Corfu Boat TourBlue Lagoon Corfu: Where It Is and How to Get There
The place people search for as Blue Lagoon Corfu is not on Corfu at all. It is a sheltered bay in the Sivota islets on the mainland Greek coast, south of Parga in Epirus, and the only practical way in is by boat. From Corfu you can reach it on a long day cruise from Corfu Town port, on a semi-private speedboat from Lefkimmi in the far south, or by arranging a private charter. On this page we compare those three routes side by side, with times at the lagoon, departure points and from-prices taken from the listings in Corfu boat tours compared. If you also want the Paxos side of the water, our Corfu blue caves guide covers the sea caves on that route.
Illustrative generated image.
Quick answer The fastest way to reach the Sivota Blue Lagoon from Corfu, with times and departure points
The Blue Lagoon is a bay between the Sivota islets on the Greek mainland coast, reached only by boat. From Corfu the simplest option is the full-day cruise from Corfu Town port, about 10 to 12 hours door to door with 50 to 90 minutes anchored at the lagoon. The faster alternative is the semi-private speedboat from Lefkimmi Port, about 8 hours in total.
Key takeaways
- Fastest route: the semi-private speedboat from Lefkimmi, an 8-hour day with a 30-minute crossing to the islands
- Cheapest route: the Parga, Sivota & Blue Lagoon Full-Day Cruise from Corfu from $51 per person
- There is no road or walking access: every route ends with a swim off the boat
- A self-drive rental is not realistic here, as our Corfu boat rental guide explains for the 30 hp licence rule and open-water crossings
- Bringing your own towels, snorkel gear and lunch matters on most of these boats, see what to bring on a Corfu boat trip
Is There a Blue Lagoon in Corfu?
There is no Blue Lagoon on the island of Corfu itself. The spot people mean by that name is a small, bright turquoise bay between the Sivota islets on the mainland coast of Epirus, directly opposite south Corfu. It has no beach and no road.
Boats anchor in the channel and people swim from the boat or from the rocks around the entrance.
The confusion is easy to understand. Corfu sits close to the mainland and to Paxos and Antipaxos, and operators on all sides borrow the name Blue Lagoon for their swimming stops. So a listing that says Blue Lagoon might mean Sivota, or a beach on Antipaxos, or even a cave on the Corfu coast.
Always check the departure port and the day plan. If the trip goes to Parga or Sivota, it means the mainland lagoon described here.
Our Blue Lagoon near Corfu overview is the short version of this page. This post owns the location detail and the three ways in.
Ways to Get to the Blue Lagoon Compared
Three realistic routes exist, and all of them are guided boat trips rather than do-it-yourself transport. The table compares the Parga and Sivota cruise from Corfu Town, the semi-private Paxos speedboat from Lefkimmi and a private charter, with from-prices and times at the lagoon taken from the current catalog listings on this site.
| Option | Departs from | Time at the lagoon | From price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parga, Sivota & Blue Lagoon cruise | Corfu port (Corfu Town) | 50-90 minutes anchored | $51 per person | Lowest price, no car needed, hotel pickup available |
| Semi-private Paxos speedboat | Lefkimmi Port, south Corfu | Snorkelling stop on the day plan | $103 per person | Small groups, more swimming, 30-minute crossing |
| Private sailing yacht | Gouvia Marina | Set with the skipper, routes do not list Sivota | $441 per group | Groups of four or more who want the boat to themselves |
What the table does not show
The private yacht row carries an honest catch: the published routes for the private yacht run to Vido island, the Corfu Town coast, Mouse Island, Garitsa Bay or the north coast, and Sivota is not listed. A skipper may agree a custom day, but the catalog does not promise it, so treat the private option as a Corfu-coast charter unless you confirm otherwise. On the shared boats the lagoon stop is a firm part of the published day plan.
Which Option Fits You?
Three routes serve the same bay. Pick by how much day you have and how much company you want.
If you want the lowest price and do not mind a long day
take the full-day cruise from Corfu Town at $51 per person, details in Parga, Sivota & Blue Lagoon Full-Day Cruise from Corfu
If you want more time swimming and fewer people around
choose the semi-private speedboat from Lefkimmi, capped at 20 guests, see Semi-Private Speedboat Cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos & Blue Lagoon
If you are a group of four or more
a Private Sailing Yacht Cruise from Gouvia Marina, Corfu from $441 per group can work out close to shared prices, though the yacht routes do not list Sivota
If you are on a cruise ship with a fixed return time
check Corfu boat trips on a cruise day before booking anything long, because the day cruise runs 10-12 hours with pickup
If you are deciding between this lagoon and other swimming spots
our best beaches in Corfu post maps which coast suits which traveller
Where Exactly Is the Blue Lagoon?
The lagoon sits in the channel between the Sivota islets, on the mainland coast of Epirus opposite the southern end of Corfu. Parga, the mainland town with the Venetian castle above the harbour, lies a short run further up the same coast, which is why the two are combined in a single day trip. From Corfu Town the trip means a road or sea crossing south, then a run up the mainland coast.
