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  • Paxos Greece Coronavirus Update – June 2020

    Paxos Greece Coronavirus Update – June 2020

    Is it safe to travel to Paxos Greece? Or more to the point, can you travel to Paxos at the moment?

    After 15th 2020 June things look like they might ease, but right now it is not looking great. If you can get to Corfu, and then on to Paxos, you will have to self-isolate on arrival for 14 days, and also self-isolate for 14 days on your return to the UK. Now I know that self-isolation on this wonderful Greek Island has a certain appeal to it, but we need to think about the realities and practicalities of the situation.

    And do you really want to get on a plane right now? I do not for sure.

    I think that the answer at the time of writing this is that now is not a good time to travel to Paxos.

    I will provide updates as and when things develop.

    That’s all for now from me – I will add three key sources of information to this post

    • The UK Government
    • Olympic Holidays
    • James Villas

    UK Government

    Source of the information – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

    Still current at: 10 June 2020

    Updated: 8 June 2020

    Latest update:

    “New information on rules for entering the UK from 8 June. (‘Return to the UK’ page)

    Coronavirus (COVID-19): stay up to date

    There are limited travel options available between the UK and Greece and no direct flights. See Return to the UK

    The Greek authorities have implemented a number of measures to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). If you cannot return to the UK, see information on how to stay safely as a visitor if you cannot return.

    Until 15 June, everyone arriving in Greece from abroad will be tested for coronavirus, and will be required to go into self-isolation. From 15 June, these requirements will change, but you may still be required to participate in testing and self-isolation/quarantine. See Entry requirements for more information.

    British nationals usually make over 3 million visits to Greece annually. Most visits are trouble-free, but you should take sensible precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. See Crime

    In early March large numbers of migrants and refugees gathered at multiple locations along the Greek-Turkish border. Protests, including some violent clashes, broke out, primarily on the Turkish side of the border. There is potential for further unrest on both sides of the border. Avoid crowds and demonstrations and follow instructions from the local authorities. If you are in affected areas, monitor the local media for information.

    There have been incidents of unrest and violence on the Eastern Aegean islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos in response to a recent increase in arrivals of migrants from Turkey. If you’re on the island, you should remain vigilant, avoid any demonstrations or related large gatherings, keep up to date with developments and follow the advice of the local authorities.

    The UK has left the European Union. The rules on travel to EU countries will stay the same until 31 December 2020 while the UK and EU negotiate additional arrangements. This page will be updated with country-specific information for travellers to Greece as things change. Sign up for email alerts and view the latest updates for UK nationals travelling to and living in Europe.

    If you’re living in or moving to Greece, visit our Living in Greece guide in addition to this travel advice.

    There are regular strikes, sometimes called at short notice that can cause disruption to public transport (including air travel and ports), as well as road networks and borders. You should avoid all demonstrations and follow the advice given by local security authorities. See Strikes and demonstrations

    Localised or severe weather extremes, including wildfires, can affect areas of Greece over the extended summer period. See Natural disasters

    Terrorist attacks in Greece can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism

    The Greek police won’t accept rowdy or indecent behaviour, especially where excessive drinking is involved. Greek courts impose heavy fines or prison sentences on people who behave indecently. Your travel insurance may not cover you after drinking. See Local laws and customs

    The emergency services number in Greece is 112. Calling 999 from a UK mobile in Greece will automatically transfer you to the Greek emergency services.

    If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.

    You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel. For information on the European Health Insurance Card, see Health

    The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.”

    Olympic Holidays

    Source of the info – https://www.olympicholidays.com/help/travel-updates/

    “Coronavirus (COVID 19) update – 03 June 2020

    As the news around coronavirus (COVID-19) continues, we can reassure you that we are working closely with our travel partners to fully understand any potential impact on future travel arrangements.

    The UK Foreign Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel. We will therefore no longer be offering any holidays up to and including the 30 June 2020.

    If you are travelling after 30 June 2020, we kindly ask you to refrain from contacting the team at this time as we are dealing with the most urgent departures.

    We continue to update this page on a regular basis and understand the frustration and concern caused by this unprecedented situation. However, we ask for your patience and understanding at this challenging time.

    At Olympic Holidays, we are putting our customers first, they are central to our business. To alleviate the uncertainty of travelling restrictions due to COVID-19, we have made some changes as below:

    1. If you are travelling up to and including 30 June 2020 your holiday is cancelled:

    We will contact you if you are due to travel up to and including 30 June 2020 advising you of your options. We’re proactively contacting all affected customers in departure date order – please be patient with us as we do this.

    • Olympic Holidays will send you a Refund Credit Note which is fully protected under ATOL and ABTA bonding, guaranteeing that your money is 100% safe. The Refund Credit Note can be used against any holiday, travelling before the 31 October 2022* and booked by 31 March 2021. If the holiday you want is not immediately available, please note that more flights, hotel and destinations are being added on a regular basis. If you haven’t chosen your next Olympic Holiday by the 31 March 2021, your money remains safe, you still have the option to receive a cash refund.
    • If you’re unable to accept a Refund Credit Note you can apply for a refund; Please wait for your Refund Credit Note and follow instructions how to apply. Due to the volume of holidays impacted, we’re asking you to bear with us as this can take up to 16 weeks from your departure date. Please do not contact us for a refund until you have received your refund credit note with details on how to claim your refund.

    *2022 departures will be on sale by January 2021.

    2. If you are travelling after 30 June 2020:

    • Olympic Holidays is in constant communication with all the airlines. We are following their guidelines, and many are being flexible if customers want to change date, provided they are on sale for the new required date. If you wish to amend your holiday, there will be no Olympic Holidays administration charge. However, we will need to pass any cost incurred and you will be asked to pay any differences in price over the original price paid.
    • If you wish to cancel your holiday, our standard T&C’s apply.
    • If the advice around travel has subsequently changed then option 1 will apply.

    3. Should I pay my balance

    If you are worried about paying your remaining balance, Olympic Holidays will give you the option to pay £299pp as part of your balance due now, and the remaining balance 4 weeks before departure. If you subsequently cancel up to and including 4 weeks before departure your cancellation will be the amount you have already paid. Cancellation within 4 weeks of departure will be the full holiday amount (100%).

    ** To pay the £299pp, please go to manage my booking payment section, select ‘Other Amount’ and enter the value you wish to pay. If you are a travel agent, and collected this amount, please email accounts@olympicholidays.com to advise you have opted for this option.

    Brexit advice for travellers -Updated 04th Feb 2020

    Travel after 31 January 2020

    Following ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK departed the EU on 31 January 2020. We are now in a transition period (also known as the ‘implementation period’) lasting until at least 31 December 2020. During this time, everything will remain the same and you can continue to travel without any changes.

    Common questions about travel after 31 January 2020

    Will flights still operate?

    Yes. Everything will stay the same until the end of December 2020 and flights will continue as normal. 

    Will I need a visa to travel to the EU after Brexit?

    No. UK travellers won’t need a visa to travel to the EU after Brexit. 

    Should I take out travel insurance to cover Brexit?

    The best way to protect your holiday is to book a package – it is then the travel provider’s responsibility to make sure your holiday is provided and to offer an alternative or refund if it cannot be delivered.  

    It is important that whenever and wherever you travel that you have adequate travel insurance which covers your specific needs, including any known medical conditions or activities you plan to do. 

    Passports

    Valid passports can still be used. You do not need to have six months left on your passport to travel to the EU. Your passport does however need to be valid for the whole of your trip. 

    European Health Insurance Card and travel insurance

    The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows any EU citizen to access state medical care when they are travelling in another EU country. UK registered EHICs will still be valid throughout 2020.

    Olympic Holidays and ABTA have always advised holidaymakers and business travellers to make sure they have appropriate travel insurance, whether they have an EHIC card or not, as there are limitations to EHIC.

    When travelling in the EU and beyond, it is important you take out travel insurance and check that it covers your current circumstances, including any medical conditions. If you have an annual policy, make sure you check the Terms and Conditions and contact your insurance provider if you’re not sure.

    Driving licences

    As long as you have a full UK driving licence, you don’t currently need an additional licence to drive in the EU. This will not change following 31 January 2020. An International Driving Permit will not be required, and you do not need a GB sticker or a Green Card for car insurance. 

    Taking pets abroad

    There will be no change in relation to taking pets abroad after 31 January 2020. 

    Data roaming

    Under EU rules, the cost of making calls, sending messages or using the internet on your phone in the EU is the same in the UK and this will continue after 31 January 2020. 

    Greece Overnight Tax

    From the 1st January 2018 an Overnight Stay Tax was introduced by the Government of Greece. This is payable locally by the individual tourist on checking in to accommodation in Greece and varies according to the official rating of the accommodation as follows:

    1-2 star: €0.50 per room per night

    3 star: €1.50 per room per night

    4 star: €3.00 per room per night

    5 star €4.00 per room per night

    Payment can be made by cash or card.

    All of our accommodation descriptions contain both our ‘flame’ rating and the official rating of hotels and apartments. The amount you’ll pay is based on the official rating of the accommodation you have booked. The Olympic ‘flame’ ratings given to our accommodation may differ from the official star rating of the accommodation, please refer to our brochure or website descriptions if you are unsure.

    Balearics sustainable Tourism Tax 

    A Sustainable Tourism Tax was introduced by the Balearic Islands Government aimed at all overnight stays in Tourist Accommodation on Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza from the 1st July 2016. This will be collected on check-in at the accommodation.

    The official website of the Government of the Balearic Islands setting out the tax rates can be found here. The rates quoted are for 2018, but we understand that the rates for 2019 are the same. 

    Please note that the rates quoted are per person per day and that 10% VAT will be added to the stated rates. Children under the age of 16 are exempt from the tax and from the 9th day of your stay the tax reduces by 50%.

    All of our accommodation descriptions contain both our ‘flame’ rating and the official rating of hotels and apartments. The amount you’ll pay is based on the official rating of the accommodation you have booked. The Olympic ‘flame’ ratings given to our accommodation may differ from the official star rating of the accommodation, please refer to our website descriptions if you are unsure.”

    James Villas

    Issued: 27 May 2020 – 10:00hrs – https://www.jamesvillas.co.uk/help-and-advice/coronavirus-advice

    “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance

    Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) now advise against all but essential travel. Please see below on how we will be managing this:

    CUSTOMERS DUE TO TRAVEL UP TO 30 JUNE 2020

    We are making contact with customers who are due to depart within the NEXT 7 DAYS where we will advise their options, including moving holidays to a later date. We will be doing this on a rolling basis, prioritising those due to travel first.

    If your holiday arrangements cannot go ahead due to the FCO advice regarding COVID-19, you will be able to amend without any amendment fees. Customers can rebook to travel any time up to the end of 2021.

    If you are unsure about when you would like to travel, we will provide you with a refund credit note to the full value of your original booking, plus a gift voucher as a gesture of goodwill, which you will also be able to use on a future booking. For customers who have booked a package holiday, the refund credit note is fully protected by ABTA and ATOL meaning there is no risk that you will lose the money you have paid towards your cancelled holiday and indeed any new holiday booked using it will continue to be financially protected. If neither of these options work for you, then we can discuss your options when we get in touch.

    CUSTOMERS DUE TO TRAVEL FROM 01 JULY 2020

    We understand you will be concerned about your future arrangements. As we are sure you will appreciate, we are experiencing an extremely high volume of enquiries and our priority must be to manage bookings that are due to depart within the next 7 days. We are working closely with the guidelines offered by the FCO and our industry regulatory body, ABTA, to ensure we follow the latest advice. For clarity, we can direct you to https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak

    We are therefore asking you to please be patient at this incredibly challenging time and hold off from contacting us for now. We can assure you that we are doing all we can, with limited staff, all of whom are now working from home. It will take time for us to manage this.

    You can be assured that if your holiday is impacted, we will contact you in turn to discuss your options.

    CONTACTING US

    As mentioned, we are experiencing an extremely high volume of enquiries. We are taking measures to support our staff as they work tirelessly to make contact with our customers during this extraordinary time, including safe-guarding their heath by following our Government’s advice on social interaction and containment. This means we will be reducing our opening hours to 10:00am to 1:00pm for the foreseeable future. This will allow our teams time to pro-actively contact those customers who are due to travel within the next 7 days. We appreciate this may not be convenient but we are sure you will understand why. Rest assured, we will be making contact with all customers impacted by the FCO travel restrictions.

    If you would like further information, you can refer to https:// www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for information on your destination or by visit the consumer advice issued by ABTA – https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak

    We thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.

    Q: What happens if my travel plans are affected?

    A: If the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against travel to a destination and your holiday arrangements have been affected, we will get in touch and advise you of the options open to you. Travellers are advised to read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice for the country they are travelling to, which includes a link through to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website that provides specific travel health advice for countries.

