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Paxos is the Ionian island that Italians and sailing crews have quietly kept for themselves for years: ten kilometres of olive groves, three small harbour villages, no airport, and an hour by hydrofoil from Corfu. The catch for anyone booking is that the hotel stock is tiny and mostly family-run, the best addresses sell out for July and August months ahead, and one of the three villages, Loggos, has almost no conventional hotels at all.
That shapes how to choose. Gaios is the capital and the only village with a real spread of places to stay and eat. Lakka, at the northern tip, has a horseshoe bay calm enough for children and a handful of hotels and studios. Loggos, on the east coast, is the quietest, with villas and apartments instead of hotels. South of Gaios, the tiny islet of Antipaxos has the white beaches of Voutoumi and Vrika, fifteen minutes away by boat. Below are 13 places to stay, the adults-only options, a village-by-village comparison, ferry details and the dates when hotels actually open.
Our Paxos travel guide covers the beaches, boat trips and what to do between swims, and the Ionian Islands guide shows how Paxos compares with Corfu, Lefkada and Kefalonia. Where independent guides disagree on a detail, such as the walk from a hotel into Gaios, we give the range rather than one confident number.
Quick Answer: Best Hotels in Paxos by Category
- Best boutique hotel: Paxos Beach Hotel — on its own bay between Gaios and Mongonissi, roughly 1.5 to 2 km from Gaios, with a pool and direct sea access
- Best villa experience: Torri e Merli — stone manor in the olive groves on the edge of Lakka, with a pool and a spa
- Best in Gaios: Paxos Club Resort — olive-grove hillside about 1 km above the capital, pool, spa and Ionian views
- Best in Loggos: Glyfada Beach Villas — olive-grove villas a 15-minute walk from the harbour (Loggos has almost no conventional hotels)
- Best in Lakka: Hotel Bastas — family-run, on the hillside above the bay, long established
- Best budget option: San Giorgio Apartments — Gaios, simple, clean, self-catering value
- Best adults-only: Paxoi Resort or Purple Apricot — both small adults-only properties a few minutes from Gaios
Where to Stay in Paxos: Gaios, Lakka or Loggos
Gaios. The capital and main port, and the only village with a real choice of hotels, restaurants, a supermarket and boat operators. The Antipaxos and sea-cave boats leave from here, and car ferries use the new port about a kilometre north of the centre. Best for first-time visitors, anyone without a car, and stays built around day trips.
Lakka. About 7 km north of Gaios, on a horseshoe bay with shallow, warm water. It has a mix of hotels, studios and apartments, a few tavernas, a bakery and a bus service to Gaios. Best for families with young children and for a quieter base that still has dinner options.
Loggos. A tiny harbour on the east coast with a handful of tavernas, about 15 minutes by car from Gaios. Hotel supply is close to zero, so you stay in villas and apartments; Glyfada Beach Villas and Soustas Apartments below are the nearest equivalents. Best for quiet, repeat visitors and travellers happy to self-cater.
South of Gaios. The Mongonissi and Ozias coast just south of the capital is where the Paxos Beach Hotel and a number of villas sit, with swimming coves close by.
How long to stay. Three nights covers the island for most visitors; four or five is relaxed enough for Antipaxos, the sea caves and a slow beach day. Some owners set minimum stays in peak season, so check before you book.
Do you need a car? Not if you stay in Gaios. The island can be crossed in 20 to 30 minutes by car, there is a limited bus service between the villages and taxis are few, so a scooter or small rental car helps if you stay in Lakka, Loggos or an olive-grove property.
Boutique Hotels & Resorts
Paxos Beach Hotel
A resort-style hotel on its own bay between Gaios and Mongonissi, with a pool, a restaurant and direct access to the sea. Guides describe stone-built bungalows and a large pool, and the private stretch of coast with swimming platforms is the main draw on an island where most of the shoreline is rocky.
Guides quote the distance to Gaios differently, from about 1.5 km to 2 km, so plan on a short drive or taxi for dinner in the capital rather than a casual stroll.
