Located in the heart of the Cyclades archipelago of Greece, the island of Paros offers endless beaches for sunbathing and water sports in the sparkling blue Aegean Sea. Due to the good wind conditions Paros is a great location for windsurfing and kite surfing. Famous for its white marble, Paros has also charming fishing villages, windmills, whitewashed houses, fertile valleys and rolling hills to explore. In the cosy seaside taverns of Paros you can sense the warm hospitality of the island.
Parikía is the lively capital of Paros, located on a beautiful bay. In the beautiful old town of Parikia you can stroll along the narrow alleys framed with whitewashed houses, orange trees and colourful flowers. In the lovely harbour of Parikía, which receives ferries from Athens and Crete, you can also see many fishing boats. Other fascinating attractions in the picturesque town include the medieval castle built of marble, the small museum and the church of hundred doors.
Naoussa is another interesting town on Paros. Once a sleepy fishing village, it has a Venetian port, great architecture and many seaside restaurants. Paros has also picturesque villages, such as Dragoulas, Mármara and Tsipidos. You can also visit the sleepy mountain village of Lefkes, which is nestled in the slope of the Mt Profitis Ilias. The natural beauty of the island with its endless beaches, sparkling blue sea, rolling hills, fertile valleys, and rugged cliffs is best explored on biking and hiking in Paros.
Paros, the island of white marble, golden beaches, windsurfing and charming villages
Sun, sand and sea are without doubt the main attractions on the endless beaches of Paros. The beaches of Chryssi Akti, Farangas, Pounda, Logaras, Piso Livadi, among others, are great for sunbathing and water sports. Due to the constant winds there are good chances for both kitesurfing and windsurfing in Paros. For day on the sea, you can also take a boat trip to the small island of Antiparos, which lies to the west of Paros. In addition, there are numerous small, uninhabited islets to visit around Paros.Parikía is the lively capital of Paros, located on a beautiful bay. In the beautiful old town of Parikia you can stroll along the narrow alleys framed with whitewashed houses, orange trees and colourful flowers. In the lovely harbour of Parikía, which receives ferries from Athens and Crete, you can also see many fishing boats. Other fascinating attractions in the picturesque town include the medieval castle built of marble, the small museum and the church of hundred doors.
Naoussa is another interesting town on Paros. Once a sleepy fishing village, it has a Venetian port, great architecture and many seaside restaurants. Paros has also picturesque villages, such as Dragoulas, Mármara and Tsipidos. You can also visit the sleepy mountain village of Lefkes, which is nestled in the slope of the Mt Profitis Ilias. The natural beauty of the island with its endless beaches, sparkling blue sea, rolling hills, fertile valleys, and rugged cliffs is best explored on biking and hiking in Paros.
Practical information for your stay in Paros
Like the rest of the Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea, Paros enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate with long, hot, dry summers and short, mild and wet winters.
Photo: micromanager, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
Visitor services. A popular holiday destination and a travel hub of the Cyclades island group, Paros has good facilities for visitors. English is widely spoken in the restaurants, hotels and shops of Paros. Finding an accommodation should be no problem, as there are many holiday apartments and hotels in Paros, many of them located next to the island's golden beaches. In the cosy seaside taverns and restaurants in Paros you can enjoy delicious Greek cuisine, fish and seafood. The nightlife in Paros is relatively quiet, but you can find some clubs and bars playing many kinds of music especially in the lively towns of Parikía and Naoussa. Paros is a peaceful and safe destination suitable for families.
How to get there. Paros is located in the central Aegean Sea, west to the island of Naxos. The distance from Athens, the capital of Greece, is approximately 195 km. There are scheduled domestic flights to Paros from Athens. You can also travel to Paros by fast catamarans and ferries from Athens, Crete and other Greek islands.
Local transport. Car rental in Paros is a good option for independent traveling around the beautiful island. You can also use local buses which operate between the towns and villages of Paros. Taxis are available in Parikia.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Naxos, Mykonos, Santorini, Athens
