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What to Do in Paros, Greece
- Name
- Ryan K
- @thefabryk
Step aside Mykonos and Santorini, there is a ruler of the Cyclades islands smack dab in the middle of the Aegean Sea that is much lesser-known (albeit still well-known) and therefore brimming with authenticity and, we feel, more to offer than their over-commercialized siblings. Whereas in islands like Mykonos, you may be spending close to €30 on a cocktail, Paros Island proves to be a much better bang for your buck.
We spent a few weeks on the arid, beautiful island, and while we consider ourselves to be seasoned travelers of the Greek islands, we adored the laid-back and non-pretentious vibe of Paros and now consider it to be high up there on one of our favorites. From endless, sandy beaches to sleepy inland villages to wineries to nightlife and great restaurants, the small island has something to offer everyone - and you will soon be addicted.
Let's get into it. Here's a Paros travel guide and must-dos to inspire your trip to Paros Greece, along with some logistics on how to get there and make the most of this idyllic island. So grab a rental car, scooter or even ATV and let's explore what the island has to offer.
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The Best Things to Do in Paros
Lose all sense of time lounging on beaches
Let's be real; the biggest draw for tourism in Greece is centered around its beaches, and Paros has no shortage of pristine beaches. Every few kilometers, you will hit another sandy wonder, and you cannot really go wrong; the sand is ample, so you will always have more than enough space and on top of it, most of the beaches have enticing crystal clear water. This makes it nearly impossible to crown the best beaches, but we can make an attempt based on your tastes.
Our Favorite Beach: Logaras Beach
We stayed as close as you can get to the beachfront of Logaras Beach (Paralia Logaras), on the Eastern side of the island, and it proved to be the one we kept coming back to; the serenity of the water, the idyllic view of Piso Livadi village and impressive Naxos on a windless day, the golden sand, and the collectively lazy vibes had us coming back for more.
Pure relaxation happening at Logaras Beach
If you head to Logaras, grab some lunch at the family-run taverna, Fisilanis, or for something more upscale and seafood-focused, Markakis down the way in the harbor side village of Piso Livadi.
You must get the fried eggplant at Markakis - the name just doesn't give the look and taste justice!
Other Fabulous Paros Beaches (and beach clubs)
We also loved Tripiti Beach for its shady alcoves (head to the far end of the beach for the best spot), Molos Beach for its solitude (we felt like we owned the place), Kalogeros Beach for its mud-bathing capabilities, Lageri Beach for the nudity and gay-friendlyness, and Kolymbithres Beach for its impressive rock formations.
If you are a beach club kind of person -- for the best Paros beach clubs -- you'll want to head to Santa Maria Beach, Monastiri Beach, or Golden Beach.
Again, beautiful beaches are plentiful in Paros, so drive around and find one that suits you.
Crystal clear water and solitude at Molos Beach
Explore the inland villages
Fun fact: Most of the settlements on Paros island were built inland, as there was a time when piracy was rampant. A result is that a lot of the local culture is thriving in the inner mountain (or more accurately, hill) villages.
One of the most well-known and picturesque villages is Lefkes. It is the best place to end up completely astray at every twist and turn. The small details are what impress the most, whether it be the vibrant hydrangea flowers, the lounging alley cats, or the local savoring a coffee at the local café. Make sure to wander around the Church of Agia Triada and into the adjoining cemetery, if that is your thing.
Lefkes Village Magic
Lefkes Village Magic
Lefkes Village Magic
We preferred the even less touristy, Marpissa, with little coffee shops, bakeries, and rundown windmills as well as a tiny taverna, Tsipido, rocking unique decor and fabulous food; the best time to visit being around twilight. Or, for the ultimate fresh seafood takeaway experience, grab a massive sea bass, grilled to perfection and served with a lemony, garlic oil at Mr. Lobb's.
Nothing like dusk at Tsipido's Taverna in Marpissa
Spend a glamorous evening in Naoussa
I mentioned the pirates earlier. Well, Naoussa was built as a fort during the Byzantine era to protect it from piracy. Today it is a bustling old town with narrow streets and sparkling white facades...and free of pirates.
You definitely won't feel like you have come off-the-beaten-path here, but on any night of the week, locals and tourists alike get dressed up in their finest and come up to Naoussa for a good time.
If you are looking for a glamorous short cruise or boat trip near Naoussa, Anna Maria Cruises is the only resource you need 🛥️.
Start with a gorgeous Italian-style aperitivo at i tria. While this isn't Italy, the vibes are friendly and the drinks are on point; plus if aperitivo were to become a common ritual in Greece, it would make the culture impossibly better.
Follow that with dinner at Sigi Ikthios (orzo with shrimps) or if you are looking for something more local and simple, Comfouzio (souvlaki). Continue and end the evening at Persona Bar, likely the only LGBTQ+-friendly bar on the entire island, complete with all your guilty pleasure music and overwhelmingly sexy staff. If partying isn't your thing, trade the booze for ice cream made with local milk at Nonna Crema.
Getting a lil' ouzo-tipsy at Persona Bar
Drink wine and be merry at one of the island's wineries
It isn't typical to come across a bottle of Paros wine internationally, yet. But, Paros Island boasts a rich tradition of winemaking with over 5,000 years of history. Currently, it is experiencing a revival in wine culture driven by organic farming, indigenous grape varieties, and passionate winemakers. Renowned wineries like the historic Moraitis Winery produce high-quality and diverse wines, including reds, whites, and rosés.
