FACILITIES
Our Paxos Manager is Dimitris Aronis – you can contact Dimitris or his assistant Erini for any help or advice at dimitris_aronis@yahoo.gr or phone/text on (0030) 69735 70801.
Banks/ATM’s
Gaios has three ATM's - one just off the main square, behind the old stone fishmarket slabs, one just opposite Kalimera café bar and one at the Piraeus Bank (set back from Cafe Italiano on the waterfront).
Lakka has an ATM in the carpark outside the Planos Holidays office.
Loggos has two ATM's on the waterfront.
Most tavernas accept credit/debit cards but many prefer cash.
Post Office
Hidden away in a narrow backstreet, not far from Gaios square – ask a local for directions!
Pharmacies
Gaios: in Gaios square.
Lakka: 30 metres away from the car park, up the left hand road.
Magazia: in the village high street.
Look out for the green cross sign.
Doctors
Michaelis is an English-speaking doctor who attends the Medical Centre in Bogdanatika (0030 2662 360100) each morning. In addition, there are facilities for taking anyone who needs hospital care to either Corfu or to Ioannina on the Greek mainland.
There are 2 dentists:
Konstantinos Karvounis: (0030) 26620 32423.
Katy Veroniki: (0030) 26620 32155.
SHOPPING
Each village on Paxos is small and you should be able to find a shop for your needs quite easily but if not – smile and ask!
Fishermen come back with their catch quite early in the morning and sell from their boat - ask locally who, where and what time!
Gaios: nearly all the shops are in one of the streets leading off from the main square. There are 4 minimarkets, 2 bakeries, 2 butchers, 2 fishmongers, specialist wine shop, petrol station plus the ubiquitous souvenir shops.
Magazia: petrol station, pharmacy, 3 tavernas, minimarket, general store, bakery and 2 café bars.
Fontana: small general store, 2 tavernas.
Loggos: 3 minimarkets, a bakery.
Lakka: 3 minimarkets, a bakery, a butcher and a specialist wine shop.
BEACHES
There are more than 30 beaches on Paxos’ east coast – most can only be reached by sea so hiring a boat is a good idea to commandeer your own beach.
There is land access to a few beaches with beachfront tavernas: Mogonisi; Paxos Beach Hotel; Kakilagatha; Levrechio; Monodendri; Harami.
Apart from the man-made sandy beach at Mongonisi and the beautiful AntiPaxos beaches, the beaches on Paxos are pebble (Lakka Bay beaches shelve to sand).
Olive trees fringe the east coast beaches so there is natural shade but beach umbrellas are sold in each village.
There are some stunning beaches and caves on the west coast. There are boat excursions or you can hire a boat with outboard and explore under your own steam.
Be careful of the afternoon sea swell on the west coast. The east coast beaches shelve gradually and there are no strong under-currents.
East coast beaches accessed by road: Kloni Gouli, Annassa and Kakilangada beaches - along the coast road running north from Gaios new port. Kipiadi, Kypos, Marmari and Levrecchio beaches just outside Loggos. Monodendri beach between Loggos and Lakka. Harami beach in Lakka Bay.
Speedboats depart from Gaios square to the 2 AntiPaxos beaches every half hour or so & take around 15 minutes (between the hours of 10.00 and 17.30). Slower boats ply between Lakka & Loggos to AntiPaxos.
There are signs to Erimitis beach on the west coast (on the track leading from Magazia to Erimitis) but there are only parking places for about 2 cars and difficult to turn around so best to visit by boat.
WATER AND LAND ACTIVITIES
Boat Hire
There are boat hirers in each of the 3 Paxos ports. Outboard engines range from 15HP to 140HP – you need a power boat license to hire over a 30HP. July and August can be busy but for other months boat supply usually exceeds demand but if boat hire is to be an integral part of your holiday then best to prebook. For more information or advice contact our manager, Dimitris.
There are no windsurfing or dinghy sailing facilities on Paxos. Mogonisi and Monodendri have paddle boards for hire.
Organised kayak excursions:
Lefcothea: (0030) 26620 31662.
Andreas: (0030) 69720 83670.
Scuba Diving
Contact Babis at the Paxos Water Planet: http://www.waterplanet.gr/ or Angelos at Paxos Oasi Club: http://www.paxosoasisub.com/
Bikes
Mountain bikes & E-bikes can be hired in Gaios (Vassilis Rent a Bike, Fougaros and Salty Wheels).
Tennis
There is a tennis court at the Paxos Beach Hotel, about 1 mile south of Gaios along the coast road, and a municipal court in the tiny village of Fontana.
Walking
Although only 7 miles by 3, Paxos is crisscrossed by hundreds of goat and human paths through the olive groves. The canopy of olives provides shade and most trails should pass close to a cafenion serving cool drinks at some stage.
If you like walking buy Ian Bleasdale’s “Walking Map of Paxos” (http://www.iankbleasdale.co.uk/) – Ian has painstakingly trodden every centimetre of Paxos and this book will introduce you to many of the hidden parts.
Massage
Contact our manager, Dimitris, for details of a visiting beautician.
