Lakka is the second-largest village on Paxos and one of the loveliest, set around a beautiful, almost enclosed horseshoe bay at the northern tip of the island. Sheltered by hills covered in olive groves and cypress trees, its calm, crystal-clear waters make it a favourite anchorage for yachts and a notable place for swimming, sailing and snorkelling. The village of Venetian-style stone houses gathers around two small squares, with tavernas. Cafes and shops just steps from the water, while nearby lie the family beaches of Kanoni and Harami. A stone lighthouse and a ruined fortress recall the island’s past.
This guide covers what Lakka is like, where it is, the things to do, the beaches, the sights, and how to get there.
Here you will find everything about Lakka on Paxos: what the village is like, where it is at the northern tip, the things to do around its bay. The beaches of Kanoni and Harami, the historic sights such as the church, lighthouse and fortress, the sailing and swimming. How to get there.
What is Lakka on Paxos like?
Lakka is a picturesque village around a sheltered, horseshoe-shaped bay at the northern tip of Paxos.
Lakka is the second-largest village on Paxos and Antipaxos, set around a striking, almost circular bay at the northern end of the island. The bay is sheltered by hills clad in olive groves and cypress trees, and its calm, crystal-clear water gives the village one of the most beautiful settings on the island.
The village itself is a cluster of Venetian-style stone houses, narrow paved lanes and two small squares. With cafes, traditional tavernas and shops set just steps from the water. It has a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere, and in summer the harbour fills with yachts and small boats, adding a gentle, cosmopolitan buzz.
This combination of a sheltered, beautiful bay, safe swimming, good tavernas and a genuinely relaxed pace makes Lakka a favourite with sailors, swimmers and those seeking calm. It is quieter than the capital, Gaios, but a little livelier than tiny Loggos, striking a balance that visitors find ideal.
Where is Lakka on Paxos?
Lakka lies at the northern tip of Paxos, around seven kilometres north of the capital, Gaios, and about four kilometres north of Loggos.
Lakka occupies the northern tip of Paxos, built around its sheltered bay on the calm side of the island. It lies roughly seven kilometres north of the capital, Gaios, and about four kilometres north of the little village of Loggos, making it the northernmost of the three main villages.
The bay of Lakka faces north and is almost enclosed by the surrounding land, which is what gives it such safe, sheltered water, prized by sailors. The village is backed by hills covered in olive groves and cypress trees, and the whole setting has a green, tranquil beauty.
Being at the end of the island, Lakka has a slightly out-of-the-way, peaceful feel, yet it is easily reached along the coastal road that runs up from Gaios through Loggos. This makes it simple to combine with visits to the other villages, or to use as a quiet base for exploring the whole of Paxos.
What is there to do in Lakka?
In Lakka you can swim and snorkel in the clear bay, sail or hire a boat, take a diving course, walk the trails into the hills for panoramic views, wander the village lanes and squares, and dine at the waterside.
The sheltered bay is the heart of life in Lakka, and swimming and watersports are among the main things to do. The calm, clear water is excellent for swimming and snorkelling. Especially around the rocky edges of the bay where fish and underwater plants create colourful scenes. The village has a diving centre catering to beginners and experienced divers alike.
Lakka is also a noted sailing spot. Its safe harbour making it a favourite anchorage. Small boats can be hired in the village for day trips around the island and across to Antipaxos. On land, walking trails lead out of the village into the surrounding hills, rewarding walkers with panoramic views over the bay and the sea.
Beyond the active pursuits, much of the pleasure of Lakka lies in its relaxed charm: wandering the narrow lanes and the two little squares. Browsing the small shops. Settling at a waterside taverna. The village is especially known for its beautiful sunsets, which draw visitors to the harbour to watch the sky glow over the water.
What beaches are near Lakka?
Lakka has two main beaches on its bay: Kanoni, a white-pebble cove with shallow water and the shade of olive trees, and Harami, a sandy beach popular with families.
