What to do in Paros?
To visit Paros, in the Cyclades, is to discover an island with pretty villages by the sea and beautiful sandy beaches.
Thanks to its central position, it is easily accessible and is one of the most visited islands of the Cyclades. From exploring the capital Parikia to the chic seaside resort of Naoussa, from hiking in Paros Park to swimming on Golden Beach or Kolimbythres, discover our Top 10 things to do in Paros.
To help you organize your tour of the island, I have prepared a complete guide to Paros with all the places of interest not to be missed.
Also find my advice for visiting Paros in 1, 2 or 3 days as well as my selection of the best hotels to stay.
So, what to do and see in Paros, Greece?
Table of Contents
Visit Paros: the must-sees
1. Parikia
Parikia is the first town you will see when arriving in Paros. This is where all the ferries from Athens and other Cycladic islands dock.
Main city and capital of the island, it is one of the essential tourist sites of Paros. You will find many restaurants, cafes and very nice little shops, especially jewelry.
To see in Parikia, on the island of Paros:
- The old town and its picturesque cobbled streets
- The Kastro: built in 1260 by the Venetian Duke of Naxos on the remains of a temple dedicated to Athena. It was built with parts of old buildings present in Paros and has a circular structure with a rectangular tower.
- The Basilica of Panagia Ekatontapyliani: one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Greece. Built in the 4th century, its name means “The Virgin of the Hundred Gates”.
- The Byzantine Museum and its icon collection, accessible from the church courtyard
- The Archaeological Museum where you can see the remains found on Paros
- The ancient necropolis where tombs and sarcophagi dating from the 8th century BC were discovered
From Parikia, you can also reach Livadia beach in 15 minutes on foot, north of the port. It’s usually quite crowded but it’s the most accessible if you’re staying in Parikia and don’t have a car.
2. Naoussa
Naoussa is the chic seaside resort to go to in Paros if you want to do a little shopping or eat in good restaurants.
A former fishing village, Naoussa has taken advantage of the island’s tourist boom and its position by the sea to become the trendy place to see absolutely in Paros.
You will find a lot of quite luxurious and high-end shops and a good number of restaurants, especially on the small port. No specific monuments to see there, you can stroll as you wish in the alleys to admire its architecture.
It is also in the area of Naoussa that you will find some beautiful beaches (see below) and some of the most beautiful hotels in Paros. I have prepared a selection of the best for you further down in the article.
3. Lefkés
Built in a natural amphitheater on the slopes of Mount Aghion Pandon (the highest peak on the island), Lefkés is one of the places to see in Paros. It is considered one of the most beautiful villages on the island.
Former capital of Paros, it is only about ten kilometers from Parikia, in the center of the island.
To visit it, I advise you to park your car in one of the free car parks at the top of the village. You can then descend through the alleys to reach the bottom of Lefkes where the Agia Triada cathedral is located . The religious building is particularly impressive with its 2 bell towers on either side of the main building.
From Lefkes, you can take some pleasant hikes in the mountains. If you only have to do one, I recommend the Byzantine Trail linking Lefkés to Prodromos. It takes about 1 hour and is one of the most famous.
4. Piso Livadi
The charming little port of Piso Livadi is on the east coast of Paros. It is part of the third beach area of the island and is surrounded by numerous beaches.
The atmosphere is much quieter and more family-oriented, and above all less chic than in Parikia or Naoussa. It is the ideal place to spend a family holiday in Paros.
The place is very nice, it’s really nice to stop and eat there during a tour of the island. There are good restaurants with fresh grilled fish. I’m not very fishy in general, it even made me want to taste it!
5. The beaches on the island of Paros
Let’s continue this guide to Paros with what makes the main charm of the island, its many beautiful sandy beaches!
Overview of the beaches where to swim in Paros:
- Kolimbythres, with its large rocks somewhat reminiscent of the Seychelles
- Lageri beach with its fine sand and clear water, quite quiet and relaxed
- Monastiri (Paros Park): where you will find a restaurant and can practice water activities
- Naoussa beach, the closest to the seaside resort
- Santa Maria, a very long sandy beach with a private part. Ideal for windsurfing.
- Pisso Livadi beach and its family atmosphere
- Logaras which received the Blue Flag, it is also frequented by families
- Punda with its club broadcasting music for a rather young clientele
- Messada, beach for naturists
- Golden Beach, one of the largest beaches in Paros which hosts the international windsurfing championships
- New Golden Beach for surfers and windsurfers
- Faragas, pretty half-private beach. Shallow and very crowded water.