    Q: What are the options if we’re advised we can’t travel

    A: If you’ve booked a package holiday with us, then you are protected under the Package Travel Regulations. If you have made your own arrangements, such as flights, car hire or airport parking, with a company other than James Villas, then you will need to speak to the service provider / airline you made the booking with. They will have their own policy in regard to how they manage these claims.

    Q: I’ve booked Villa Only with James Villa Holidays. Am I protected?

    A: Customers who have booked accommodation only with us are not protected by the Package Travel Regulations. If the travel advice changes for the destination you are travelling to and your planned arrangements can no longer go ahead, we will look at the options available to you. Where the FCO have not imposed restrictions on travel but local authorities have advised of local screening measures, you should contact your Travel Insurance provider to discuss your options.

    Q: My balance is due for my summer holiday. Do I have to pay this?

    A: Here at James Villa Holidays we understand this is a worrying time for everyone, with the uncertainty around what may happen with your travel plans. The FCO advice currently in place is for imminent travel and can change at any time. Whilst there is no legal definition of “imminent travel” it is generally considered to be within the next few days. If you have received your balance due request, this is because your holiday is expected to go ahead as scheduled, so you will still need to pay your balance. We appreciate that you may still be worried about paying this now, so we are currently offering customers extensions on their balance due date to nearer the day of departure.

    You should be reassured that if the FCO advice means you are no longer able to travel, then you have the protections in place as detailed above, including the options to move your holiday to a later date.

    Q: What if I decide I don’t want to travel?

    A: Our advice to customers with future bookings is to be patient. Whilst you can of course cancel your holiday, please be aware that if you are due to travel from 01 JULY 2020, you will need to wait as we have to prioritise those customers who are due to travel within the next 7 days. There may be a considerable delay in us getting back to you. You should also be aware that if some of your booked elements are still ‘live’, such as flights, then normal cancellation charges may apply.

    Q: If I am unable to travel, am I entitled to compensation?

    A: You won’t be entitled to any compensation, as the reason for the holiday not continuing is outside the control of James Villa Holidays.

    Q: I want to rebook my holiday. Will I be financially protected for the new booking?

    A: When you book with James Villa Holidays, rest assured that your holiday will be fully protected through our ATOL and ABTA bonding. Our ATOL protects all customers booking a holiday with flights (package), whilst our ABTA bonding protects customers booking a holiday without flights. You can find out more here: https://www.jamesvillas.co.uk/about-james-villas/atol-abta-protection”

    Paxos Greece Coronavirus Update – June 2020

    Stay safe

    Rick

    Rick McEvoy – Paxos Travel Guide

  • My 11 Best Places To Eat And Drink In Paxos

    My 11 Best Places To Eat And Drink In Paxos

    There are lots of places to eat and drink, even on a small island like Paxos.

    What are my 11 best places to eat and drink in Paxos? They are Romantica Café Bar, Averto Day and Night Yard, Mongonissi Beach Bar, Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House, on the rocks (anywhere!), Captain Spiros Taverna, Pounentes, Roxi Bar, La Rosa Di Paxos, Stasinos Garden Restaurant and Sette Venti. In this post I will tell you why these are favourite places to eat and drink in Paxos, where they are and a bit about them.

    I will also mark each of the places on a map so you can find them nice and easy!

    This is not a food critique, this is me telling you about the places that I have been to that I like the most. I will include photos of places where I have them.

    This is also not me doing an internet search and telling you which are the best 11 please to eat and drink on Paxos based on other peoples’ reviews – this is all my own work based on my own experiences!

    And these are all places that I look forward to going back to next time we are back on this wonderful Greek Island.

    Where we stopped in Paxos

    We stayed at Hotel Bastas in Lakka. We ate dinner every evening in Lakka, which is why the dinner locations are all in Lakka. We did venture out of Lakka during the day though, exploring most of the island, so there are places from all over Paxos in this post.

    But for the evening we always returned to base to enjoy the lovely chilled vibe that Lakka provides.

    Ok – lets start off with our evening ritual!

    1 – Sundowners at Romantica Café Bar on the waterfront in Lakka

    Probably our favourite place on the island for pre-dinner sundowners. I am not a cocktail person it has to be said, but I quickly got into Mojitos before trying a drink I have not had before, a Bloody Mary. That was good and came with an extended slice of cucumber – see drinking can be good for you!!

    Here are our cocktails with a side serving of healthiness!

    Cocktails at RomanticaCafe Bar in Lakka
    Cocktails at Romantica Cafe Bar in Lakka

    This is where you can find Café Bar Romantica in Lakka.

    Where is Romantica Cafe Bar in Lakka?
    Where is Romantica Cafe Bar in Lakka?

    You can sit on the front at watch the world go by, but even better if you time it right there are two tables on the balcony above which give you an excellent view of the harbour and all those lovely white boats.

    The sun sets over the hills to the left and there are some lovely skies to be seen.

    As a photographer I will tell you right now that Lakka is not the best sunset location, but it is hard to beat as a place for a lovely relaxed drink evening drink with Mrs M. Not that you will be having a drink with my Mrs M that is!

    Oh yes I nearly forgot – what is across the footpath from those tables on the front? Only the boat that we hired to go to Antipaxos! You can read more about that in the post titled Paxos Boat Hire – Do Your Own Trip From Paxos To Antipaxos https://paxostravelguide.com/paxos-boat-hire/where we took Lady Diana 765 on a most excellent day out.

    Here is the boat

    Our boat that we went to Antipaxos on
    Our boat that we went to Antipaxos on

    And if you look carefully from the balcony you can actually see mainland Corfu!

    Here is the view from the balcony

    Panoramic view from Romantica Bar in Lakka
    Panoramic view from Romantica Bar in Lakka

    2 – Breakfast at Averto Day and Night Yard

    Averto Day and Night Yard
    Averto Day and Night Yard
    Averto Day and Night Yard

    Averto Day and Night Yard is located on the road from Lakka to Gaios in the very small village of Magazia.

    Here it is on the map.

    Where is the Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos?
    Where is the Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos?

    In a straight line it is 3km from Lakka and Gaios. It is up on the top of the island, so car/ taxi/ lift/ large goat/ donkey is recommended to help you get there and back.

    We visited Averto on the day we had the hire car. You can read all about my hire car experiences on the post Paxos Car Hire – What I Did In 48 hours – days 12 and 13.

    Averto has splendid views of the island from the terrace, and really comfy chairs which you can relax in and take in those lovely views.

    Nickie did just that whilst I disappeared off taking photos.

    These are the chairs

    Seats with a view at Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos
    Seats with a view at Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos

    And this is the view

    The view from Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos
    The view from Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos

    For breakfast we both have two poached eggs on toast – very, very nice it was too. I had a coffee and Nickie had a freshly squeezed orange juice. We were also given an unusual bottle of rather earthy (sustainable) water, which I quaffed. Even at breakfast time it is rather warm on Paxos!

    Here is my breakfast.

    Breakfast at the Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos
    Breakfast at the Averto Day and Night Yard on Paxos

    It was all lovely, very nice food, good service and a lovely laid back feel to the place. I cannot remember how much the meal cost to be honest, but I remember being happy with the price. Happy with everything.

    3 – Brunch at the Mongonissi Beach Bar

    The Mongonissi Beach Bar is way down at the bottom of the island (max 30 minutes from Lakka at the top of the island!). We have already been here by boat. After sailing back from Antipaxos to Paxos you pass the opening to the bay in which you will find Mongonissi Beach. The first thing of interest is the island of Kaltsonisi, next up is the entrance to Mongonissi Beach.

    Here it is on a map.

    This is where the Mongonissi Beach Bar is on Paxos
    This is where the Mongonissi Beach Bar is on Paxos

    This time we arrive by car, and there are no t-shirt incidents. We have driven all the way down from the top of the island in Lakka. A long trip (8kms as the crow flies) taking much less than half an hour!

    Here is the beach taken using the Pano feature on the iPhone.

    This is what Mongonissi looks like on Paxos
    This is what Mongonissi looks like on Paxos

    We get these in time for breakfast/ lunch which is very nice. I have breakfast. Here it is. Well part way through!

    Breakfast at the Mongonissi Beach Bar on Paxos
    Breakfast at the Mongonissi Beach Bar on Paxos

    I decided to go for the full English breakfast, well why not? Nickie just had a fresh orange juice. €7.50 euros for a cooked breakfast with juice, coffee and bread is pretty awesome. And the food was all lovely too so all good.

    And my breakfast even came with the thickest sliced bread I have ever seen, which was a complete bonus.

    Mongonissi Beach Bar is a lovely place to visit, and Mongonissi Beach can easily be made into a day out, with an actual sandy (if small) beach which is unusual for Paxos!

    We have had breakfast and lunch at the beach bar, and both were very nice indeed.

    4 – Gyros In Gaios at Ο ΓΥΡΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΠΑΞΩΝ

    I think that this place is called o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House. Well that’s what the napkin says?

    o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House in Gaios Paxos
    o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House in Gaios Paxos

    I guess that is not important.

    What is important is that at this place right behind the Church Analipsi you get great chicken gyros for €3.50.

    Here it is on a map

    This is where the o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House is in Gaios Paxos
    This is where the o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House is in Gaios Paxos

    Here is the menu.

    The menu at o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House
    The menu at o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House

    And here is the chicken Gyros

    Chicken Gyros at o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House is in Gaios Paxos
    Chicken Gyros at o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House is in Gaios Paxos

    Sorry, this is the restaurant

    o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House is in Gaios Paxos
    o Gyros Ton Paxon Grill House is in Gaios Paxos

    This is a very popular place for people arriving on the day trip boats. When a boat arrives it gets a bit manic until everyone settles down so getting a table is sometimes interesting. To be fair the staff are used to this and find tables remarkably quickly.

    If you sit on a table at the front be prepared to have people stood right by your table wearing swimwear though!

    It is pretty hot here, so they rather cleverly have jets of cold mist that cool you down – a really nice touch.

    Service is pretty quick, and the chick gyros is just excellent. I am sure that they do other things there, but we have been quite a few times and always have the gyros – it is that good. Accompanied by a cold pint (half litre does not have the same ring to it) this is always a great place to grab a quick something to eat.

    These folks know that most visitors to Gaios are there for the day on a boat, so time is short, and they get and respect that.

    But don’t hurry too much – the food needs to be enjoyed.

    5 – Sunrise on the rocks – literally!!

    This is my thing that I love doing. When I go out to photograph the sunrise I love sitting on the rocks when I am all set up and ready to take photos.

    Here is one of my favourite places not far from Lakka.

    One of my favourite sunrise locations on Paxos
    One of my favourite sunrise locations on Paxos

    I always get myself ready well before the sunrise, and these days set up my iPhone on a tripod so I can record the happening of the sunrise.

    And this is another place that I liked in the early morning solitude.

    This is a lovely video of six minutes of peace and calm on Lakka Beach

    Seriously though getting up super early and catching sunrise with no-one else around is a fantastic thing to do. I normally take a coke and water with me – too early for a Mythos after all!

    There is something special about witnessing the start of a new day, especially if you get in the right place so you can actually watch the sun rising. I am fortunate as a photographer to have done this many times, and still absolutely love doing this.

    Here is a video of me describing the scene as I am about to photograph the sunrise!

    And for completeness here is a sunrise photo taken on the beach in Loggos.

    Sunrise picture of the boats in the harbour in Loggos on the lovely island of Paxos by Rick McEvoy photography
    Sunrise picture of the boats in the harbour in Loggos on the lovely island of Paxos by Rick McEvoy photography

    6 – Lunchtime libation at Captain Spiros Taverna on Antipaxos

    Chances are that if you are holidaying on Paxos that you will go to Antipaxos, normally on a day trip from Gaios. That or you drive your own boat there – we have done both. Well actually we have also done a day trip from Parga to Antipaxos and Paxos which you can read on my other website, Rick McEvoy Photography.

    You can read all about a day trip from Paxos to Antipaxos in my post Paxos Boat Hire – Do Your Own Trip From Paxos To Antipaxos, and you can find out more about Antipaxos in the post Antipaxos Greece – Everything You Need To Know.

    Anyway, when you get to Antipaxos you normally go to one of the two main beaches on the island, Vrika Beach, which is the first beach you come across when sailing down from Paxos, and then Voutoumi Beach.

    We like Captain Spiros Taverna, which is on the right hand edge of Vrika Beach when looking from the sea.

    Easy to get to – just walk to the right hand end of the beach, up some steps and you are there.

    This is my beer!

    Mythos at Captain Spiros Taverna on Antipaxos
    Mythos at Captain Spiros Taverna on Antipaxos

    And here is the meal. Excuse the bad crop but there was an old person (older than me even) in the background wearing a swimsuit which hardly added to the ambience of the scene ha!

