I’m Denisa – a Romanian girl who lives in Craiova. Welcome to my guide on the best things to do in Paxos – the fabulous slice of paradise in the Ionian Islands. I’ve always considered myself a traveller and not a tourist.
In every place I visit I like to discover how the locals live. I love to picture myself as a local. The photography goes hand in hand with travelling. It makes the trip complete and transports me back to the state of mind I had during the visit. Travel always gives me this feeling of excitement and awe.
Inspiration to Visit the Beautiful Paxos
At first glance it seemed pretty remote and not that accessible. However, all the reviews I found were excellent. So, I decided it was worth a visit.
My first impression of Paxos was the view I had of the island from the ferry I took from Igoumenitsa. Paxos looked small, hilly, quiet and green. It looked very green in fact. I couldn’t wait to land on shore and start exploring.
8 Wonderful Days in Paxos, Greece
We spent 8 wonderful days on the island of Paxos. We chose to stay in the town of Gaios at the gorgeous Theodora Apartments. The apartment was excellent – spacious, airy, decorated in a beautiful style and had a balcony where you could see the boats down in the harbour below.
A friendly local called Stelios greeted us at the port and led us to the apartment. It was only a 3 minute drive from the port to our accommodation. He introduced us to the island and told us something that turned out to be true: once you visit the island of Paxos you will want to come back every year!
The people in Paxos are (like in all of Greece) welcoming and relaxed. They are never in a hurry or in a bad mood. Everyone I met smiled at me and tried to make me feel welcome as well as giving me plenty of space. I find that this is such a wonderful quality of Greek people.
10 Best Things To Do in Paxos
Paxos is one of those places that packs a big punch for such a small destination. The island is only 13km long and doesn’t offer much in terms of infrastructure but that’s part of its overall charm. Rolling hills, olive groves and unspoilt beaches make Paxos one of the gems of the Ionian Islands.
Check out my top 10 recommendations for Paxos (Greece) below:
1. Boat Trip around the West Coast of Paxos
A boat trip around the west coast of Paxos is a must-do. Rent your own boat if you can and enjoy discovering all the hidden caves and unspoilt beaches. This is the ultimate summer activity in the Greek Islands.
2. Visit the Unspoilt Erimitis Bay Beach
Erimitis Bay Beach is located on the west side of the island. It was formed due to an earthquake in 2008 and has become one of the most stunning beaches in Paxos ever since. You can access this beach via a small road from the village of Magazia. It’s totally unique, intimate and unspoilt.
3. Take a Day Trip to Antipaxos Island
There are many day trip boats that go from Gaios to Antipaxos. This gem of an island is located around 3 kilometers south of Paxos. On these day trips you get to see the spectacular beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi. Go swimming in some of the clearest waters that you will ever see!
4. People Watch from a Quaint Cafe in Paxos
People watching is a national sport all over Greece and it’s such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. Just find a cute little cafe in one of the villages on the east coast (Gaios, Lakka or Loggos), sit back in the afternoon sun, sip on your delicious freddo cafe and watch the world go by.
5. Have a Delicious Greek Lunch at Loggos
We chose to have lunch at the village of Loggos almost on a daily basis. There are a few awesome tavernas (small Greek restaurants) right on the seafront. They all offer fantastic seafood and local specialties. You can’t go wrong with any of the tavernas in Loggos. Highly recommended!
6. Discover the Natural Rock Arch – Tripitos Arch
The Tripitos Arch is part of a sea cave on the west coast of Paxos. You can access the arch by sea or on foot, although the path to the viewpoint is not well signposted. Nevertheless, the view of the arch is wonderful and you can even go above the arch if you’re not afraid of heights.
7. Cocktails at Porto Vecchio Paxos in Gaios
We enjoyed cocktails in the evenings at Porto Vecchio Paxos in the village of Gaios. Watching the boats go in and out of the port while sipping on some of the finest cocktails in Greece was a pretty special experience.
8. Morning Strolls in Gaios, Paxos
I loved going on morning strolls in the still sleepy village of Gaios. Exploring the little alleyways, going into the bakery for a fresh pastry and a freddo cappuccino, and watching the little fishermen boats coming in with fresh fish. That simple pleasure of a morning walk was just so special!
9. Explore the Little Villages of Paxos
Besides the beaches, what I love most about Paxos (and Greece in general) are the quaint villages. As mentioned before with Gaios, I love nothing more than exploring the picturesque alleyways and little streets that these villages offer. Gaios, Lakka and Loggos are the 3 main villages in Paxos.
10. Fine Dining at Erimitis Restaurant, Magazia
Erimitis Bar & Restaurant is located on the west coast of Paxos in a town called Magazia and is a restaurant like no other. The food is world-class and the views at sunset are spectacular. Enjoy fresh local Greek cuisine paired with a few cocktails and a stunning backdrop of cliffs and ocean.
Best Beaches in Paxos: From Erimitis to Voutoumi
The beach that impressed me the most was Erimitis Bay Beach (as mentioned prior). To reach this beach we walked down a 2-3 km road that passes through a beautiful old olive grove. This road then descends quite steeply down to the beach. The scenery here is just wonderful.
The rocks fall directly into the sea and the water has different shades of an unbelievable blue. There are no facilities at Erimitis Bay Beach. No bars, umbrellas or sunbeds. This helps to preserve its natural and wild beauty.
Other beaches that I liked were Orkos Beach – which can be reached by descending through a pine forest – and Lakkos Beach. Both of these beaches are unspoilt. The famous beaches on the island of Antipaxos as well as Levrechio and Monodendri beaches are worth a visit too.
The Fabulous Food Scene in Paxos
Greek cuisine is absolutely delightful and the island of Paxos was no exception to this rule! The food was a perfect combination of traditional Greek and Italian influences which have fused together over the years.
I personally never failed with Greek salads, peppers stuffed with feta, grilled feta, grilled sardines, spaghetti with seafood or fresh fish of the day. All accompanied with a cold beer during the day or red wine in the evening.
Favourite Memory in Paxos – West Coast Boat Trip
My favorite memory from Paxos was the tour of the west coast that we took with a small rented boat. We set off from Gaios to the south of the island and stopped on the west coast wherever we wanted. It was so nice diving into crystal-clear waters and swimming freely in the ocean.
The white rocks were just as impressive. They descended from high altitude directly into the sea – making for dramatic underwater landscapes as well. We stopped at several sea caves and small beaches near the rocks.
These incredible landscapes reminded us of the power of nature. We felt so small and overwhelmed by the beauty we found on the west coast.
Our tour continued to the north towards Lakka Bay. A sparkling scene of turquoise waters greeted us at Lakka. We then headed to the small port of Loggos and enjoyed an excellent meal consisting of fresh seafood. It was one of those unforgettable days that we will cherish forever.
What you Need to Know Before you Go
Paxos is a calm, relaxing place. There is not much of a nightlife scene to be found. So, it’s not the best Greek Island if you want to go partying. If you seek a destination where you can chill with a book, eat good food, and relax at the beach in the sun, then Paxos is a great choice.
