The Ultimate Guide to Paros, Greece: How to Travel Slowly and Savour the Cyclades

Welcome to Paros, one of the most beautiful islands of the Greek Cyclades. Known for its sandy beaches and lovely villages, Paros is a must-see place when island-hopping in Greece. Paros is also the perfect place to slow down and enjoy a relaxing vacation. This ultimate guide to Paros will give you some history of the island, what to see while visiting, where to stay and suggestions on where to island-hop from here.

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In 2013, when I first visited the Greek island of Paros, it was still a relatively underrated island to visit compared to Santorini or Mykonos. It had such a laid-back vibe compared to the other islands I had been to. I was able to return over 10 years later and spend two weeks exploring the island at a slower pace.

While I haven’t been to many Greek islands - just Santorini, Paros, Naxos, and Rhodes - I can firmly say that Paros is my favourite. I love how charming the towns are and how easy it is to get around. I also love that it’s so close to co many other islands, which makes it great to visit when island-hopping in Greece.

The Cycladic Islands

There are up to 6,000 islands in the Greek archipelago, but only 277 are inhabited. Even still, that’s a huge number of visitable islands for travellers and it can be hard to decide which one to choose to explore first. For first-time visitors to Greece, I always recommend the Cycladic Islands.

The Cyclades are the most well-known islands, boasting those quintessential whitewashed buildings and brilliantly blue waters. There are 2,200 islands that make up the Cyclades, but only 33 are inhabited. While the Cyclades are the most popular islands, including Paros, there are still plenty of opportunities to be removed from the crowds.

Getting to Paros

There are two ways to get to Paros: by air or by sea. I like to fly out to the islands. Then, once you get out to the islands, it’s also so easy to book a ferry to another island. I use Ferryhopper to check times and book ferry crossings. It’s so simple to use, and usually your phone works as your ticket.

Ferries

There are several ferry services from run from Athens or direct from other islands. The ferry from Piraeus (Athens) takes anywhere from 2.5 hours to 5 hours. You could also get a ferry from the port of Rafina, which is closer to the Athens airport, but it does take much longer.

PRO TIP: I know that the idea of being on a ferry for more than a couple of hours is not fun, however, the Aegean Sea is ROUGH. Like, really rough. High winds and rough seas can make taking a high-speed jet ferry feel like the worst decision you’ve ever made. Do yourself a favour and opt for the larger, but slower ferries, like Gold Star and Blue Star. Their size makes it feel much more stable on the rough seas.

Plane

Aegean Airlines has direct flights from Athens and Thessaloniki through Aegean, Sky Express, and Olympic Air. I ended up opting to do this for my first leg to Santorini while I was there in the spring. It ended up being cheaper in the long run and saved me time from having to transport from the Athens Airport to the Port.

Getting around Paros

Driving in Paros in our little convertible was so much fun. Photo by Elizabeth M

There is public transportation on the island of Paros, but it’s not super convenient. The buses go to and from Parikia, the main town on the island. So if you are not staying in town, you’ll have to bus to Parikia before catching a bus to the other places on the island, like Naoussa, Lefkes, Pounta or Aliki.

The best way to get around is by car or scooter. We were able to rent a small car for 35 Euro a day. It was easy on gas, and we were able to visit so many other places, not accessible by public transportation. Also, having driven in several European countries now, I find that driving on the Greek Islands is easy compared to places like Italy.

Best Time to Visit Paros

The best time to visit any of the Greek Islands, but especially Paros is the shoulder seasons (May-June, September-October). There are fewer crowds at the beginning and end of the season, but you’ll also benefit from nicer weather. Peak summer can get sweltering in Greece, so it’s not for the faint of heart.

One drawback is the winds. In spring and fall, there are warm, southerly winds that blow and sometimes bring the sand from the Sahara desert with them. In July and August, the Meltemi winds are strong winds that can start with little to no warning and disrupt sea travel. Read more about the impact of the Meltemi winds here.

What to see in Paros

There are four main areas of Paros to explore: the main port, the rocky northern shore, the southern beaches and the central mountains.

Parikia, the main port

Parikia is the capital and the main port on the islands of Paros. Here is where you’ll find everything you need on the island, from the supermarket to car rentals to delicious restaurants and cute shops.

The best way to get to know Parikia is the wander all the cobblestone streets. Start at the famous Paros Windmill in the centre of town and head toward the main town square. From there, just get lost wandering through the tiny streets.

