Voutoumi is the largest and most famous beach on Antipaxos. One of the most celebrated in the whole Ionian, ranked by Lonely Planet among the ten best beaches in Europe. A sweeping bay of white pebbles and sand backed by green, cliff-topped slopes with cypress trees reaching the shore. It is renowned for its dazzling, almost Caribbean blue-green water set against white limestone cliffs. A taverna on the hillside above offers notable views across to Paxos. Reached only by boat from Gaios, and busy at midday in high summer, Voutoumi rewards visitors with some of the most beautiful beach scenery in Greece.
This guide covers Voutoumi beach in full: what it is, where it lies, what it is like. How to get there, its tavernas, the best time to visit. Why it is so special.
Here you will find everything about Voutoumi beach on Antipaxos: what it is, where it lies, what the water and setting are like. How to get there by boat from Paxos, the tavernas above the beach, the best time to visit to avoid the crowds. Why it is one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.
What is Voutoumi beach on Antipaxos?
Voutoumi is the largest and most famous beach on Antipaxos, and one of the finest in the Ionian, ranked among the best in Europe.
Voutoumi is the largest and most celebrated beach on Antipaxos, the tiny island south of Paxos, and one of the most famous beaches in the whole of the Ionian. Its remarkably blue-green water and picture-perfect setting have earned it a place, according to the guidebook Lonely Planet, among the ten best beaches in Europe.
It is a sweeping bay of white pebbles and sand, set against white limestone cliffs and backed by green slopes where cypress trees reach almost to the shore. The water is an almost impossible shade of Caribbean blue-green, deep and crystal-clear, making Voutoumi a place of extraordinary natural beauty and a highlight of any visit to the area.
Where is Voutoumi beach on Antipaxos?
Voutoumi beach is on the north-eastern coast of Antipaxos, the small island about three kilometres south of Paxos.
Voutoumi lies on the north-eastern coast of Antipaxos, the tiny island that sits about three kilometres south of Paxos across a short stretch of sea. It is set in a beautiful bay on this sheltered side of the island, a little further along the coast from the island’s other great beach.
A footpath links Voutoumi with Vrika beach to the north, taking around half an hour to walk over the low headland between them, so the two celebrated beaches are easily combined on a single trip. This position, a short boat ride from Gaios on Paxos, makes Voutoumi easy to reach yet gloriously unspoilt.
What is Voutoumi beach like?
Voutoumi is a large, sweeping bay of white pebbles and sand, backed by green, cliff-topped slopes with cypress trees reaching the shore.
Voutoumi is larger and more dramatic than its neighbour Vrika. A sweeping curve of white pebbles and sand set against white limestone cliffs and green, cypress-clad slopes that reach right down to the shore. The scale and the setting give it a grand, spectacular character quite unlike the smaller, gentler coves of the area.
Above all, it is the water that makes Voutoumi so famous: an almost impossible shade of Caribbean blue-green. Deep and dazzlingly clear, that drops into swimmable depth within metres of the shore. Set against the white pebbles and cliffs, this extraordinary colour and clarity make Voutoumi one of the most photographed and admired beaches in the whole of Greece.
How do you get to Voutoumi beach?
You reach Voutoumi beach only by boat, as Antipaxos has no road access.
The only way to reach Voutoumi is by boat, since Antipaxos has no car access and the beach lies on its sheltered coast. Most visitors take one of the small boats or water taxis that depart regularly from the port of Gaios on Paxos. Running roughly every twenty to thirty minutes in summer and taking around ten to fifteen minutes to cross.
The round-trip fare is generally around twenty euros per person, so it is easy and affordable to spend hours or a full day at the beach. Many visitors also reach Voutoumi on an organised day cruise from Paxos or Corfu, or by hiring a small self-drive boat, as our guide to Paxos boat trips explains.
What tavernas are there at Voutoumi beach?
Voutoumi has a couple of tavernas serving fresh, simple food.
Despite its remote, unspoilt setting, Voutoumi has a couple of tavernas that make a day here easy and enjoyable. Near the beach, the taverna Spiros serves fresh, simple food such as grilled fish and Greek salad. Along with local wine made from the vineyards of Antipaxos. You can enjoy a relaxed lunch by the sea.
Higher up on the hillside above the bay sits Bella Vista, reached by a climb up steps. Which offers a similar menu of fresh, simple dishes together with notable, sweeping views across the water to Paxos. Dining here, looking out over the dazzling blue-green bay, is one of the memorable pleasures of a visit to Voutoumi.
When is the best time to visit Voutoumi beach?
The best time to visit Voutoumi is early in the day, ideally before eleven in the morning, as it gets busy with day-trippers between around eleven and half past three.
