Paros has a rare talent among Greek islands: it offers almost everything, and does almost everything well. World class beaches, storybook villages, serious food, water sports, history, nightlife, boat trips. The only real challenge is choosing. Here are 20 experiences we recommend without hesitation, gathered from years of living on and loving this island.
In and On the Water
1. Swim the turquoise shallows of Faragas. Start with the essentials. The calm, crystal clear water of the south coast is the island’s signature pleasure, and Faragas is its finest expression.
2. Learn to windsurf at Golden Beach. The steady meltemi and shallow bay have made this one of Europe’s great windsurfing schools. Beginners are in expert hands; veterans will find world class conditions.
3. Try kitesurfing at Pounta. The wind funnel between Paros and Antiparos is a kitesurfer’s dream, with schools for every level and an infectious international vibe.
4. Take a full day sailing trip around Antiparos and Despotiko. Swim in coves reachable only by boat, visit the uninhabited island of Despotiko with its ancient sanctuary, and lunch on deck. For many guests, the best day of the holiday.
5. Snorkel the rocky coves of the south coast. Bring a mask to the little coves beside Faragas and Aliki. Clear water, silver shoals and the occasional octopus await.
6. Kayak or paddleboard at sunrise. The morning sea, before the wind wakes, is glass. Rentals are available at several beaches; the silence is unforgettable.
Villages and Culture
7. Get lost in the old town of Parikia. Whitewashed lanes, hidden chapels, bougainvillea and the Venetian castle built from ancient temple fragments. Go in the early evening when the marble glows.
8. Visit Panagia Ekatontapiliani. The “Church of a Hundred Doors” is one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Greece, founded in the 4th century. Its quiet courtyard is a world away from the port outside.
9. Spend an evening in Naoussa. The tiny Venetian harbour, ringed by candlelit restaurants and stylish bars, is one of the most beautiful evening settings in the Cyclades. Arrive for golden hour, stay late.
10. Walk the Byzantine Path from Lefkes to Prodromos. A thousand year old marble trail winding through olive groves and dry stone walls. Go in the morning light and reward yourself with coffee in a village square.
11. Explore Lefkes, the marble village. The island’s old capital, folded into the hills, is a maze of marble lanes, neoclassical houses and views stretching to Naxos.
12. Discover the fishing soul of Aliki and Piso Livadi. Watch the boats land the morning catch, then eat it at a waterfront table an hour later. Island life in its purest form.
Food and Drink
13. Take a Greek cooking experience. Several local cooks and small farms offer hands on classes. Learn to make proper tzatziki and slow cooked island dishes, then eat your homework.
14. Taste the wines of Paros at Moraitis Winery. The island has been making wine for millennia. The Moraitis estate in Naoussa offers tastings of its indigenous Monemvasia and Mandilaria varieties.
15. Eat a long, slow fish lunch by the water in Aliki. Choose your fish from the ice, order a carafe of cold white, and surrender the afternoon. This is what holidays are for.
16. Try souma with the locals. The island’s traditional grape spirit, cousin of raki, appears at the end of good meals. Accept it; it is a gesture of friendship.
Day Trips and Adventures
17. Cross to Antiparos for the day. Ten minutes by ferry from Pounta. Visit the spectacular cave with its ancient stalactites, swim at Soros, and wander the single, effortlessly cool main street of the town.
18. Watch the sunset from the lighthouse above Monastiri. A short walk through the Paros Environmental Park leads to a lighthouse view over the whole bay of Naoussa. Bring water, stay for the colours.
19. Rent a boat for a day, no licence needed. Small motorboats can be hired at several harbours. Chart your own course along the coast, drop anchor in an empty cove, and swim off the back. Freedom, defined.
20. Do absolutely nothing, somewhere beautiful. The most underrated experience on Paros. A terrace, a pool, a view of the Aegean, a cold drink, no plans. The island rewards stillness as generously as it rewards adventure.
The Luxury of a Good Base
Twenty experiences, one practical truth: everything on this list is within about forty minutes of the island’s south coast, and most of it much closer. Base yourself well, and Paros arranges itself around you.
Villa Azzuro, 200 metres above Faragas Beach, puts the whole island within easy reach, and gives you the finest version of experience number 20 every single evening.
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