Villas in Paxos, Greece

The perfect destination for spending time in the great outdoors, Paxos’ lush countryside of olive groves and cypress trees lends itself to walking or cycling. Enjoy the peace and quiet for yourself, or take the opportunity to join one of the various organised walks around the island – where you can also learn about the flora and fauna. Many different walking tracks cover the island and as Paxos is so small, it is even possible to walk from one side of the island to the other! You are sure to come across some of the fascinating old buildings on the island including many chapels, windmills and olive-presses – dotted throughout the countryside.

Steeped in history, you will find many fascinating sights all over the island. The tiny village of Ozias in the oldest settlement on Paxos, and you can also visit the sixth-century ruins of the churches of Agia Marina and Agios Stefanos nearby. Another building of note is the old monastery on Panagia islet, which can be seen from several of our Gaios villas. You can learn more about the history of the island at the interesting museum located by the harbour in Gaios, which boasts various artefacts that date back to ancient times. Olive oil production has traditionally been one of the major industries on Paxos, and you can visit the olive press museum between Gaios and Lakka.

Choose from myriad idyllic beaches all around the island to spend lazy days basking in total peace and tranquillity. Stretches of white pebble and sand shelve gently into the inviting, crystal clear waters, where you can enjoy a cooling dip. Many coves are only accessible on foot and remain quiet throughout the year. Hiring a boat is a great way to explore the best of the island’s coastline, and is often the only way to access the most remote of the island’s beaches. The neighbouring island of Antipaxos is also just a 15-minute journey by boat, and boasts two stunning sandy beaches lapped by the blue Ionian waters.

Paxos is well-known for its production of excellent olive oil (the island is covered by more than 250,000 olive trees), and as such, this is a key ingredient to many of the local dishes. You can also try delicious local seafood in the many traditional tavernas or simply purchase some freshly-caught fish to barbecue back at your villa. The famous Greek-style salad is another excellent local dish to try when you dine out, and any meal can be perfectly complemented with a glass of the wonderful wine straight from the vineyards of nearby Antipaxos.

• Visit nearby Corfu, and explore historic sights, lively resorts and fine beaches.

• Pick up some local pottery and exquisite jewellery in the shops in Gaios.

• Explore the tiny, untouched island of Anti-Paxos, a haven of vineyards leading to white beaches and vivid waters.

• Enjoy an alfresco meal at the small fishing harbour of Loggos, the picturesque backdrop favoured by film-makers.

• Head to the cliffs above Ermitis Bay for fantastic sunset views.