Paros Travel Guide: The Complete Island Guide

Paros sits at the centre of the Cyclades — geographically, temperamentally, and practically. It is large enough to have proper infrastructure, beautiful enough to compete with any of its neighbours, and sensible enough to avoid the extreme pricing of Mykonos or Santorini. The island has two distinct centres: Parikia (the port capital, whitewashed and labyrinths) and Naoussa (the fishing harbour turned upscale village). Between them, 16km of good road crosses an island of marble quarries, olive groves, and mountain villages.

Parikia

The main town and port — a classic Cycladic capital that rewards slow wandering. The old kastro (Venetian castle built from the marble of an ancient temple) is the focal point; the warren of whitewashed lanes below it contains the best-preserved historic centre in Paros.

Ekatontapiliani (Church of a Hundred Doors): The most important early Christian basilica in the Cyclades, built in the 4th–6th centuries. Entry free, open 8am–9pm daily. The interior is Byzantine and largely unrestored — unusual and historically significant.

Paros Archaeological Museum: Small but good collection of Cycladic marble figurines and the partial Parian Chronicle (a marble inscription recording events in Greek history from 1581 to 264 BC). Entry €4, open 8am–3pm Tue–Sun.

Naoussa

The island’s second town — a fishing harbour that has reinvented itself as the stylish alternative to Parikia. The inner harbour (with the ruined Venetian fortress half-submerged in the water) is one of the most photographed corners of the Cyclades. Restaurants and bars line the quay; the surrounding area has the island’s best boutique hotels.

Naoussa is expensive relative to the rest of Paros. Dinner at the harbour tavernas runs approximately €30–50 per person. For better value, walk two minutes into the backstreets.

Beaches

Paros has excellent beaches on multiple coastlines.

Kolymbithres: A series of small coves on the north coast near Naoussa, sheltered by granite rock formations rounded by wind erosion — unusual and scenic. Boat connections from Naoussa.

Golden Beach (Chrysi Akti): The main windsurfing beach on the east coast — a long straight bay with consistent wind, several windsurfing schools, and the annual PWA Windsurf World Cup. Wide sandy beach, beach bars, and good facilities. Busy in season.

Santa Maria: A bay north of Naoussa — clear water, a mix of nudist and clothed areas, less developed than Golden Beach.

Logaras: Near Piso Livadi on the east coast — a sheltered bay good for families, snorkelling, and calm swimming.

Aliki: A small village bay on the south coast — good tavernas, local fishing boats, relatively quiet even in peak season.

Antiparos

A 5-minute ferry crossing from Parikia (from Pounta) brings you to Antiparos — a small island with a different character. The main village has a medieval castle (enter free, walk the lanes inside), and the beaches (Agios Georgios, Sifneiko) are less crowded than comparable Paros beaches. The island’s famous Cave of Antiparos (entry €4, 6km from the village by road or bus) is a stalactite cave with a remarkable interior — visited since antiquity (Lord Byron carved his name here).

Where to Stay in Paros

Naoussa: Yria Island Boutique Hotel (luxury resort with private beach, from approximately €350/night peak), Parosian Hotel (village location, pool, from approximately €180/night peak), Villa Tsitsikas (small boutique, from approximately €130/night).

Parikia: Hotel Dina (classic Cycladic guesthouse in the kastro, from approximately €90/night), Argonauta Hotel (harbourfront, from approximately €85/night).

Golden Beach area: Poseidon of Paros (beachfront resort, from approximately €200/night peak), various studios and apartments from approximately €70/night.

Where to Eat in Paros

Barbarossa (Naoussa): One of the finest restaurants in the Cyclades — exceptional fresh fish, Aegean flavours, modern technique. Approximately €45–70 per person. Reserve.

Levantis (Parikia): Creative Mediterranean food with Eastern influence, excellent wine list. Approximately €35–55 per person (Kastrou area).

Tamarisko (Naoussa): Reliable mezedes and grills in a garden setting, good value for Naoussa (approximately €20–35 per person).

Ephesos (Parikia): Good honest Greek food near the port at fair prices, approximately €15–25 per person.

Paros Marble

Paros has been producing marble for 4,000 years — the Parian marble (lychnites, “lamp-lit stone”) was the most prized white marble in antiquity, quarried by lamplight deep underground to preserve its translucency. The Venus de Milo, the Hermes of Praxiteles, and the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury at Delphi are all Parian marble. The quarries (Marathi, 6km east of Parikia) can be visited — a rough track leads to the marble-carved interior of the main tunnel. Free access; bring a torch.

The Parian Chronicle (a marble stele recording events in Greek history from 1581 to 264 BC) was partly discovered here and is now in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. A section remains in the Paros Archaeological Museum in Parikia.

Getting Around Paros

KTEL buses connect Parikia to Naoussa, Golden Beach, Piso Livadi, and Aliki — approximately €1.80–2.50 per journey, reliable in season. Taxi from Parikia to Naoussa approximately €12. Car hire approximately €35–55/day; scooters from approximately €20/day. The island is small enough that a scooter covers most destinations.

Island-Hopping from Paros

Paros is the best ferry hub in the central Cyclades. From Parikia:

• Naxos: 30–45 minutes by fast ferry, several times daily. The largest Cycladic island, significantly cheaper than Paros, with excellent beaches, mountain villages, and the giant marble kouros statues.
• Ios: Approximately 1.5 hours — famous for its party scene (quieter now than its 1980s peak), good beaches.
• Santorini: Approximately 3 hours by conventional ferry, 1.5 hours by high-speed. Regular services year-round.
• Mykonos: Approximately 40 minutes by high-speed, 2.5 hours conventional.
• Antiparos: 5 minutes by regular small ferry from Pounta (a small port 9km south of Parikia, reached by bus or taxi).

No other Cycladic island offers the same frequency and range of connections as Paros. This makes it an excellent base for exploring multiple islands without committing to one at a time.

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