    Lunch at Captain Spiros Taverna on Antipaxos
    Lunch at Captain Spiros Taverna on Antipaxos

    And here is the map showng where it is – nearly forgot!

    This is where Captain Spiros Taverna is on Antipaxos
    This is where Captain Spiros Taverna is on Antipaxos

    7 – Pasta at Pounentes in Lakka

    Pounentes ended up being my favourite restaurant in Lakka.

    Here it is

    Taverna Pounentes in Lakka Paxos
    Taverna Pounentes in Lakka Paxos

    We ate there quite a few times, and on the last evening we were welcomed like celebrities by the man running the show. Seriously he recognised us as we had been there a few times. We approached the restaurant and he saw us and rushed over and welcomed us with massive hugs!

    The people sat down eating all seemed to stop and watch, and I am sure they were asking each other who we were. People were looking at us throughout our meal – is this what it is like to be famous?

    Anyway back to the food.

    Here is the menu

    Menu at Taverna Pounentes in Lakka Paxos
    Menu at Taverna Pounentes in Lakka Paxos

    My favourite meal was the last one (not last on the menu!), and the one that was not my choice. I wanted spaghetti Bolognese, but the lovely head waiter convinced me to have pasta with a chilli sauce. Not really my thing but I went with and it was, I have to say, absolutely stellar!

    So good I did not take a photo of it!

    Every time we ate there we had an excellent time, so this place is highly recommended by me.

    8 – Drinks by the water at Roxi Bar in Loggos

    The Roxi Bar is in Loggos, a lovely small village between Lakka and Gaios.

    Roxi Bar Loggos Paxos
    Roxi Bar Loggos Paxos

    I didnt know it had a roof garden!

    The Roxi Bar is special because of its location, and the particularly nice chap who always provides a very warm welcome and very charming service. Read the reviews and everyone says the same – one of the genuinely nicest men you could ever wish to meet.

    Here is the bar viewed from the boat as you pull into Loggos bay.

    View of Loggos on the Greek Island of Paxos from a boat
    View of Loggos on the Greek Island of Paxos from a boat

    Best seats are round the back, where you get tables right by the water.

    Roxi Bar seats on the water
    Roxi Bar seats on the water

    I often find myself down there after a sunrise shoot waiting for the bar to open. Having been there a few times I have managed to get a coffee well before they opened and sat there all by myself staring at the sea.

    And this is what it looks like inside.

    The inside of the Roxi Bar in Loggos
    The inside of the Roxi Bar in Loggos

    What can you get at the Roxi Bar? The usual selection of drinks and as for food – well they don’t mind if you bring food from the bakery next door which is very nice indeed.

    Sorry – here it is on a map

    Location of Roxi Bar in Loggos
    Location of Roxi Bar in Loggos

    9 – Dinner by the water at La Rosa Di Paxos in Lakka

    It was our second to last night, so we ate at La Rosa di Paxos. This lovely restaurant is located right on the waterfront of Lakka. Get there early to reserve a table right next to the water, which is always special.

    This is where it is

    Location of La Rosa di Paxos in Lakka
    Location of La Rosa di Paxos in Lakka

    This is the menu cover – how lovely is this?

    La Rosa di Paxos Menu
    La Rosa di Paxos Menu

    And this is my lobster and pasta dish, which was rather excellent I have to say.

    Lobster at La Rosa di Paxos
    Lobster at La Rosa di Paxos

    Yes the perfect second to last evening, with pre-dinner cocktails, a table by the water, great service, lovely food, great wine.

    The only regret was not eating at La Rosa di Paxos more often.

    10 – Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka

    Another restaurant in Lakka, Stasinos is located a few streets back from the waterfront. The restaurant has a lovely courtyard where you can sit and relax.

    This is where it is in Lakka.

    Location of the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka
    Location of the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka

    We have eaten here a few times, and always had excellent food and excellent service.

    Here is the menu cover.

    Menu at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka
    Menu at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka

    We are seated at a nice quiet table by a very friendly and enthusiastic waiter. We order a carafe of red wine (which I have to say has been excellent everywhere apart one place where we managed to swap it for a bottle).

    We have eaten here before on this holiday, and also last year, and it has always been very good.

    We went for a Meze starter as we haven’t had one for a while. This is the pre Meze olives.

    Pre meze olives at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka
    Pre meze olives at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka

    Nickie went for Moussaka again – this is it.

    Moussaka at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka
    Moussaka at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka

    I went for the P beef dish similar to but not Stifado. I still cannot remember the name. Like I say it is definitely not beef stifado!

    Not beef stifado at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka
    Not beef stifado at the Stasinos Garden Restaurant in Lakka

    Honest it is not Stifado. We also had a lesson from our waiter in how to pronounce not only my main course but also stifado – turns out we have been saying it wrong up till now.

    I can’t remember the name of the meal that I had – lets stick with the P beef dish.

    As on previous visits everything I am delighted to report was perfect. The food was lovely, the service was better than most other places, with such a charming and informative waiter. The timing of delivery of meals was spot on, and the atmosphere was lively but not too loud – all good.

    11 – Sette Venti at Corfu Port

    I know, this is not on Paxos, but for most people travelling to Paxos this is a place where you will spend some time waiting for a ferry or a flight. Yes I said waiting for a flight. It is much nicer waiting here at the port than at the airport.

    This is what it looks like from the outside

    Sette Venti at the new port in Corfu
    Sette Venti at the new port in Corfu

    Here it is in relation to Paxos.

    This is where Sette Venti is in relation to Paxos.
    This is where Sette Venti is in relation to Paxos.

    And here it is in relation to the airport and the centre of Corfu Town.

    The location of Sette Venti on Corfu
    The location of Sette Venti on Corfu

    And this place is not on Paxos anyway!

    So what is the food like?

    It is very good. We have had breakfast and lunch here a few times now and always had a thoroughly nice meal

    And this is the chicken gyros meal which was excellent.

    Chicken Gyros at Sette Venti on Corfu
    Chicken Gyros at Sette Venti on Corfu

    And the prices, which could let’s be honest be much worse in such a location are actually fine.

    Once you have got your luggage get in a taxi and get over to Sette Venti.

    You can sit there and watch the boats come in and out of the port and look at those enormous cruise liners parked up for day trippers to Corfu Town.

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this post helpful, informative and even a little bit entertaining! To find out more about my favourite, wonderful Greek island all you need to do is click here and I will take you straight back to the start of my Paxos blog. Nice and easy!

    Oh yes, I hope that you enjoy the next post.

    Me in Gaios on the Greek Island of Paxos

    Rick McEvoy Paxos Travel Guide

  • My Favourite Paxos Activities – 21 things to do on Paxos

    My Favourite Paxos Activities – 21 things to do on Paxos

    I love to get the most out of going on holiday. So apart from sunbathing what can you do on Paxos?

    If you are looking for something to do on Paxos then these are my favourite Paxos activities – yes 21 things to do on Paxos. And some of them are sunbathing and relaxing! Enjoy this light-hearted post giving you 21 things to do on Paxos, which is more than one thing a day on a two week holiday but don’t worry, like I say it is not all action packed stuff!!

    1 Sunbathe

    Obvious I know but Paxos is a great place to sunbathe. In the summer that is. But make sure you wear sunscreen. I now wear sunscreen every morning before I leave the room! Apart from when I forget, like for the entire day on the boat from Lakka. I know – I should know better.

    My favourite time of the day to sunbathe is late afternoon/ early evening, the time when a couple of cool beers are in order and a final relax before showering and dinner.

    2 Swimming – water everywhere!

    I use the hotel pool to cool down, and the sea to swim and snorkel. The sea in the summer months is lovely and warm, and also very clean and clear.

    And being such a small island you are never far from the coast.

    I have a few favourite snorkel locations, including a place I know off Manadentri Beach. Head down through the restaurant to the beach and turn right. Walk to the end of the land and you will find some rocks that you can dive on off which I love to do.

    The other excellent place is Antipaxos in that aquamarine blue sea water. I went for a solo snorkel off the Captain Hook 2 boat (on the day trip from Parga to Antipaxos) and found myself in splendid isolation – just me and a load of fish.

    3 Explore the island

    I spend a few days doing nothing and then get off my lazy backside and get out and about. I cannot travel all that way to somewhere and not explore it properly.

    Paxos might be a small and quiet island, but to really discover it get onto the side roads and see where they take you.

    I found amazing churches, olive groves and views of both sides of the island at the same time doing just that. All things that you will not find in a guidebook of the island.

    4 Get the bus from Lakka to Gaios

    The bus goes from Lakka to Loggos and the on to Gaios. It is a great experience, especially as you are much higher up than in a car or taxi so you can see so much more.

    And going through Loggos is a real experience!! There are tables on the side of the road that the bus has to squeeze post – this truly is a most excellent site both on the bus and having just got off it.

    And the faces of the people sat at the tables is an absolute picture!

    I have written a post about the bus service sand timetable called Paxos Bus Timetable 2019 – What Is The Bus Service Like? which tells you all about this.

    5 Hire a boat

    Hire a boat for circa 50/ 60 Euros (plus fuel cost payable on your return) and you can please yourself for a day. We did that and went from Lakka out of the harbour and turned left down to the Blue Caves, the spectacular rock stack then down towards the bottom of the island.

    Having stopped en-route to marvel at the Tripitos Arch it was a quick sail over to Antipaxos for a quick beer at Captain Spiros Taverna before returning to Paxos and lunch at the Mongonissi Beach Bar. Next stop was Gaios before visiting Loggos then returning to Lakka for a prolonged pootle around the harbour taking photos and videos.

    A long and thoroughly excellent day it was too!

    6 Hire a car

    I had a Peugeot 108 for two days, meaning 2 sunrise shoots in the car, which were in Loggos and on the hills overlooking Gaios and the sun rising over mainland Greece.

    Apart from that I got right into the middle of the island and found lots of excellent stuff.

    Car hire is not too expensive, and there are plenty of places to get cars from on the island.

    Check out the post Paxos Car Rental – Everything You Need To Know

    And best of all you can get from Lakka at the top of the island to Mongonissi at the bottom of the island in about 20—30 minutes!

    7 Hit the open spaces on foot

    This is my favourite thing to do. I basically just get my walking boots on and get out and about and find stuff. This is normally how I find sunrise locations that I have not seen photos of before. This is how I find my photo locations.

    I do not use Google Maps or any other clever stuff like that – I just get out on my own two feet and explore.

    When I have a car I will drive to the end of the road and get out and keep going on foot.

    8 Rent a bike

    You can rent pushbikes on Paxos. This is not really my thing to be honest – I am not a big cycling fan.

    I prefer to get out and about on foot.

    However due to Paxos being so small cycling is a great way to explore the island, and the more I write about it the more I want to do this next time I am on Paxos!

    So there is job number one for my next return to Paxos sorted.

    9 Day trip to Antipaxos

    We have done this from Corfu, from Parga on the mainland and also from Lakka on a rented boat.

    And we have always had a great time. I think that one thing I want to spend more time doing next time we go to Paxos is to spend much more time on Antipaxos. I want to explore the bottom of the island, getting beyond Vrika and Voutoumi beaches which are the only places most people ever get to.

    I want to see and photograph all the beaches and check out the water on the lesser-known beaches to see if it is as bright and blue and vivid as it is on Vrika and Voutoumi.

    And I also want to see if we can spend a night there – there are places to stay on Antipaxos.

    Another thing for our next visit to Paxos!

    10 Spend a day in Gaios

    Gaios is the biggest town on Paxos, and has the most shops, bars, and restaurants, well everything really. Although it is the biggest town on the island it is small and easy to navigate, with a long stretch of shops, bars and restaurants along the waterfront.

    Great for a day, next time we go to Paxos I want to spend an evening there though, which rather ridiculously we have not done yet!

    11 Tripitos Arch

    Just check out the post I wrote about the Tripitos Arch – no need for me to repeat myself here.

    Tripitos Arch Paxos – My Number 1 Thing To Do On Paxos

    12 Blue Caves

    The Blue Caves are on the west coast of the island, and are spectacular caves that you can get a boat in. I parked the boat and swam into the caves – I was not too keen on damaging the boat and being stranded! The water is a magnificent blue colour, hence the name.

    Watch out for the day trippers though who descend on these natural wonders in their hundreds.

    13 Erimitis Beach

    One for next time. We drove down there in the hire car, couldn’t find anywhere to park so left. I could not get up the hill in the Peugeot 108 so that was not good. We had words. But we got out of there eventually with the clutch just about intact!

    Apparently it is nice, and somewhere for next time. Although this time I will park the car up the hill and walk down!

