Paros

3.9 /5

Rate

View Paros Hotels

Paros Travel Essentials

Rating:

 
3.9 /5 Rate This Destination

Weather:

Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: May-September Read More

Planning a Trip? Ask Your Question

"Minoa of the Greek Islands"

Paros Tourism

The charming cycladic island of Paros is located in the west of Naxos, about 40km south of Mykonos in Greece. Paros is best known for its beautiful white-washed towns, great long beaches and an ecstatic nightlife. It is considered to be the best blend of Mykonos and Naxos as the island offers both crazy clubs, restaurants and serene beaches with traditional inland villages.

With beautiful landscapes spread across a 120 km long coastline, Paros has endless cliff-top villages galore and verdant mountains. Two main villages, Parikia and Naoussa, are packed full of traditional taverns and sophisticated restaurants, bars and shops and are visited by young crowds for much-elated party nights full of drinks and music. For a more relaxed and quiet stay, one can choose to stroll around the sublime countryside of Lefkes and Marpissa.

Famous activities include windsurfing, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, and scuba diving which can be enjoyed at the beaches such as Santa Maria, Golden Beach and New Golden Beach. Hiking is also enjoyed well because of the presence of a magnificent network of walking trails in Paros park. A boat trip to nearby smaller Greek islands such as Antiparos and Schinoussa is worthwhile.

Must Know Before You Travel to Paros

  • Getting Around: Major attractions and villages are well connected through public bus transport starting at 1.80 Euros per ride. To explore more remote locations renting a car is recommended. It costs 25- 50 Euros per day depending on the low and high seasons.
  • Accommodation: Some of the best areas to stay on the island are Golden Beach, Santa Maria Beach, Aliki and Naoussa.
  • What to Wear: Avoid synthetic fabrics and prefer flowing, airy pants or jumpsuits over dresses; shorts over skirts due to the windy weather of the Greek islands. Prefer comfortable flats being mindful towards the rugged landscape and cobbled streets of the island.
  • Most restaurants operate between 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM, and those who are open for breakfast or brunch open at 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM to close by noon.
    Most bars and clubs open around the evening and close by 3 in the morning.

Top Hotels In Paros

More on Paros Travel

Shopping in Paros

There are plenty of shops dealing in jewellery, clothes and souvenirs that can be found in the old quarter of Parikia, Kastro. And the same goes with the other tourist town, Naoussa. There are few mini-markets that operate at main tourist spots of the island; the shops generally open from morning till midnight.

Nightlife in Paros

Paros is known for its cosmopolitan lifestyle and it has an ecstatic nightlife. There are numerous bars around Parikia, In front of the water. The capital of Paros is surrounded by plenty of legendary bars and pubs with loud music and venues to dance. In Naoussa, the party scene is pretty much similar with numerous small bars and pubs scattered unevenly through cobbled streets of the town. For the rest of the island, nightlife is calm with slow music and limited to seaside tavernas and bars.

History of Paros

In mythology, Paros' first king was the Cretan Alkaios, who built the city of Parikia. The island is believed to have been inhabited since 3200 BC. The Cretans converted Paros into a naval station and gave it the honorific title of Minoa. Paros was then ruled by Ionians and Acadians till 1000 BC. In the 8th century BC, the island rose to prosperity and the construction of several temples, including the temple of Athena and the Asklepieion, a healing centre, took place during this time. During 338 BC, Paros was ruled by king Philip of Macedonia, and it was taken over by Ptolemies, Alexander's successor, after that.

Between 1207 and 1389, Paros came under the rule of the Venetians, and in the 15th century, the fort of Naoussa was built in order to defend the island from pirates. After the Venetians, the Turkish ruled Paros until the Greek revolution of 1821, after which the island became a modern Greek state like all other Cyclades islands.

Best Time to Visit Paros

Browse Package Collections

Paros Photos

Paros

+ 48
photos

Have a Question on Paros?

Ask a question from the travellers who have
experience.

Paros Reviews

Your rating
See 768 Hotels