Two distances matter for planning. Lefkimmi port, in the far south of Corfu, is about an hour by road from Corfu Town, and from there the speedboat needs only about 30 minutes to reach the islands. From Corfu Town port the big cruise boat makes a longer passage past Kanoni and Mon Repos before turning up the coast.
No public ferry serves the islets, so an independent day trip without a boat booking is not realistic.
The Sivota islets on the mainland coast opposite south Corfu. Photo: Thanas Todhe (Guri Q…, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
By Day Cruise from Corfu Town
This is the option most visitors take. The Parga, Sivota & Blue Lagoon Full-Day Cruise from Corfu leaves Corfu Town port at 08:20 to 08:25, with boarding from 07:40, and costs $51 per person. It is a large shared cruise boat with a live guide in English, French, German, Italian or Russian.
How the day runs
Optional pickup from north and central Corfu comes first, with a 20 to 90 minute transfer and your time emailed in advance, so the whole day runs 10 to 12 hours door to door. The boat sails past Kanoni and Mon Repos, crosses to the mainland and puts you ashore in Parga for 2 to 2.5 hours of free time. Lunch in Parga is on you, as are towels, food and drinks on board.
Then the boat anchors at the Blue Lagoon for a swim of 50 to 90 minutes before the run home.
The honest trade
At $51 this is the cheapest way into the lagoon and the only one with hotel pickup, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before makes it low risk. The price is the length of the day. It is the longest trip in our catalog, so it suits people with a full day and not much else planned.
Where Exactly Is the Blue Lagoon?
The lagoon, Parga and the Corfu ports the boats leave from. Pin positions are approximate.
- 1 Blue Lagoon, Sivota islets50-90 minutes at anchor on the Parga cruise
- 2 Parga2-2.5 hours ashore on the Parga cruise
- 3 Corfu Town main portCruise ships and the big Paxos and Parga day boats
- 4 Lefkimmi PortSemi-private Paxos speedboat, far south
- 5 Gaios, PaxosFree time ashore on the Paxos cruises
Numbers match the pins on the map.
By Speedboat from Lefkimmi
The Semi-Private Speedboat Cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos & Blue Lagoon starts from Lefkimmi Port in the far south of Corfu, about 30 metres to the right of the meeting point, and takes at most 20 guests. It costs $103 per person for an 8-hour day, with Prosecco, water, snorkel gear and trip photos included.
Getting to Lefkimmi
There is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to Lefkimmi, about an hour's drive from Corfu Town. A rental car solves it, and since you are only driving the island road, the licence question in our Corfu boat rental guide does not even come into it. The operator asks you to email your ticket before boarding.
How the day runs
From Lefkimmi the crossing to the islands takes about 30 minutes, the shortest on this page. The published day covers Lakka, the Paxos blue caves, a swim at Vrika Beach on Antipaxos, free time in Gaios and snorkelling in the Blue Lagoon. Note the lagoon here sits on a Paxos and Antipaxos day plan, so check the day's route when you book if Sivota specifically is what you want.
Children under 6 pay a reduced fare, and the crew asks people with spinal injuries or poor heart health to skip it.
The honest trade
Twenty guests, a short crossing and snorkel gear in the price make this the most comfortable way to swim. The cost is the drive to Lefkimmi both ways and a higher fare than the big boat.
What the Blue Lagoon Stop Is Like
Picture a narrow channel of flat, clear, intensely coloured water between low green islets. There is no sand to sit on. Boats anchor in the channel and you swim from the boarding ladder or from rocks near the mouth.
On the big cruise boat the swim is timed at 50 to 90 minutes, enough for several dips and some snorkelling if you brought a mask.
What is included varies more than people expect. The Corfu Town cruise includes neither towels nor food nor drinks, and lunch happens ashore in Parga at your own cost. The Lefkimmi speedboat includes snorkel gear, Prosecco and water.
The full packing list and the include-and-exclude detail for each trip live in what to bring on a Corfu boat trip, so check it before you choose.
One warning about names. On the Paxos side, operators use Blue Lagoon wording for swim stops off Antipaxos as well, and the Paxos blue sea caves are a different thing again, a monk seal habitat where boats stop for photos only. If a Mediterranean cave swim is your goal, our Corfu blue caves guide explains which boat goes to which cave.
Parga, the long stop before the lagoon on the Parga cruise. Photo: Ironbernietyrol, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Timing, Weather and Crowds
Go early in the day if you can. Mornings are usually the calmest part of the day in the Ionian, which is why the big boats leave Corfu port around 08:20. From late morning a northwest sea breeze called the maistro builds and blows about 10 to 18 knots through most summer afternoons, dropping around sunset.
The lagoon channel is sheltered, but the crossing to it is not.
Every listing on this route states that the route or the day can change with the weather, and cancelled trips get a new date or a refund. If you want the month-by-month picture and the season verdicts, our best time for a Corfu boat trip post handles that in depth.