Peruse the shops, which I find are way more varied and local compared to the copy-and-paste souvenir shops found on Santorini.

Along the way, you’ll come across the Frankish Castle, a stunning piece of architecture that was built in the 1200s by a Venetian family on the site of an ancient acropolis using marble found from ancient sanctuaries from around the island. Much of the castle has been built up around it, but you can still see fragments of the walls today.

Nearby is Agios Konstantinos church, a beautiful whitewashed church at the top of the hill. It sits on the site of a temple of Athena and is the best place in town to watch the sunset.

Within Parikia, there are a few museums to visit, including the Archeological Museum of Paros, which hosts exhibits from Ancient Greek times, and Paros Byzantine Museum, which displays artwork and objects from the Byzantine Era. Don’t miss the Monastery of Panagia Ekatontapiliani in Parikia, aka the church of 100 doors. Unfortunately, the timing of my visit, which coincided with Greek Easter, meant I missed out on these beautiful sites. But I’m sure I’ll be back soon!

Lastly, just outside of Parikia is the Butterfly Valley Nature Reserve, or “Petaloudes.” It’s this gorgeous habitat for butterflies (one of only two in all of Greece). From June to September, swarms of Jersey Tiger Moths settle in this little oasis. The family, who happens to be related to my best friend, has been running this place for at least 100 years. Here, you’ll find walking paths and Byzantine ruins as well as a cafe and souvenir shop.

Naoussa and the rocky northern shore

Naoussa is the prettiest fishing village on the island. It’s exploded in popularity over the years but for a good reason. The small streets weave their way through the charming village. Pop your head into the many shops here, or grab a frappe at a cafe.

Be sure to check out the port where small, but colourful fishing boats line the port. If the weather is right, you can venture out to the Venetian Fortress. The fortress was once a watch tower for pirates in the 15th century. Take a peak through the porticos for a unique view of Naoussa.

Naoussa is home to the Instagram-famous bar/restaurant called Barbarossa Restaurant. It’s located in a picturesque spot in the town overlooking the port. It’s a cute spot, but I recommend grabbing a drink here and getting food elsewhere. There are so many amazing restaurants within a stone’s throw.

Nearby across the bay, you’ll find the best beach on the island - Kolymbithres Beach. It is definitely the most popular beach, but you have to check it out at least once. The huge granite rocks are smooth and formed so it looks like you are on the moon. It’s quite shallow here, and you’re protected in the bay so the water is generally warm.

North of Naoussa is the Santa Maria Beach. It’s a long sandy coastline overlooking the nearby island of Naxos and is perfect for any sunbather.

Aliki and the sandy southern shore

Ah, what can I say about Aliki! It’s my favourite little spot on the island. It’s more secluded and less popular than the other spots, so you’ll mostly find locals here. The restaurants along the water are so so good and all of them have the best spot along the water.

Aliki offers a more relaxed vibe than the rest of the island (which, let’s be real, Paros is already a laid-back place!) There’s not a ton of “things” to do here, but it’s a great place to rest your head at night.

You’ll definitely want to hit up one of the mouth-watering restaurants here and check out the Museum of Cycladic Folklore which is in Aliki.

There are also a ton of beautiful beaches around here, like the secluded Tripiti Beach and the soft-sand Gold Beach.

We hit up the Gold Beach often, grabbing an Aperol Spritz at the Blue Restaurant Bar so we could lounge in their chairs and soak up the sun.

Lefkes and the central mountains

You might think that Paros only has coastal villages to explore, but there are a few places inland that are worth the journey to get to.

Lefkes, a mountainside town, is 300 metres above sea level and boasts picturesque views of the surrounding mountains. Lefkes was actually Paros’ first capital city in the Middle Ages. The Church of Agia Triada is the main church here, with a beautiful facade and marble bell towers.

It was fun to get lost in the narrow paths and stumble upon this beautiful building with a stunning bougainvillea in bloom. I later learned it was the photo spot in Lefkes.

Because we were in Paros before and during Greek Easter, the town was almost deserted. It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, but that meant that a lot of the shops and restaurants were closed. The town does go all out for Easter and for Karavola Festival in August.