One of the newer contenders is French-owned, Domaine Myrsini. Driving through the arid-ness towards the winery, one would never expect to stumble upon vineyards, but after heading down the path marked by the Myrsini road sign, the thriving vines appear over the horizon. The flavorful profiles of whites, sparkling whites, and reds further confirm that wines from Paros have all the potential to spread en masse globally. Stop by for an evening for a casual wine tasting and lovely chats with the owner and other guests.
Lush vineyards of Domaine Myrsini
Roam around Paros Park
Paros Park is set on the northwestern edge of Paros Island, Cyclades, Greece. It is a natural and cultural reserve with an area of 80 hectares, containing striking landscapes alongside heritage sites, leisure activities and water sports. It is dedicated to maintaining the natural environment and promoting sustainable tourism.
Climb to the hill-top monasteries
As you drive through the hills of Paros, and look up, you will be floored at the number of monasteries, many of them perched up on hill-tops. One of the best things you can do is head to the top of one of these hills and see Paros from above. On a clear day, you will be able to see the surrounding islands and beyond with ease. Most of these monasteries have a road you can drive up, but for the adventurous type, go ahead and park a bit earlier and hike up. The two most impressive are:
- St. Antonios Monastery: From afar, this hill will keep sparking curiosity until you finally force yourself to the top. Head up there from the village of Marpissa around sunset on a clear day for one of the world's most spectacular views (and I've seen a lot of views!). You may just have a spiritual awakening wandering around the monastery walls.
- Agios Ilias: This is the highest point of Paros at 630 meters high. While not as kept up as St. Antonios Monastery, you'll have this feeling of being on top of the world with a 360-degree panorama of Paros and the nearby islands, like Antiparos. Plus, the contrast of the towering decrepit radio towers next to the monastery is quite impressive.
St. Antonios Monastery Views
Take a day trip to Naxos or Antiparos
If you are the slow travelers like us, I reckon all the aforementioned to-dos will occupy your time, but if you happen to get bored, there are always neighboring islands, which are great places to quench your wanderlust.
Even more remote and off-the-radar than Paros, Antiparos is known for an even more laid-back demeanor, even more pristine beaches and a stalagmites and stalactites cave. You can take a ferry from the main port of Parikia.
Despite the dryness of the Cyclades islands, Naxos is known for its agricultural production and is effectively the only island in the Cyclades that does not rely on tourism for its economy. They still love a good tourist though and aside from the beautiful beaches, delicious food, villages, it is also more mountainous than Paros, giving plentiful trail options for the hiking enthusiast. You can take a ferry from Parikia or if you are staying on the western side of the island, from Piso Livadi, with Kerras Cruises.
The Map of Paros
Here are all the places listed above put into one map.
Paros Logistics and Practical Information
When is the Best Time to Visit Paros?
The summer months between May to September is the ultimate time to visit Paros. July and August is peak season and super hot. We recommend going May to early June or September. Having went in early June ourselves, we can confirm that the crowds have not arrived yet!
How to get to Paros
There are no shortage of ways to get to Paros. You could either fly from Athens or take a ferry from Athens or nearby islands.
Ferry to Paros
Taking a ferry is our preferred way to reach Paros from Athens or other islands such as Mykonos and Naxos. The ferry from Athens to Paros takes between 3 and 4.5 hours and the ferry from Mykonos to Paros takes less than an hour. The ferries are safe and generally luxurious, with cafés on board.
🚨 Beware that Athens has two ferry terminals: Piraeus and Rafina, located on opposite sides of the city and both serving Paros. For more explanation on the ports and proximities to things, check out this site.
Flying to Paros
Paros has an itsy-bitsy airport that offers connections to Athens. However, remember to plan a bit further in advance, especially during peak season! Upon arrival at Paros Airport, you can either pick up a rental car or take a bus to Parikia, where you will find more transportation options.
Check flights to Paros on Skyscanner 🛩️ or ferries on Omio ⛴️!
How to get around Paros
Rental cars, scooters and ATVs, oh my! While rental cars are a bit easier to pre-book with companies like rentalcars.com, I tend to book scooters and ATVs upon arrival in any Greek destination. The first place to ask is to your accommodations, as they will know which companies offer the best deals. As we were staying Logaras Beach, our host recommended Maistros for scooter rental and we ran into no problems!
The roads feel much safer than other Greek islands, but beware that there are times when you will encounter narrow roads (these are no USA-style boulevards 😘). The only slightly scary parts are when going up larger hills to the monasteries, as the roads become single lane with no guard rails. However, most roads are paved well.
Check cars in Paros at rentalcars.com 🚗!
Can you get around Paros without a car?
Absolutely. There is a pretty consistent bus schedule that is able to transport you all around the island. These schedules take a little while to understand and read, but when in doubt, feel free to ask around. However, for full freedom, a car, ATV, or scooter is you best friend.
How many days in Paros are enough?
This is always a hard question for us, since we are slow travelers. I understand a lot of the time people travel to Greece from afar and want to get in as much activity as possible, but if you can afford the time, try and devote your Greek holiday to one or two islands and not more. In terms of Paros, while it is small, you can easily spend over a week; at bare minimum, try to spend 4 or 5 days in Paros. We heard a couple complaining that 2 days just wasn't enough!
Thanks Paros, for all the sun kisses and glorious, starry nights 😘
