Paxos is a tiny island in Greece. It belongs to the Ionian Islands and has only around 2500 permanent residents. The island gain popularity recently due the great TV-series “Maestro in Blue” which is available on Netflix.
The easiest way to get here is by flying to Corfu and then take a ferry. We opted for the high-speed dolphin that takes around 1 hour and cost €35. It worked great on the way there, but not so great on the way back. I’ll tell you that story at the end of this blogpost.
In this blogpost I will show you the two main town, Gaios and Lakka. We will visit a great beach and try paddle boarding and later take a look at the spectacular Erimitis Beach on the west side of the island.
Paxos has hot and dry summers with average highs of 35 degrees. The rest of the year is milder and it can be quite rainy between October until the beginning of March.
After arriving to Paxos main port, we had pre-arranged a rental scooter through a company called rentacarpaxos.com
It’s high season in July so the prices are a bit higher. We paid €35 per day for a 50cc scooter. If you are two people on a scooter, opt for the 125cc, because the 50cc is very weak.
1. Monodentri Beach
Monodentri Beach is a tranquil beach with larger white rounded stones and crystal clear water. It’s a serviced beach with two different beach bars. I would highly recommend the one called Ben’s Bar. The service is friendly and you pay 10 EUR per sunbed which includes free access to their paddleboards. The other bar is called Manadendri Beach Bar-Restaurant and does not have good reviews.
2. Lakka Town
We continue our journey to the very north of the island, to the cosy town Lakka.
Lakka is a charming coastal village. Renowned for its stunning natural harbor, it offers a picturesque setting with crystal-clear turquoise waters, lush green hills, and a serene atmosphere.
We sat down for a frappe and some orange cake at a nereby café. Lakka is one of the locations where Maestro in Blue was shoot. This is the music school that features in the series.
3. Erimitis Beach
For many visitors to Paxos, visiting Erimitis Beach is one of the highlights of their stay. It is the true sunset beach on Paxos. Erimitis Beach is a wild beach, often windy, and with a sea bed that deepens quickly. Swimming is at your own risk and definitely not recommended for children.
4. Gaios Town
Gaios the main town on the island and where you will likely arrive if you take a ferry to the island of Paxos. Nestled around a natural harbor, Gaios Town charms visitors with its colorful Venetian-style buildings, narrow alleys, and bustling waterfront. The town offers a delightful blend of traditional Greek culture and modern amenities, with quaint shops, cafes, and restaurants lining the promenade. Notable landmarks include the tiny Panagia island, which sits in the harbor, and the 15th-century church of Agioi Apostoloi.
Gaios is beautiful but feels quite touristic during summer time, so I would really recommend that you rent a scooter to fully explore the island.
So what happened to our return journey with the Highspeed Dolphin ?
Well, we were supposed to depart at 6pm and the dolphin arrived on time and we all boarded. When setting off towards Corfu, one of the engines failed. No information was given at this time, but it was obvious something was wrong.
We managed to slowly get back to Paxos Port and were told to disembark. No other information was given. After more than an hour without any information the crowed got quite annoyed an demanded some answers.
At 7.30pm we where told that another ferry would come in an hour to pick us up and take us to a town in the south of Corfu Island called Lefkimmi. There a bus would be waiting to take us back to Corfu.
At 8.30pm the ferry did arrive and we where off for a sunset cruise towards Lefkimmi.
At 9.20pm we arrived to Lefkimmi and after a bus ride of 1 hour we finally arrived to Corfu Town at 10.30pm. 3 and a half hour after we were supposed to arrive.
Speaking to locals in Corfu, these High-speed dolphins are very old and this is not the first time they run into engine problems.
Actually, last year when we went to Aegina, the same thing happened to one of the engines. So in the future I will not take a Highspeed dolphin except if there is no other option…
Paxos is a great little island to explore. You should definitely visit. You can combine it with a visit to Anti-paxos which is the neighbouring island.
Make sure to visit our YouTube video that we made when visiting Paxos in the middle of the summer.