Crowds track the boat schedules. The big cruise from Corfu Town shares the lagoon window with any other boats running the same circuit, and midday in peak summer is the busiest slot. The 20-guest speedboat naturally thins that out, and its shorter crossing means it can reach the water before or after the big boats do.
If a quiet swim matters to you more than price, that difference alone justifies the Lefkimmi option.
Pairing the Lagoon with Parga or Paxos
The Blue Lagoon rarely stands alone. Both trips that reach it fold it into a bigger day, and the two pairings are quite different.
The Parga pairing
The Parga, Sivota and Blue Lagoon cruise combines the lagoon with 2-2.5 hours of free time in the mainland town of Parga. It leaves Corfu port around 08:20 with boarding from 07:40, runs 10-12 hours door to door depending on pickup, and costs $51 per person. Lunch is not included, so you buy it in Parga, and towels are on you as well.
It suits anyone who wants a town to wander plus one swim, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before.
The Paxos and Antipaxos pairing
The semi-private speedboat from Lefkimmi pairs the lagoon with Paxos, Antipaxos and the port village of Gaios. It takes 20 guests at most, crosses in about 30 minutes from Lefkimmi Port, and fits the caves, a swim at Vrika Beach and Gaios into 8 hours. It costs $103 per person with drinks, snacks, snorkel gear and trip photos included.
There is no hotel pickup, and Lefkimmi sits about an hour by road from Corfu Town, so the drive is part of your planning.
Common Mistakes on a Blue Lagoon Day
Most bad days at the Blue Lagoon come from four easy fixes.
Expecting the lagoon to be on Corfu
The Blue Lagoon sits in the Sivota islands on the mainland coast, opposite south Corfu. You cannot walk or drive to it, and no Corfu beach is the same spot. The only ways in are the Parga and Sivota cruise or the Lefkimmi speedboat.
If you want a swim spot on Corfu itself, read our pages on the Blue Lagoon itself, the Corfu Blue Caves or the best time for a Corfu boat trip.
Forgetting lunch money and towels
On the big Parga cruise, lunch, drinks and towels are not included. You buy lunch ashore in Parga during your free time and bring your own towel for the swim stop. Food is sold on board, but budget for it.
The Lefkimmi speedboat is different, since drinks and snacks are in the price.
Underestimating the length of the day
The Parga cruise runs 10-12 hours with pickup, the longest day on this list. Coach transfers from the north of Corfu can add 20-90 minutes each way. Boats leave between 08:00 and 10:00 with boarding from 07:40.
Plan a slow evening, and remember Lefkimmi is about an hour by road from Corfu Town if you take the speedboat.
Assuming a fixed swim time
Every listing says the route and timing can change with the weather, and the captain sets the swim stop on the day. The lagoon stop runs 50-90 minutes, not a set hour. The summer maistro breeze builds from late morning and drops around sunset, so mornings are usually calmest.
Build slack into the day and let the crew decide.
Blue Lagoon Guide: Questions Answered
Is there a Blue Lagoon near Corfu?
Yes, but not on Corfu itself. The Blue Lagoon is a bright bay between the Sivota islets on the mainland coast opposite south Corfu, near Parga. It has no beach and is reached only by boat.
How do I get to the Blue Lagoon from Corfu?
Two shared options run from the island. The full-day cruise leaves Corfu Town port around 08:20 and costs $51 per person for a 10 to 12 hour day. The semi-private speedboat leaves Lefkimmi Port, about an hour from Corfu Town by road, and takes 20 guests for $103 per person over 8 hours.
Where is the Blue Lagoon in Greece?
It lies in the channel between the Sivota islets on the Epirus coast of the Greek mainland, south of Parga and directly opposite the southern end of Corfu. The same name is also used for swim stops near Antipaxos, so check which one a listing means.
How long do boats stay at the Blue Lagoon?
The Corfu Town cruise anchors for 50 to 90 minutes. The speedboat plans a snorkelling stop as part of its 8-hour day, with the length set on the day. Not stated for the private charter, since swim stops there are chosen with the skipper.
Can you visit the Blue Lagoon without a tour?
Not realistically. There is no public ferry to the Sivota islets and no road access to the bay. A self-drive rental boat is not a sensible option either, because the open crossing is beyond the licence-free 30 hp rule, as our Corfu boat rental guide explains.
Is the Blue Lagoon worth the long day?
If a long sea day and two very different stops, Parga town and the lagoon swim, sound good, yes, and $51 makes it one of the best value trips on the island. If you hate long crossings or have limited time, the Lefkimmi speedboat or a Corfu-coast trip from our best beaches in Corfu guide will suit you better.
For most visitors the Corfu Town day cruise is the right call. It costs $51, it picks up from your hotel, and the 50 to 90 minute swim at the lagoon plus Parga ashore makes a full and varied day. If you would rather trade money for space, book the Lefkimmi speedboat and drive down the night before or early.
If you are a group who mainly wants your own boat for the day, compare Corfu boat tour listings and check the private charter route before assuming it reaches Sivota. Whichever you pick, book the day before at the latest, since the 24-hour free cancellation window is the same across all three.