Paros

Multilayered, multidimensional Paros has the potential to offer you whatever you desire. If you want to spend your days swimming, you’ll find beaches large and small, secret and well-known. If you chase the wind, you’ll rejoice in the world-famous sites for kitesurfing and windsurfing. If you’re after a Cycladic fairy tale, you’ll be intoxicated by the smell of jasmine and bougainvillea, the maze of hidden alleyways in Parikia, and leisurely afternoons in Naoussa’s tiny marinas. If you’re looking to turn up the volume, you’ll enjoy exotic cocktails and loud music at lively beach bars and clubs, day or night.

And if you want to travel in time, you’ll visit the most significant early church in the Aegean, the awe-inspiring Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Church of 100 Doors). Or you could climb to the Venetian castle at the port and visit the Byzantine Road at Lefkes. 

However you get here, whatever your heart desires, one thing is certain: Paros has it all!

What to do on Paros

‘Paria Lithos’, the world-renowned marble of Paros

Hard and ductile at the same time, Parian marble is one of a kind, unsurpassed thanks to its unique transparency and purity. Just a few of the most famous works sculpted in this fabulous medium include the Venus de Milo, Hermes of Praxiteles, Nike of Delos, the Temple of Apollo and the Treasury of Sifnos in Delphi.

Kolymbithres: Sculptures of the wind and sea

Golden sand embroidered around granite rocks, smoothed by the wind and sea into incredible shapes. The seawater sculptures that locals have named Kolymbithres look as if they were dreamed up by an artist.

Naoussa: From pirates to parties

No one can believe that the marina of Naoussa was once a pirate’s den. The music echoing from the bars, the perpetual motion of restaurant tables and chairs, young crowds that want to live every night to the full, all combine to create a cinematic ambience.

Water sports with strong wind

Games with the wind in the strait that divides Paros with Antiparos and Naxos have no end. With winds that blow strong and steady, it’s an ideal destination for those who love sea sports, especially kitesurfing and windsurfing. Paros has been home to international tournaments for years. And if you aren’t already a pro, you can have lessons at Chrysi Akti or Pounta.

One-of-a-kind beaches

From hidden coves to organised beaches, Paros' famous swimming spots come in many forms. Chrysi Akti, Santa Maria, Pounta, Kalogeros, Kolymbithres: You’ll find it difficult to choose, but you’re sure to experience many that will stay in your heart.

Hidden gems of Paros

The Monastery of Ai Yiannis Detis

Time slows down at Ai Yianni Detis and the tranquility and charm of the white monastery permeate this entire bay on Paros. Here you can swim, walk and contemplate.

Lefkes: A peaceful courtyard

Whitewash and marble preside in this symphony in white. This was Paros' first capital, with houses built in tiers up the hill like an amphitheatre. You’ll find Cycladic architecture, neoclassical buildings and boutique accommodation all coexisting harmoniously. Park your car and walk, wandering through its peaceful alleys and admiring the flower-filled patios. Don’t forget to see the Byzantine road, a 1,000-year-old marble-paved path, built to connect Marpissa with Parikia

Off the beaten track: Marpissa and Prodromos

Two inland villages that are worth a visit. At Prodromos, the entrance to the village is a vaulted roof and steeple. Admire the traditional Cycladic homes before making your way to Marpissa, a 16th-century village with traditional windmills and churches.