explore it yourself:
The journey and accommodations:
We arrived by ferry from Athens on the morning of July 3rd and stayed until the afternoon of July 5th. We arrived in and departed from Paros Ferry Station in Parikia. The ferry took about 4 hours and was the first stop on that route. We noticed that the ferry docked at the port for about an hour to unload/load new passengers, so if you are choosing other islands the ride may be significantly longer. Santorini was the last stop and we were told it would take 8 hours total to get there.
Below is what AI recommended for accommodations:
1. Paros Inn
2. Captain Manolis Hotel
3. Hotel Livadia
4. Ampeli Rooms
5. Young Inn Parikia
We ended up selecting an Airbnb here, because of the price and location. The Airbnb was actually a boutique hotel called Hotel Dilion*. We found that all of the hotels and hostels listed above were more expensive than short term rentals. Our Airbnb was located near the Paros Ferry Port which was a short ~10 minute walk with our bags on after arriving.
The hotel room was small and simple with all of the essentials provided like shampoo, conditioner, and air conditioning. The room had a nice sized balcony and although it didn’t have much of a view, it was nice to sit out in the morning and read while enjoying the sun and the breeze.
Ultimately, we were happy with our stay mainly for the price, location, and the extremely friendly hotel staff but if we were to return, we would look elsewhere for a beachfront property with free access to sun-beds and umbrellas which would likely come with a higher price tag but is worth it for the relaxation (more on this below).
helpful tips:
- We used the public buses to get everywhere on the island. There is a central bus station in Parikia right next to the port we arrived at which can get you essentially everywhere on island. One-way bus tickets generally cost 2.20 EUR per ticket which you can purchase at the bus station or directly on board the bus using your cards tap-to-pay feature. If you intend on riding the bus over 6 times in a day, you can purchase a full-day pass for 12 EUR per person which we did for our second day here and it saved us a few EUR but generally it makes more sense to purchase single tickets for each ride.
- Note: We suggest you arrive early for your bus as we noticed that on popular routes such as Parikia to Naoussa, large crowds gather and fill the bus immediately which once full, would take off anywhere from 5-10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
- Also, for routes that are further from the main stations such as heading from Golden Beach back to Parikia, the buses come fairly infrequently so be sure to arrive early to these stops because if you miss a bus it could be well over an hour until the next one comes.
- Note: We suggest you arrive early for your bus as we noticed that on popular routes such as Parikia to Naoussa, large crowds gather and fill the bus immediately which once full, would take off anywhere from 5-10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
- The island is very hilly which means that when riding in your taxi or on a public bus, you will encounter lots of winding roads up and down cliff-sides, if you are easily car sick, be prepared!
- To experience the full nightlife scene, you are going to want to head towards Naoussa after dark which you can take the public bus there from Parikia which runs every ~30 minutes, this is the most popular route on the island so the buses are generally packed.
- When in Naoussa, there are seemingly endless bars and restaurants with outdoor seating on the waterfront. We noticed that almost every seat was filled at all the restaurants so either arrive early or make a reservation at the popular restaurants, otherwise you will likely have to find a spot slightly off the beaten path.
- On very hot days, we think it is noteworthy to purchase large water bottles from a grocery store instead of at restaurants or souvenir shops when possible. The large 1.5lt bottles would sell for upwards of 3-4 EUR at souvenir shops while they were just 28 cents at the grocery store!
- Beach chairs and umbrellas often range from 30-40 EUR for the day to rent. The sand gets very hot on these beaches given there are few shaded areas so it may be worthwhile looking into a waterfront hotel that comes with free access to a beach chair!
Note: * our additions to ai itinerary and exclusions are crossed out, also see our summary at the bottom.
Day 1: Naoussa & Northern Paros
Naoussa Village
- Explore the picturesque fishing village with its vibrant harbor and Venetian castle ruins.
- We walked all through the cute little town and explored the castle ruins. The water along the walkways is so blue and the white-painted alleyways are very picturesque.
- Visit local shops and cafés along the waterfront.
- There are tons of options that are open all day so grab a coffee with a pastry and sit by water and enjoy the sun!
- Lunch at
- Mediterraneo* – Waterfront restaurant serving Mediterranean fare.
- We shared Chicken Skewers, Zucchini Balls and Hummus with Pita Bread here, it was delicious!
- OR
Yemeni Wine Restaurant– Offers local cuisine and an excellent wine selection in Naoussa. - OR
Barbarossa– A lively waterfront tavern with great seafood and atmosphere in Naoussa.- We intended on stopping here but it wasn’t open yet when we arrived. This was one of the most packed spots when we came back at night and it looked fun!
- Mediterraneo* – Waterfront restaurant serving Mediterranean fare.
NORTHERN BEACHES
- Kolymbithres Beach
- We took the bus from Naoussa here which drops you a short walk from the beach.
- It’s hard to complain when you are floating in the clear blue waters of Paros, one thing to note is this beach was populated by almost entirely high-school aged kids, because of this there was a lot of loud speakers playing music and groups playing all sorts of games in the water so it wasn’t exactly the most relaxing beach day.
- We took the bus from Naoussa here which drops you a short walk from the beach.