    14 Watch the sunrise

    Get over to the west coast to watch the sunrise. I have photographed the sunrise on Paxos from Gaios and Loggos, as well as from rocks around the corner from Lakka.

    Having photographed the sunrise I also got some great early morning shots from Lakka Beach looking back towards the sun over the hills of Lakka.

    Here is a sunrise photo taken from Loggos – how utterly lovely!

    15 Watch the sunset

    I have not photographed a sunset on Paxos, other than the one that you can see from the Romantica Bar in Lakka.

    This is the next thing that I want to do when I return to Paxos, get over to the other side of the island for sunset magic.

    This involves driving though at the time when I am normally enjoying a beer/ cocktail/ wine! Maybe the bike will come into its own here!

    16 Go diving!

    There are a couple of dive centres – one I walked past every evening on our way into Lakka for dinner. The dive centres are called

    Paxos Oasis Sub in Lakka.

    Water Planet in Gaios.

    17 Paddle boarding

    Yes this looks like a wonderful thing to do. You can rent paddleboards at Manadentri Beach. Just be careful about the passing boats and their wakes, which have caused me to rapidly topple over on attempts to paddleboard in other locations.

    There are plenty of other places to get paddleboards from which I will list in a separate post.

    19 Canoe

    A bit more stable than a paddleboard, and something that I am going to do on my return to Paxos.

    You can get canoes at the places above where you can rent paddleboards.

    Obviously with a canoe you are able to get further around the coast and explore the wonderful coastline and have a place to put a bag and a stable enough base to take photos and videos from.

    20 Relax

    Yep, just take it easy and get into the swing of things. Forget about work, have a digital detox and switch off.

    21 Seriously relax

    No I really mean it. Paxos is the most relaxing Greek Island that I have even been to. The first time we went after a couple of days we felt like we had left the evil real world ages ago, and on the two-week stay I almost got to the point where tying shoelaces sounded like an horrendous reality to be avoided at all costs!

    But there is so much to do!

    Blimey – so much to do when we return! I am going to have to spend much less time on my proverbial and more time out and about doing stuff! That could be the mornings, leaving the afternoons to do nothing.

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this post helpful, informative and even a little bit entertaining! To find out more about my favourite, wonderful Greek island all you need to do is click here and I will take you straight back to the start of my Paxos blog. Nice and easy!

    Oh yes, I hope that you enjoy the next postt.

    Me in Gaios on the Greek Island of Paxos

    Rick McEvoy Paxos Travel Guide

  • What Is A Day Trip From Parga To Paxos Really Like?

    What Is A Day Trip From Parga To Paxos Really Like?

    I have just returned from a two week holiday to Parga in Greece. I could see Paxos and Antipaxos from our hotel balcony in Parga! We had to return and a day trip was the answer.

    So what is a day trip from Parga to Paxos really like? The day trip from Parga to Antipaxos and Paxos was an excellent day out, giving anyone who has not been to these two Greek Islands a wonderful introduction to them. I will tell you all about the day, and give you some tips that will help enjoy your day even more. Please read on and enjoy my story of our day trip from Parga to Paxos and Antipaxos.

    OK – we know where Paxos is – where is Parga?

    Parga is on mainland Greece. It is 20 kilometres from Vrika Beach on Antipaxos, and about 20 kilometres from Gaios on Paxos.

    Here are the three places marked on a map.

    Where are Parga, Paxos and Antipaxos
    Where are Parga, Paxos and Antipaxos

    Who did we book the trip with?

    We booked the trip though TUI, who we booked our holiday to Parga with. We could have wither booked with the rep, but we went to the TUI office in the centre of Parga – here it is on a map.

    TUI office Parga location
    TUI office Parga location

    And while I am on the subject of where places are, I have also marked exactly where the boat goes from.

    Captain Hook 2 departure point Parga
    Captain Hook 2 departure point Parga

    Apparently the boat trip normally sells out, so don’t just turn up on the morning as you might be disappointed. Book early to avoid disappointment as the saying goes!

    What boat did we go on then?

    Captain Hook 2. This is a new boat. It has been designed to give more circulation space than you would expect on such a boat, and it was pretty good I have to say.

    How much did it cost?

    20 euros each, which is excellent value. I am sure you can book direct and get it cheaper, but to be honest I was more than happy with the price.

    Thinking about it this really is an excellent price considering where the boat takes you.

    What is the route the boat took?

    The boat leaves Parga at 10am, and heads straight for Voutoumi Beach on Antipaxos. After a swim stop next stop is the Blue Caves on Paxos for another swim stop before mooring at the port in Gaios for a couple of hours before returning back to Parga.

    This is the map on the leaflet from Captain Hook 2. And also a Pdf of the entire leaflet for you to have a browse of.

    Parga to Antipaxos and Paxos day trip map
    Parga to Antipaxos and Paxos day trip map
    Captain Hook leafletDownload

    How long is the day trip?

    The boat leaves from the jetty in Parga at 10am and returns at 6.30pm.

    What is there on the boat?

    Plenty of seats, toilets and a bar serving hot and cold drinks and snacks.

    And Mythos of course.

    3 Euros for a chilled can of Mythos when out on a boat in the hot sun for a day is just fine with me.

    Where are the best seats on the boat?

    Top tip here for the best seats! If you go to the front of the boat and up the stairs there are three pairs of deckchairs right at the front of the upper deck. These are the best seats on the boat in my opinion, as you have a great elevated view looking forward and no-one standing in front of you. And your own personal space.

    How do you get the best seats?

    Get there early. We got on the boat at 9.30am and had a decent choice of seats. Don’t turn up at 10am and hope to get good seats – the boat is normally full.

    Where did we sit?

    Well we were on the benching right behind the seats I mentioned. The chairs were taken. And then a couple left the middle seats and Nickie looked at me, and before I could answer her about moving to them they were gone.

    Getting good seats on this boat is a serious business! Snooze and you lose!

    What do you need to take with you?

    Now these things might sound obvious, but these are the things that you should take with you.

    • Breakfast
    • Towels to sit on
    • Sun cream
    • Swimming goggles/ mask
    • Cash
    • Water – replenish in Gaios
    • The enthusiasm to swim with a large number of strangers!

    OK – that is a bit of info about the trip and the boat – this is the story of the day

    Getting to the boat

    We walked down to Parga from our hotel, getting breakfast on the way from the Raptis Bakery in the centre of Parga, just down from the taxi rank.

    Breakfast to take onto the boat consisted of a plain croissant, a chocolate croissant and a fresh orange which was interesting as it was made using all the orange apart from the skin, giving it a creamy texture!

    I get a coffee to take onto the boat as well.

    And it is fine taking food on the boat so don’t worry about that.

    We walked down to the jetty, only a couple of minutes from the bakers. I showed you where the boat leaves on the map above.

    Getting on the boat

    At the jetty there is a queue to get on the boat (nothing like for the ferry to Corfu though!). We get onto the boat at 9.30 am and find some good seats upstairs as I mentioned before. We know that we have booked a trip on the larger boat, but have not really thought this through – a large boat = a large number of people on a boat!

    Once again being English we are in the significant minority, not hearing another single English voice on the boat all day which I still find strange.

    Time to go to Antipaxos

    The fully loaded boat leaves Parga bang on 10am. This is the view of Antipaxos to the left and Paxos to the right from the boat in a short video on my Paxos Travel Guide You Tube Channel.

    Our first stop is Voutoumi Beach on Antipaxos for a one hour swim stop. It took just over an hour and a quarter to get there.

    Voutoumi Beach on Antipaxos viewed from the Captain Hook 2
    Voutoumi Beach on Antipaxos viewed from the Captain Hook 2

    I was going to go for a swim, but the carnage of everyone trying to get off the boat at once put me off. The sea is full of bodies. I mean full of bodies.

    Check out this photo.

    Swimmers in the sea, Antipaxos Greece
    Swimmers in the sea, Antipaxos Greece

    I spot a clear patch of water and go for it, taking my iPhone in my waterproof case for a bit of underwater videography. I have never been brave enough to try this before – lets see what the results look like.

    Ok – this is a 360 video from the sea showing Antipaxos and the Captain Hook 2.

    And this is me!!!! Don’t be scared now!

    Me swimming near Antipaxos
    Me swimming near Antipaxos

    And this is a video showing the view from the rocks I swam to.

    After the one hour swim stop it is time to move on. I am already back on the boat before the ships horn calls in all the people still in the water.

    Judging the carnage of people jumping into the water all over the place the crew have no way of knowing if everyone is back on the boat so if you are not then that Is that!!

    There were quite a few other boats in the bay of the beach so it was quite busy but still as stunning as last time we visited.

    The Blue Caves

    Next stop is the Blue Caves on Paxos, located on the far (west) coast from Parga.

    This is what they look like.

    The Blue Caves of Paxos
    The Blue Caves of Paxos

    I have driven the boat here myself, so am suitably impressed when the captain skillfully nudges the boat right into the cave – check out all the people on the boat!

    Captain Hook 2 in the Blue Caves of Paxos
    Captain Hook 2 in the Blue Caves of Paxos

    Another swim stop which I quite frankly can’t be bothered with, we just sit there in the sunshine enjoying the dramatic coastline of Paxos.

    Swim stop at the Blue Caves Paxos
    Swim stop at the Blue Caves Paxos

    We sail back past the Tripitos Arch which no one else notices, and then head down and around the bottom of the island, past the entrance to Mongonissi and on towards Gaios.

    I have uploaded a video of the sail past the magnificent Tripitos Arch which you can on my Paxos Travel Guide You Tube Channel.

    This is what the Tripitos Arch looks like from the land.

    Tripitos Arch on the Greek Island of Paxos-HDR
    The Tripitos Arch is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Greek Island of Paxos

    And this is my post all about this wonderful natural structure – Tripitos Arch Paxos – My Number 1 Thing To Do On Paxos.

    Oh yes there was also the rather curious site of an Italian couple dancing on the top deck, treading on flip flopped toes all over the place.

    Arriving in Gaios

    Here is a video of us approaching and arriving in Gaios. We moor just after the port where the ferries pick up and drop off most visitors to the island on the ferries from Corfu, Igoumenitsa and other places. But mainly Corfu.

    Once off the boat, taking note of the return time of 5.15 (5 minutes before then to get back on the boat) we walk along the waterfront past all the lovely boats into the entire of Gaios.

    It is so good to be back!

    Lunch in Gaios

    We know where to go in Gaios to get one of our favourite Greek lunches. Here is the name of the restaurant, which you can find right behind the lovely Church Analipsi.

    Gyros in Gaios
    Gyros in Gaios

    I am not sure what its name is. But the chicken Gyros is great – I know that! And 3.50 euros is great value if the restaurant is a maniacal whirlwind of people going in an out.

    All washed down with a lovely cold beer, all good and now it is time to enjoy Gaios for a couple of hours.

    This is what it looks like!

    Gyros in Gaios
    Gyros in Gaios

    Shopping in Gaios

    First stop is our favourite jewellers – we dont know his name but he is located below Paxos Properties next to the gyros place. We bought some Babylonian jewellery there last year and needed some adjustments. One of my bracelets had broken so the very nice chap swapped it for a different one. Nickie bought a new anklet which was lovely.

    We left him to do his magic for 20 minutes and went of to the t-shirt shop where we bought three lovely t-shirts and a lovely aquamarine dress for Nickie that was the colour of the sea at Voutoumi Beach.

    Back to the jewellers to collect our stuff and then we split up for our individual wanders.

    Back at the bus stop

    I go back to the bus stop, taxi rank and supermarket where I shoot an on location video which you can watch on my YouTube Channel – it is called Paxos Bus Timetable 2019 And Taxi Information Filmed On Location In Gaios.

    I also shoot a video walking from the bus stop to the waterfront which I will link to from a post about Gaios.

    Final drinks on Paxos

    Nearly time to leave Paxos. Boo hiss.

    We have a drink at Manesko on the waterfront in the shade, I have a large Mythos and Nickie has a very nice Mojito. And then another Mojito. I stick to one beer or I will need the loo and we have to get going for our boat! Drinks cost 22 euros.

    Getting back to the boat

    We get back to the boat in good time, and return to our seats where we left our towels. It’s ok everyone did that.

    Well everyone apart those that didn’t. I witnessed a few arguments where the space that people had on the way out was much less on the way back.

    Returning to Parga

    We get back to Parga at 6.30, enjoying a couple of cans of Mythos on the way back.

    Here is the last video for this post, of us arriving back in Parga – Arriving in Parga Greece by boat – this is what it all looks like!!! And very lovely it is too!

    We battle through the crowds and get a taxi back to the hotel with essential shopping (water, wine, beer, crisps). We share the taxi with a very nice Norwegian couple who are staying at our hotel. Not that I recognised them.

