port police office is at the New Port.

For full details, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Monitor Your Anchor Overnight

Safety Anchor Alarm watches your GPS position continuously and sounds an instant alert if your boat drifts — so you can sleep through the Ionian night at Antipaxos, Paxos, or Paleokastritsa, even when the Maestro picks up after dark.

Download Free for iOS