- If time allows, explore
Paros Parkfor scenic hiking, secluded beaches, and an open-air cinema.- We spent most of the afternoon at the beach and didn’t leave time for much else as the buses arrived very sparingly here so we had to catch one of the last buses of the day.
- Visit
Monastiri Beach,a small and quieter spot near Naoussa.- This may be worth checking out if your intention is to find a quieter spot than Kolymbithres Beach.
- We picked up a few groceries to have for dinner.
Day 2: Southern Paros & Villages
Lefkes and Marpissa Village
- Explore this traditional mountain village of Lefkes with cobbled streets, Byzantine churches, and beautiful views.
- This village perfectly showcases the best of Greece. It’s whitewashed buildings covered in vibrant flowers and cats sleeping around every corner, it felt like we were walking within a postcard.
- Ramnos Cafe*
- We shared a greek yogurt bowl and an iced latte here on the back patio overlooking the valley, it was lovely!
- Stratis Bakery*
- This bakery has been operating since the early 1900’s and still provides fantastic pastries today, the local Tiropita or “cheese pie” was fantastic!
- Walk part of the Byzantine Road trail, an ancient path connecting Lefkes to other villages
- There are so many beautiful spots for photo ops along this walk with countless cats lounging in the shaded areas. (See photos below!)
- Visit
Marpissa Villageknown for its authentic Greek island vibe and picturesque alleys.- It was another 100 degree days so we opted to get to the beach after exploring Lefkes.
Golden Beaches
- Head to Golden Beach (Chrissi Akti), famous for its golden sand and windsurfing.
- This was our favorite beach on the island. It was so calm and serene with plenty of beach bars to stop in at. It was also fun to watch the windsurfers out in thew water.
- Lunch at The Beach Project* – One of the many beach bars along the waterfront.
- We stopped for a cocktail and some fried calamari which was so fresh and delicious while the portion size was massive!
- Alternatively,
Faragas Beachoffers a tranquil setting with a small beach bar.
antiparos
- Only a 7 minute ferry ride from Pounta, which is easy to access via bus ride from Parikia. The ferry costs 1.50 EUR per person unless you are bringing a car or scooter.
- We walked along the main shopping and dining street in Antiparos while enjoying the sights and sounds of the bustling area. There are plenty of choices to sit down and have some food or a drink with a number of boutique shops on the route as well.
- The ferry departs every 20-30 minutes for most of the day but slows down its frequency later into the evening. You purchase tickets right on board the ferry so no need to worry about booking tickets in advance!
- We walked along the main shopping and dining street in Antiparos while enjoying the sights and sounds of the bustling area. There are plenty of choices to sit down and have some food or a drink with a number of boutique shops on the route as well.
Day 3: Parikia & Nearby Beaches
Explore Parikia Town
- Wander through the charming old town or Parikia with whitewashed houses and narrow alleys.
- We spent the morning walking along the beach and enjoying the sunny day, there are a bunch of breakfast/coffee shops so feel free to pop in anywhere for a snack!
- Visit the Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Church of 100 Doors), one of the oldest Byzantine churches in Greece.
- This is located right by the main port in Parikia so we walked along the outside of the church on our way to our ferry to Milos, it is a beautiful church!
Parikia Archaeological Museum– Small but rich with Cycladic artifacts
Lunch and Nearby Beaches
- Head to Livadia Beach for swimming and relaxing, just a short walk from town.
- We walked along the beach and stopped for a quick bite at one of the many restaurants along the water. We would note that this beach is a bit rockier than the others we visited so if your intention is to lounge for a while it would be worth heading to another area.
- Optionally, visit
Krios Beachfor a quieter vibe.
final thoughts:
Overall Rating: 100/10, we couldn’t have asked for a better Greek Island experience.
Would I go again? We would love to come again!!
Favorite moment:
Bailey’s favorite: Swimming in the crystal clear water was out of a dream. The sea floor was smooth and we didn’t have to worry about anything lurking in the shadows.
Parker’s favorite: Swimming at Golden Beach was so peaceful. The salt water lifts you so you can effortlessly float along in the calm waters while taking in the sunshine.
Favorite meal:
Bailey’s favorite: The Beach Project had great foods, drinks, and ambiance. We shared a berry smoothie and calamari for lunch and it was one of my favorite meals of the trip.
Parker’s favorite: The chicken gyros from Souvlakia KARGAS was amazing. For just 5 EUR it had tons of toppings and the pita was cooked to perfection.
Any surprises?
Anything we missed? It would have been fun to continue exploring different beaches. Renting a vespa or ATV would have also been an exciting activity.
Food spots AI recommended, but we didn’t have a chance to go: Yemeni Wine Restaurant and Barbarossa
Average step count per day: 12,795 steps
How did ai do?
Nailed it: We appreciated that AI recommended some beaches on further-out points of the island that were less touristy such as Golden Beach. Also, suggesting to explore a neighborhood like Lefkes was a nice touch as we likely would not have ended up there on our own but found some great food in this beautiful village.
Needs work: It would be beneficial for AI to suggest some more casual food options as we would often spend the day at the beach and then in wet clothes, felt underdressed to stop in at a wine bar per AI’s recommendation. It would also be nice to know that the sunbeds and umbrellas at the beaches are fairly expensive, and outside of these chairs, there are few shaded areas on any of the beaches we spent the day at.