The Best Things to Do in Paxos, Greece

According to mythology, the smallest Ionian Island came about when Poseidon plunged his trident into Corfu and the splinters left Paxos and the teeny islet of Antipaxos – which is uninhabited and totally unspoiled with absolutely no signs of modern life. This mini slice of paradise can only be reached by boat, which brings plenty of daytrippers to anchor up and snorkel into the crystal sea. Voutoumi Beach is the largest beach on Antipaxos and is complete with powdery white sand for picture-postcard shots.

Tourists and locals love Cafe Kalimera – just 100m (328ft) from the Gaios harbour, you can expect service with a smile from approximately 10am to 2am, seven days a week. It’s popular with everyone as it serves everything from great coffee, superb cocktails and a vast selection of beers, spirits and wines. When the sun goes down, the music is turned up and people come from far and wide to party in front of the bar on the beautiful cobbles of the Gaios passage.

One of the charms of Paxos’ capital Gaios is wandering around the narrow streets and soaking up the atmosphere. The heart of the town is pedestrianised with plenty of pavement cafes, restaurants, pretty squares and fragrant bougainvillaea-filled window boxes. Most of the action centres around the main square which comes alive at night with street performers. Here you can also see the city’s famous terracotta Analipsi Church – with its impressive bell tower.

The remains of Agios Nikolaos castle are worth exploring as the remains of the fortress span back to the 15th century when Paxos was ruled by Venice. Thanks to its commanding presence atop the islet at the entrance to Gaia port, the island was protected against pirates and remained prosperous for centuries. Today, there are only ruins to see, as well as a chapel dedicated to Saint John and an old windmill. Small boats depart from the port of Gaios for the islet and the breathtaking view and peaceful atmosphere offer a contrast from the sun-drenched beaches.

For a Castaway-style shingle beach, Marami will tick your boxes with crystal-clear waters and tall olive trees for shade – which have been here since the Venetians, over 300 years ago. There are no amenities here – which is part of the appeal – but you can stroll through the surf to the larger neighbouring beach of Levrechio which is still pretty laid back, with a taverna right beside it serving delicious dishes with a majestic view.

The beach of Avlaki is unlike any other on the island – situated on the southwestern coast, it’s characterised by its wild beauty. There is plenty of parking here and plenty of space on this groove-shaped beach, so it never seems crowded. With its eye-catching white pebbles lining the shore, the sea is popular with snorkelers and divers – but be aware the sea bed dips quickly, so you’ll need to be a confident swimmer.

Expect to have your breath taken away at one of the most beautiful beaches you’ll visit on a trip to Paxos. Paralia Voutoumi is one of the sandy beaches with natural dazzling beauty – a short boat ride away on the islet of Antipaxos. Situated in an idyllic curved bay, many visitors jump from their boats and swim across to the sand – there’s also a dock for those who want to keep their hair dry.

Many boat trips pass the famous Tripitos sea arch that you can walk right across. It’s not strictly signposted, but arrows are pointing you in the right direction and you need to traverse a steep cliff path. When you reach the arch, it looks more perilous than it actually is and you won’t feel too wobbly taking pictures from the top. The vantage point also gives you amazing views over Paxos’ smaller sister, Antipaxos.