Best for: Couples, families, anyone wanting sea access and a pool in one place
Good to know: The swimming access is the main advantage, since Paxos's coast is mostly rocky. The pool compensates when the sea is rough. Some listings now show the property under a different trading name, so match the address (the road between Gaios and Mongonissi) when you book.
Check prices for Paxos Beach Hotel on Booking.com.
Torri e Merli
A stone manor in the olive groves on the edge of Lakka, converted into suites with a pool and gardens, and the most widely recommended hotel on Paxos across the independent guides we checked. Descriptions vary on whether the buildings date from the 17th or early 18th century and on the number of suites (seven or nine), but they agree on the setting: dry-stone walls, arched doorways and old olive trees.
The pool sits on a stone terrace with views through the olive groves toward the sea, and the property has a spa. One guide puts the walk down to Lakka at about 20 minutes through the groves.
Best for: Couples and travellers who want seclusion
Good to know: Torri e Merli closes from the end of October to about 20 April. The estate setting means a car or scooter is useful for the rest of the island, and some guides describe the property as adults-only, so check the policy if you are travelling with children.
Check prices for Torri e Merli on Booking.com.
Paxos Club Resort
A hillside property in the olive groves about 1 km above Gaios, with a pool, a spa, a restaurant and views across the Ionian Sea toward the mainland mountains. It is built around an 1896 stone house and is the resort-style choice for travellers who want facilities with Gaios still within reach.
Best for: Families and mid-range travellers who want a pool and views near Gaios
Good to know: The walk back from Gaios is uphill, with guides quoting 15 to 20 minutes, so a taxi, or the hotel shuttle where it runs, helps after dinner. The mainland views are best at sunset.
Check prices for Paxos Club Resort on Booking.com.
Gaios Hotels
San Giorgio Apartments
Budget studios and apartments up a stairway just above the quayside as you approach Gaios from the port, with kitchenettes that save money on an island where restaurants pass on the cost of supplies shipped by boat. The harbour square, supermarket and boat operators are within walking distance.
Best for: Budget travellers, self-caterers, longer stays
Good to know: No pool and no restaurant, and the stairway approach is awkward with heavy luggage. Gaios's harbour tavernas are steps away. This property is less documented than most on the island, so check room types and availability on Booking.com before you commit.
Check prices for San Giorgio Apartments on Booking.com.
Hotel Margina
A mid-range hotel in Gaios, roughly 400 metres from the harbour, named by two independent guides as a sensible town base.
Best for: Travellers who want a hotel in Gaios rather than apartments
Good to know: The walk to the harbour is short, and a taxi covers the ferry port and the Antipaxos boats.
Loggos Hotels
Glyfada Beach Villas
Villas set in roughly 17 acres of olive grove, a 15-minute walk from the harbour at Loggos, and one of the few stays near Loggos that several independent guides recommend. Units are villas rather than hotel rooms, so it suits families and groups better than a one-night stop.
Loggos is the quiet end of the island: a small harbour, a few tavernas and a minimarket. If you want a pool and a restaurant on site, base yourself in Gaios or Lakka and drive over for dinner.
Best for: Families and groups wanting space and quiet
Good to know: The walk to the harbour is about 15 minutes, so a car or scooter helps on the way back from dinner. Gaios is about 15 minutes away by car. Check whether breakfast and cleaning are included, as terms differ by unit.
Soustas Apartments
Mid-priced apartments in Loggos itself, recommended by two independent guides. You are in the village rather than on its outskirts, which is the point of staying in Loggos at all.
Best for: Couples and small families wanting to stay in the village
Good to know: Self-catering, with no hotel services such as a restaurant or pool.
Lakka Hotels
Hotel Bastas
A family-run hotel and studios complex on the hillside above Lakka's horseshoe bay, long established and with sea views from some terraces. One guide describes it as a three-star property of about 40 rooms. Lakka is the most animated of Paxos's three villages, which is relative on an island this small.
Best for: Families and couples wanting a Lakka base
Good to know: Lakka's bay is shallow and warm, which suits children. The hotel has historically opened from 1 May to 20 October. The walk to the lighthouse at the northern tip and the paths through the olive groves start nearby.
