Whether you’ve island hopped your way around the Mediterranean before, or you’re daydreaming of a Grecian adventures – Paros has to be on your Greece travel itinerary! The island offers the perfect blend of beautiful beaches, delicious food and lively nightlife, while being more relaxed and laid-back than some of the better-known Cyclades islands. Hopefully this Ultimate Travel Guide to Paros, Greece is all the convincing you need to visit this little slice of heaven ASAP!
Images above: churches in Paros
Top travel tips
- Getting to Paros – the easiest way to get to Paros from other Greek islands is by ferry, with Blue Star Ferries and Seajets being two of the biggest providers. Be sure to book your ferry in advance as they can sell out during the busy summer months.
- Cash or card – while many places we visited on Paros did accept card, I’d recommend having some cash on you, especially for public transport and bakeries.
- Getting round – Paros has a reliable and well-organised bus system. Depending on where you’re going, bus tickets will cost around €1.80 per trip and you can also get a full-day ticket for €9. You can pick up your bus tickets from the Parikia and Naoussa stations, or directly from the driver if you have cash. Be sure to check out the timetable before your visit as it does change quite often.
- Scooter hire – By far one of my favourite days on Paros was when we rented a scooter and beach hopped our way around the island. There are some beaches that would be difficult to get to via bus, so I’d highly recommend hiring a scooter and seeing some of the off-the-beaten-path parts of Paros. Expect to pay between €20 and €30 per day for a 100cc scooter.
- How to say thank you – one thing I always like to learn is how to say thank you in the language of where I’m visiting. In Greek, this is efcharistó (pronounced ef-cor-is-to)
- Can you drink the tap water on Paros – yes! Tap water on Paros is perfectly safe to drink, although it can have a slightly funny taste. There are a number of water refill stations on the island you can use, which are cheaper than buying bottled water.
Top left: scootering around Paros. Top right: bougainvillea crawling on building. Bottom left: shoreline in Naoussa. Bottom right: cat climbing stairs.
Where to stay
We stayed in Naoussa (sometimes spelt Naousa) while on Paros and it was the perfect base! Naoussa is a lovely fishing town that boasts classic Greek whitewashed architecture and winding narrow streets. It’s quiet and relaxed during the day, then really comes alive at nighttime, with lots of bars, restaurants and shops open till late. We stayed at Little Mermaid Studios, located right on the water near the main town (but far enough away that you’re not going to be kept up all night by music).
Images above: views from Little Mermaid Studios, Naoussa.
Where to wine & dine
- Cafe Symposium. Located near Parikia Port where you’ll arrive/leave from if travelling by ferry. Great spot for a coffee or lunch and escaping the heat with a big shady tree covering the terrace.
- Taverna Gladkos. A beautiful spot right on the water in Naoussa, perfect if you’re looking for a seafood dinner.
- Moraitis Winery. Make sure you check out this local winery and try some Paros wines. It’s walking distance from Naoussa town and you can get a flight of 3 tasters for about €8. Moraitis also have a wine bar in Naoussa town, Moraitis Vinothéque, that’s worth a visit.
- Allas Souvlaki. We had dinner here one night and the food was so good! It’s located in a really nice spot in a lively square, the perfect place for people watching.
- Kosmos Bar. Reeeeally nice cocktails. Very fun night out with great music, right in the centre of Naoussa.
- Ragoussis Bakery. Nice coffee and good for any bakery goods, we would stock up on bits for lunch here before heading out exploring for the day. It’s also open 24hrs, which definitely comes in handy if you’ve got an early ferry to catch!
- Pita Frank. We went here a few times for pitas and it did not disappoint! Consistently tasty (and cheap) pitas!
- Stratis Bakery. Located in Lefkes, Stratis Bakery is the perfect spot to grab a spanakopita pastry after checking out the town.
Top left: octopus drying in Noussa. Top right: cocktail at Kosmos Bar. Bottom left: Moraitis Winery. Bottom right: restaurants along water in Naoussa.
Must-see towns & beaches
- Santa Maria beach. A long sandy beach where you can easily spend a whole day dipping into the ocean and soaking up the sun.
- Piperi beach. A small sandy beach just around the corner from Naoussa, perfect spot for a sunset dip.
- Kalogeros beach. Known for having healing clay, Kalogeros beach is well worth a visit if you have a scooter or quad bike.
- Faragas beach. An absolutely stunning beach with crystal clear water. While there is a beach club here, you can also find a shady spot on the free beach just next to the club.
- Golden beach. A long sandy beach with lots of water sports on offer (wind surfing, SUPing, foiling, etc) and a few beach clubs too. A perfect spot to set yourself up for the day.
- Kolympethres beach. Very different scenery to other beaches on Paros, with beautiful rock formations and clear, warm water. A must see!
- Naoussa. If you’re not staying in Naoussa, then visiting the town is an absolute must! The quaint fishing village is full of colourful cafes and bars, traditional fishing boats and local seafood galore.
- Parikia. The main town on Paros and where the island’s port is located. You can easily spend a day in Parikia wandering along narrow cobbled paths, stopping into boutique shops along the way.
- Lefkes. A stunning town in the middle of the island, where you can hike the Byzantine Way to Marpissa. The hike takes around 1hr one way, I’d recommend getting started as early as possible to avoid the heat!
- Marpissa. Another beautiful town on Paros, studded with whitewashed bougainvillea-covered buildings. I could have spent hours wandering through the streets of Marpissa.
- Antiparos. Located just off the coast of Paros, you won’t regret taking a day trip to Antiparos if you have the time. This small but mighty island is the ultimate place to settle into holiday mode and relax.
Top left: relaxing in a hammock on the beach. Top right: cobbled street in Parikia. Bottom left: square in Marpissa. Bottom right: fishing boats in Naoussa.
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