FOOD AND DRINK
Paxos now has a rich diversity of eateries. Here is a selection of traditional dishes that you can expect to find at some of the tavernas:
Taramosalata: A fish roe dip made with garlic, onion, bread crumbs, olive oil and lemon juice.
Tzatziki: A yoghurt and cucumber dip.
Melitzanosalata: An aubergine dip made with garlic, onion, lemon juice and herbs.
Dolmades: Vine leaves stuffed with rice, egg and lemon sauce.
Zuccini Balls: Fried pates of courgette, dill, feta and lemon juice.
Horta: Traditional local wild greens, boiled. Add plenty of oil, lemon juice and black pepper!
Tiropitta: Cheese pie made with filo pastry
Spanakopitta: Spinach and feta cheese pie made with filo pastry.
Saganaki: Deep fried cheese served with a wedge of lemon
Yigantes: Butter beans cooked in seasoned tomato, garlic and onion sauce.
Scorthalia: A garlic dip made with mashed potato and served cold as an accompaniment to fish or on its own.
Horiatiki: Greek Salad of course!
Moussaka: Layers of aubergine, mincemeat and topped with bechamel sauce.
Papoutsakia: Baked aubergines filled with mince meat, topped with cheese.
Keftedes: Deep fried meatballs flavoured with garlic and herbs.
Stifado: A meat stew with red wine, garlic, bay leaves, sometimes nutmeg, baby onions and tomato.
Kleftiko: A slow cooked lamb stew with onion, herbs, lemon, white wine.
Loukanika: Spicy sausages.
Yemista: Stuffed tomatoes or peppers. Sometimes the filling includes mince so if you are vegetarian, check before you order.
Fasoulakia: Green beans in a tomato and herb sauce.
Local Wines
In nearly all tavernas and restaurants you can buy a half or whole litre of “house” wine – there is a wide variation in taste! It is available in white, red and rose. This wine tends to come from the mainland. A rich, ruby-red wine is produced from the AntiPaxos vineyards but not much so it's not easy to find.
There are now many Greek wineries producing some excellent wines but in small quantities so many are not exported and we might therefore be ignorant of the present standards. Even in Greece bottled wine can be expensive when compared to the UK marketplace where prices are more competitive. As a suggestion, try a few bottles from a minimarket, remember the names of ones you like and then see if the taverna stocks one of them.
The supermarkets also sell boxed wine – OINOI Cabernet Sauvignon is very palatable.
Andreas has a wine shop in Lakka called Cava Wines. He has visited all the wineries producing the wines in his shop. Many are excellent and very reasonably priced. Pop in and ask him for advice!
Tavernas
Each village is comparatively small so wander around and choose the taverna which appeals to you. Don’t stand on ceremony – ask to look at what’s cooking in the kitchen – a confident owner or chef will welcome this! Please note that in Greece sometimes the best food can be found in places that look very basic.
Gaios
There is one pizzeria, a few Italian influenced restaurants and then a good selection of traditional tavernas on the waterfront and in or around the square (and one just outside Gaios on the left road leading out). Gaios square has a mix of café bars and tavernas.
At Mongonisi there is Theo's Taverna above the beach and beside the beach, Carnayo Gold: a bar and taverna. Both have boat moorings.
1 kilometre outside Gaios, in Makratika, is Vontza Taverna.
Thimari Taverna is in Bogdanatika, beside the football pitch. Averto, To Steki tou Pappou, Lilias and Ilias' tavernas are in Magazia.
There are 5 tavernas and 5 café bars in Loggos.
There are 10 tavernas and 6 café bars in Lakka.
On the west coast there is the Erimitis Sunset Bar and yes, good for sunsets!
At Monodendri beach there is Ben & Eftihia’s taverna & bar, Bastas taverna & bar and Glyfada Beach taverna.
EXPLORING THE ISLAND
Arm yourself with the Bleasdale Walking Map of Paxos (sold locally in a few tourist offices) and wander off the beaten track. You can find deserted villages (where women, children and valuables were hidden away from invading pirates), grand churches with ornate campaniles, tiny hamlets, stunning views, deserted beaches, olive presses and a beautifully natural escape from a busy lifestyle back home.
MUSEUMS
The Paxos Folk Museum is housed in the old waterfront school of Gaios and offers a glimpse into the history of life on Paxos.
TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL
Ferry, hydrofoil and bus schedules are usually confirmed in or around April each year.
Taxi Numbers
Kostas: (0030) 6974 002236
Christos: (0030) 6977 472747
Tassos: (0030) 6976 648486
Haris: (0030) 6974 135660
Nikos: (0030) 6984 220011
People Carrier Taxi Service:
My Paxos Driver: (0030) 6980 070976
Paxi Van Service: (0030) 6986 998586
Paxos Transfer Services: (0030) 6982 575191
NON PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATIONS
The Paxos Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is a small Anglo-Greek charity, whose purpose is to improve the plight of animals on Paxos: http://www.pawspaxos.com/
The Paxos Festival Trust organises two festivals each year: the Spring Festival in June with an emphasis on contemporary music and the International Festival in September with a more classical repertoire: http://www.paxosfestival.org.uk/index.htm
Plastic Free Paxos:
https://plastic-free-paxos.org/