Check prices for Hotel Bastas on Booking.com.
Andrikos Studios
Simple studios with kitchenettes in the Lakka area, within about a kilometre of Charami Beach, for travellers who would rather spend on a boat trip to Antipaxos or a fish dinner at a harbour taverna than on the room.
Best for: Budget travellers, self-caterers, couples wanting a Lakka base
Good to know: Basic studios, clean and functional, with a pool listed at the property. They sit just outside Lakka village rather than on the harbour, so a scooter or car helps.
Check prices for Andrikos Studios on Booking.com.
Amfitriti Hotel & Studios
A budget-tier hotel and studios complex in Lakka, close to Harami (Charami) Beach and named in three of the eight independent guides we checked. It is the most-cited budget address in Lakka after Hotel Bastas.
Best for: Budget travellers who want a beach within walking distance
Good to know: Hotel rooms and studios are sold separately, so check which one you are booking.
Hotel Ilios
A small hotel in Lakka with a sister property, Studios Lina, if you want self-catering next door to the same management.
Best for: Couples and small families wanting a Lakka base
Good to know: Lakka is about 7 km from Gaios, so allow roughly 15 minutes by car or taxi.
Best Adults-Only Hotels in Paxos
Paxos has only a few adults-only stays, all of them small, so they book early. Torri e Merli, covered above, is also described as adults-only by at least one guide. The two below are the clearest adults-only addresses near Gaios.
Paxoi Resort
An adults-only resort of six suites, about four minutes from Gaios Beach according to Culture Trip's listing.
Best for: Couples who want a quiet base close to Gaios
Good to know: With six suites, July and August availability goes early.
Purple Apricot
An adults-only property of seven suites, about five minutes by car from Gaios Beach.
Best for: Couples and honeymooners who want privacy
Good to know: It is a short drive rather than a walk to the village, so check transfers when you book.
What Paxos Hotels Cost and When They Open
Prices. None of the independent guides we checked publish fixed per-hotel rates, because they swing with the season. One island directory puts boutique properties at roughly €150 to €300 a night, luxury at €200 to €500 and apartments at €70 to €150 in season. Treat those as ballparks and use the Check prices links above for your exact dates.
Opening dates. Most hotels run from late April or May to late October. Torri e Merli closes from the end of October to about 20 April, and Hotel Bastas has historically opened from 1 May to 20 October, so check before planning a shoulder-season trip.
All-inclusive. There are no all-inclusive resorts on Paxos. Room-only, breakfast and self-catering are the norm.
Practical Tips for Paxos Hotels
Getting there. No airport.
Ferry from Corfu: the hydrofoil takes roughly an hour (55 to 80 minutes depending on the sailing) and the conventional ferry is slower, up to about two hours.
If you're splitting the trip, our best hotels in Corfu guide covers the Corfu nights, including new-town hotels a few minutes from the port the Paxos boats use.
From Igoumenitsa (mainland): about 1.5 to 1 hour 45 minutes by car ferry.
From Parga: seasonal boat excursions (day trips or one-way). Boats arrive at Gaios, and car ferries use the new port about a kilometre north of the centre. Check schedules, since services are less frequent than on major island routes.
Book your ferry to Paxos in advance through Ferryscanner — especially in July and August when boats fill quickly.
Getting around. Paxos is small enough to explore by scooter, and many visitors rent one. Cars are useful but the roads are narrow. Walking between villages takes 1 to 2 hours through olive groves, which is pleasant in the cooler months and hot in summer. There are only a handful of taxis (one guide counts five) and a limited bus service between Gaios, Loggos and Lakka, so book pickups ahead in summer.
Antipaxos. The tiny island 15 minutes south of Gaios by boat, with Voutoumi and Vrika, two of the most striking beaches in Greece. Daily boats run from Gaios (and some from Lakka). Go in the morning to claim a spot, since the beaches are small and popular.
The sea caves. The west coast of Paxos has spectacular sea caves and towering white cliffs — accessible only by boat. The trip around the island (west coast caves + Antipaxos beaches) is one of the best boat excursions in the Ionian Islands. Book from Gaios or Lakka.
