Posted by Paros (165 square kilometers, about 10,000 inhabitants) is located in the middle of the Cyclades. The beautiful island is visited by both backpackers and package tourists. The highest mountain is the 771 meter high Agios Pantes.
Old windmills are the landmark of Parikia
The capital and berth for almost all ferries is Parakia on the west coast. Along with Mykonos and Thira on Santorini, the town has the most tourists and the biggest nightlife in the Cyclades archipelago.
Along the long waterfront are many of the modern cafes, restaurants and shops of Paros Town, as the main town of Parikia is often called. Behind it is the old town with its old alleys, which is well worth seeing. The cobblestones of the alleys with the wide, white joints are famous. Cyclades like in the travel brochure. Pure romance.
Our opinion: Paros has a relaxed but lively character that is perfect for both relaxation and exploration. In some places, however, the island can seem a bit too touristy, which slightly diminishes its authentic charm. Nevertheless, Paros impresses with its balance of beauty, tradition and modern comfort.
Our articles about Paros |
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| Paros Overview | island of Antiparos |
| Parikia Paros | Naoussa Paros |
| Lefkes Paros | Piso Livadi Paros |
Sights on the island of Paros
Paros has a lot to offer in terms of sights outside of the main town. A highlight is the still original-looking fishing village of Naoussa in the north of the island. However, Naoussa is now almost overrun by visitors in summer. The fishing port of Naoussa is one of the most beautiful places in this part of Greece. The white houses and blue shutters are characteristic of the Cyclades.
Tip: Our favorite guesthouse on Paros: Casa Di Roma
The mountain village of Lefkes, located in the center of the island of Paros, is like a large open-air museum for the famous Cycladic architecture. Every day in the season, thousands of people come to Lefkes with rental cars and bus tours.
One of the romantic alleys in Lefkes
In summer, many thousands of colorful butterflies flutter in the Butterfly Valley of Petaloudes. It is only about seven kilometers from the capital Parikia. A local company even offers donkey riding trips into the Valley of the Butterflies on Paros.
Boat tours Paros
There are some great boat trips from Paros (day trips): More information and booking at Getyourguide
The island of Antiparos is a top attraction that should be part of every Paros trip. Antiparos is just two kilometers or 8 minutes by ferry from Paros. The island has one of the most interesting caves in Greece. The stalactite cave in the south of the small island can be reached by bus or rental car. There are tavernas on Antiparos as well as a few hotels and guesthouses. However, most visitors to Antiparos are day trippers from the large neighboring island of Paros.
The romantic harbor in Naoussa
From ancient times to the present day, Paros has been known for its marble. The Parian marble is of high quality. For example, the world-famous statue of Venus de Milo and Napoleon’s tomb are made of marble from Paros.
Paros is a relatively water-rich and green island. Grain, fruit and especially the famous wine, from which a large proportion of the farmers live, are grown. It is still a rich island. The great economic crisis in Greece is far less noticeable on Paros than in Athens, for example.
Map of Paros
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Paros is significantly smaller, but no less famous than the neighboring island of Naxos. Antiparos to the west is inhabited, Despotiko is not. |
- The most beautiful beaches on Paros are on the east side of the island in the area around Piso Livadi and Drios. Golden Beach is considered the best beach on Paros for surfers. Pounda Beach is especially popular with young people. However, there are also good beaches near the two larger towns on Paros (Parikia and Naoussa). Not to be forgotten is the small tourist village of Alyki in the south of the Cycladic island. Holidaymakers also come here mainly for the beach and the sun.
Top 10 Paros Sights and Attractions
- 1. Explore Naoussa
- This picturesque fishing village has a lively harbor with whitewashed houses, colorful fishing boats and many cafes, bars and fish restaurants. The town is also known for its nightlife.
- 2. Visit Parikia (Paros Town)
- The island’s capital is full of narrow streets, boutiques, cafes and traditional taverns. The highlight is the Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Church of 100 Doors), a 4th-century Byzantine church.
- 3. Relax on the beaches
- Paros has some of the best beaches in the Cyclades. Kolymbithres is famous for its unique rock formations, while Golden Beach, Santa Maria and Faragas are ideal for swimming and water sports.
