Paxos

Map of Paxos

Paxi or Paxoi  is the name of the smallest group of the Ionian Islands which are called the Heptanese. It refers to a complex of islands, the largest of which are Paxos and Antipaxos. The capital of Paxoi is Gaios and is naturally protected by two islets, the Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas. In Greek mythology, Poseidon created the island by striking Corfu with his trident, so that he and wife Amphitrite could have some peace and quiet.

Paxi are located 7 miles south of Corfu, just 8 miles from the mainland coast and 12 miles from Parga.

Geography

The island is approximately eight miles in length and has an extension of 25,322km2. The west coast is dominated by steep white, chalky cliffs that are greatly eroded at sea level, and harbour many 'blue caves', which can be explored on launches departing from Gaios. Much of the attractive landscape is still covered in olive groves. Olive oil, soap  and fishing were supplanted by tourism as the main industry in the mid sixties, resulting in a construction boom, which has greatly altered the coastline around Gaios.

Paxos Complex: Antipaxos, Mogonisi, Nisaki, Katsonisi

Beaches

The best way to see all the beaches on the island is to make a tour of it with a boat(you can hire one). Paxos has very small beaches and the better known are:
Planos, Harami, Monodendri, Ozias, Kaκi Langada, Kanoni, Marmari, Levrehio, and the others Giana, Soulanena, Balos, Cloni Gouli, Kamini, the Salt, Kipiadi, Glyfada, Arkoydaki, Orkos , Ahai, Avlaki, and  Galazio.

Erimitis

Sightseeing
 

Gaios

Gaios

The graphical Gaios, the capital and main port of the island, which is separated by a narrow channel from it's natural breakwater, Agios Nikolaos, where a Byzantine castle was built, fortress of its time. Gaios got its name from the apostle Gaios who along with the apostle Krispos visited the island in the 1st century In AD. In Gaios it is worth visiting English govern orate on the platform of the old port, the Church of the Ascension and the Museum of Paxos. The museum was founded in 1996 and is housed in a neoclassical building which bequeathed in 1905 by Andreas Sygros in Paxi. In it, among other things, you can see finds from the prehistoric era and the classic years until the Second World War, as well as the resolution of the Ionian Parliament for the annexation of the Ionian Greek state in 1864.

Loggos
Loggos has a distance of five kilometers from Gaios and is a small village built among pine and olive trees, which is worth visiting for the church of the Life Giving Fountain and has a lot of taverns and bars.

Health spas

The hot springs of Paxi are known since ancient times, arising from the subsoil and ending  into the sea. Most of them are sulphides and are used in swimming pools in which they are used for their healing properties, especially in rheumatic and skin diseases.
The most important thermal springs are: the Ozias, John and Glyfada.

The west side of the island
One of the characteristics of Paxos is it's topography. The western side  is extremely steep,forming vertical cliffs, caves and sea arches. You can access at the west side os Paxos either from the island, or by boat, and you will see many beautiful beaches.

The West side of the island

Transportation

The island is serviced by ferry boats from the e port of Igoumenitsa (approximately 1.5 hours), hydrofoil boats from Corfu (approximately 1 hour).

Ferry schedules to and from Paxi
Ferry Boat from Igoumenitsa: 26650-24090
Ferry Boat from Corfu: 26613-65200
Ferry Boat from Paxi to Igoumenitsa: 26620 32269

Flying Dolphins:

Paxos Flying Dolphin, 266220-32269, 266220-32441, 26620-32122(fax) Petrakis Lines, 26610-31649, 26610-38690

Useful Phone numbers at Paxi:

Municipality: 26620 32100 - 26620 32207
Health Center: 26620 31466
Port: 26620 32259
Police: 26620 32222
Fire Department: 26620 31245 - 26620 31657
Museum of Paxos: 26620 32566
Post Office: 26620 32256