Voutoumi can get quite busy in the summer, especially in the middle of the day when day-trip boats and cruises bring visitors from Paxos and Corfu. The busiest hours are generally between around eleven in the morning and half past three in the afternoon, when the beach is at its fullest.
To enjoy Voutoumi at its most peaceful, it is best to arrive early, ideally before eleven, when you can swim in the dazzling water and relax on the beach with fewer people around. Later in the afternoon, once the day boats begin to leave, the beach also grows quieter again, and the light on the water is especially beautiful.
Is Voutoumi beach worth visiting?
Voutoumi beach is absolutely worth visiting, being one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece and Europe.
Voutoumi is one of the essential sights of the area, and well worth the short boat trip from Paxos. Ranked among the best beaches in Europe, its extraordinary blue-green water. White pebbles and dramatic cliff-and-cypress setting offer some of the most beautiful beach scenery anywhere in Greece. Swimming in its clear, deep water is unforgettable.
Whether visited for hours or a full day, on a cruise or an independent boat trip. Voutoumi rewards every visitor, especially those who arrive early to enjoy it in peace. Together with neighbouring Vrika, it makes Antipaxos an unmissable day out from Paxos and a place of rare natural beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Voutoumi beach so famous?
Voutoumi beach is so famous because of the extraordinary beauty of its water and setting. Which have earned it a reputation as one of the finest beaches not just on Antipaxos but in the whole of the Ionian and indeed Europe. The guidebook Lonely Planet has ranked it among the ten best beaches in Europe. It is easy to see why: the water at Voutoumi is an almost impossible shade of Caribbean blue-green. Deep and dazzlingly clear, set against white limestone cliffs and a sweeping shore of white pebbles and sand, with green, cypress-clad slopes reaching down towards the beach.
This combination of vivid, crystal-clear water and dramatic, unspoilt scenery gives Voutoumi a picture-perfect quality that has made it one of the most photographed and admired beaches in Greece. It is the largest beach on Antipaxos. Its deep, clear water, which drops into swimmable depth within metres of the shore. Is notable for swimming and snorkelling, while a taverna set high on the hillside above offers sweeping views across the bay to Paxos. Because it can only be reached by boat, from Gaios on Paxos or on a day cruise, it retains an unspoilt, special character despite its fame, though it does get busy in the middle of the day in summer.
It is the sheer beauty of the place, above all the unforgettable colour of its water. That has made Voutoumi beach so celebrated and such a magnet for visitors to the area.
Is Voutoumi beach sandy or pebbly?
Voutoumi beach is a mixture of white pebbles and sand rather than a purely sandy beach, though this does nothing to diminish its beauty. Its shore is part of what gives the water its extraordinary clarity and colour. The beach is a sweeping bay backed by white limestone cliffs and green. Cypress-clad slopes. Its shore combines white sand with large white pebbles, dropping into clear, deep water within metres. This means that, while there is sand, water shoes can be useful for comfort when getting in and out of the water over the pebbles, especially for children.
The neighbouring beach of Vrika, a short walk over the headland to the north, is by contrast a genuinely sandy cove with softer, finer sand and shallower water. Which makes it a little more suited to families with very young children who want to play on the sand. Many visitors enjoy both beaches on the same trip for their different characters. What makes Voutoumi so special, regardless of the sand and pebbles underfoot, is the dazzling, deep blue-green colour and remarkable clarity of its water. Which is among the most beautiful in Greece, together with its dramatic cliff-and-cypress setting.
Voutoumi’s combination of white pebbles, sand and unforgettable water makes it one of the most striking beaches in the whole of the Ionian.
How much does it cost to visit Voutoumi beach?
Visiting Voutoumi beach itself is free, as with any beach in Greece. You will pay for the boat trip to reach it, since Antipaxos can only be accessed by sea, and you choose to spend money on sunbeds, food and drinks while you are there. The main cost is the boat. The most common way to get to Voutoumi is by one of the small boats or water taxis that run regularly from the port of Gaios on Paxos. Roughly every twenty to thirty minutes in summer, for a round-trip fare of around twenty euros per person, with the crossing taking about ten to fifteen minutes.
Alternatively, you can reach Voutoumi on an organised day cruise from Paxos or Corfu, which is priced per person and varies with the operator and what is included. Or by hiring a small self-drive boat for the day, which can work out economical when shared among a group. At the beach, there be sunbeds and umbrellas to hire for a modest charge in season. The two tavernas, Spiros near the beach and Bella Vista on the hillside. Serve food and drinks at typical taverna prices, so a meal or refreshments will add to the cost of the day.
It is sensible to bring enough money for the boat, any sunbeds and your meals. Overall, a visit to Voutoumi need not be expensive. Especially if you share a boat or bring some of your own supplies. The beauty of the beach makes it excellent value for a memorable day out.