    We get back to the room and – oh no.

    We have lost our shopping from Paxos!!

    Yes, we get back to the hotel and realise we have probably left our shopping on the boat. I put my walking shoes on and head straight back down to the town to see if I can get our clothing back.

    I made it to Delizi in 15 minutes which is not bad going for an old man!

    Nickie has in the meantime had the most innovative idea of phonning Delizi and asking if they could get our bag for us! We speak on the way down and I collect the bag from Delizi, reserving a table for the next evening.

    Then all I have to do is walk back to the hotel – 21 minutes to get back, well it is uphill all the way!

    And that is what a day trip from Parga to Paxos and Antipaxos is like.

    An all round splendid day which I can recommend to anyone and everyone.

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this helpful. If you would like to find out more about Paxos then please head over to my home page where I go through all the pages on this site with links so you can straight get to the stuff you want to.

  • Paxos Bus Timetable 2019 – What Is The Bus Service Like?

    Paxos Bus Timetable 2019 – What Is The Bus Service Like?

    Hi everybody. Having just returned to Gaios I am finally able to provide the Paxos Bus Timetable for 2019. In this post as well as telling you the bus times will also tell you everything I know about getting the bus in Paxos, and what it is really like!

    Firstly, here is a photo of the bus timetable from the bus stop in Gaios.

    Obviously this is a bit faded, but you get the idea!

    And here is a Pdf of the bus times that you can download and take with you.

    Paxos Bus Timetable 29082019Download

    Where does the bus go on Paxos?

    The bus route is quite simple.

    • Gaios – Loggos – Lakka
    • Lakka – Loggos – Lakka

    (be careful as the 2pm bus from Lakka goes straight to Gaios missing out Loggos).

    Why does the bus not go anywhere else on the island?

    Well Lakka, Loggos and Gaios are the three biggest places on Paxos.

    With Gaios being the biggest by some margin. Gaios is the capital of the island.

    And remember that the population of Paxos is only 2500!

    How big is Paxos?

    Well I wrote a post titled “How Big Is Paxos” which tells you this.

    Quite small is the answer!

    Where are the bus stops?

    Here is a map where I have marked the three locations.

    And here are the bus stop locations

    Bus stop in Lakka

    The bus stop in Lakka is located in the central village square by the ATM. I have put a red cross on the map of Lakka (courtesy of Google Maps) so you can see exactly where it is.

    Bus stop in Loggos

    The bus stop in Loggos is located by the main car park down at the waterfront. Here is a map with a red cross showing the location.

    Bus stop in Gaios

    The bus stop in Gaios is located next to the main supermarket in Gaios. Again I have marked this on a map. The bus stop is about a five-minute walk away from the wonderful waterfront and the centre of Gaios.

    I wrote a post titled “Paxos Travel Guide – Getting Around The Island“ which gives you more info.

    This is the bus stop in Gaios.

    Check out this a video of me in Gaios August 2019 where I show you what the bus stop and indeed the taxi rank are like!

    Excuse the quality but it was very hot that day!!

    What is the bus trip like?

    It is a really good thing to do. The service is very prompt, and the bus is very clean.

    A very nice lady takes your fare and gives you your tickets. Now we have been told that she gets a bit grumpy if you don’t have the correct change, but we have never seen this. She has always been perfectly friendly.

    Obviously the correct change is always helpful so please be considerate and try not to turn up for the bus with just a €50 note!

    And please take your rubbish with you!

    And don’t be surprised if there is a local sat in the front seat chatting to the driver and nice lady enjoying a cigarette!

    I always like to get a seat at the front if possible, so I can see the views ahead and to the sides. Obviously it being a bus you are higher up than in a car, and it is surprising how much more of the island you can see that you have never seen before.

    And the highlight of the bus trip for me is driving from the bus stop in Loggos along the waterfront, where the bus is nearly touching the tables of the restaurants it is that tight!

    I wish I had taken a video of this – something to do next time I go back.

    It seriously is an amazing experience, not so good if you are sat at one of the tables closest to the road mind!

    How much is the bus fare?

    €2.50 from Lakka to Gaios. And the same back!

    What is the bus like?

    Well there are two buses, the day bus is a large bus that I have never seen more than ¾ full, and there is smaller mini-bus for the later service – by that time on Paxos most people are probably where they are going to be for the day!!!

    Which we are which, is why we have never seen it! Paxos is that kind of island.

    No booking required but get to the bus stop early to get a good seat.

    Do the bus times connect with the ferry?

    Yes, the early morning bus gets you to Gaios in time for the ferry Illida 2.

    Please check the day before to make sure that this is happening. If it does not you will have a 10/ 15-minute walk from the bus stop by the supermarket to the new port. The walk is down a gentle hill along the waterfront so is not a problem.

    Is there a bus on Antipaxos?

    Erm no.

    OK – that is everything you need to know about the Paxos bus service.

    Check out the video that accompanies this post

    I have recorded a video titled “Paxos Bus Timetable 2019 And Taxi Information Filmed On Location In Gaios” which you can find on my Paxos Travel Guide You Tube channel which accompanies this post.

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this helpful. If you would like to find out more about Paxos then please head over to my home page where I go through all the pages on this site with links so you can straight get to the stuff you want to.

    Yamas from me in Gaios!

  • Check Out My Paxos YouTube Channel

    Check Out My Paxos YouTube Channel

    Videos are all the rage these days. And I am getting into this finally.

    So please check out my Paxos YouTube Channel, which I have imaginatively called Paxos Travel Guide. Well why not. On this YouTube channel you will be able to view all the videos I took on Paxos, as well as me talking about every post on my website.

    This channel is not about the quality of the videos, it is about me and the genuineness of the content.

    That is code for – never mind the quality but enjoy the content, message, sentiment and feeling.

    Content will be added on a regular basis until I run out!

    How do I get to this YouTube channel?

    Simple – just click on the name Paxos Travel Guide YouTube Channel and you should be straight there.

    Is the channel finished?

    I don’t know if this will ever be finished, as by the time I have uploaded everything that I have onto the channel I hope to be back in Paxos creating more content.

    I am already looking forward to visiting Paxos again this year.

    Why have I created a YouTube channel?

    Ask anyone who knows, and they will tell that video is the future. That was why I started looking into video creation, and in doing this I learned something very interesting.

    People like video content on the internet.

    Video content is a much more personable form of online communication. Watching someone in a video you learn so much more about them as a person.

    My website is all about me and my personal experiences on Paxos. So any way that I can help people relate to me and what I am saying is a bonus.

    What videos are going to be added to the channel?

    There are two parts to this. Well three actually but two main ones.

    • Videos taken on my iPhone (and one video taken with my Canon 6D).
    • Videos where I am talking into the camera. Now if you check these out you might discover that I am not a gifted presenter – media training and I have never met! But what you will get is actual me.

    Actual me – this is important to me

    My website is all about me and my personal experiences on the wonderful Greek Island of Paxos. So I want you good folk to know who I am, and video is the best way to do this. That or travel the world saying hi to everyone, which would be nice but is not quite practical!

    How are the videos created?

    As I said I am relatively new to video, having spent over 30 years taking still photos. All I have done is take videos on my iPhone, which is a pretty awesome device for quickly capturing video content.

    The ones where I am speaking to the camera are taken in my office with my iPhone sat on one of my tripods.

    What are the videos of?

    I have tried to create videos which give you a flavour of what a place is actually like. I also record the process of my camera taking photos, which I love doing I have to be honest with you.

    And there is the odd video of me on location talking into my iPhone – this is the thing that I am going to do much more of.

    These are mainly advising you to take a bottle of water with you if you are going to out exploring at 1pm in 35 degrees plus heat – something which I failed to do surprisingly often.

    There are also some videos of the sun rising – this is something that I am working on for other projects – I have just mastered the 30-minute sunrise video!!

    And then there are the videos which I recorded in my office where I am talking about a single subject. I am going to record many more of these – there will be videos where I talk about each post and page on my website.

    This is the first video that I recorded in my office

    The first video where I was talking to my phone in my office is this one, Welcome to my website Paxos Travel Guide.

    This gives you a flavour of the content and who I am!

    Do I have any other YouTube channels?

    Yes – I am so glad that you asked that.

    I have another channel called Rick McEvoy Photography – you can get to this channel at this link HERE. On this channel you will find lots more stuff, including me talking about my weekly photography blog post. There are also lots of other locational videos – the quality is getting better.

    Please check out this channel and subscribe if you find the content remotely helpful. This is all about photography, me, my photos and photography basics.

    And going forwards

    I will be creating other channels to accompany future projects, one of which I have started work on. For any news about what I am up to please check out my weekly photography blog.

    Summary

    OK – that is all for now – as YouTube is a visual media I thought I would keep the words to a minimum.

    Please check out my YouTube channel, and please subscribe if you like the content. And finally please check back to see what I have added to my channel.

    I know – I am so demanding!

    Thanks for reading this post about my brave new world of video content.

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this post helpful, informative and even a little bit entertaining! To find out more about my favourite, wonderful Greek island all you need to do is click here and I will take you straight back to the start of my Paxos blog. Nice and easy!

    Oh yes, I hope that you enjoy the next post.

    Rick McEvoy

  • Paxos Hotels – Where To Stay On This Wonderful Greek Island

    Paxos Hotels – Where To Stay On This Wonderful Greek Island

    So you want to go to Paxos? Great – where can you stay?

    In this post titled Paxos Hotels –where to stay on this wonderful Greek Island, I will tell you the six actual hotels on Paxos. I will give you basic information about the hotels, where they are, web addresses and up to date contact details for each hotel (which I have checked myself).

    There are only six hotels on the Greek Island of Paxos, but a quick internet search will suggest more than six hotels. In researching this post there seemed to be endless villas, apartments and aparthotels that came up when I put the search term “Paxos Hotels” into Google.

    If you are a hotel in Paxos and I have missed you off the list please let me know and I will add you to this post.

    Hopefully now when you put that term in this post appears and tells you about Paxos Hotels and nothing else!

    This is not of course a review of the hotels on Paxos – there are plenty of other websites for that good stuff.

    Here are the Paxos Hotels

    I thought starting with just the list of hotels was as good a place as any! This list of (just) hotels will help you narrow down your search if all you are after is a hotel.

    The six hotels on Paxos – in alphabetical order

    • Amfitriti Hotel – Lakka
    • Hotel Bastas – Lakka
    • Hotel Margina – Gaios
    • Torri e Merli – Lakka
    • Paxos Beach Hotel – between Gaios and Mongonissi
    • Paxos Club Resort – just outside Gaios

    And here they are on a map courtesy of good old Google.

    Yes – that is it – there are only 6 hotels in Paxos.

    And to be completely honest we have only stopped at Hotel Bastas.

    Please note that all the information on this page is accurate at the time of writing in July 2019.

    I will write a separate post about places to stay other than hotels, including houses, studios, apartments. aparthotels and villas on Paxos. And boats of course. And maybe even camping!

    The information in this post.

    I have used the information on the hotels websites to try to give you a balanced view of the hotels, some I have visited, some I have stayed in and for some I have done neither.

    I have contacted every hotel to make sure that the contact details are correct and up to date.

    OK – lets look at the hotels one by one, starting with the hotels in the capital of the island, Gaios.

    Gaios

    This is the capital of the island and is located about 4 miles down the island on the east coast. Most ferries arrive at the port of Gaios, and it is a very nice short walk along the waterfront to the centre of the town.

    The island has a population of circa 2,500, with the largest concentration of people being located in Gaios, which is by far the largest town on Paxos.

    Hotels in Gaios

    Hotel Margina

    Hotel Margina in Gaios, Paxos

    This photo is taken from their website

    Location

    A quick walk into the centre of Gaios.

    Description

    I have extracted this from the hotels’ website

    “Located 400 metres from the centre of the bustling harbour of Gaios, the main town of Paxos, the Hotel Margina Residence is perfectly placed for those wanting a tranquil location that is within easy walking distance of the numerous shops, bars and restaurants of the town.

    With every room having breath-taking views across the harbour entrance and within 20 metres walk of the nearest swimming beach, the Margina makes the ideal base for a unique island holiday experience.

    This friendly, family run hotel offers a warm welcome and exceptional level of service that will ensure an unforgettable stay. It is no surprise that many clients return year after year to enjoy the hospitality of the Ventouris family and their staff.”

    And with regard to the rooms this is what the hotels says

    “The comfortable apartment style rooms are all air-conditioned and have ensuite bathroom facilities. All rooms are serviced on a daily basis. Every room has a private balcony with breath taking sea views and are equipped with

    • Refrigerator
    • Tea/coffee making facilities
    • Hair dryer
    •  Iron
    • Secure Wi Fi access
    • Television”

    Website

    https://www.marginaresidencepaxos.com

    Contact details

    Email jokema@otenet.gr

    Lakka

    Lakka is a small village located at the top of the island, and from parts of Lakka you can see Corfu to the north. One of the features of Lakka is the wonderful harbour with idyllic turquoise blue water and all the lovely boats.

