Villa Powderpuff

Villa Powderpuff enjoys a wonderful hillside location on the pretty island of Paxos. Your holiday in Paxos will include days filled up with sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling and dining on delicious Greek feasts. You can wander through ancient olive groves and admire breathtaking turquoise bays, dramatic rocky west coast cliffs and the majestic Epiros Mountains. In spring, the island becomes a haze of purple with its stunning wild irises and lilies. The wildlife you will encounter on the island is fabulous. You can definitely count on a daily dose of Greek culture and nature on a holiday to Paxos. It is an artist's paradise being one of the least commercial Greek islands in the Ionian Sea. The island is only seven miles by three miles so can easily be explored on foot, by bike, car or boat. It is the perfect place for a spot of switch-off, to wind down and enjoy a frappe by the sea. You will watch local fishermen bring in their daily catches, queue in a local bakery for delicious fresh bread and receive a very warm welcome that will make you want to return to this lovely island.
 
Gaios is where you will arrive by hydrofoil, ferry or sea taxi plus it is the home of many sailboats. It is the capital of Paxos and the largest town on the island. It is charming and quaint with Venetian architecture and a warren of narrow side streets. There is a pedestrianised square on the seafront sprinkled with restaurants, tavernas and cafes where you can chill with a plate of tzatziki and a chilled glass of wine. You will taste delicious local Greek cuisine and find some very good shops. Gaios is home to the island’s only night club and its waterfront bars are very popular. There is a bus service from the town to Loggos and Lakka and some taxis. Sea taxis and other boats are available from the harbour to Antipaxos and Mongosissi.
 
Loggos is the smallest resort on the island, a picture postcard fishing village with gorgeous beaches on either side of the harbour. Marmaris Beach is shaded by overhanging olive trees and Kipos and Kipiadi Beach offers crystal clear water and is only accessible by foot or boat. Loggos is beautiful at night with its twinkly fairy lights. Monodendri is a lovely beach between Loggos and Lakka with windsurfing, canoes and a beach taverna. There is a steep walk down to the beach but it is worth it.
 
Lakka sits on the north tip with a large harbour where flotillas and gin palaces take pride in place. There are two main sand and pebble beaches and others accessible by foot. Lakka enjoys two bustling squares where you will see the locals having their coffees and ouzo. There are some lovely craft shops, a bakery, butcher, cake shops and others. Water skiing and scuba diving are available.
 
There are lots of organised boat trips to the west coast and its caves from Gaios, Loggos and Lakka but you should not take a hire boat to the west coast or Antipaxos as the sea can change quickly. The cuisine on the island is fantastic. There are lots of waterfront seafood tavernas, cocktail bars and cafes.

Read more about Paxos

A little off the beaten track compared to other islands in the mesmerising Ionian, the small island of Paxos is often considered to be one of Greece’s best kept secrets.

That said, more and more visitors are discovering the beauty of Paxos with its verdant scenery juxtaposing white-pebbled bays and crystal-clear sea. The island is reached via private sea taxi, ferry or hydrofoil from Corfu or take the car-ferry from Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland.

The gateway to the island is Gaios, the main port and capital of Paxos. Stroll by the picturesque harbourfront, admire the island’s Venetian architecture and stop off for a drink in a bar overlooking the glistening water. Take time explore Gaios’ winding lanes and soak up the town’s rich heritage before dining out in a taverna serving traditional Ionian dishes such as sofrito, pastitsada and bourdeto fish stew, perhaps accompanied by wine from the vineyards of neighbouring Antipaxos.  

To the north-east of the island, Loggos is a very pretty village with pastel coloured houses and waterfront tavernas, close to a handful of gorgeous beaches. Lakka is equally as magical with its natural harbour, backed by ancient olive groves and cypress trees, loved especially by windsurfers and boating enthusiasts. A 7km-long hiking path connects the two fishing villages with the most spectacular views of the Ionian sea.

For a superb day out, a water taxi or boat excursion will whisk you away to the tiny island of Antipaxos for idyllic coves and snorkelling opportunities thanks to amazing visibility in the azure-coloured sea. Vrika Beach and Voutoumi Beach are two of the Ionian’s most iconic bays with sandy shores (and a wonderful beachside taverna at Vrika Beach).

Back to Paxos, the western side of the island is more rugged with steep cliffs and fascinating sea caves, best explored by sailing, kayaking or hiking. Indeed, in the late spring and early autumn months, the island is a paradise for keen walkers who can follow beautiful trails through century-old olive groves, truly embracing the authenticity and incredible vistas of this magnificent Greek island.