Greece
Olive-covered slopes of Paxos coming down to clear turquoise water, seen from a boat.
islandOvernight

Paxos

Photo: Greece Field Guide

The Verdict

A small, green, well-off island of olive groves and clear water, where the day boats come for an afternoon and then leave.

Why go

Paxos is about ten kilometres long and covered in olives, with three small harbours — Gaios, Loggos and Lakka — and water so clear that the boats from Parga and Corfu come across simply to anchor in it. There are no beaches to speak of; you swim off rocks and from boats, and the sea caves on the west coast are a morning out. Stay a night and the day-trippers leave at five, which is the whole argument for staying.

Trip role
Overnight
Time needed
Min 2 nights / Ideal 3 nights
Best for
Quiet · Couples · Sailing
Skip if
you want sandy beaches · you want a big island with variety · you are on a budget in August
Best months
May, June, September, October
Crowd reality
Moderate
Car needed
Car Optional
Airport access
No airport — ferry from Corfu, or fly to Corfu or Preveza and cross
Ferry relevance
Hydrofoils and ferries from Corfu and Igoumenitsa, and boats from Parga

Understand the place

The smallest of the main Ionian islands, off the coast of Epirus, with three harbour villages, olive groves and water clear enough to see the anchor.

Beyond the built

Outdoors & nature

The pale walls and deep blue water inside a limestone sea cave on the west coast of Paxos, seen from a small boat.
Recommended

The Sea Caves of Paxos

The sea caves of western Paxos, including the great cave at Ypapanti, reached by small boat from Gaios or Lakka.

“A row of sea caves on the west coast that you visit by boat, with the light coming up blue through the water inside the largest.”

ModerateNo Car Needed
Full outdoors & nature guide

Towns & villages

The quay and tavernas of Gaios on Paxos, with boats moored and a wooded islet and chapel in the water offshore.
Base

Gaios

The largest of the three harbours on Paxos, with a quay of tavernas and the islet of Agios Nikolaos just offshore.

“The main harbour of Paxos: a waterfront of tavernas and a wooded islet with a chapel sitting in the middle of the water.”

ModerateNo Car Needed

Pair it with

Editorially complementary destinations.

Easy to combine with

Logically reachable by transport. Confirm current ferry/flight schedules before booking.

Nearby

Related

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