Deciding where to stay in Paxos means choosing between the island’s three lovely harbour villages, Gaios, Loggos and Lakka, and the villas dotted through the olive groves in between. Gaios, the capital and main port, is the largest and liveliest, with the widest choice of tavernas, shops and services. Lakka, curving around a beautiful bay in the north. Is a relaxed sailing village with safe swimming. And tiny Loggos, midway between them, is a quiet, stylish harbour famous for its food. Paxos has no large resorts, so accommodation is small in scale and often characterful, from studios and apartments to villas with pools. Plan the whole trip with Greece Tours.
This guide compares the areas so you can pick the base that best suits your holiday.
Here you will find everything about where to stay in Paxos: the three main villages of Gaios, Loggos and Lakka, what each is like. Whether to choose a villa or a hotel, the best area for different kinds of holiday. How to decide which base is right for you.
Where you stay in Paxos?
You stay in one of the three harbour villages of Paxos: Gaios, the lively capital; Lakka, a relaxed bay in the north; or quiet, stylish Loggos in between.
Life on Paxos and Antipaxos centres on the three harbour villages of Paxos, and each makes a good base for a holiday, with its own distinct character. Gaios is the largest and busiest, Lakka the relaxed sailing village of the north. Loggos the smallest and quietest, so the right choice depends on the atmosphere you are after.
Only around ten kilometres long, the villages lie close together and are linked by road, bus and coastal path. Wherever you stay you can easily visit the others. Many visitors also choose a villa or studio in the countryside and olive groves between the villages, often with a pool and sea views.
Whichever base you pick, you are never far from a beach, a taverna or a boat, and the whole island is within easy reach for day trips. The following sections look at each village in turn to help you decide which suits you best.
What is it like to stay in Gaios?
Gaios, the capital and main port of Paxos, is the largest and liveliest place to stay, with the widest choice of tavernas, shops and services around its pretty waterfront.
Gaios is the capital of Paxos and the hub of island life, set around a beautiful sheltered channel protected by a small wooded islet. Its long waterfront is lined with tavernas, cafes and shops in handsome pastel buildings. It has the most facilities on the island. From restaurants and bars to banks and a good choice of accommodation nearby.
This makes Gaios a good base for those who like to have ample choice on their doorstep and a bit of bustle and life in the evenings. It is the most convenient village for arrivals too, being the main ferry port, and a natural starting point for boat trips to Antipaxos and the blue caves.
The one drawback is that Gaios is at its busiest during the day, when day-trip boats from Corfu and the mainland bring large numbers of visitors to the town. By evening, once the excursion crowds have left, it returns to a more relaxed, local atmosphere that visitors find very appealing.
What is it like to stay in Lakka?
Lakka, in the north of Paxos, is a peaceful, laid-back village set around a beautiful almost circular bay.
Lakka sits at the northern end of Paxos, curled around a striking, almost enclosed bay whose sheltered. Clear water makes it a favourite anchorage for yachts and a lovely spot for swimming. The village itself is relaxed and pretty, with a cluster of tavernas, bars and cafes around the waterfront and a genuinely laid-back atmosphere.
Staying in Lakka appeals to those who want a calm, scenic base with a strong sailing and swimming culture, away from the busier bustle of Gaios. The bay and the nearby beaches offer the easiest swimming on the island, and the sunsets over the water are memorable.
Despite its tranquil feel, Lakka has enough tavernas and bars to keep evenings enjoyable, and it is well placed for walks through the olive groves and along the coast. For many, its combination of beauty, calm and good food makes it the most attractive base on Paxos.
What is it like to stay in Loggos?
Loggos is the smallest and quietest of the three villages, a tiny, picturesque harbour midway along the east coast.
Loggos, lying midway along the east coast between Gaios and Lakka, is the smallest of the three villages and for many the most charming. Gathered around a tiny harbour, with a handful of tavernas and cafes right at the water’s edge, it has an intimate, unhurried atmosphere and a quietly stylish reputation.
It is especially well known for the quality of its tavernas and restaurants. Making it a favourite with food-lovers. Its small size means a peaceful, village feel where you quickly come to recognise faces. For those seeking calm and character rather than choice and bustle, Loggos is hard to beat.
Its central position on the coast is a practical bonus. Putting both Gaios and Lakka within a short drive or a scenic coastal walk. You can enjoy the quiet of Loggos while easily visiting the other villages. Nearby coves and a pretty setting complete its appeal as a relaxed, intimate base.
Should you stay in a villa or a hotel on Paxos?
Paxos has no large resort hotels, so accommodation is small in scale: studios, apartments, small hotels and, above all, villas.
Accommodation on Paxos reflects the island’s peaceful, upmarket character, and there are no big resort complexes here. Instead the choice is between small hotels, studios and apartments. Often in or near the villages. The villas scattered through the countryside and along the coast, a good number of them with private pools and sea views.
Villas are a particularly popular choice on Paxos, especially for families and groups who value space. Privacy and self-catering. Who do not mind hiring a car or boat to get about. A hillside villa in the olive groves, with a pool and a view over the sea, is for many the classic Paxos holiday.