The bay of Lakka holds two lovely beaches, both easy to reach from the village. Kanoni is a charming little cove of white pebbles, with shallow. Clear water and the welcome shade of ancient olive trees behind, a peaceful spot for a swim in beautiful surroundings.
The second beach, Harami, is sandy rather than pebbly, which makes it especially popular with families with young children, its shallow, turquoise water safe and easy for little ones. Trees around the shore provide natural shade, and a small taverna nearby means it is possible to spend a full, relaxed day at the beach.
Together, these two beaches make Lakka one of the best bases on Paxos for family swimming, with calm, shallow, clear water close to the village. For the coves further afield and the sandy beaches of Antipaxos, see our guide to the Paxos beaches.
What can you see in Lakka?
In Lakka you can see the pretty village squares and the church of Ypapanti, built in 1744, along with a stone lighthouse of 1832 on the headland offering fine views, and the ruins of an old fortress where villagers once.
It has a few historic sights that reward exploration. In the village itself, one of the two squares holds the church of Ypapanti, built in 1744, a reminder of the long history of the settlement, while the streets of Venetian-style stone houses are a pleasure to wander in their own right.
On the headland near the village stands a stone lighthouse, built in 1832. Which is well worth the short walk for the striking views it offers over the bay, the village and the sea. It is a popular spot for taking in the setting and, like much of Lakka, especially lovely towards sunset.
There are also the ruins of an old fortress near the village. Where the inhabitants once took refuge when pirates raided the area in centuries past, a reminder of the more turbulent history of these islands. Together with the church, the lighthouse and the old houses, these give Lakka a sense of history alongside its natural beauty.
Why is Lakka good for sailing?
Lakka is good for sailing because its almost enclosed, horseshoe-shaped bay provides safe, sheltered water and secure anchorage.
The great asset of Lakka for sailors is its bay, which is almost completely enclosed by the surrounding land and faces north. Creating a safe, sheltered harbour with calm water even when it is breezier out at sea. This natural protection has long made it one of the best and most popular anchorages in the Ionian.
In summer the bay fills with yachts and sailing boats, giving Lakka a gentle, cosmopolitan buzz and a lively harbour scene, while the village provides the tavernas, shops and services that visiting sailors need. Small boats can also be hired locally for those who want to explore the coast under their own power.
This strong sailing culture is part of the character of Lakka. Even for non-sailors it adds to the appeal, with the anchored boats making a pretty sight on the water. For anyone arriving by yacht or wanting to try sailing, Lakka is one of the finest bases on Paxos.
How do you get to Lakka?
You reach Lakka by the coastal road, the local bus or by boat. It lies about seven kilometres north of Gaios at the end of the island, and the bus runs there times a day from Gaios via Loggos.
Lakka is reached along the coastal road that runs up the east side of Paxos from Gaios, through Loggos, to the northern tip of the island. If you are driving or have hired a car or scooter, it is a straightforward trip of around seven kilometres from the capital, with the village at the end of the road by its bay.
For those without their own transport, the local bus is a good option. Running between Gaios and Lakka times a day and stopping at Loggos on the way. The village is easy to reach by public transport. This makes visiting Lakka simple whether or not you have hired a vehicle.
You can also arrive by sea, sailing or taking a boat into the sheltered bay, which is one of the loveliest ways to approach the village. However you travel, the journey is short and scenic, and full details of reaching the island are set out in our guide on how to get to Paxos.
Is Lakka worth visiting?
Lakka is well worth visiting for its beautiful horseshoe bay, safe swimming, family beaches, sailing and relaxed charm.
Lakka is one of the highlights of Paxos, and well worth a visit for anyone on the island. Its beautiful, almost enclosed bay, ringed by olive groves and cypress trees and filled with yachts. Is a genuinely lovely sight. The combination of safe swimming, family beaches and a relaxed, scenic village is hard to beat.
