These islands are the ‘Crown Jewels’ of the Ionian Sea…also the smallest. Paxos had been on my short-list for years, but I never managed to get there as it’s not the easiest island to get to from Athens. But earlier this year, a few days before a long holiday weekend, I decided it’s time. The island is increasing in popularity every year and being quite small, I didn’t want to wait until high season and be disappointed. So, we decided to go by car from Athens to Igoumenitsa, which is a port on the west coast of Greece. It’s a 5 hour drive from Athens, but from there the ferry is only 1 1/2 hours to Paxos. From there, local boats take you on day trips to Antipaxos and around the islands.

Paxos is a wonderful and stunningly beautiful place. Walking the short distance into town from the port along the water gives you an immediate sense of the place. There’s a tranquil peaceful atmosphere here that stays with you.

We stayed in an AirBnb in Gaios town which was great. We rented a car one day to explore the rest of the island – particularly the villages of Longos and Lakka which are both lovely. Another day we took a boat to Antipaxos and spent the day on the most beautiful white sand beach with crystal blue water. Just Magical.

Gaios town is wonderful too and great for walking around or having a seaside meal. There are some touristy restaurants here but I learned from a local that the best one is Dal Pescatore and we had a super meal there with modern twists on Greek seafood, along with excellent service.

Here are some photos and recommendations on what else to see and do & where to eat and drink!

A little Greek mythology … it is believed that Poseidon created Paxos by striking Corfu Island with his trident, in order to get some peace and quiet with his wife Amphitrite.