Paros is our favorite Greek Island. It’s the perfect combination of iconic white buildings and marble streets, huge bougainvilleas trees, beautiful beaches, with just the right combination of rustic authenticity without being too touristy or too bare bones. It’s small enough to explore in one day with a small vespa, but big enough that you could spend a week or more exploring all it’s incredibly charming little towns. Outside of Santorini, this is what you picture when you think of the Greek Islands.
First things first…Let’s look at a map of the island Paros:
There are three main towns on the island of Paros (the small island to the left is Antiparos): Pounta, Paroikia and Naoussa. Paroikia is the port town that you will arrive and leave from. Pounta is the port town where you will take the ferry to Antiparos. They are both lovely towns, however, Naoussa is by far the nicest and best town for anyone to stay at. We highly recommend that you choose a hotel in Naoussa and visit these other towns during your exploration of the island.
The best place to stay in all of Paros is Hotel Senia. The rooms are fantastic, the view is unrivaled, the service is exceptional, the infinity pool is insane and the food (free breakfast included every morning) is to die for.
Check them out at www.hotel-senia.com
Hotel Senia is positioned perfectly above the port town of Naoussa. A small walk down from your hotel drops you off right in the town square where there is ample restaurants, shops, bars and a constant buzz of small town activity.
On your first night in Paros spend your evening walking around Old Naoussa Town. You can’t get lost and you’ll have a blast just hopping from storefront to storefront and from restaurant/bar to restaurant/bar. Check out an amazing sunset over the water from your seats at a local taverna right there in the center of Naoussa’s old town.
If you’re looking for the perfect venue for some fine dining with an incredible view for sunset look no further than Siparos. The restaurant is far enough outside Naoussa that you will want to take a taxi for sure. Make certain to book your reservation during sunset as the view from the restaurant is half the reason for the journey. The excellent food is worth the drive as well. www.siparos.gr
Are you a total wino that loves extensive wine tastings? Do not under any circumstances leave Paros without checking out Moraitis Winery. This quaint little winery is located a short walk from the center of Naoussa. Upon entering the winery you’ll be received in a large tasting room filled with old world charm, large wooden beams and vaulted ceilings. Their wine tasting involves 10-12 glasses of wine, cheese, olives, bread and other tasty treats and is incredibly reasonable. The wines are simply delicious. Be prepared to stumble home as they continue pouring you wine until you say “enough”.
One of the absolutely essential recommendations we can make regarding Paros is to rent scooters to go explore the island. If you aren’t entirely comfortable on scooters they have both ATVs and cars that you can rent, but the Vespa is just the perfect way to see the island. You can do pretty much the entire island in one day, but if you have more time…by all means take two days to really enjoy the island. Every small town throughout the island is unique, beautiful and worth a couple hours of your time.
Email ridemotorental@gmail.com their 50cc scooters which basically max out at about 30-35 mph are big, sturdy and easy to drive for beginners and are only 20 euros per day. They will drop them off at your hotel at your desired time and pick them up whenever you are done with them. We can’t recommend this service enough.
From Naoussa you’ll stop at the gas station at the bottom of the hill just outside the town and the nice men at the station will fill your scooter with gas. A full tank is more than enough to circle the island multiple times. From there follow the coast line around to the right (west) until you get to Kolimbithres Beach. This is a gorgeous beach that you can park up and relax on for a couple hours. If you’re hungry there’s a taverna right next to the beach with some of the best food on the island. It’s a great place to spend your first morning with the scooters and to grab some food before starting your adventure.
From Kolimbithres Beach, go back the way you came and then make a right onto the main road and follow the signs towards the port town of Paroikia. Paroikia is a beautiful town filled with small serpentine, marble paved walk-ways lined with adorable shops and small cafes. It’s easy to spend a couple hours shopping and walking around these gorgeous streets. Make sure to stop at L’Atelier Sandals where they’ve been making sandals by hand since 1935.
Stop in to take a few photos at Paroikia’s famous Byzantine church called the Panagia Ekatontapyliani
From here make sure to stop at Kakao Cafe for delicious homemade teas and cocktails or Ballo Sushi Bar for some delicious sushi.
From Paroikia follow the signs into the mountainous interior of the island towards Kostas and Lefkes. On the way up you’ll see signs for ancient marble quarries. Make sure to have a quick pit stop here where an old marble worker will bring you into his home and show you photos of his parents and their parents and their parents before them excavating the marble from the hillsides and working it into beautiful structures. These families have been quarrying marble since ancient times and are excited to show you their ancestry even if they don’t speak english. They are also excited to sell you their beautiful carvings. Make sure to bring home the perfect keepsake from these often passed over marble quarries.
The first town you’ll stop in is Kostas. This is a super small town and the perfect spot to stop for a quick coffee before heading on to Lefkes.
Upon entering the town of Lefkes, one of the first places you will see is this little pink building and the cafe called Pauvos. Pauvos has incredible breakfast deals and amazing crepes, deserts and an appetizer plate to enjoy with your Greek wine that is simply to die for. If that wasn’t enough it has one of the best views of Lefkes and the adjacent valley.
Right next store to Pauvos is a large Taverna that specializes in grilled meats. If you have the stomach for it, don’t miss out on visiting both of these amazing restaurants.
Lefkes is one of the most stunning small towns in all the Greek Islands. Take your time and walk around the entire town. It’s not big so it won’t take terribly long, but you’ll want to park your bikes/car and spend at least an hour exploring the tiny streets. Most likely there won’t be more than a handful of other tourists in this small gem.
From Lefkes you have two options. If you have time you can walk the ancient Byzantine Road. The Byzantine Road is a marble stone-paved footpath dating, as the name suggests to the Byzantine era. A one-hour hike down the road will take you to Prodromos, a tiny, picturesque village with small stone-paved alleys filled with Bougainvilleas.
In Prodromos make sure to stop at Kallitechniko Kafeneio for some of the best traditional homemade food on the island.
Following Prodromos you can stop at Marpissa which is known for their incredible festival at the end of August.
https://stimarpissa.gr/en/home/
Pisa Livadi which is famous for muscles and seafood
Golden Beach which is a small town known for water sports
Drios which is a small fishing town
Aspro Chorio which is a small charming settlement above Drios
Aliki which is a quaint beach town in the far south of the Island.
If you have more than 1 day you’ll be able to visit these small charming beach towns. If you only have the scooters or rental car for one day make sure you stop at Kostas, Lefkes and Prodromos. If you have to get home you can either take the long way around the southern part of the island or turn north at Marpissa and head back along the Northeast part of the island back towards Naoussa.
My final advice your trip to Paros…make sure to take at least a day trip to Antiparos. This beautiful, almost untouched by tourists island, is home to Tom Hanks. It is well worth at least 1 day of your time. Plan to walk through a small charming beach town full of restaurants, cafes, tavernas, bars and shops and hike to a beach or two to spend some time in the sand and waves. Tour companies offer really great sailing day trips to different beaches around Antiparos. If you’re going to do an excursion in Paros, book one of these many tours. You can find dozens of them on viator.com or getyourguide.com. If not you can book them right in the port town on Antiparos when you arrive.
Stop by Sapou beach bar and restaurant for the ice coldest beer you’ll ever drink and some absolutely phenomenal sea food.
Please enjoy these additional photos of Paros that will make you want to book your trip ASAP…