If you’re into hiking, check out the Byzantine Road, it’s a 6.5km in-and-out trail that starts in Lefkes and leads you through olive groves and pretty views to Prodromos. The path itself is over 1000 years old, paved in parts with marble.

Another inland village you may want to explore is Marpissa, a charming hilltop town. There are the typical whitewashed buildings and they have a couple of cool museums to check out. It’s a very photogenic village with a few restaurants.

What to eat in Paros

While in Paros, you’ll want to try some delicious Greek dishes - like souvlaki, fresh seafood like octopus and calamari, tzatziki, feta and pita, and kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters). For simple, cheap dishes, grab a gyro from pretty much anywhere. In the morning, I love having Greek yogurt with honey and fruit and a frappe (an iced instant coffee) although a freddo cappuccino is a bit more sophisticated.

For dessert try some Loukoumades, which are basically the Greek version of Timbits.

Where to stay in Paros

While there are several boutique hotels, I recommend finding an apartment stay in Paros. There are so many holiday homes that are close to beaches, restaurants and shops that allow you to relax and unwind while having your own kitchen.

I’m a little biased, but my friend’s family apartment is the coziest place in Paros. It’s great for groups of 2 or 3 and is within a two-minute walk to the beach. It’s got a lovely view of the ocean and it’s in the more relaxed village of Aliki.

You can rent the place through Airbnb or directly through their website.

If you need more room, then check out these places in Paros:

Day trips to take from Paros

If you’re staying on the island for an extended time, then you might want to take a day trip to a neighbouring island. Here are the most popular day trip, island-hopping adventures.

Antiparos

If you’re itching to explore beyond Paros, hop on the ferry at Pounda to Antiparos (It’s only 1.50 Euro to walk on). And you can explore the main port on Antiparos by foot.

Honestly, just spend your afternoon wandering the streets of Chora, the main town on Antiparos, checking out the cute shops, grabbing some delicious food and getting lost in the Venetian Castle, whose ruins you can still see today weaved into the modern village. You can still see the base of the circular tower that once stood in the middle of the castle. Today, it’s surrounded by the cutest homes and a tiny whitewashed church.

Another place to check out on the island is the Cave of Antiparos. It’s a little hard to get to on foot, you’ll have to catch a bus (or take your car if you brought it over on the ferry). But it’s full of stalactites and stalagmites and is filled with history several millennia old. Be warned, there are more than 400 steps down to the heart of the cave, nearly 100 metres into the earth.

You can also jump over to Despotiko Island which has an ancient Greek temple of Apollo. It was once a lively island until pirates killed everyone in the 17th century. It’s been uninhabited ever since. It can really only be reached by tour boat, but it’s still a cool place.

Naxos

Naxos is only a 45-minute ferry ride from Paros. If you’re crazing to see some ancient Greek ruins, which I admit, Paros doesn’t have a lot of, you can hop on over to the neighbouring island to see some. Other than seeing the main port of Naxos, the Temple of Apollo and the Venetian Castle of Naxos, you can pretty much explore anywhere. There are tours you can grab from the main point, or even hop on a catamaran for a tour of the island by sea.

Naxos was an important setting in Greek Mythology since it was where Zeus was said to have been raised away from his evil father Kronos.

When I visit Naxos again, I’d like to check out the Mount Zas (Zeus) Trail and cave - a 7.6km challenging trail that brings you to the cave and then up to the summit of Mount Zas.

Mykonos/ Delos

There are many day trip tours you could take from Naoussa in Paros to the islands of Mykonos and Delos.

Mykonos is one of Greece’s most famous islands, known for its nightlife and whitewashed buildings. If you’re there for a day trip, you’ll probably only have time to explore the main port town, but there’s still lots to see here, from the cute shops to the famous windmills to the area known as Little Venice.

Delos, on the other hand, is an uninhabited island known for its ancient Greek ruins. On Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find a museum, the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Artemis, an ancient theatre, and the famous Delos lions. Delos, in Greek mythology, was the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo.

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Let Paros set the Pace

Whether you're wandering the whitewashed alleyways of Parikia, sipping a seaside coffee in Naoussa, or soaking in the quiet charm of Aliki, Paros invites you to slow down and savour every moment. If you’re dreaming of a Cycladic getaway that blends natural beauty, culture, and calm, Paros might just be your perfect match. I hope this ultimate guide to Paros, Greece helps you plan a slow travel adventure that feels as magical and memorable as mine.

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