When to visit. June and September are ideal. July–August are busy (Paxos is popular with Italians and British visitors) and accommodation sells out — book months ahead. May and October are mild and uncrowded. Some restaurants close in the low season. See our Greece weather guide.
Comparing Ionian islands? See our best hotels in Lefkada and where to stay in Kefalonia, and use our guide to things to do in Paxos to plan the days around your stay.
Paxos Hotels FAQ
What is the best hotel in Paxos?
Torri e Merli, the stone manor in the olive groves on the edge of Lakka, is the most widely recommended, named in four of the eight independent guides we checked. Paxos Club Resort above Gaios is the best all-round resort-style choice with a pool and spa, and Paxos Beach Hotel is the pick for direct sea access.
Where should I stay in Paxos: Gaios, Lakka or Loggos?
Gaios for the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and boat trips, Lakka for a calm swimming bay and a quieter base, Loggos for peace and villa-style stays. All three are within about 15 to 20 minutes of each other by car.
Are there adults-only hotels in Paxos?
Yes, a few small ones: Paxoi Resort (six suites) and Purple Apricot (seven suites) near Gaios, and Torri e Merli near Lakka is described as adults-only by at least one guide. All are small, so book early for July, August and September.
Are there all-inclusive resorts in Paxos?
No. Paxos has no all-inclusive resorts. Hotels sell room-only or breakfast, and many visitors self-cater in apartments or villas.
Are there hotels in Loggos?
Almost none. Loggos is served mostly by villas and apartments, such as Glyfada Beach Villas and Soustas Apartments. If you want a conventional hotel, stay in Gaios or Lakka and drive over for dinner.
Do I need a car in Paxos?
Not if you stay in Gaios. The island can be crossed in 20 to 30 minutes, but taxis are few and buses are limited, so a scooter or small car is worth having in Lakka, Loggos or an olive-grove property such as Torri e Merli.
How many nights should I stay in Paxos?
Three nights covers the main sights for most visitors, and four or five nights is relaxed enough to fit in Antipaxos and the sea caves without rushing.
When do Paxos hotels open?
Most run from late April or May to late October. Torri e Merli closes from the end of October to about 20 April, and Hotel Bastas has historically opened from 1 May to 20 October. June and September are the best months for good weather without the peak-season crowds.
How do I get to Paxos?
Paxos has no airport. From Corfu, the hydrofoil takes roughly an hour (55 to 80 minutes depending on the sailing) and the conventional ferry up to about two hours; from Igoumenitsa on the mainland the car ferry takes about 1.5 to 1 hour 45 minutes. Boats are less frequent than on major Greek routes, so check timetables and book ahead in July and August.
Is Antipaxos worth visiting?
Yes. The tiny island 15 minutes south of Gaios has Voutoumi and Vrika, two beaches with white sand and very clear water. Daily boats run from Gaios; go early to avoid the crowds on the small beaches. The round-island trip with the west-coast sea caves and Antipaxos is one of the best excursions in the Ionian Islands.
Is Paxos expensive?
Moderate to expensive for the Ionian. Restaurant prices reflect supplies arriving by boat, and self-catering saves money. Hotel rates swing with the season, and one island directory puts boutique properties at about €150 to €300 a night in season. Paxos is cheaper than Mykonos or Santorini but pricier than Lefkada or the mainland.
Should I book a hotel or a villa in Paxos?
Hotels suit short stays and travellers who want a pool and breakfast. Villas and apartments make more sense for groups, families and week-long stays, especially around Loggos and the Ozias coast, where hotel supply is thin.
Written by
Athens-born engineer · Coordinates a 5-expert Greek team · 50+ years combined field experience
I write every article on this site drawing on real, first-hand expertise — mine and that of four colleagues who live and work across Greece daily: a Peloponnese tour operator, a transfer specialist across Athens, Mykonos & Santorini, a Cretan hotel owner, and a Northern Greece hotel supplier. Nothing here comes from a single visit or desk research.
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Every destination we cover has been visited and vetted by at least one team member — not for a review, but as part of their daily work in Greek tourism.