- Lividia beach, the closest to Parikia
- Parasporos where you can rent deckchairs and parasols
- Agia Irini, a quiet beach accessible only by a dirt road
- Pounta where kite surfers come to train, not really made for swimming.
6. Paros Park
What to do in Paros for a change from the beaches?
A bit of a walk of course! And for that the Paros Park is the ideal place.
It is located at the northern tip of the island, west of Naoussa. This 80 hectare park allows you to walk by the sea along 3 different marked trails.
The best is to do them in order, to see everything. They do not present any particular difficulties and offer a nice view of the coast. You will also pass by the lighthouse of Paros. Count about 2 hours to go around.
After doing this hike, you can land on the pretty beach of Monastiri located right next to the start of the trails. The water is shallow and it’s really pretty. You can rent deckchairs and there is also a restaurant.
You will find the trail map on the official Paros Park website.
7. Other villages to see in Paros
Besides Lefkes, you will find in the interior of the island several other villages to visit.
The 3 most important are Prodomos, Marmara and Marpissa.
Traditional villages, all have small cobbled streets with charming white and flowered houses , typical of the Cyclades. Most of the time impossible to access by car, their center is calm and relaxing.
You will find a few small cafes there , perfect for tasting local dishes.
To visit them, you can of course go there by car, but you can also take the Byzantine path which I told you about above and which connects Lefkes to Podromos and Marpissa.
8. Valley of the Butterflies
An idea of other activities to do in Paros: the Valley of the Butterflies. Not to be confused with the more famous place which is on the island of Rhodes, still in Greece but in the Dodecanese Islands.
It is located between Parikia and Pounda, near the monastery of Christos Dasous, at a place called “Petaloudes”.
And as the site bears its name well, you will be able to see there… butterflies! Well, nothing to get excited about, you won’t find pretty butterflies of all colors and sizes, but only butterflies of the callimorph species.
The valley is a unique biotope : you will find plane trees, laurels, olive trees and fruit trees where butterflies come to breed from May to July. They then leave in August and return in September. As you will have understood, it is therefore the best period to observe them.
The site is open from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and admission costs €2.50 per person.
To do if you have visited the other main places of interest in Paros.
9. Antiparos
Antiparos is the island located just in front of Paros.
To reach it, you have to go to Pounda. From there a ferry connects the 2 islands every 1/2 hour with a crossing of only 10 minutes. It is possible to go up there with your rental car if you wish.
In summer, Antiparos is also accessible from Parikia. Small boats take you there and make trips regularly. However, you will not be able to take a car there.
You will disembark in the main village, which is no exception to the rule with its shops and restaurants along the seafront. The rest of the island is much less crowded. You will find some beaches there to reach by bus if you don’t have a car.
Some offer nautical activities:
- Session de wakeboard
- Yoga class on a paddle + paddle tour
- Paddle trip with guide
- Baptism of scuba diving
You can also visit the cave of Antiparos, 10 km from the port (accessible by bus). The stalactites and stalagmites, although some have been stolen, are impressive and the cave is ranked among the most famous in Greece.
At the very end of the island, in Agios Georgios, you also have the possibility of taking a half-day cruise that takes you to the island of Despotiko where there is an archaeological site and a superb beach.
Count around 25€ per person. More information here.
10. Cruise around Paros and Antiparos
You are on an island, so why not take the opportunity to take a mini cruise around Paros and Antiparos?
Departures are generally from Parikia or Pounda.
You will have the choice between several providers who offer half-day or full-day boat trips. The type of boat can also vary.
During this excursion, you can go around Paros and Antiparos to discover the beaches with a few swimming stops of course.
In the program:
- The Blue Lagoon in Tigani
- The volcanic caves of Antiparos
- The tour of the island of Despotiko and passage by the rock of St Spryridon.
Prices start from 40€ with lunch and drinks included and can go up to a hundred euros per person for a semi-private cruise.
Here is my selection of the best boat trips around Paros (click on the links to book):
- Half-day boat trip for snorkeling
- Cruise on a sailboat around the small Cyclades – Several swimming stops on the program and lunch + drinks are included.
From Paros, you can also choose a boat trip to visit 2 islands: Delos, whose archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Mykonos, which along with Santorini, is certainly one of the emblematic islands of the Cyclades.
