Paros, Greece-one of those picturesque islands in the middle of the Aegean Sea, photos of which can be seen in glossy magazines and in advertising booklets. This is a great place for lovers of beach holidays and beautiful nature.
General information
Paros is one of the Cycladic islands of Greece. It covers an area of 196 km2. A little more than 12 thousand people live here permanently. The island is located in the middle of the Aegean Sea.
The largest cities of Paros are Parikia, Paros and Naoussa. The nearest islands are Ios (60 km), the South Aegean Islands (50 km) and Andiparos (30 km).
Paros is known for its rich history and is often associated by tourists with Parian marble – the local rock that was used to build the famous statues of Hellas.
Externally, Paros is not much different from the rest of the Cycladic Islands, which are characterized by minimalist, snow-white buildings in the Old Town, the presence of a small port and an abundance of bright colors in the courtyards. Nevertheless, many tourists regularly come to the island, who love this place for not being crowded and picturesque nature.
The special beauty of Paros is given by the presence of small green hills, on which, as a rule, a particular city or village is located. Almost every locality offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
What to see
City of Parikia
The island is home to the port city of Parikia, which connects Paros with the Greek mainland. Most tourists arriving on the island do so via Parikia, so it is always crowded and prices are noticeably higher than in other parts of the island.
Parikia is also considered the most popular hangout spot on the island, as there are a lot of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and night clubs. It is also home to the largest number of hotels and attractions.
The historical part of the city is clean, cozy and full of flowering trees. Most of the buildings have a typical Greek white color and sea-green windows.
Ekatondapiliani Church
Ekatondapiliani Church is the main historical attraction of Parikia. It was built in the VI century, and has an uncharacteristic appearance for Greece.
According to one of the ancient legends, the architect Isidore of Miletus entrusted the construction of the temple to his pupil, and he built a church of such incredible beauty that the old master got angry, grappled with the enemy on the roof of the building, and both crashed.
Locals know and remember this story well, so in a small courtyard at the temple, sculptures of a master pulling his beard and a student feeling his wounded head were installed.
This landmark of Paros, Greece was destroyed several times, so not all the exhibits have survived to this day. Nevertheless, tourists strongly recommend visiting the museum department of the church, which houses ancient icons and relics of saints, the oldest baptistery in Greece, and there is an opportunity to visit the upper choirs – previously only women could climb here, but now every tourist can see the beauty of the temple from a height.
There is a small shop on site that offers pamphlets and religious souvenirs for a nominal fee.
- Location: Prompona 18, Paros 844 00, Greece.
- Opening hours: 09.00-18.00.
- Price: 2 euros (museum department).
- Official website: www.ekatontapyliani.gr
Lefkes Village
Lefkes village is 10 km from Parikia and can be reached by bus or taxi. The settlement is considered one of the most beautiful in the country, as the city stands on a high green hill with a beautiful view of the neighboring islands (from here it is worth taking a couple of photos of Paros in Greece). The resort is home to only 600 people, so it is worth coming here for those who want to relax from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
As in most Greek cities located on the island of Paros, the main attraction of Lefkesi is the Orthodox church of the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada). It is a Byzantine-style cathedral built of white marble and local rocks. Inside you can see ancient Byzantine icons and relics of saints.
There are also 2 small but interesting museums in Lefkada: folk art and the Aegean Sea. You can visit them only in summer.
Old Port of Naoussa
Naoussa is the second largest city on the island of Paros, known for its marble deposits and interesting architecture. The city has an Old Port (this is the main, and almost the only attraction), at the expense of which Naoussa lives – it is safe to say that more than 70% of the population is engaged in either fishing or selling it to tourists.
The fame of Naoussa’s fish taverns extends far beyond the borders of Paros, so seafood lovers should visit this small town.
As for the Old Port, it does not look very old – rather, it is a classic Greek embankment with snow-white houses, a lot of vegetation and numerous yachts moored near the shore. The main attractions of this place are numerous fish shops and restaurants.
Folklore Art Museum of the Cycladic Civilization
The Cycladic Folklore Museum or simply the Benetos Museum is located just a few meters from the local airport, so there are always a lot of tourists here.
This landmark on the island of Paros is unique for several reasons. First of all, all the products were created by the hands of one person – Benetos Skiadas, who has no art education. Secondly, in the museum you can see a huge number of models of ships from different eras-both ancient galleys and modern sailboats are presented.
Third, in a small courtyard attached to the museum, you can observe models of the most popular buildings on the island: the Byzantine monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissas (Amorgos), one of the local mills, the ancient theater of Milos, the lions of Delos, the pigeon coops of Tinos and the lighthouse of Andros.
- Location of the attraction: Aliki 844 00, Greece.
- Opening hours: 09.30-14.00 (from May 1 to September 30). The museum is closed during low season.
- Price: 4 euros.
- Official website: www.benetos-skiadas-folkartist-paros-gr.com
Lefkada – a Greek island with white cliffs and azure sea
Beaches
Paros is located in the middle of the Aegean Sea, so the beaches (there are about 40 of them) are located around the perimeter of the entire island. Their characteristic features are cleanliness, the presence of small rocks and fine sand.
Kolymbithres Beach
Kolimbitres is the most unusual beach in Paros, as it is surrounded on all sides by smooth, gray boulders (you should take care to climb them, because they are very slippery), which seem to have ” blurred” under the sun’s rays. Many people associate them with something alien, so a lot of tourists come here not even to relax, but because they want to see these bizarre shapes live.
Interestingly, here you can often meet photographers who will take a few photos of the island of Paros in Greece for a nominal fee.
