PAXOS is one of the least commercial Greek Islands set in the Ionian sea. This island is truly beautiful, with scenery that makes it an artists paradise, its clear aquamarine sea and pebble beaches that have to be seen to be believed. The local people are so welcoming you feel at home straight away! Paxos can be very easily explored by foot, bike, car or boat. Just a walk to the beach can seem to take forever by the time you sit and drink a frappe in one of the seafront cafes, watch a local fisherman bring his catch in to sell or queue in the local bakery for your fresh bread baked in a wood oven, listening to the locals arguing half the day has gone! This is the beauty of Paxos.
Places of interest:
Gaios – The port and the capital of Paxos and the largest resort on the island. It is still relatively small and quaint with Venetian architecture, a maze of side streets and a pedestrianised square on the seafront. Restaurants and snack bars are scattered throughout the town and surrounding olive groves of Gaios offering a high standard of local Greek cuisine, traditionally made pizza, pasta and souvlaki are readily available. Local amenities include a post office, banks, chemist, doctors surgery, gift shops, gymnasium, jewelry and handmade craft shops as well as the essential supermarkets, bakeries and butcher. Gaios hosts the only night club on the island and its range of waterfront bars is extensive from a quiet traditional café bar to livelier bars playing a variety of music. There are a number of taxis based here and a bus service which is not very regular but when running enables you to get to the resorts of Loggos and Lakka.
Loggos is the smallest resort, a picture perfect postcard fishing village with beautiful beaches on the coastline either side of the harbour. Marmaris beach is shaded in parts by overhanging olive trees, then Kipos and Kipiadi with crystal clear waters further round and currently only accessible by foot or boat. Monodendri is a wide stretch of beach between Loggos and Lakka and has windsurfing and canoes with a beach taverna and is accessible by car followed by a steep walk down to the beach. Hire boats are not to be taken to the west coast or Anti-Paxos as the sea can change very quickly and become rough. There are organised boat trips to the west coast and its caves and these are run from Gaios, Loggos and Lakka. This village has probably the highest standard of cuisine on the island with a sprinkling of seafront tavernas, exquisite bars offering you strawberry daiquiris, homemade tiramisu or just a great ouzo with surroundings you will never forget. In the evening Loggos is lit with fairy lights reflecting on the water around the harbour, and a blanket of stars above. Local amenities are limited but include a bakery, three supermarkets a tourist office for money exchange, small gift shop selling postcards, stamps and cigarettes, a jewellery shop and the most beautiful craft shop owned by Sarah who designs and makes jewellry, cards and sells a wonderful range of gifts.
Lakka is on the north tip surrounding a large harbour where flotillas and gin palaces can be seen mooring. It has two main beaches with a beach taverna and other beaches are accessible by foot over to the west coast. Here there are two squares, the first you come to on arriving in Lakka where all the locals congregate in the cafeneon for an ouzo or Greek coffee and catch up on the local gossip. There are also restaurants offering local and Mediterranean cuisine, then a walk through the narrow side streets leads to the waterfront and a larger square also housing tavernas and bars. Local amenities include tourist offices for money exchange, a bakery, butcher, beautiful craft shops and mouthwatering cake shops! For those of you interested in water sports water skiing and scuba diving are available with qualified instructors.
Sea taxis and caiques are available from the harbour front of Gaios to take you to the island of Anti-Paxos or Mongonissi. Both offer sandy beaches with shallow waters and tavernas overlooking the sea. The crystal clear waters of Anti-Paxos are idyllic and compare with the waters of the Caribbean – a must for swimming and a fantastic day out. Peak season can get very crowded, although people watching during this time can be entertaining!
This post is also available in: Čeština (Czech)
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