Pick up in front of your Paros hotel + boat transfer + 3 hours of free time on each island are included.
Book this excursion from Paros by clicking here!
Which Cycladic islands to visit around Paros?
If you have toured the island of Paros, I advise you to visit the other islands of the Cyclades which are around:
- Naxos is the nearest island. It’s the perfect island if you like to alternate a bit of hiking with beach breaks.
- Mykonos to party day and night non stop
- Ios, also famous for its nightlife
- Syros, the most populated island of the Cyclades and the administrative center of the archipelago
- Tinos and its pretty villages
- Santorini, the essential classic of a circuit in the Cyclades
- Amorgos, the ideal destination for hiking.
How many days to visit Paros?
2 days are enough to visit Paros, especially if you plan to rent a car.
1 Day in Paros
The first day, dedicate yourself to the northern part of the island.
Start with the capital Parikia (arrival town of the ferry) then go up to the North and the park of Paros. You can do the 3 marked walks.
Then continue to Naoussa where you will find plenty of restaurants for lunch. Spend the afternoon on one of the beaches after Naoussa: Siparos Beach, Stefano Beach, Lageri Beach, Santa Maria Beach or Kolymbithres.
2 Days in Paros
For the second day in Paros, visit the southern part of the island.
On the program for the day: the villages of Lefkès, Prodromos and Marpissa, the port of Piso Livadi for the lunch break and the beautiful beaches such as Golden Beach, Logaras or Faragas.
You can also get to Antiparos very easily to see the main village and discover the caves.
3 Days in Paros
If you stay 3 days in Paros, I recommend you to take a boat trip around the island and Antiparos. A great way to discover Paros from another angle!
Accommodation in Paros
In Paros, accommodation is mainly concentrated around Parikia (practical because this is where the ferries arrive and depart) or Naoussa, the island’s main seaside resort.
I have therefore prepared a selection of the best accommodation for you to sleep in Paros according to these 2 cities.
The best hotels in Parikia
- Margarita: Located 300 meters from the Basilica of Parikia and 400 meters from the beach. Double room with balcony from €37. Most: the kindness and the advice of the managers, the warm atmosphere.
- Nostos Studios Apartment: Located 1 minute walk from the beach and 1 km from the port. Studio that can accommodate up to people and with a view of the sea from 70€. Most: the roof terrace to admire the sunset, the family hotel, the warm welcome.
- Sunset View Hotel : Located less than 10 minutes walk from the port. Comfortable room with balcony overlooking the sea from €80, breakfast included. Most: the swimming pool, the free shuttle from or to the port, the free private car park. It is our favorite for its price / performance ratio in Paros.
- Akrotiri Hotel: Located 2 km from the port of Parikia. Clean and comfortable double room with sea view from €100 per night, breakfast included. Most: the swimming pool, the view, the good breakfast, the caring staff.
The best hotels in Naoussa
- Surfing Beach Village Paros: Located directly on the beach of Santa Maria, 5 minutes drive from Naoussa. Very nice bungalow in the Cycladic style from 30€ per night, breakfast included. The pluses: the swimming pool, the free transfer to the port, the setting, the free deckchairs on the beach.
- Hotel Senia: Located 200 meters from the center of Naoussa, by the sea. Room and suite with private balcony and stunning views from €105, breakfast included. The pluses: the 2 swimming pools, the free parking, the very good breakfast. It is our favorite for its performance / price ratio.
- Paliomylos Spa Hotel: Located 800 meters from Naoussa. Spacious and bright double room from €110 per night, breakfast included. The pluses: the swimming pool, the Spa and the massages, the decor, the full and varied breakfast.
- Villa Bellonia: 12 minutes from the beach and 1 km from Naoussa. Tastefully decorated room with balcony or private terrace from €120, breakfast included. Most: the swimming pool, the comfort, the excellent breakfast. The best choice for a romantic getaway on Paros Island!
- Saint Andrea Resort Hotel: 1.5 km from Naoussa, the hotel offers luxurious accommodation with private covered terrace and garden or sea view from 200€ per night. Most: the location facing the sea, the pleasant staff, the large swimming pool. This is our recommendation for a luxury stay in Paros.
Paros tourist map
To help you visualize the island a little better, I made you a tourist map of Paros listing the places to visit that I talk about in this top 10 things to do in Paros. You can display the map legend by clicking on the top left button with a small arrow.
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