The best things to do in Paxos are less about traditional sightseeing and more about experiencing the island itself. Hire a boat, explore the three harbour villages, swim in hidden coves, head inland through the olive groves and make time for a day trip to Antipaxos.
Paxos is small, but the best trips leave enough time for the places and experiences you did not plan to find.
⭐ Best Things To Do In Paxos: My Shortlist
If this is your first visit, these are the experiences I would prioritise:
- Hire a small boat and explore hidden coves along the coastline.
- Visit Gaios, Lakka and Loggos, as each has a completely different atmosphere.
- Take a day trip to Antipaxos for Vrika and Voutoumi beaches.
- Explore inland Paxos, where olive groves, tiny churches and quiet lanes reveal another side of the island.
- Visit Tripitos Arch for one of the island’s most dramatic coastal views.
- Spend an evening in Loggos beside the harbour.
- Watch the sunset at Erimitis.
Trying to squeeze everything into a checklist misses part of what makes Paxos special. Use these as starting points, but leave enough time to explore when somewhere unexpected catches your attention.
🌿 Explore Paxos Beyond The Beaches
Some of the best things to do in Paxos are found away from the coast. Head inland and the island changes quickly, with ancient olive groves, tiny churches, stone walls and quiet lanes replacing beaches and busy harbours.
Take The Smaller Roads
If you have a car, avoid simply driving between Gaios, Lakka and Loggos. Turn onto the smaller roads, explore the interior and stop when somewhere looks interesting.
If you want the freedom to explore this side of the island, read our guide to whether you need a car in Paxos.
⛵ Hire A Boat And Explore The Paxos Coast
Hiring a small boat for the day is one of the experiences I would prioritise in Paxos. It gives you the freedom to explore the coastline at your own pace rather than following somebody else’s itinerary.
Find Your Own Swimming Spots
Much of the fun comes from stopping whenever somewhere looks interesting. You can anchor in quiet coves, swim beneath limestone cliffs and reach tiny beaches that are difficult or impossible to access from land.
Pack drinks, take a waterproof bag and avoid planning the day too tightly. Exploring Paxos from the water is as much about what you unexpectedly find as the places you intended to visit.
🏝️ Take A Day Trip To Antipaxos
If you only take one excursion from Paxos, make it Antipaxos. Its remarkably clear turquoise water and beautiful beaches make it one of the easiest additions to a Paxos holiday.
Visit Vrika And Voutoumi
Voutoumi is the famous beach, but Vrika is equally worth visiting and can feel slightly more relaxed. If you have time, see both rather than choosing between them.
Take a water taxi from Gaios and give yourself the full day rather than rushing back after a couple of hours.
For transport, beaches and how long to spend there, read our complete guide to whether Antipaxos is worth visiting.
🏘️ Explore All Three Paxos Villages
Visiting Gaios, Lakka and Loggos is one of the best things to do in Paxos because each village offers a different side of island life.
Gaios
The liveliest of the three, with a busy harbour, shops, cafés and plenty of places to eat.
Lakka
A smaller village wrapped around a beautiful sheltered bay, with a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to linger.
Loggos
The smallest and most intimate, particularly appealing in the evening when the waterfront restaurants begin to fill.
If you are choosing where to base yourself, our guide to which Paxos village you should stay in compares Gaios, Lakka and Loggos.
🌊 Visit The Best Coastline Highlights In Paxos
Exploring the coastline is one of the best things to do in Paxos, particularly along the dramatic western side of the island.
Tripitos Arch
This enormous natural limestone arch is one of Paxos’s most impressive landmarks and rewards the short walk required to reach it.
Mongonissi
In the south, Mongonissi offers a completely different landscape, with sheltered water and a more relaxed coastal setting.
Rather than racing between viewpoints, combine a few coastline highlights with beaches and spontaneous stops along the way.
🔎 Seek Out The Places Most Visitors Miss In Paxos
Some of the best things to do in Paxos are the places you discover away from the obvious sights.
Sea Caves Near Plani Beach
Near Lakka, a short scramble across the rocks leads to impressive cave formations and dramatic coastal scenery. Wear proper footwear, as the route is rough in places.
Try The Goat’s Milk Ice Cream In Gaios
Not every memorable discovery needs to be a landmark. Small local finds like the goat’s milk ice cream in Gaios are exactly the kind of unexpected experiences worth making time for.
The trick is simple: leave enough room in your itinerary to find places you were not actually looking for.
🌙 Have One Long Evening In Loggos
Spending an unhurried evening in Loggos is one of the best things to do in Paxos.
Arrive before sunset, wander around the tiny harbour and choose somewhere beside the water for dinner. As the day visitors disappear, Loggos becomes quieter and considerably more atmospheric.
Do Not Rush Back
Stay for drinks after dinner and enjoy the harbour after dark. Loggos is at its best when you have nowhere else to be.
🌅 Watch The Sunset At Erimitis
Watching the sunset at Erimitis is one of the best things to do in Paxos at the end of a day exploring the island.
The west coast faces directly into the setting sun, with steep cliffs and open sea creating one of the island’s most dramatic evening views.
Arrive Before Sunset
Give yourself time to find a good viewpoint rather than arriving at the last minute. Stay as the light changes across the cliffs and sea.
It is a simple experience, but one of the most memorable evenings you can have on Paxos.
🌿 Discover The Most Underrated Thing To Do In Paxos
One of the best things to do in Paxos is simply explore without having a particular destination in mind.
Take a quiet inland road, follow a walking path or stop when you spot an interesting village, church or viewpoint. These unscripted moments often reveal more of the island than another famous attraction.
Paxos is small enough to explore confidently, but varied enough that getting slightly off the planned route is often the point.
⭐ My Shortlist Of The Best Things To Do In Paxos
If you cannot do everything, these are the experiences I would prioritise:
- Hire a boat and explore the coastline independently
- Spend a day on Antipaxos
- Explore Gaios, Lakka and Loggos
- Drive through the inland villages and olive groves
- Visit Tripitos Arch
- Find the sea caves near Plani Beach
- Spend a long evening in Loggos
- Watch the sunset at Erimitis
The best things to do in Paxos combine the island’s coastline, villages and quieter interior rather than focusing entirely on its beaches.
If you are deciding how much time to allow for all of this, read our guide to how many days you need in Paxos.
❓ FAQs
What Are The Best Things To Do In Paxos?
The best things to do in Paxos include hiring a boat, visiting Antipaxos, exploring Gaios, Lakka and Loggos, discovering the inland countryside and watching the sunset at Erimitis.
Is There Enough To Do In Paxos For A Week?
Yes. A week gives you time to combine beaches and boat trips with the villages, coastal walks and slower days exploring the island.
What Should You Not Miss In Paxos?
If it is your first visit, prioritise a boat trip, Antipaxos, all three main villages and at least one day exploring beyond the obvious coastal areas.
Do You Need A Car To See The Best Of Paxos?
Not necessarily, but a car makes it much easier to discover the inland villages, quieter beaches and less visited parts of the island.
For a detailed comparison of your options, read our guide to whether you need a car in Paxos.
