Paxos Beaches: A Guide to the Best Spots to Visit
The island of Paxos is a jewel hiding in plain sight in the Ionian Sea. Paxos is packed full of pristine beaches and crystal-clear water, making it a popular stop on yachting trips.
This spectacular Greek island is so close to Corfu that you feel like you could almost touch it but it has a much more laid-back vibe.
I’ve explored all over Paxos by foot so that I can provide you with this guide to the best beaches on Paxos. I’ve included key details about how to get to some of the harder to reach beaches and what each beach is like. So let’s dive straight in.
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In a hurry? Want to know which is the best beach on Paxos to visit?
If you haven’t got long on Paxos or haven’t got time to read the whole article, this is my favourite beach on Paxos:
Kipiadi Beach
An impressive expanse of white pebble beach but without having been taken over by sunbeds. Perfect if you’re looking for a natural beauty of a beach.
Paxos Beaches Map
I’ve created a map of these beaches on Paxos to help you locate them.
I’ve also marked where you can find the footpath, next to the gate for the driveway to the Villa Delfini, for the walk from Khaki Lagkada to the wonderful Kipiadi Beach.
West of Paxos
Erimitis Beach
The walk to the beach from the main road takes 15 minutes and the last bit is very steep with some rocky steps leading down onto the beach. The views of the gigantic white cliffs and deep blue sea are worth stopping to admire on the way.
There’s parking on the side of the hill, just before the steps down to the beach, if you’ve rented a car or scooter.
Dramatic brilliant white cliffs dominate the stoney beach at Erimitis. The curve of the cliffs provide plenty of shade.
The water is generally rougher here than at some of the other Paxos beaches, as it’s located on the West side of Paxos, which is windier and wilder than the East.
Visit nearby Erimitis Beach Bar for sunset views and a cocktail or two.
To get to Erimitis Beach without a car, take the bus from Gaios to Logos and ask the driver to stop at Erimitis Beach (next to Lillian’s Tavern on the main road).
A bus ticket costs €3 each way and you can pay in cash on the bus.
Stock up on drinks and pastries at the bakery on the corner if you need to, as there are no facilities at the beach and it’s a long walk back up.
Pro Tip: water shoes are required here as the sea bed is full of stones.
If you like the sound of the beaches on Paxos, discover the similar beaches of Elba Island in Italy.
Avlaki Beach
Looking like a private outdoor swimming pool, Avlaki has its own charm. It’s a long expanse of water, surrounded by cliffs. The steps down to the beach have been painted in the colours of the rainbow.
The walk to the beach from the village of Kefalatika takes about 15 minutes and is a chance to build up a sweat before diving into the refreshing water.
This beach was much quieter than many of the other beaches on Paxos. Probably because it lacks the same impressive look of some of the other beaches. Don’t let that put you off though, the water was calm when I visited and the peace and quiet was heavenly.
Water shoes are a big advantage here, as there are large rocks.
There are no facilities at the beach but there’s a well-stocked supermarket in the village of Kefalatika, about ten minutes’ walk from the beach.
Katsionisi Beach
Located at the very southern end of Paxos, you can only reach Katsionisi by boat. Not so much a beach to sit on, but a gorgeous swimming spot, none the less.
The sea here is divine, a cool shade of turquoise and still as anything. There’s a picturesque church to look at. However, when I swam over from the boat I could see signs up warning not to walk on the island itself, which was a shame.
East of Paxos
Lakka Beaches – Harami and Kanoni Beach
The village of Lakka is a fabulous place to go for lunch. After indulging in Greek delights on the water’s edge, head over to one of Lakka’s beaches.
Kanoni is at the very tip of Paxos island and is the best of the two. Walk past the beach bar and sunbeds at Harami Beach and head along the path. Scramble down to the bay at the end, where it’s quieter than the sections closer to Lakka town.
The views of the boats bobbing about and Lakka harbour beyond are worth the walk, if nothing else.
Don’t forget to take lots of photos of the Paxos beaches and add some fun captions to capture your memories of Greece.
Orkos Beach
Now for an absolutely incredible beach on Paxos. It’s very hard to choose a favourite when the options for beaches on Paxos are so great, but Orkos Beach is up there as one of the very best.
It has a paradise island vibe, with the most turquoise clear water you can imagine and an inviting curved bay of white pebbles.
The water here is the type of blue that makes you look twice to check it’s real.
There’s nothing here, apart from a dilapidated building. I visited using the boat I’d hired for the day but you can also reach Orkos Beach by road and walking.
Orkos Beach is so gorgeous it was worth the boat rental fee alone to spend time in this tranquil escape.