Length-600 meters, width-90-100. The sand is fine, has a brownish tint and is almost always wet. Garbage is available, as no one cleans it. The entrance to the sea is gentle, but the bottom is rocky, and it is worth taking shale with you. At low tide, a lot of small cozy coves are formed, in which the water quickly warms up.
Strong winds always blow in this part of the island, so you should be prepared for high waves and constant tides.
It should be borne in mind that this is a wild beach, and there are no toilets, no cafes with shops. The only things you can rent here are sun beds and umbrellas.
Location: near the village of Naoussa (you need to turn left in front of the Mycenaean Acropolis).
Golden Beach
Golden Beach is a cozy sandy beach near the hotel of the same name. Its length is 700 meters, its width is about 80 meters. The sand is fine and golden, the water is blue and clear. The entrance to the sea is gentle, there are no rocks and rocks. The recreation area is very clean, as it is regularly cleaned by the hotel staff. There are always a lot of people.
The infrastructure is well developed: there are toilets and showers, several cafes. You can order food directly to the recreation area from a nearby hotel.
Please note that Golden Beach is not suitable for families with children, as the area has strong winds and often high waves. Golden Beach is an ideal destination for surfers and windsurfers.
Location: Hrissi Akti village.
Santa Maria
Santa Maria is a large deserted beach in the eastern part of the island. The color of the sand is close to white, the water is crystal clear. It is about 900 meters long and 80-90 meters wide. The entrance to the water is gentle, there are no sharp rocks and stones.
There are not many tourists here, as there are no popular resorts near the beach. But there are no problems with the infrastructure – cafes and restaurants are open, there are free toilets and changing rooms. A buffet dining area is located a few metres from the relaxation area. For budget travelers, there is a campsite near Santa Maria where you can stay for a few nights.
Location: east of Naoussa.
Monastiri
Monastiri is a small, well-equipped sandy beach in the northern part of the island. Its length is only 200 meters, and its width is about 40. The approach to the sea can be called ideal – there are no rocks and shells, the sand is very soft and enveloping. There are not too many people, there is no garbage.
The infrastructure is well developed: there are bars, restaurants, toilets and changing rooms. A large number of sports equipment rental points (surfboards, water skis, bananas). There is an amphitheater where you can watch movies, and a hiking trail that goes into the rocks starts a few meters away.
The most convenient way to get to the beach is by ferry, which runs from Naoussa (6 euros).
Location: near Paros Park.
Marcelo beach
Marcelo Beach is a popular beach near Parikia. It is popular for its convenient access to the sea and cleanliness. It is not crowded here, but there are tourists almost at any time of the year.
The sand is fine and soft, has a golden hue. The water is clean and clear. The beach has comfortable sun beds and a large number of cafes. Many people consider Marcelo beach the best place on Paros for a holiday with children – there are no high waves and a lot of space (length of about 700 meters).
Location: not far from Parikia (you can get there by boat, which departs every half hour from the port).
Accomodation
On the island of Paros in Greece, there are just under 300 hotels, most of which belong to the category from 3* to 5*. It will be difficult to find cheap accommodation or a hostel-resorts are focused on more affluent tourists.
The following resorts are popular among travelers: Parasporos, Logaras, Naoussa, Parikia. The latter are most popular because they are port cities, and tourists prefer to stay in them immediately, so as not to waste time on the road to neighboring resorts.
Logaras is known for its comfortable hotels – there are much more of them here than in neighboring resorts. The prices are quite high. Parasporos is known for its beaches and beautiful promenade.
Speaking of prices for accommodation, I would like to note that you can find relatively inexpensive housing options only in Parikia – since this is the largest city on the island, the price spread here is the most significant. The cheapest room in a 3* hotel for two people per night in high season will cost 30 euros. The average price varies from 70 to 90 euros.
The situation is similar in neighboring resorts – prices start from 40 euros, and the average price per night is around 80-90 euros.
You can rent apartments a little cheaper – a large and comfortable one-bedroom apartment will cost 30-40 euros per night.
Public transport links
The main means of communication between the Greek islands is by plane – Paros has a small airport (PAS) that accepts flights from the Greek mainland. Prices start at 70 euros for a flight from Athens to Paros.
The sea route remains the most popular – there are many small islands near the Ferry, which can only be reached by ferry or yacht. Ferries operate on 34 routes, the most popular of which are:
- Athens – Paros (21 euros per ticket);
- Crete-Paros (33 euros);
- Milos-Paros (13 euros);
- Ios-Paros (10 euros).
The lowest prices are offered by Blue Star Ferries. Other companies offer tickets for similar routes several times more expensive. You can buy tickets either at the port’s ticket offices or on the website where all Greek ferry companies are represented: https://www.ferriesingreece.com.
Interesting facts
- The Ekatondapiliani Church in Parikia is said to have exactly 100 doors.
- Almost 50% of the population of Paros is engaged in fishing, so all restaurants serve only fresh fish.
- One of the most mysterious sights on the island is the cave in Antiparos, which for many centuries could not get people. For the first time, researchers penetrated there only in 1973, and found hundreds of bright stalagmites there.
- According to legend, it was on Paros that the Monk Theoktista lived. She had spent her entire life in seclusion, and the only food they ate was sunflower seeds.
- Since 90% of tourists come to the island in the summer, in winter life on Paros almost freezes – most museums and galleries are closed, some bars stop working.
- In Greece, there is one unusual tradition associated with the island – all Greek students in the first year of study must necessarily relax together on Paros.
Paros, Greece-one of the most picturesque parts of the Cyclades Islands, which is visited annually by thousands of tourists from all over the world.