For families, the shallow, calm beaches of Kanoni and Harami are a real draw, while sailors prize the sheltered harbour and everyone can enjoy the walks, the historic lighthouse and church. The notable sunsets over the water. The good tavernas and laid-back atmosphere complete its appeal as a place to relax.
Whether you stay here in the quiet north of the island, or simply visit for a swim, a walk and a meal, Lakka rewards the trip. Together with Gaios and Loggos, it completes the trio of Paxos villages, and for many it is the most beautiful, a perfect blend of natural setting, history and gentle island life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Lakka or Loggos on Paxos?
Whether Lakka or Loggos is better depends on what you want, as the two northern villages of Paxos offer a similar peaceful charm but differ in size and character. Lakka, at the very northern tip of the island, is the larger of the two, set around a beautiful, almost enclosed horseshoe bay that is famous for sailing and offers safe. Calm swimming and two family beaches, Kanoni and Harami, along with a good choice of tavernas, cafes and shops, historic sights such as its lighthouse and church, and celebrated sunsets.
It is quieter than Gaios but has enough going on to keep visitors happy, and its sheltered bay gives it a lively, cosmopolitan buzz in summer when the yachts arrive. Loggos, a little to the south, is smaller and quieter still, a tiny fishing harbour with a handful of waterside tavernas renowned for their seafood. An intimate, unhurried atmosphere and a couple of pretty coves nearby. In short, choose Lakka if you want a beautiful bay, family beaches. Sailing and a little more life. Loggos if you want the smallest, quietest and most intimate of the villages with notable food.
Both are lovely, and because they are only about four kilometres apart, it is easy to stay in one and visit the other during your holiday.
Does Lakka have a sandy beach?
Yes, Lakka has a sandy beach, which is relatively unusual on Paxos, an island whose coves are mostly made up of white pebbles. The sandy beach at Lakka is called Harami. It lies on the village’s sheltered bay, where its soft sand and shallow, calm. Turquoise water make it especially popular with families with young children, who can paddle and swim safely, while trees around the shore provide welcome natural shade. Alongside Harami, the bay also has the beach of Kanoni, which is a charming little cove of white pebbles with shallow. Clear water and the shade of ancient olive trees. Between the two beaches Lakka offers both a sandy and a pebbly option close to the village.
A small taverna nearby means it is possible to spend a full, relaxed day at the beach with refreshments to hand. This combination of a rare sandy beach and a pretty pebble cove, both with calm, shallow, clear water, makes Lakka one of the best bases on Paxos for family swimming. For soft sandy beaches on a larger scale, however, most visitors take a short boat trip from Paxos to the neighbouring island of Antipaxos. Whose beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi are famous for their white sand and dazzlingly clear water.
Is Lakka a good place to stay on Paxos?
Lakka is a very good place to stay on Paxos, particularly for those who want a beautiful, relaxed base with safe swimming, family beaches and a strong sailing culture. Set around its sheltered horseshoe bay at the northern tip of the island, it offers calm, clear water for swimming and snorkelling. The two family-friendly beaches of Kanoni and Harami. A genuinely lovely setting among olive groves and cypress trees, along with a good selection of tavernas, cafes and shops around its two little squares. It is quieter and more scenic than the busier capital of Gaios. Has more going on than the tiny village of Loggos.
Striking a balance that suits visitors, and in summer the harbour full of yachts gives it a gentle, cosmopolitan buzz. Accommodation in and around Lakka includes rooms, studios and apartments in the village, as well as villas in the surrounding countryside, often with pools and sea views. It caters to couples, families and groups alike. Its position at the end of the island gives it a peaceful, slightly away-from-it-all feel, while the coastal road and local bus keep it well connected to the rest of Paxos. For anyone seeking beauty, tranquillity, good swimming and a touch of sailing life, Lakka makes an excellent and popular base for a holiday on the island.