- 4. Windsurfing and kitesurfing on Golden Beach
- Paros is known for its windy conditions, making it a top spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Golden Beach and New Golden Beach are particularly popular for these activities.
- 5. Visit Lefkes village
- Located in the hills, Lefkes is a traditional village with whitewashed houses, narrow streets and fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. It is an ideal place for a leisurely stroll and a coffee.
- 6. Take a boat trip to Antiparos
- Just a short boat ride away is the small island of Antiparos, perfect for a day trip. It offers beautiful beaches, a charming village and the famous Antiparos Cave, known for its impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
- 7. Hike the Byzantine Road
- This ancient stone-paved path connects the villages of Lefkes and Prodromos. The scenic route is around 3.5km long and offers a glimpse of the island’s natural beauty.
- 8. Experience the nightlife of Paros
- Paros is known for its vibrant nightlife, especially in Naoussa and Parikia. There are numerous bars and clubs here where you can enjoy cocktails, music and dancing.
- 9. Explore the ancient marble quarries
- Paros was famous in ancient times for its high-quality marble, which was used to create famous works such as the Venus de Milo. The ancient quarries near Marathi can still be visited today.
- 10. Try local cuisine
- Enjoy traditional dishes such as revithada (baked chickpeas), gouna (sun-dried fish) and local cheeses such as xinomizithra. Don’t miss trying ouzo or souma, the island’s traditional alcoholic drinks.
Paros bus timetableThe bus connections on Paros are excellent. There are four main lines. The timetable below is a few years old, in season, but not in the absolute peak season. Line 1: From Parikia via Lefkes and Piso Livadi to Drios Out: 07.25, 10.45 (only to Lefkes), 12.10, 14.15, 16.00, 19.00 (only to Lefkes) Return: 07.25 (from Marpissa), 08.55, 11.05 (from Lefkes), 13.05, 14.55, 16.5, 19.20 (from Lefkes) Line 2 From Parikia to Naoussa Out: 07.25, 09.00, 10.00, 10.45, 12.10, 13.35, 14.15, 16.10, 18.00, 20.00 Return: 07.45, 08.10, 09.30, 10.30, 11.30, 13.00, 14.35, 16.35, 18.30, 19.35, 21.00 Line 3: From Parikia via the Butterfly Valley to Aliki Out: 07.10, 08.45, 11.10, 12.10, 13.15, 14.15, 16.10, 17.45, 20.10 Return: 07.35, 09.10, 12.45, 13.45, 14.45, 16.40, 18.10, 20.40 Line 4: From Parikia to Pounda (ferry port for Antiparos) Out: 07.15, 08.45, 10.10, 11.10, 12.10, 13.15, 14.15, 16.10, 17.45, 20.10 Return: 07.50, 09.25, 10.25, 12.25, 13.30, 14.30, 16.25, 18.25, 20.25 The ferry Paros – Antiparos runs approximately every 30 minutes, more frequently in summer. You arrive directly in the town of Antiparos. The timetables for the boat to Antiparos and for the bus are coordinated. Prices are low, around 2 euros for a single trip (as of 2021). The bus station in Parikia is right by the port, less than 100 meters from the ferry dock. When you leave the port of Paros, turn right. The above bus timetable also applies for the most part on weekends, but there are slightly fewer buses on some routes, especially in the early morning. The bus drivers do not sell tickets or only do so with a significant surcharge. There are machines and kiosks that sell tickets. The standard ticket for 1.80 euros is valid on almost all routes. When you get on, the driver simply tears up the ticket and validates it. The timetable above is an example for the summer and is a few years old. In winter there are of course far fewer bus connections, in summer a few more. In recent years the bus timetable has hardly changed. From Naoussa, a few additional buses per day go to Santa Maria (northeast) and to the southeast to Piso Livadi and Drios. |
Location of the island of Paros
The island of Paros is about 140 kilometers southeast of Athens, the capital of Greece. From Piraeus, the port of Athens, it is a good four hours by ferry to the third largest island in the Cyclades.
The large neighboring island of Naxos is only 10 kilometers away. However, you have to drive around Paros from the main town of Parikia to get to Naxos town. Nevertheless, ferries only take about 45 minutes. The distance to Naxos is much shorter with a small ferry from the town of Piso Livadi on Paros.