Studios, apartments and small hotels in the villages, by contrast, put you within walking distance of the tavernas. Shops and harbour, which suits couples and those who prefer to be in the heart of village life without needing a car. The right choice depends on whether you value seclusion or the convenience of being among the action.
Which is the best area to stay in Paxos?
The best area to stay in Paxos depends on the holiday you want: Gaios for the liveliest base with the most choice, Lakka for a relaxed sailing village with lovely swimming, and Loggos for a quiet, intimate base with excellent.
There is no single best place to stay on Paxos, as each of the three villages offers something different. The right choice comes down to the kind of holiday you are looking for. Gaios suits those who want the most facilities, choice and evening life. Lakka appeals to lovers of swimming. Sailing and a relaxed pace. And Loggos is ideal for peace, charm and fine food.
For families and groups, a villa with a pool in the countryside, within reach of a favourite village. Is often the ideal solution, combining space and privacy with easy access to beaches and tavernas. Couples and those without a car prefer to be based in the heart of a village, close to the harbour and restaurants.
The decision is really about atmosphere rather than location, and any of the three makes a fine base from which to explore the whole island and take boat trips to Antipaxos. Choosing the village whose character most appeals to you is the surest way to a happy stay.
Where to stay in Paxos for families, couples and longer visits?
Families and groups suit a countryside villa with a pool near a chosen village, while couples often prefer a studio or small hotel in Loggos or Lakka for charm and calm.
The best base varies with who is travelling and how long they stay. Families and groups tend to do best in a villa in the countryside or olive groves, with a pool, space and self-catering. Ideally within easy reach of a village for tavernas and supplies. Of a beach or harbour for swimming and boat trips.
Couples, by contrast, often favour the intimacy of a studio or small hotel in a village. With Loggos and Lakka especially appealing for their quiet charm, good food and easy access to the water on foot. Being in the heart of a village means no car is needed, and evenings can be spent strolling from taverna to taverna along the harbour.
For longer stays, a self-catering villa or apartment gives the flexibility to live at the island’s gentle pace, cooking meals at home and exploring by Paxos boat trips at leisure. Whatever the length of your holiday, it helps to plan your base alongside how you intend to travel, which our guide on how to get to Paxos sets out in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best village to stay in on Paxos?
The best village to stay in on Paxos depends entirely on the sort of holiday you want, as each of the three has its own distinct character. Gaios, the capital and main port, is the largest and liveliest, with the widest choice of tavernas, shops, bars and services. Making it the best choice for those who like ample options and a bit of evening bustle, though it is at its busiest during the day when the excursion boats arrive. Lakka, at the northern tip of the island, is set around a beautiful, almost circular bay with safe, clear water. Is a relaxed.
Scenic village popular with sailors and swimmers, ideal for those wanting calm and a lovely setting without being cut off. Loggos, the smallest of the three, is a tiny, picturesque harbour midway along the coast. Known for its excellent tavernas and quietly stylish, intimate atmosphere, perfect for food-lovers seeking peace and charm. Because the island is small and the villages are close together and linked by road and coastal path, wherever you base yourself you can easily visit the others. The choice is really about atmosphere: Gaios for liveliness, Lakka for relaxed swimming and sailing, and Loggos for quiet and good food.
Is Gaios or Lakka better for a holiday on Paxos?
Whether Gaios or Lakka is better for your holiday on Paxos depends on what you are looking for, as the two villages offer quite different experiences. Gaios, the island’s capital and main ferry port, is the larger and busier of the two, with the greatest choice of tavernas, restaurants. Shops and services. A lively atmosphere in the evenings, which makes it a good base for those who like a lively scene and the convenience of everything close by. Its main drawback is that it becomes crowded during the day when day-trip boats from Corfu and the mainland bring large numbers of visitors, though it quietens again in the evening.
Lakka, at the northern end of the island, is smaller and more laid-back. Set around a gorgeous sheltered bay that is a favourite with sailors and offers the easiest and prettiest swimming on Paxos, along with a good selection of tavernas and a relaxed pace. It suits those who want a calm, scenic base focused on the water. In short, choose Gaios if you value choice, convenience and a livelier scene. Lakka if you prefer tranquillity. Beautiful swimming and a gentler rhythm. Both are lovely, and being close together, you can easily enjoy the other on a visit during your stay.
Do you need a car if you stay in Paxos?
You do not necessarily need a car if you stay in Paxos, though whether one is useful depends on where you are based and how you like to explore. The island is small, only around ten kilometres long. Its three main villages of Gaios, Loggos and Lakka are close together and linked by a local bus, taxis and a scenic coastal path, so if you stay in or near a village you can manage very comfortably without a car, walking to the tavernas, shops and harbour and using local transport or boats to get further afield. The finest scenery, including the beaches of Antipaxos and the blue caves.
Is in any case best reached by boat rather than by road. A hired boat is often more valuable than a car. If, however, you are staying in a villa out in the countryside or the olive groves, away from the villages, a hired car or scooter becomes much more useful for getting to the shops, restaurants and beaches. For exploring the inland villages at your own pace. Cars, scooters and bicycles can all be hired locally on the island, which is generally more convenient and economical than bringing a vehicle across on the ferry from Igoumenitsa. In short, a car is optional rather than essential. Many visitors happily do without one.
Especially if they are based in a village and plan to explore the coast by boat.