Paros
What to do
The island of Paros, rising out in the heart of the center of the Cyclades, with its unrivalled natural landscapes and its golden beaches offers a unique holiday destination in Greece. Stay in one of our amazing Bright Blue Villas and start dreaming of a fascinating memorable vacation: the young crowds will love the water sports, the beach bars and the night clubs, families with children will adore the safe sandy beaches with kids’ activities and the romantic couples will get excited with the relaxing enchanting atmosphere.
The Parian traditional villages located in fertile plains, particularly Naoussa, Parikia and Lefkes, are perfect samples of Cycladic architecture, with whitewashed cubic houses, paved streets and bright blue-domed churches.
In Paroikia, the impressive church of Ekatontapyliani, is considered the oldest and most important Byzantine monument of Greece- this church is believed to have been built according to orders of Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great.
Have an early dinner in Naoussa, to capture the sunset’s best colors; once a fishing village in the north, it now has a chic island atmosphere with fabulous restaurants and bars on its water front. Stroll around the narrow streets and discover shops selling trendy Greek clothes, modern Greek jewelry, beachwear and handcrafted sandals that are now sold in several stores and boutiques abroad. If you love nature, Paros has a hiking trail network of approximately 35 km. Try the route from Kolimpithres to Faros!
Optional Experiences
Activities in Paros
Activities
Beachlife
Paros beaches are famous for the turquoise waters and their golden sand. The beaches on the south eastern side, such as Golden Beach and New Golden Beach, are particularly popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing and have consistently been the venue for the Windsurfing World Championship.
Best Beaches for Families:
Faraggas Beach / Golden Beach / Santa Maria Beach / Kolibithres Beach
Best Beaches for Watersports:
Golden Beach / Monastiri / Pounda Beach
Hidden Gems / Less crowded:
Glyfa Beach / Lolantonis Beach / Agia Irini / Laggeri Beach
Windsurfing and kitesurfing
The Wind and Kite surfing centers in Paros are world famous and highly recommended both for adults and children: we can help you organize either a private or a group lesson with highly experienced professionals that will teach you to master the waves and the sails!
Visit the kite center in Pounda where the kitesurfers cross the straight between Paros and Antiparos ; when it is windy enough, you can look up and the sky is full of their sails that look like butterflies !
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Discover the underwater world of the Aegean Sea in a relaxing way! Let us organize for you guided dives and snorkeling in small groups with high professional standards through well-trained centers for the special PADI diving courses for children (8-15 years old).
Not far from Alyki, between Paros and Antiparos the islets of Panteronissi invite snorkeling fans to swim in crystal clear waters and explore the turquoise depths of these uninhabited islands.
Activities
Happy Children!
Apart from windsurfing, scuba-diving and snorkeling courses that will fascinate our younger guests, a wide range of other sports such as waterskiing, wakeboarding and canoeing and horse riding will keep them happy and busy! For the mountain bike fanatics, discover Paros through your wheels on a guided or a self-guided family tour!
Visit the Beach of Monastiri on the northern side of the island, where, even on windy days, young guests can waterski or have fun on a jet ski!
Alkioni Wildlife Park
Alkioni is a non- profit Wildlife Care and Protection Association, aiming to treat wounded, weak or sick Wild Animals, which are hospitalized in association’s premises. Several animals are received each year and the whole operation of the park is based on voluntary work.
Activities
Culture and Art
Arts
Our dedicated concierge team will be happy to arrange for you a painting, a drawing or a printmaking class in a tailored program that suits your personal approach and expressions.
Culture
Throughout the year, locals and tourists alike celebrate the island’s festivals. Historical or traditional they are authentic celebrations of the island’s everyday life. Don’t miss the opportunity to join in and celebrate and have some unique memories.
We highly urge you to visit Márpissa, founded in the 15th century, a must visit traditional village with a distinctive medieval character, with Byzantine churches, 17th century houses and quaint windmills. In this picturesque village a three day festival is taking place every August called “Routes in Marpissa”. Don’t miss it!
Activities
Visit Antiparos
Last but not least, don’t miss a day trip to Antiparos a smaller island opposite Paros, just a ferry ride away; its cobbled stone paved streets, the whitewashed alleys, the houses decorated with thriving pink and purple bougainvilleas attract each year a distinguished international crowd from Hollywood starts to fashion designers and royals.
Food and Dining
Mario
Mario (+30 22840 51047)
Our most favorite dinner spot in Naoussa, on the edge of the old port, Mario’s serves fresh fish with a spin. Starters include tuna carpaccio with aromatic oil and smoked salt and grilled octopus with bucovo and caper sauce; even more exciting entrées like seafood pasta with diced asparagus and saffron, or fresh fish baked in a salt crust.
