The villages of Paxos

Lakka

Lakka is located on the northern tip of the island of Paxos, just ten or fifteen minutes walk from the apartments. A small fishing village, it is set in a beautiful circular bay with several waterfront bars, tavernas and a good collection of small traditional shops. Lakka is a working port and provides a great opportunity to watch the fishermen and their boats in near constant activity. However, more recently, the summer months appear to be catering more for private yachts and those hired by holiday makers. It is an ideal setting to relax in one of the tavernas and enjoy the relaxed pace of the island or discover some of Paxos’ unique culture.

There are two beaches which are located on the western side of the village, but if you choose to walk up and over the hill there are several other more isolated beaches. Take a drink with you if you venture out in the middle of the day and be sure to get back to Lakka in time to see the sunset over the surrounding hills.

Getting there

A leisurely stroll from A Place in Paxos Holiday Apartments but it is also possible to catch the daily bus. There is a taxi rank close to where the bus stops although there are not often any taxis actually present! If you do need a taxi just go into a taverna and ask them to ring one.

Loggos

Loggos is on the east coast of Paxos island, about halfway between Gaios and Lakka and is arguably the most charismatic of all the harbours on the island. It is about 30 minutes walk from Apergatika where the A Place in Paxos apartments are situated. Loggos is set in a tight horse-shoe shaped bay and the best view of this small village is from the deserted windmill that overlooks the village. Make a point of walking up there; it’s worth it!

Ask the locals to direct you to the famous donkey steps are and challenge yourself to climb to the very top.

It is another good idea to take at least one bus ride from Gaios to Lakka, not only do you get superb views of the whole of Paxos on the way but you can enjoy the part where the bus manoeuvres, seemingly impossibly through the village of Loggos. The bus has to squeeze between the various taverna chairs, the sharp edge of the harbouside and the water and it is fair to say there is not a lot of room, the customers in the tavernas do tend to move when the bus appears. As with Lakka and Gaios, you can either eat out and sample the local delicacies from one of the tavernas or purchase supplies to take back to the apartment.

Gaios

The capital of Paxos………..well it is the biggest village anyway with just over a 1,000 inhabitants. Gaios is full of alleys, old buildings and many interesting features. There are several varied taverns, bars and restaurants and we have not yet managed to find one which we disliked, we just prefer some even more than others! There is the large village square that is ideal for simply relaxing and watching the world go by!

Gaios is a working town with a busy harbour and port (busy for Paxos that is). There is a new port that hosts the hydrofoils (Dolphons), Greek island ferries and supply boats that are the life blood of this idyllic island. The village’s harbour side can get just as busy as Paxos is very much on the yachting circuit. It is not unusual to see visiting flotillas, single boats or motor cruisers moor up for a few hours or a few days.

All you will need for your stay on Paxos can be found here including cash points, banks, a chemist’s, a book shop, baker’s shops and an internet café amongst others and you can even or buy an English newspaper if you are desperate to keep in touch. Car hire is available from you here and you will also find a dive school, a Greek dancing venue and tourist offices should you wish to book a trip any other activities including visits to the mainland and boat hire.

Boating

Gaios can be very popular with day-trip boaters going to Anti-Paxos, the beach at Moggonissi or embarking on round-the-Island trips. As with Lakka and Loggos you can hire small boats to explore the stunning coast-line. We recommend that you do not try to use them to go around the island unless you are a very experienced operator since the west coast is quite dangerous with strong tides and underlying currents, too much for these small hire boats. There are plenty of small bays, creeks and coves along Paxos’ safer east coast where you can moor up at during the day.

Rural life

Do not ignore all the other hamlets and villages dotted around the island; they will always have a shop and a place to eat. Try Ozias, Magazia and Platanos, among others; Paxiots love to combine catering for the tourist with working on their terraced olive groves. Paxos has 250,000 olive trees with each and every one of them known individually to their respective owners.

Anti Paxos, whilst not a village as such, is an island about 3 nautical miles south of Gaios that is home a handful of Inhabitants that are mainly employed growing grapes. The island of Anti Paxos has simply one of the best beaches, not only in the whole of the Ionian sea but the whole of Greece! With white sand, crystal water and the lightest blue sea you will ever swim in, it really is idyllic. All three beaches on Anti Paxos are officially rated in the top ten Mediterranean sandy beaches. If you fancy a walk away from the waters edge visit either of the taverns or the marble lighthouse built in 1833