    Hotels in Lakka

    Amfitriti Hotel

    Amfitriti Hotel, Lakka, Paxos

    This photo is taken from their website

    Location

    Just 150 metres from the village of Lakka

    Description

    According to the hotels’ website

    “In absolute respect to the surrounding environment, we have created a place characterized by the authenticity of Greek Island colour, possessing all modern amenities. It is situated on Harami Beach, 150 meters from Lakka resort, and provides a breath-taking view of both mountain and sea. The Amfitriti family invites you to experience the warm atmosphere and their traditional hospitality.”

    Facilities

    “Built on an ideal site Amfitriti Hotel is a unique place to enjoy a relaxing and peaceful holiday in an outstanding natural environment. A whole world for discovery is waiting for you full of colours and shapes which will capture your heart forever. Swimming pool, pool bar which serves breakfast, refreshments, snacks and beverages, reception area, helpdesk, dining room and beach equipped with sun beds are some of the facilities that we offer you”.

    Website

    http://amfitritihotel.gr/

    Contact details

    You can email the hotel at booking@amfitritihotel.gr

    Hotel Bastas

    Hotel Bastas lakka Paxos by Rick McEvoy

    I took this photo myself!

    Location

    A 2-minute walk to the wonderful waterfront of Lakka

    Description

    From the hotel website

    “On the magical Ionian island of Paxos, on the outskirts of the picturesque community and harbour of Lakka, is the Bastas Hotel.

    Our 3-star hotel has traditional architecture and 42 comfortable rooms. We are open from 1st May to 20th October.

    The welcoming management and friendly staff will offer excellent service to ensure a comfortable and relaxed stay.

    For all guests travelling independently we can organise transport from Gaios port to the hotel and back to the port at the end of your stay. Please do not hesitate to email us for further details.

    In addition to the 42 rooms constructed in 2000, new facilities are added every year and the quality of service is regularly upgraded.

    • Parking
    • Pool Bar
    • Sunbeds
    • Garden with flowers
    • Balcony in every Room
    • English Literature
    • Minibus
    • Reception Bar
    • Swimming Pool
    • Parking area”

    Website

    https://hotel-bastas.com/

    Contact details

    info@hotel-bastas.com

    Torri e Merli

    Torri e Merli , Lakka, Paxos

    This aerial photo was taken from their website.

    Location

    A 20-minute walk through the olive groves into Lakka

    Description

    From the hotel website

    “The Pinnacle of Fine Luxury

    Nestled in the magic of an ancient olive grove near Lakka – a uniquely peaceful spot in the northernmost harbour village of the emerald Paxos Island, harmoniously embracing the turquoise bay – is an exquisite 17th century Venetian manor house which has been restored into one of the most sophisticated 5-star boutique hotels. With its fine luxury and superior aesthetics, this retreat unfolds to its eclectic guests as a destination for absolute tranquillity, rest and wellness making their stay an unprecedented experience.

    The serene natural surroundings combined with the bohemian chic, romantic ambience are much preferred by discerning guests looking for a special hideaway to unwind and let go, by enjoying amenities and services meeting their every need.”

    Website

    https://www.torriemerli.com/

    Contact details

    You can email the hotel using info@torriemerli.com

    Loggos

    Loggos, or Longos, is a couple of miles south of Lakka in-between Lakka and Gaios. And unfortunately does not have any hotels!

    Hotels in other locations on the island

    Paxos Beach Hotel

    Paxos Beach Hotel, Paxos

    This photo is taken from their website

    Location

    The hotel is located 1.5kms from the main town on the island of Gaios.

    Description

    According to the hotel website

    “Paxos Beach is located on an idyllic bay, just 1.5 kms from the island’s main village of Gaios. The hotel complex is constructed of native Paxos stone, on a slope spilling into the waters of the Ionian Sea, on a 20,000 sq. meter property surrounded by olive and pine trees. The calm and soothing surroundings with the view of the crystal waters offer our guests the atmosphere for the ideal destination for that relaxing but revitalizing holiday.

    Paxos Beach achieves a beautiful balance of comfort combined with style based on the local traditional architecture. Τhe meticulously designed guestrooms and suites offer our guests a sense of warmth and relaxation: earth colors, atmospheric lighting and earthy materials collaborate to create warm and hospitable interior spaces.

    Please note that all of our rooms are non-smoking rooms.

    Highlights

    Paxos Beach Hotel

    • Panoramic Views of the Ionian Sea
    • Warm and Friendly Environment
    • Private Relaxing Beach
    • Bungalows are built in the typical sugar-cubes shape
    • Easy accessible berthing for small yachts & boats
    • Large Swimming pool (140m2) & spacious sun terraces
    • Restaurant & Bar with Spectacular Sea Views
    • Unique Flavourful Experience in Affordable Prices
    • Distinctive Design Remaining True to the Traditional Character and Architecture”

    Website

    http://www.paxosbeachhotel.gr/

    Contact details

    info@paxosbeachhotel.gr

    Paxos Club Resort

    Paxos Club Resort, Paxos

    This photo is taken from their website

    Location

    Just a kilometre from Gaios.

    Description

    According to the hotel website

    “In a warm and friendly environment, Paxos Club Resort & SPA offers an exquisite place to relax and enjoy supreme accommodation in nature. Finely located within proximity to the capital of Paxos, Gaios, and the harbour, the hotel ensures smooth access to the major sights and attractions on the island.
    There are five types of constantly renovated rooms and suites at the hotel, covering all needs and demands of travellers. Ample spaces, impeccable cleanliness, anatomic mattresses, distinct colors and all boasting private terraces with stunning views to the garden.
     

    Guests are welcome to relax by the sensational saltwater swimming pool and lie comfortably on the sun loungers with a fruity cocktail from the pool bar. 
    Breakfast buffet is served in a traditional house dating back to 1896 that has been especially renovated, while at the same restaurant guests may enjoy lunch and dinner with breath-taking pool views. And for a rejuvenating experience, our brand-new Spa provides the ultimate escape. 100% natural ingredients are combined perfectly to offer exquisite therapies and an unforgettable journey of the senses. 
    Welcome to the picturesque island of Paxos, welcome to Paxos Club Resort & Spa!”

    Website

    http://www.paxosclub.gr/

    Contact details

    You can email the hotel at info@paxosclub.gr

    And that is the hotels of Paxos.

    As you will see whilst there are only seven hotels on Paxos they are all rather different. There is something for most peoples tastes among this small selection.

    Hotel availability

    I need to tell you that at the time of writing this post in July there was very little availability in August – most of the hotels are fully booked. If you are thinking of going to Paxos next year I strongly advise you to book early or you may be disappointed.

    You can book any of these hotels direct or using one of the many affiliate websites. I have to say that we prefer to communicate directly with hotels and book direct when we can.

    We have stopped at Hotel Bastas twice and loved it. I am sure that the other hotels are absolutely fine, and to be honest I have not heard bad words said about any of them but am not able to advise on which hotel is the best as we have only stopped at Hotel Bastas.

    Before I go what about Antipaxos?

    Well there are no hotels on Antipaxos, but I will tell you the places that you can stay on Antipaxos in another post.

    And as for those villas, apartments etc – check back to my website Paxos Travel Guide for a long list post.

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this helpful. If you would like to find out more about Paxos then please head over to my home page where I go through all the pages on this site with links so you can straight get to the stuff you want to.

  • How Big Is Paxos?

    How Big Is Paxos?

    Paxos is a small Greek Island. That is one of the attractions.

    But how big is Paxos? According to my measurements, Paxos is 6.24 miles long x 2.23 miles wide. This is 10.5 kilometres long by 3.58 kilometres wide. I took my own measurements from Google Maps so you don’t have to!

    This how long Paxos is
    And this is how wide Paxos is

    Question answered, I hope that you enjoy the rest of my website all about the wonderful Greek Island of Paxos.

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this helpful. If you would like to read more of my blog then just click here and I will take you straight back to my blog.

    I hope that you have found this post helpful, informative and even a little bit entertaining! To find out more about my favourite, wonderful Greek island all you need to do is click here and I will take you straight back to the start of my Paxos blog. Nice and easy!

    Oh yes, I hope that you enjoy the next post.

    Rick McEvoy

  • 15 Free Things For You To Do In Paxos Greece

    15 Free Things For You To Do In Paxos Greece

    Paxos might well be a very small Greek Island but there are lots of things to do.

    In this post I will tell you about 15 free things for you to do in Paxos Greece. Most of these things I have done myself, and the ones that I have not done I cannot wait to get back to Paxos to enjoy. And all of these wonderful things to do on Paxos are completely free, and all very enjoyable too.

    I hope that you enjoy this post and that my ideas help you to enjoy your holiday on the wonderful Greek Island of Paxos just a little bit more.

    1 – Visit the magnificent Tripitos Arch

    The Tripitos Arch is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Greek Island of Paxos

    The Tripitos Arch is a magnificent natural structure which can be accessed for free on foot. The arch is a collapsed sea cave and can be found on the southern coast of Paxos.

    There is a bit of a walk down to this magnificent, vibrant colourful arch but the effort is well worth it. I will never forget walking down the path to the arch and it appearing right in front of me.

    There is nowhere to pay for entry, you put in the effort to get there yourself and are duly rewarded.

    The views from the hills above the arch are breath-taking, with that crystal-clear blue water surrounding the base of the structure. And you can see the even smaller Greek Island Antipaxos off to the south, with boats going to and fro. If you want to know more about Antipaxos check out my post imaginatively titled Antipaxos Greece – Everything You Need To Know.

    You can walk all the way down to the Tripitos Arch, and all the way over it, but please be careful.

    I spent a good afternoon at the Tripitos Arch, taking in the views and exploring the rocky coastline. Just make sure you take plenty of water.

    I enjoyed the Tripitos Arch so much I wrote a separate blog post all about it called Tripitos Arch Paxos – My Number 1 Thing To Do On Paxos which tells you everything you need to know.

    One thing – don’t rely on our phone to get there – the signal drops before you get to the critical turning where you take the path down to the coast!

    2 – Visit the Lessianitis Windmill in Tranakatika

    After the Tripitos Arch it is a quick walk through the countryside to the derelict Lessianitis Windmill.

    Sign pointing to the Lessianitis Windmill and Tripitos Arch

    Now granted this is not the most interesting derelict windmill that you will see, but there is lots to see along the way and when you get to the windmill you are high up on the island and can see the sea on both sides, which I had never done before.

    Here is the derelict windmill.

    Lessianitis Windmill Paxos Greece
    Lessianitis Windmill Paxos Greece

    And it does get hot when you are out of the breeze believe me – I did not take enough water really for the amount of exploring that I ended up doing!

    3 – Walk along the waterfront of Gaios

    Boats on the waterfront at Gaios, Paxos
    Boats on the waterfront at Gaios, Paxos

    So much to see here. From anywhere in Gaios the waterfront is easy to reach. You can walk from one end to the other on a nice wide level path.

    I like to walk up to the new port at the end of the channel, looking at all the boats along the way. This should be easily recognisable as this is where you get off one of the various ferries to Paxos on arrival at the island.

    Many people get off their boat and are shuttled off to their hotels without experiencing this wonderful walk.

    From the port you just follow the path as far as you want to. If you are not in a rush, which let’s be honest on Paxos you should not be, then this can take a couple of hours, popping into various shops, bars and restaurants along the way.

    I know this bit costs money but the walk itself is free.

    You walk past the main square in Gaios, where the ever so small and lovely Church Analipsi can be found. Just off here is one of our favourite lunchtime spots where they do excellent chicken gyros by the way.

    Church Analipsi in the main square of Gaios, Paxos
    Church Analipsi in the main square of Gaios, Paxos

    Keep walking and you will see the boats that take you on a day trip to Antipaxos, the other way of getting to this even smaller Greek Island. That is the other way rather than hiring a boat and taking yourself there, which you can read about in another post I have written titled Paxos Boat Hire – Do Your Own Trip From Paxos To Antipaxos https://paxostravelguide.com/paxos-boat-hire/

    If you keep walking you will end up at the magnificent Statue of George Anemogiannis

    Picture of the Anemogiannis Monument with a burst of sun in Gaios on the Greek Island of Paxos. Statue Anemogiannis
    Picture of the Anemogiannis Monument with a burst of sun in Gaios on the Greek Island of Paxos

    This bronze statue was created in 1966. George was a Greek sailor born in Paxos who fought for the cause in the Greek War of Independence. He was captured in Nafpaktos at the frightfully young age of 23 during an attack on the Ottoman navy and was duly executed.