Thea Restaurant
Thea Restaurant (+30 22840 91220)
Thea means “great view” in Greek and from the terrace of this fine restaurant you can enjoy a beautiful sunset and the view over the Antiparos strait. This restaurant is a real gastronomic destination and the cuisine here has many northern Greek influences and so do their sweets; in case you are a wine fanatic, Thea has one of the most extensive wine lists in Greece; not surprisingly this restaurant also operates in the winter. Reservations are highly recommended.
Halaris Fish Tavern
Halaris Fish Tavern (+30 22840 43257)
Right on the dock of Piso Livadi , Halaris is one of the best tavernas on Paros, specializing in fresh fish and seafood dishes. Try the cod croquettes, shrimp pies and the small fried fish -catch of the day! don’t leave without tasting the tomato croquettes! They are peerless. Recommended for families with children as the restaurant sits on pedestrian street right on the waterfront.
Barbarossa
Barbarossa (+3022840 31951)
With a long tradition of serving tasty Greek food since the 60s, this restaurant has become a reputed eatery in the village of Naoussa offering an authentic Greek gastronomic experience. Try the specialties such as appetizers of cockles, sea shells and oysters; stuffed ravioli with lobster; salmon in ouzo sauce and shrimps.
Thalassamou
Thalassamou (+30 22840 91461)
On the breaking wave on the edge of Alyki village, this hidden gem serves creative Mediterranean dishes by using many local flavors and ingredients. A very good wine list adds more points to this must visit gourmet island spot by Chef Mario and this team. We simply love it.
Yemeni Restaurant
Yemeni Restaurant (+30 22840 51445)
A traditional Greek Mediterranean restaurant offering several exceptional local dishes. The restaurant stays open most of the year as there is space to enjoy a meal inside the premises. Definitely book to avoid being disappointed. Tables outside on the paved little street can get too busy in peak season.
Buonvento
Buonvento (+30 22840 42694)
If you think you can not have an excellent Italian meal in Paros, this hidden gem will prove you wrong. Best time to visit is for an early dinner as the courtyard offers amazing views to Naxos Island – also, this restaurant is an ideal place to enjoy the August full moon. The kitchen is made of simple Napolitan recipes using mainly biological products from Paros and some top quality Italian products. Reservations a must.
Stou Fred
Stou Fred (+30 697 044 8763)
An excellent small restaurant with a beautiful garden full of flowers at Paroikia. The menu is fixed and changes weekly. Cosmopolitan atmosphere and incredible environment! An early reservation is required.
Henri G
Henri G (+30 22840 24407)
Established in a unique neoclassical mansion built in 1890 Henri G is the new addition in the center of Paroikia. The chef is presenting an elegant Mediterranean cuisine, with a touch of French inspiration, using local selected products from Paros.
The Green Project
The Green Project (+30 2284 041388)
A café-restaurant with an open garden yard, famous for its home made marmalades. The Green Project is always willing to serve you with the best drinks, spirits and a variety of dishes from local products.
Fotis Art Cafe
Fotis Art Café (+30 2284 053000)
A cute café-bar at the little harbor of Aghios Dimitris- Boukadoura in Naoussa, which also hosts art exhibitions.
Sigi Ixthios
Sigi Ixthios (+22840 52639)
In the picturesque port of Naoussa, next to the fishing boats and all the island action, Yiannis and his team offer mouthwatering Greek delicacies and fresh fish. Seafood is the main option here, go for the grilled fish but we could not resist on all the appetizers most of them made out of local produce.
Nightlife
Naoussa attracts young crowds who love the little bars which are tucked away in the white streets and stay open till dawn!
You can enjoy your drinks on the waterfront under the starry skies or look for some action in the discos and the dancing spots. Ask our Concierge Team for the best places to dance all night long!
Getting There
By Plane
By Ferry
By Helicopter
Paros is connected by daily flights from Athens by Aegean Airlines. Flight reservations well in advance are highly recommended especially in the summer months. Sky Express also offers flights from Athens during the summer months.
Paros can be easily reached from the two Athens ports (Piraeus and Rafina) especially in the summer when ferry companies add to their scheduled journeys; Modern high-speed catamarans offering several classes of service are operated by Hellenic Seaways (www.hellenicseaways.gr) and Sea Jets (www.seajets.gr) and are twice as fast if you wish to travel by boat. The trip lasts little less than 4hrs. You can also reach Paros via other Greek islands if you want to island-hop.
The helicopter ride from Athens to Paros lasts around 4o minutes and makes the island easily accessible to the most demanding travelers.