Manadendri Beach
A busy, organised beach with refreshments and sunbeds available. Ben’s Bar makes this a popular spot if you want a day at the beach with all the convenience of facilities on site.
Giannas Beach
This beach right next to Gaios would be pleasant enough in many places, but Paxos and Antipaxos are so spoilt for gorgeous beaches that I only recommend this beach for a quick cool off at the end of a long hot day.
At only five minutes’ walk from town it gets very busy with families and boat trippers. Instead, head further up the coast to Balos Beach for a bigger beach to enjoy.
Pro Tip: there are steps along this stretch of coast road, close to Gaios, where you can get down to the rocks and sea from.
Aftiá Gaïdárou Beach
For a more secluded beach, walk south of Gaios for 20 minutes and look out for a small gap in the road barrier that leads to a rocky path down to the sea.
According to the map I had in Paxos, it’s called Aftiá Gaïdárou but there are no signs at the beach. Google maps says there’s a shop here but there isn’t.
This is simply a lovely beach, close to Gaios, with no facilities. It’s perfect for grabbing a piece of rock and taking a swim in the turquoise water.
There’s very little shade on the beach so bring an umbrella or you’ll have to sit in the cave like gap in the rocks to the north side of the beach (you have to enter the sea to find it).
By early afternoon we were joined by a few other sun seekers, but we had this place all to ourselves on several occasions.
Balos Beach
For a bigger beach, walk on another five minutes and you’ll get to Balos Beach. It’s still a pebble beach but there is a much larger bay here and lots of space on the rocks on either side to stretch out on.
Theare are no services at Balos Beach, so bring everything you need.
Note that there is also a Balos Beach on Crete, which sometimes comes up when searching for this beach on Paxos.
Mongonissi Beach
Located at the far end of Paxos, where a smaller island is connected to the main island by a small stone bridge.
There’s a sandy beach with loungers at Mongonissi. As it’s sandy, which is very unique for Paxos beaches, it gets very busy. I’d give it a miss unless you’re desperate for a sandy strip to share with the hoards.
The beach bar at Mongonisi, however, provides an oasis in the middle of a hot day beach hopping or hiking. The Greek salad and pizza is not particularly special but will fill you up. The big appeal here is people watching, as boats drop anker right at the side of the bar.
Kamini Beach
Kamini is the first beach north of Gaios. It’s a reasonable size, with a beach bar and umbrellas to rent.
Being so close to Gaios and with organised facilities means it’s convenient and popular with families, so you might struggle to find a quiet spot.
Khaki Lagkada Beach
Walk (or drive) further along the coast to have lunch at the laid-back beach bar of Aeolus. Think chilled Ibiza music vibes, banana trees for shade and cabanas to rent (at €45 per set I gave them a miss).
There’s a good range of food, from burritos to burgers, even if prices are a bit on the high side.
This is a great place to spend time for cat lovers as there are loads of them roaming around the bar.
Kipiadi Beach
Kipiadi is my favourite beach on Paxos (if I really have to choose).
It’s a huge, curved bay of giant white pebbles, backed by lush green forest. With no facilities, there’s nothing but the sound of the lapping of the turquoise sea to disturb you.
Kipiadi is a popular place though, so come after 5pm to get more of the beach to yourself. That being said, it’s big enough that you should be able to find a spot. I walked along the coast from Gaios but you can arrive by road as well.
It’s difficult to tell from Google maps but there’s actually a way marked footpath from Khaki Lagkada Beach that takes you all the way past some tiny desert island type beaches and down to the gorgeous Kipiadi Beach.
To find the footpath, head to the northern end of Khaki Lagkada Beach and look for the stairs. Follow the tiny blue and white marks that are periodically painted onto rocks.
There’s a hard-to-find turning directly next to the Villa Delfini entrance gate (to the left as you look at the gate). From here you can hike along a path that is, at times, overgrown but the bonus is that there’s a lot of shade. You need closed shoes here, I got scratched to bits on the brambles.
Antipaxos Beaches
Take a 15-minute boat ride from Paxos and you’ll land on the smaller island of Antipaxos.
If it’s possible to believe, there are more divine beaches on Antipaxos, perhaps even better than the Paxos beaches. It’s easy to get from Paxos to Antipaxos. Book a day trip, or spend a few days staying on the island if you can.
I’ve covered all the details of the Caribbean style beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi, and more, in my article on Antipaxos beaches.
Wrap up
Now you know that there are so many gorgeous beaches on Paxos to choose from, all that’s left is for you to book your trip.
If you’re visiting from Corfu, you’ll want an easy guide to how to get to Paxos from Corfu. Once you have the travel sorted, you’ll be able to lay back and enjoy the incredible turquoise waters of Paxos beaches in no time.