THINGS TO DO IN PAROS

Beautiful villages surrounded by idyllic nature are what you’ll come across as you explore the island. Start your trip from Paroikia, a beautiful village built in the local (Cycladic) style, located on the site of an ancient town. Today, it is a port town and the island capital. Among the white cube-shaped houses of the village, you will see neoclassical and mediaeval ruins of buildings. In the summer, the alleys of the old traditional village become lively with visitors strolling along and shopping or enjoying their meals in tavernas and restaurants.

Make sure you visit the church of Panagia [Virgin Mary] Ekatontapyliani or Katapoliani; it’s an impressive building dating to the Early Christian Period in Greece. Its second name – Ekatontapyliani or Katapoliani – means either that the church faces the ancient town [Katapoliani] or that, according to tradition, it has 99 visible doors and a secret one [Ekatontapyliani – ‘ekato’ meaning one hundred]. The original church was built in the 4th century, and the older murals date to the 7th – 8th century. It is structured like a monastery, with a courtyard, monastic cells and impressive chapels in it. Visit also the Baptistry (4th c.), an East Orthodox monument that is the best preserved of its kind; see also the remarkable exhibits in the Byzantine Museum.

Take a trip to the Venetian Castle (13th c.), set on a hill at the centre of the traditional village. The south and east part of the walls still stand as well as a defensive tower, and there’s a number of beautiful churches in the vicinity.

Visit the Archaeological Museum and see the wide variety of exhibits from the island’s archaeological sites [the sanctuaries of Asklepios (Asclepius) and Pythios Apollo, Dilio etc.] and the remarkable prehistoric finds from the nearby islets of Antiparos, Despotiko and Saliago. The Pario Chronicle is a 3rd c. BC inscribed stele, which mentions important events and personalities of Greek Antiquity. Close to Paroikia (5.5 km E), by Marathi village, you can visit the ancient marble quarry and explore its mining galleries. This is where the top quality local marble was mined, well-known for its whiteness and translucence.

See also the nearby archaeological sites: the remains of the archaic temple of Athena (525 BC) in the castle; the graveyard of the ancient town (near the harbour); the pottery and sculpture workshops dating to the Hellenistic times [4th – 1st c. BC]; the ruins of a Roman building (behind the Archaeological Museum); the East Gate of the ancient walls; the sanctuary of Asclepius (4th c. BC) on a hill on the road to Alyki, and the nearby sanctuary of Pythios Apollo (4th c. BC); Dilio (NE of the town) where Apollo, Lito, and Artemis were worshipped, as well as the remains of a 6th c. BC temple; also the arched building dating to late antiquity, located near Krios area.

In the old town’s main streets (Lochagou Fokianou and Lochagou Gravari), there are many shops, cafes, and restaurants built in the local island style.

Naoussa in Paros is a beautiful picturesque fishing village located in a huge bay in the northern part of the island, 10 kilometers east of Parikia – the capital town. It is considered one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades.

Despite the tourism development, this lovely village has managed to keep its authenticity, traditional character and charm, with its whitewashed and flowered little houses and its tiny churches and chapels, surrounded by labyrinth-like narrow, stone-paved streets. The lovely village of cosmopolitan Naoussa is built around a tiny picturesque port where little colorful fishing boats (kaikia) moor. The remains of a Venetian castle can still be seen, creating a unique and enchanting atmosphere. As one of the liveliest places on the island, Naoussa offers a wide variety of restaurants and night clubs too. When you visit the village, make sure to have lunch or dinner and enjoy freshly made delicacies at the local restaurants.

The quaint Naoussa is the queen of Paros’ nightlife. The party never ends there since old fishermen’s warehouses situated on the cobbled streets have been transformed into bars. Naoussa’s clubs are quite similar to the big Athenian ones, with famous DJs entertaining thousands of people within them. Greek, RnB, house, techno, and mainstream music can be heard from the establishments, allowing visitors to select the club or bar that attracts them the most.

When looking for the most authentic village in Paros, the picturesque settlement of Lefkes is the place to visit. The former Parian capital during the Middle Ages, Lefkes, is situated only 11km southeast of vivid Parikia. It hosts approximately 500 inhabitants, making it a wonderful getaway for tranquility. Paros is known all around the globe for its lovely beaches and great night life. And while both are true for this Cycladic island, there’s more to it than that. It also has some mountainous villages with great food, traditional architecture, hospitable people, and with a special history.

The village Lefkes is probably the most beautiful among them. 11 km from Paroikia, Lefkes was the island’s first capital. The village was probably founded in the 15th century, and according to the most dominant theory, its first residents were from Crete. Together with the locals, they created the settlement on the hill. After all, at the time, the priority was to be protected from pirates and at the same time have access to the sea. There are still some remnants from that time in the village, like some of the oldest watermills in the Cyclades, and many churches.One church that stands out is that of Agia Triada, a church widely considered the second most majestic church on the island, after the church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani. It was completed in 1835, with two marble bell towers, a great example of what the skilled craftsmen of the Cyclades could built. The altar is also marble, a great work by a marble sculptor from Tinos. Additionally, by being located at a 300-meter altitude, it enjoys splendid vistas of the landscapes and the Aegean on the horizon. The village abides by the cubic, whitewashed Cycladic architecture, while multiple Venetian buildings, churches, and landmarks enhance its cultural heritage. Explore its nooks and crannies and interact with the friendly locals while drinking a greek coffee or sipping ouzo at the photogenic kafeneio in the picturesque central square. In Lefkes also lie the Folklore Art Museum, which exhibits various local tools and clothing, and the Museum of Aegean Folk Culture. From this marvelous village, the Byzantine Road, a paved footpath dating from the Byzantine period, leads to the village of Prodromos and ends up at the sea. Guests can find restaurants across Lefkes, mainly serving traditional dishes. Some accommodations are available in the village, too, ranging from simple, neat rooms to villas with swimming pools. Last but not least, in the late summer, the local cultural society organizes the Karavola Festival, the biggest feast that takes place in the village. Parian delicacies and abundant wine are offered, with dance and fun lasting until the early morning hours.