    And here is the plaque under the statue.

    I took the photo of the statue after a sunrise shoot. What you will not know is that there was a person to the left of the monument who just would not move out of the way. It was obvious that I was taking photos, but they seemed determined to stay in shot so in the end I took this photo and removed them in Photoshop!

    If you keep walking after the statue you go past one of the smallest beaches you could wish to see. Normally at this point though people head back into the town of Gaios to explore the side streets, shops and bars.

    4 – Enjoy the sunrise in Loggos

    Sunrise picture of the boats in the harbour in Loggos on the lovely island of Paxos by Rick McEvoy photography
    Sunrise picture of the boats in the harbour in Loggos on the lovely island of Paxos by Rick McEvoy photography

    Probably one of my favourite sunrise locations. This is one of my sunrise photos of Loggos.

    The beauty of sunrises on Paxos is that they are nice and early, and relatively quick, so you can catch a stunning sunset and get back to bed all warmed and comforted by the daily natural miracle that is sunrise.

    Obviously you need to be on the west coast to get the best of a sunrise, which thankfully Loggos is.

    I am a photographer, so I get there early and stay long after the sun has risen making the best of that wonderful morning light.

    This photo was taken from the beach right in front of the bus stop. Apart from a couple watching the sunrise from the balcony it was just me out there taking photos, which I love.

    In this photo I am looking towards mainland Greece, with the boats giving the foreground interest, with the sun breaking above one of the boats. I love the colours of the sunrise reflected in the calm morning waters.

    Check out my photography gear page where I list all my photography gear – if you are interested in photography that is!

    5 – Taking in the sunrise in Gaios

    Photo of sunrise in Gaios on the Greek Island of Paxos taken by Rick McEvoy for the travel website Paxos Travel Guide

    OK. Another sunrise. But you are on holiday – why would you want to get up at stupid ’o’clock in the morning?

    Well it might just be me, but I love watching the sunrise in the morning. Check out this photo, looking down on Gaios and the main channel. Gaios is just down the coat from Loggos on the east coast of Paxos, so the sun is rising over mainland Greece which is circa 10 miles away.

    In this photo of mainland Greece my camera was pointing in the rough direction of Sarakiniko, with Parga not far down the coast (to the right).

    You can read about my exploits whilst out and about taking my sunrise photos on other blog posts, including this one describing taking this photo Did we discover Paxos Greece? Yes, but now it’s time to go!

    This is another one of those picture postcard locations, and to be honest it is dead easy to get to. You drive down towards the port and just before you get to the port itself you turn off to the right, drive up the hill and pull in a t the first parking bays on your left.

    This is where I took this photo from, accompanied by two chaps talking loudly and smoking, somewhat affecting the ambience!!

    This parking bay is one of the best sunrise spots in Paxos would you believe!

    And this photo I took just up the road from that sunrise shoot – the lovely morning light caught my eye.

    Morning light in Gaios Paxos photographed from the road above the capital of Paxos after sunrise
    Morning light in Gaios Paxos photographed from the road above the capital of Paxos after sunrise

    And this is me treating myself to a lovely morning coffee in the square in Gaios.

    Yamas from Rick McEvoy Photography!
    Yamas from Rick McEvoy Photography!

    6 – Explore the hills around harbour of Lakka

    This was one of my favourite things to do. I like a few days of switching off and doing nothing, and then I get itchy feet. I need to get out and explore.

    Thankfully these days I am well prepared for clambering about all over the place, taking proper walking shoes and having a backpack for my camera gear with side pockets for lots of water.

    So I am ready to explore.

    You need to get up into the hills around Lakka if you want to really appreciate those picture postcard brochure shots of the wonderful village on the northern tip of Paxos.

    Discovering the coast of Lakka Paxos IMG_2148

    From these hills you can see not only mainland Greece but also the foot of Corfu, 8 miles to the north.

    There are various paths around the hills of Lakka, and I think I found most of them, if not all. To the west the path takes you up and over to the harbour entrance, passing a secret beach with no name along the way.

    There are ruins of a church, Church Agiou Thoma nestled in the midst of all the greenery.

    But for me it is the views of Lakka Harbour that make this walk to the west, the lovely aquamarine blue water and all those shiny white boats illuminated by the bright Greek sunshine with a backdrop of greenery on the hills around.

    Just stunning.

    And if you take the paths to the east you obviously get the opposite view, but his path takes you around the edge of the island an onto the east coast.

    Following a recce one day I came across a sunrise location which would provide complete isolation being on the coast in quite literally the middle of nowhere.

    Well that is what I thought.

    Imagine my surprise when two Greek gentlemen, older than me, appeared, happily shouted kaliméra then stripped off and jumped into the sea for some early morning skinny dipping!

    Still the photos I got were pretty good. And I would not have found all these places if I had not got off my backside and got out there exploring!

    And on another day I found another path down to a beach which is not even on the map!

    Sign to Arcoudaki Beach near Lakka, Paxos
    Sign to Arcoudaki Beach near Lakka, Paxos

    Check out the video I took on this path – another day when I went out in the August Greek heat without any water at all!

    Seriously I love exploring the lesser known parts of the Greek Islands – I get to places that others have never heard of let alone been to.

    7 – Explore the middle of the island on foot

    Talking of which, there is the middle of the island to explore. The bit that everyone else travels through on a bus or in a car without stopping to have a good old look.

    Paxos is roughly 6 miles long, and less than 2.5 miles wide at its widest part, so getting into the middle of the island is not hard. Just walk down the main road running down the island from Lakka to Gaios and onwards to Mongonissi, and take a side road, or a path, and just explore. I love doing this with no plan, but lots of water and some decent snacks!

    You can drive from Lakka at the top end of the island through Gaios and down to Mongonissi in less than half an hour.

    So exploring the middle bit of the island is dead easy. I was fortunate enough to have a car, but you can easily explore the middle of the island on foot. There are lots on interesting things to find, including endless amounts of olive groves right by the side of the road.

    What the middle of Paxos looks like!
    What the middle of Paxos looks like!

    I would have never found this by using Trip Advisor or a book!

    Getting out there and finding things for myself gets me to all sorts of interesting places.

    8 – Explore the beaches of Paxos

    I have written a separate post titled Paxos Beaches where I list, well all the beaches on Paxos.

    So if you want to know more about the beaches of Paxos please check out this comprehensive post. I will mention a couple of beaches that we have been to though in this post.

    Here is a photo of Lakka Beach though.

    Photo of Lakka Beach after sunrise, Paxos, Greece
    Photo of Lakka Beach after sunrise, Paxos, Greece

    9 – Orkos Beach

    Not far from Lakka is a lovely beach called Orkos Beach. It is a long walk down to this beach to be fair, but don’t let this put you off making the trek.

    I was walking down there in my proper walking shoes behind a family with a small child happily navigating the path and vegetation wearing flip flops and carrying a large inflatable on her back.

    And then an octogenarian couple passed coming back up the hill away from the beach.

    So whilst the paths are a bit challenging they are perfectly manageable, including the path down to Orkos Beach.

    Photo of Orkos Beach, Paxos
    Photo of Orkos Beach, Paxos

    When you get there you will find a house on the beach which is owned by a famous former footballer called Bruno. The house looks more like a restaurant than a house, and when I was on Orkos Beach there were so many people inside the grounds of the house that I thought I could just walk in for a drink!

    There is a sign that says Private House on the open gate.

    The house on Orkos Beach, Paxos
    The house on Orkos Beach, Paxos

    All very confusing.

    The beach is pebbly with no facilities at all. When I was there I was accompanied by what looked and sounded like the cast from a Hugh Grant film!

    But the beach is lovely, and the sea is perfectly lovely and clear.

    Here are some photos taken on my iPhone.

    10 – Manadentri Beach

    Apologies for another beach near Lakka but let’s not forget that the island is tiny, so it is easy to get around.

    We stopped at the Hotel Bastas. The hotel run a free shuttle bus to this beach every morning at 10am, returning at 5pm which is very nice of them.

    When you get there you have to walk through a bar to get to the beach. Once you have made it through the bar without spending any money you are on a lovely pebbly beach.

    Manadentri Beach, Paxos, Greece
    Manadentri Beach, Paxos, Greece

    To use the facilities at the beach bar you do have to buy something, and quote right too.

    The water is lovely, and here is a top tip if you like snorkelling.

    As you are looking out to sea from the beach, enter the water on the right-hand side, and swim around the headland to the next beach, which is deserted. And on the way you might see some stunning boats moored in the bay of this isolated paradise.

    And there are some rocks just below the surface of the water which form an excellent base for some nice snorkelling diving my style. I only wear a pair of swimming goggles when I am snorkelling – I can’t be doing with a mask and snorkel.

    11 – Sunset at Eremitis Bay

    To view the sunrise you need to be on the east coast. And to view the sunset you have to be on the west coast.

    Disclaimer – I have not seen the sun set at Erimitis Bay, but I am told that it is spectacular.

    I tend to like a drink at sunset when on holiday, and as I never drink and drive sunsets have to be viewed from a bar, which in our case was the Romantica Bar in Lakka.

    This is why I am a sunrise person; I am a sociable chap and spend the evening with M, my gorgeous other half.

    Sunset at Eremitis Bay is apparently well worth checking out, other who have been there have told me, and we will definitely do this next time we are back on Paxos.

    12 – Explore the goat tracks

    You will find abandoned villages and all sorts of interesting stuff by getting off the beaten track and exploring the old goat tracks.

    I recommend getting a good old-fashioned map, especially if you are going to venture towards the coast, as whilst there is an excellent phone signal on much of the island the drop offs in signal are unannounced and quite dramatic!

    Like at the Tripitos Arch, which I was navigating my way to using Google Maps on my phone. Until the signal went. And yes I got lost.

    So get a map, some good walking shoes, a camera and lots of water and get out there!!

    And here is another thing that I do. After visiting a popular site like the Tripitos Arch I will explore the area around, as you never know what you will stumble on. Don’t just go for the main event, look at the bits around the edges too!

    13 – Paxos Churches and Chapels

    There are many lovely churches and chapels on Paxos. Lots of them are very small, and lots of them are very hidden. You have to get off the beaten track to find them.

    Most of the population of Paxos are Greek Orthodox, founded by Constantine the Great in the 4th century. The churches are not that old (i.e. not 4th century), with most dating back to Venetian times.

    There are two ancient ruins, Agios Stefanos and Agia Marina which are believed to date back to the 6th century AD.

    Some of the churches you will find have been built by families as a thank you to God for his/ her protection.

    The chapels are whitewashed buildings which are only opened on the day in the year of the saint to whom the chapel is dedicated.

    Lovely bell at a church, Paxos, Greece
    Lovely bell at a church, Paxos, Greece

    14 – Paxos Music Festival

    The Paxos Music Festival provides a variety musical and artistic events. The festival is mainly funded by charity, donations and sponsors from both Greece and overseas.

    The first festival was held in 1986 in the garden of a long-standing Paxos resident, John Gough. The music festival has grown year on year since its inception and is now an annual event attracting people from overseas to the island.

    The 2019 programme starts on 26th June with an Oboe and piano concert.

    You can find out all about the Paxos Music Festival on the website http://paxosfestival.com/

    15 – Just relax and enjoy the atmosphere

    Paxos is a relaxing place. I found the feeling and the vibe of Paxos to be incredibly relaxing. If you are after a Club 18-30 experience then this is not the place for you I can assure you.

    There are many ways to relax on Paxos. I found that I could very quickly get to places on the coast where there were no people whatsoever, naked swimmers aside that is!

    And I find the sea very relaxing. Being so small you are never more than a mile (ish) from the sea which is wonderful. And you are never far from complete silence either.

    Lakka and Loggos have a lovely laid-back feel to them – obviously Gaios being bigger is busier.

    Even Gaios has its quiet times though. When the boats arrive there are mass movements of excited tourists, so if you like peace and quiet these are easy enough to avoid.

    I love the early mornings and have walked along the front in Gaios completely on my own.

    And then there are the boats. Seriously, I find watching boats very relaxing. I can sit for a surprisingly long-time watching boats. Best places to watch boats are Gaios and Lakka, where you will find a steady movement of boats in and out.

    And then there is another of my favourite things. I like to plonk myself on the beach and just vacantly stare out to sea, listening to those gentle waves lapping on the shore.

    And the pool at Hotel Bastas is a place we have spent days and days just relaxing.

    The lovely pool at the Hotel Bastas, Lakka, Paxos
    The lovely pool at the Hotel Bastas, Lakka, Paxos

    Summary

    I hope that you have found this post interesting, and that you will embrace my free things to do on Paxos and enjoy them for yourself.