The island Mykonos, north of Paros, and the island Ios in the south are other larger neighboring islands in the Cyclades group. The ancient island Delos is also not far away and is suitable for a day trip.
Arrival by ferry
The port of Paros in Parikia is the largest ferry port in the Cyclades. This applies to both normal ferries and fast ferries (catamarans). These are about twice as fast and about twice as expensive. 3-5 ferries travel to Athens every day. There are 3-6 connections to Naxos, Ios and Santorini. 2-4 ships travel to Mykonos (often only fast ferries). There is at least one connection to Crete every day during the season (catamaran ferry via Santorini, fare about 80 euros one way, journey time just under four hours). Ferries travel several times a week from Paros to the island Sikinos, the island Folegandros, the island Andros, the island Serifos, the island Sifnos, the island Ikaria, the island Samos and to some other islands.
➔ To book ferries within Greece, we recommend the reputable website Ferryscanner.com
A ferry to Antiparos leaves the village of Pounda on Paros twice an hour. The crossing costs less than 2 euros per person. Small ships also travel from the capital Parikia to Antiparos at least five times a day in summer. A single ticket for the crossing costs just over five euros. This is a passenger ferry. The ship from Pounda, on the other hand, is a car ferry.
Arrival by plane and expansion of Paros airport
Paros airport is a small, national airport. There are several flights a day with small planes for around 20 to 30 passengers, mainly to and from Athens. Almost all tourists fly to Athens, Mykonos or Santorini and take the ferry to Paros. But there are also flights to Paros in Germany with a changeover, mostly in Athens.
Important current 2020: Paros airport has been expanded enormously. Thanks to the extended runway, as far as we know to 2000 meters, larger medium-haul aircraft will be able to land on Paros in the future. The expansion is already complete. After that, there will probably also be direct flights from Germany to Paros. This is likely to have a significant impact on the island. According to a Greek newspaper report, a 300% increase in tourist numbers is expected on the Cyclades island. Above all, many more package holidaymakers are likely to come than before. Overnight prices could rise significantly, as the number of hotels or hotel beds is unlikely to increase significantly in the short term. The airports on Milos, Syros and Naxos are also to be expanded in a similar way in the next few years. Greece, the country in the midst of a major economic crisis, wants to increase the number of tourists by making travel easier.
Current note at the beginning of 2022: We have not found any direct flights from Germany to Paros for this year either. There still seem to be mainly flights to Athens and Thessaloniki.
Staying overnight on Paros
There are many hotels, holiday homes and inexpensive private rooms on Paros. There are about five campsites on the island of Paros. In Naoussa there is a youth hostel called Young Inn.
In the main town of Paros, Parikia, my absolute favorite is Pension Alexandras. Very central, good and, above all, cheap rooms. You can book rooms in advance by clicking on the hotel name. The equally recommended Pension Helliniko is inexpensive and offers free WiFi.
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Reader comments
A reader:
I was on Paros from the end of April to mid-May. I really liked it and recognized a lot of the information. I have another tip, because we found a very nice apartment complex, the Captain Dounas. It is a small complex in Naoussa, about 5 minutes walk from the town center. The complex is right by the sea, has a pool and, above all, the operators are incredibly hospitable. I have been going to Greece for many years and have of course witnessed the changes. This year I experienced hospitality again that reminded me of the old days. We celebrated and had a barbecue with the operators and the guests on May 1st. Everyone had a lot of fun. Chef Stavros takes great care of the guests’ well-being. At least once or twice a month he invites the guests to a meal together. Everything was just perfect here. The complex does not work with a travel company and lives from word of mouth and guests who book online. For me, a little “insider tip”.
By the way: We also took a trip to Antiparos to visit the caves there. The caves are currently officially closed because structural changes are being made. Stairs, lighting and information boards were built (we were lucky that the site manager led us down as far as he could). The construction work will take about 4 – 6 weeks before the official opening. Unfortunately, there is no indication anywhere that the caves are currently closed. So some tourists will now make the trip for nothing.
We suggested that a notice be put up on the ferry so that guests who really only want to see the heights don’t travel to Antiparos for nothing. Will that work?
Otherwise, we had particularly good experiences with the Barbarossa tavern at the port in Naoussa. It is a bit more expensive here, but the food, service and ambience are really first class.