Aliki is probably the most well-known coastal settlement of Paros, after Parikia and Naoussa. It is situated on the south coast of the island, 14 km away from the capital and 20 km away from Naoussa. You probably sow few pictures of this village somewhere online. If yo u are looking for a place with delicious seafood, this is one of them.

Aliki features many restaurants along its coast, right by the sea. As it has a large fleet of caique boats, taverns and restaurants are supplied on a daily basis with delicious goods. Sometimes all the fleet is docked in the bay and if you are lucky enough, you will see it up close. In Aliki, you will find one of the most famous fish restaurants in Paros as well, which by itself is a small port. Dining in here is not only about seafood. You can enjoy other dishes as well. Of course, there are cafes here too. You can relax and enjoy the sea over coffee or while having a sweet.

Beaches in the area / First one is north of Aliki and it is named Agios Nikolaos (St. Nikolaos). As you understand, it took its name from a small church. This beach is not organized and it consists of small pebbles. Therefore, we suggest you have a sufficient amount of water with you and perhaps a snack. If you don’t have a sun umbrella, you should know that there are few trees on the east corner of Agios Nikolaos. Also, on the back side of the beach, there is a basketball court, a tennis court, and 5×5 court. The second beach is the most beautiful. It is considered as the main beach of Aliki and therefore, it is well organized. It features sunbeds and umbrellas but if you prefer natural shade, there are trees along the beach. You can order coffee or a cocktail, as you lay on the beach. All the taverns and restaurants are near this beach. The third beach is called Piso Aliki. It is not organized and it consists of pebbles as well. There are trees which offer a natural shade. You will also find plenty of space to park your car and a tavern.

A small, peaceful seaside village in Paros, with excellent food.

A small village on the eastern side of the island rivals cosmopolitan Naoussa in sophistication and beauty. Leaving the scenic Marpissa, a small, semi-mountainous village in Paros that has been receiving more and more tourist traffic in recent years, we follow a wonderful, wide, paved road, “hidden” among towering trees that ends right in front of the sea.

For those who visit Paros often, the beginning of this road is a sign that soon they will see Piso Livadi stretching out in front of them, all white, with boats moored in the middle of a blue bay and cute restaurants and cafés standing side by side on the seafront. Upon reaching the lilliputian settlement, turn right and continue along the winding road, with the sea on your left. Soon you’ll see the small, municipal village car park, where most visitors leave their cars, however, the island’s rapid growth has made finding a space even here a fairly difficult task at all hours of the day. In the mornings, you’ll see families with small children playing on the soft sand, at the calm, sheltered from wind, and extremely shallow bay east of the village, while there are usually many swimmers in the clear waters, despite the fact that the marina in Piso Livadi has always been a mooring spot for impressive ribs and quite large yachts bringing travellers from all over the Cyclades to the island. From midday onwards, however, the village takes on a whole new life since a few of the restaurants on the beautiful, seafront promenade on the west side are a true must in terms of the island’s gastronomy and, so, attract dozens of visitors every day. At the end of the promenade, a slightly elevated café awaits, where you can have a coffee, a quick snack, or a drink while enjoying breath-taking views. Captain Yiannis, right on the spot where the small boats for the Cyclades islands leave, stands on the large rocks and appears to be floating in the water, like a ship ready to depart. Grab a table at Brazil with its striped, white-and-yellow cushions and large awning that protects you from the wind, for delicious, refreshing cocktails overlooking the twinkling lights of the beautiful houses on the other side of the settlement. If you want to enjoy a drink right on the sand, then there are always the classic options of Remezzo and Vroha, where families and groups often hang out in the morning for a swim and stay until late in the afternoon, having delicious crepes, pizza, or drinks.

Dryos in Paros is a small fishing village located on the east coast of the island and surrounded by various nice sandy beaches, like the renowned Golden Beach and the Lolantonis beach.
There is a row of restaurants along the promenade – specializing in fish – and nearby them lies a picturesque quay.

Points of interest include the ancient neosoics (areas used for guarding the ships that have been raised from the sea during ancient times) and the Cave of Demons, featuring several stalagmites and stalactites. The unnerving name originates from a legend, according to which Saint Arsenios trapped the demons who were haunting the animals of a blasphemous farmer in the cave and sealed them there until the Second Coming. Note that entering and exploring the cave is challenging, so having proper clothing and equipment with you is necessary. In addition, looking out from the village you can see the uninhabited Drionisi.