    Please check out the other posts on my website which tell you everything I know about this wonderful Greek Island.

    A good place to start is my post simply titled What Is Paxos Like – Simply A Stunning Greek Island

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this post helpful, informative and even a little bit entertaining! To find out more about my favourite, wonderful Greek island all you need to do is click here and I will take you straight back to the start of my Paxos blog. Nice and easy!

    Oh yes, I hope that you enjoy the next post.

    Rick McEvoy

  • Antipaxos Greece – Everything You Need To Know

    Antipaxos Greece – Everything You Need To Know

    Antipaxos is a very small Greek Island. Small but stunning and we have loved both our visits.

    Antipaxos Greece – as I said a stunning, very small Greek Island that we visited twice, and absolutely loved each time. In this post I will tell you what it is really like going to Antipaxos for the day and provide information on everything that this wonderful tiny Greek Island has to offer.

    At the end of the post are links to related things on my website that I think you might find of interest.

    So if you have already booked a holiday to Corfu or Paxos, or are thinking about it, and fancy a day out somewhere different then why not add Antipaxos to your plans?

    If you hear about comparisons with the Caribbean and Caribbean-esque beaches and translucent blue, green and turquoise seas then this is true – I have been to both and Paxos really does compare.

    This is a picture of lovely Vrika Beach on the stunning island of Antipaxos in Greece. Paxos Travel Guide by Rick McEvoy
    This is a picture of lovely Vrika Beach on the stunning island of Antipaxos in Greece. Paxos Travel Guide by Rick McEvoy

    Why should I go to Antipaxos?

    Well why not? Antipaxos offers stunning beaches with stunning crystal-clear aquamarine waters.

    Where is Antipaxos?

    Here is a map that shows mainland Greece, Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos. Antipaxos is just under 2kms to the south of Paxos in the Ionian Sea. The trip from Gaios to Vrika Beach is longer of course, but the 2km is the extent of the bit of open sea between the two islands.

    How big is Antipaxos?

    Small. Very small indeed.

    From top left to bottom right Antipaxos is 3.90km long, and at its widest point is 1.68km wide. That equates to just over 4km2.

    That is pretty small isn’t it??

    And Antipaxos has a population of less than 100 in the high season, dropping as low as 30 in the close season.

    30 people on an island – just think about that!

    When is the best time to go to Antipaxos?

    Well that is simple. Check out my post When Is The Best Time To Visit Paxos? which will tell you all you need to know.

    The island of Paxos is quiet in the close season, and I would imagine Antipaxos is even quieter – I have never been there off-season so cannot say for sure, but I would imagine that Antipaxos is pretty much deserted on the close season. Certainly there will be a much-reduced boat service from Paxos to Antipaxos. And I can’t see any of the restaurants staying open either.

    Now I have to say that writing this makes me wonder if it is possible to go to Antipaxos outside of the main holiday season on Paxos.

    It sounds like an exciting and different thing to do, which I fear I am going to have to look into and try to do!

    The tavernas on Antipaxos may not even be open at the beginning of the tourist season in May, nor the end of the season mid to late September, giving a small window of opportunity. Off season does not look good.

    Getting to Antipaxos

    The only way to Antipaxos is by boat. Well unless you are a particularly strong swimmer that is! Or have a sea plane or helicopter. Ok I will stop there- you get the point?

    There are day trips mainly from Gaios, as well as daily water taxis from Gaios to Vrika and Voutoumi Beaches which run from mid-June to mid-September. Water taxis only take 10-15 minutes to get you from Paxos to Antipaxos and back.

    And if you are one of those lucky people sailing around the Ionian Islands you can moor up and hit the beach and bars whenever you want.

    Other than that it you have managed to secure one of the few holiday resorts on this wonderful island your tour operator will get you to your accommodation.

    Getting off the boat and onto the island

    Let me share my experience with you here. Getting across the open water from Paxos to Antipaxos is not a problem.

    Getting off the boat and onto the island can be though.

    This is what I ended up doing – this is the bit you need to know – how to get quickly and safely on and off Antipaxos without annoying anyone.

    You can read all about the trauma of my incompetent attempts to do this in the post Paxos Boat Hire – Do Your Own Trip From Paxos To Antipaxos.

    I will spare you that tale of woe and cut to the chase. Take the boat slowly into the bay – you can’t miss Vrika Beach and Taverna Spiros on the right-hand side.

    Head to the right of the bay and you will see the platform where people get on and off the water taxis. Wait for the water taxi to leave, then quickly take your boat in and pull up at the landing. Holding onto the side drop off your passengers and all the bags, then turn the boat around and head of for the sand and drop anchor. It is a quick swim back to the beach, and everyone is on the island with no dramas.

    And I will give you one more top boating tip that will help you – bring a small waterproof container that you can out the boat key in. Preferably something that you can attach to yourself that is brightly coloured and floats.

    And don’t take loads of stuff. I took my full camera bag with me which caused all sorts of problems!

    What is there to do on Antipaxos?

    Beaches

    I have listed the main beaches elsewhere in this post. The beaches are lovely sandy beaches. Just go and enjoy!

    Swimming and snorkelling

    The water is stunningly clear. I like to just float in the water there to be honest. Get over to the rocks on the side an you never know what you will see – the beauty of that lovely clear water is the visibility when snorkelling is amazing.

    Diving

    There is a dive site on the even smaller island of Daskalia, which can be found about 900 metres south of Antipaxos. There are two dive centres on Paxos, Paxos Oasi Sub in Lakka, which I walked passed at least 6 times every day on holiday as it is just past the Hotel Bastas, and Water Planet Dive Centre in Gaios.

    There is no dive centre on Antipaxos. Other than the tavernas there are no shops on Antipaxos!

    Walking

    Obviously the island is small but walking into the centre of the island is well worth the effort, and you can take in Bella Vista on your way! And who does not love a gentle scramble on the rocks of the coastline of these islands – I know I do.

    But be careful on those rocky edges!

    Driving

    Yes you can drive on Antipaxos, but this is only if you are staying there and really feel the need to! If you walk at a reasonable pace of 4kms per hour you should be able to get from the top to the bottom in something like, erm 20 minutes! And getting from side to side will be even quicker.

    So driving in Antipaxos? I don’t think so.

    And where would you get fuel from?

    The beaches of Antipaxos

    These are the beaches of Antipaxos.

    As with my description of the beaches of Paxos, which you can read in the post imaginatively called Paxos Beaches, I will start at the top of the island and work round in a clockwise direction.

    There are three main beaches on Antipaxos.

    Vrika Beach

    One of the two famous beaches of Paxos, Vrika Beach has the lovely soft white sand and that Caribbean-esque stunning water. Vrika beach has two tavernas which you can read about later on in this post. I am sure that there used to be three places to eat and drink on Vrika Beach but there only appear to be two now. Or am I imagining things?

    Mesovikra Beach

    This is the less well-known beach, the pebbly beach in-between Vrika and Voutoumi beaches. There are no bars, and the beach is pebbly.

    So it is much much quieter, and if that is your kind of thing go for it and enjoy that lovely water and everyone going past on the boats to the busier beaches.

    And it is a quick 5-minute walk to either of the other beaches with the facilities and all those people!

    There are rocks at the ends of the beach which offer great snorkelling opportunities.

    Meso means “middle, intermediate, halfway” by the way. And I guess Mesovrika is the middle beach of three.

    Smile and wave and enjoy the peace and quiet of this lovely pebbly beach!

    Voutoumi Beach

    Voutoumi Beach is the largest beach on Antipaxos, and along with Vrika Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the Ionian Sea, and possibly further beyond.

    Voutoumi Beach has that lovely white sand, and that ever so stunning blue water.

    Other beaches

    Apart from these beaches there are a number of smaller beaches which do not appear to have names.

    I have to say that I have not been to these beaches, but they are (apparently) all accessible on foot, or much better by boat.

    On the north west side of the island you will find Bay Antipaxos, which is a very quiet bay accessible from a small path or you can moor your boat in the bay and swim in the lovely crystal-clear blue waters.

    Why is the water so blue on Antipaxos?

    It is a combination of the nutrients in the sea, the depth of the water, the protection on the west coast of Antipaxos, the tides, prevailing winds and that lovely white sand that all combine to give the beaches of Antipaxos their stunning, crystal clear blue waters.

    I have often wondered why the sea is so blue and having looked into it believe it is a combination of all these things leading to this natural phenomenon.

    Staying on Antipaxos

    You can stay on Antipaxos, but you need to bear in mind a few things

    • Shops. There are no shops on Antipaxos.
    • Tavernas. There are five tavernas which are open at lunchtime. I list these elsewhere in this post.
    • Hotels. There are no hotels on Antipaxos. No hotels!!

    And that is pretty much it.

    Bear this in mind – stopping on Antipaxos is going to be a different, secluded and quiet experience!

    Where to stay on Antipaxos

    There are places you can stay on Antipaxos – here they are

    Simpson Secret – Simpson Travel Hideaway Bolthole

    Check out this fantastic Simpson Secret.

    You are provided with a Suzuki Jeep to drive around the limited roads on the island but remember how big the island is – I am sure that the bicycles provided will serve you just fine!

    This really is a wonderful retreat which I am seriously thinking about for 2020 – it is pretty much fully booked for 2019 (at the time of writing this post in April 2019).

    There also a small number of private rental villas on Paxos. Check out

    Ionian Villas

    Paxos Owners Direct

    Where to eat on Antipaxos

    Taverna Spiros

    This is one of the two main bars on Vrika Beach. Sat right on the beach this is our favourite taverna on Antipaxos which we have stopped at on both our visits to Antipaxos.

    Now you might expect to pay a premium for eating and drinking on Antipaxos, but the prices are Taverna Spiros are just fine, the food is lovely, and the drinks are chilled.

    Meat is cooked on a barbecue which you walk past as you enter the seating area which is up a few steps giving the taverna a slightly elevated position offering fantastic views of the beach, the bay and that stunning water.

    Here you can sit and happily watch the world go by, and watch the boats coming in and out of the bay.

    Of course at peak times in the peak season it can get busy, so make sure you allow yourself time – do all this and you will have a great time there.

    We liked it so much we bought a t-shirt there happily advertising the taverna!! And talking it t-shirts this is were I left my t-shirt that time that I drove the hire boat – you can read all about that in the imaginatively titled post Paxos Boat Hire – Do Your Own Trip From Paxos To Antipaxos.

    The end point of this story is that we had a chat with the people at the Mongonissi Beach Bar and were reunited with my t-shirt at Theo and Pepe in Gaios some days later!

    And that is what Paxos is all about for me – a small, close community happy to help wherever they can.

    I believe that Taverna Spiros is the most popular restaurant on Antipaxos and has the best reviews if you check out Google and Trip Advisor, edging out Bella Vista.

    Bpyka Taverna- Bar

    This is the other bar on Vrika Beach. This bar is down to the left as you look at Vrika Beach.

    We have not been there to be honest, but I hear from people that I have spoken to that it is very nice and can be quieter than Taverna Spiros.

    Voutoumi Beach Bar and Restaurant

    Voutoumi Beach is the other main beach on Antipaxos. I have not been to Voutoumi Beach Bar – there is unfortunately only so much you can achieve in a day, especially if you want to have any relaxing at some point in the day!!

    A lovely beach location with views of that stunning (I will use the term again) Caribbean-esque sea and sand combination!

    Bella Vista

    This is the restaurant a short walk up the hill with great views looking down on Voutoumi Beach. How many steps appears to be a subject for debate – I lost count but there are 200-220-300 who knows? steps.

    One thing I can categorically say is that you walk up steps to get there.

    Bella Vista after all means “beautiful sight”.

    You can get dinner there, but the service does not run late into the night, they often have the last service at 8pm. And reservations are recommended, especially if you consider the lack of alternative options.

    At Bella Vista you will enjoy great food, a friendly service and also great music!

    My photos of Antipaxos

    My plan was to show all my photos of Antipaxos here, but the truth is that I have not processed them yet. I have included the photo of Vrika Beach in this post, and will post the rest of the photos once I have edited them

    Related posts

    I have written a number of related posts which I will provide links to you for

    Should I drive a hire boat to Antipaxos from Paxos?

    When is the best time to visit Paxos?

    Paxos Boat Hire – Do Your Own Trip From Paxos To Antipaxos

    And also please check out my Paxos Travel Guide YouTube Channel

    Want to know more about Paxos?

    I hope that you have found this post helpful, informative and even a little bit entertaining! To find out more about my favourite, wonderful Greek island all you need to do is click here and I will take you straight back to the start of my Paxos blog. Nice and easy!

    Oh yes, I hope that you enjoy the next post.

    Rick McEvoy