Travel Guide to Paros, Greece

When most people think Greek Island, Santorini and Mykonos come to mind. However with this travel guide to Paros, Greece shows you that there is more to discover in the Cycladic islands. Paros is getting quite popular especially for couples trying to escape the noisy Mykonos and busy Santorini. It offers a more laid back, quieter version in the Cyclades that charms you into falling in love with it.

Paros is one of the most stunning locations we have ever visited. From the bougainvilleas adorning its streets to its whitewashed pathways, it is so beautiful. The first time I saw photos of Paros was on pinterest about 5 years ago and I added it to the list of Greek islands to visit. Fast forward, post pandemic and making plans for international travel, I revisited that list and booked the trip. It was going to be our first international trip after the crazy year we had.

Getting There

We flew into Mykonos International airport (JMK) and took the airport transfer to the ferry port. It was quite convenient and much cheaper getting the bus service. As soon as we came out of the airport, the bus was waiting and it took about 20 minutes to get to the port.

We bought the ferry tickets from the kiosk in the port and soon it was time to board. The journey from Mykonos port to Paros port was about 50 mins and is quite straightforward. It does not need any pre planning or pre booking. We figured out our route and bought our tickets once we got there.

From the port, we got a taxi to our hotel and en route, we got a little history lesson from the lovely taxi driver. This was the beginning of the wonderful hospitality we received in Paros.

Another popular route is to fly into Athens and then fly to Paros. However, I recommend the ferry route as it is quite efficient.

Where to stay in Paros

We stayed at Mr and Mrs White Paros; located in Naoussa, which was lovely. It was about 10 minutes walking distance to the center, which made it easy for us to explore at any time without feeling too far away from the hotel. Naoussa is the most popular village in Paros as it is quite scenic and is quintessentially Grecian. It is the village with the most activity and has more options of accommodation as well.

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Lefkes probably comes second to Naoussa and is popular with hikers. It is equally as stunning and has hiking trails including the famous Byzantine route. Although Lefkes felt proper Grecian and spotted the familiar bougainvilleas, it was a little too quiet. There did not seem to be a lot of accommodation to choose from in comparison to Naoussa.

Exploring Naoussa

If there ever was a village next to the word “charming” it would be Naoussa. It is a fishing village with friendly locals that smile at you while you wander, giving you a feel of intimacy.We absolutely loved Naoussa.

The best time to explore is early in the morning just before the town wakes up until about noon. You’ll find shop owners opening up and cleaners polishing the streets. It is also the best time for photos as the sun is not yet as harsh. By noon, it gets quite hot in summer months and this is the time, you would rather be in the pool or beach.

Naoussa, Paros at night

Although it is not as busy as its nearby Mykonos, Naoussa has quite an active nightlife. It comes alive at night with tables set up by the port for al fresco dinings, music sifting through the air and loud chatter of diners drowning the music.

This sleepy village by day becomes an entirely different vibe once the sun goes down. From sunset, it starts getting busy and tables by the seafront start getting filled up. The air smells of delicious food and there is a relaxed feel as people wait around for their reservations. In peak season, it is advisable to reserve dinner spots or you could be waiting a bit to get seated. Since boutiques are open until late, shopping continues well into the night as well.

It is just a different world in Paros!

Where to eat

I could name a few spots but if I am honest, every spot in the center was a hit. As Naoussa is a fishing village, seafood is the order of the day in most of the restaurants. This travel guide to Paros, Greece would be incomplete without mentioning the amount of seafood we ate. We had everything from calamari to mussels to lobster to crab to prawns to all types of fish you could imagine. We made sure to eat at a different spot each time and all were fantastic.

One place that stood out was Axinos. It was also a recommendation from a couple we had met earlier. So on our final night, we decided to treat ourselves and had a romantic date night at Axinos. Our table was upstairs with a view of the sea and it was wonderful. We had a lovely seafood dinner and reminisced about the trip. The food was fresh and delicious, staff was lovely and ambiance was perfect. We could have stayed longer as we were told the restaurant turned into a party scene but we were too tired to check it out. Besides, party scenes are not really our thing. The late dinner was as late as we were going to stay out.

Poupvos bakery was a local find between our hotel and the town center. We had walked by the bakery a few times and noticed it was always busy so made a note to check it out. It is a family owned bakery and its baked goods are so yummy and fresh that we bought pastries every night on our way back to the hotel.

Traditional Boat Cruise

With the way Paros is set up, I felt there was little use for an itinerary. Paros is a location where you wander and get lost in its streets while discovering its gems. However, after we sailed the Aegean Sea a few years ago in Santorini, we decided last minute that we were going on a boat cruise. Because it was so last minute, everything seemed booked up. Our lovely hotel decided to shop around for us and in a few hours, they were able to find 2 spots on a traditional Greek fishing boat, Pantasoulas Daily Cruises

We sailed around the north coasts of Paros on the “Ilias Pantasoulas II” for 6 hours. While sailing, we ate lots of food, traditional Greek snacks, drank local wine and I even managed a swim in the sea. It cost us €100 each which was such a reasonable cost as it included all the food and snorkelling equipment hire. The cruise was semi private with 12 of us on board. We sailed to 4 different private beaches, took in the most incredible sights and explored the Aegean Sea.

I will always recommend a boat cruise because it is just the best way to explore gems that are otherwise unreachable by foot. Also, there is the advantage of a private tour by a knowledgeable local so win win!

Day trip from Paros

There are regular ferries to and from Paros which makes it easy to island hop. We landed in Mykonos and took the ferry straight to Paros. However, on our return leg, we spent some time in Mykonos and it is easy to do the same as a day trip. Paros to Mykonos is under an hour by ferry.

The most popular day trips are Paros to Naxos, which is about 30 mins, and Paros to Anti Paros, which is about 10 mins. Both trips can be done easily by ferry. If going further afar is not a problem, Paros to Santorini is under 3 hours; however, I recommend more time in Santorini – a day is just not enough.

A few Paros pointers

• There are about 26 taxis on the island, which means that you could be waiting a very long time for one.
• Paros is not as pricey as the more popular islands – Santorini & Mykonos. It’s very reasonably priced; not dirt-cheap but very affordable.
• Naoussa is a fishing village so that means you’ll get a lot of fresh seafood. I’m a massive seafood fan so I was in heaven!
• There are a lot of stray cats. One literally jumped on the back of my chair when I was eating dinner and I almost fainted from fear and shock. Ok, ok I am exaggerating but yea, a lot of stray cats.

Travel Guide to Paros, Greece

Paros is still somewhat of a hidden gem. I remember that when I shared it on Instagram, a lot of people had not even heard of it, however, it will most likely not be kept so hidden for much longer. With social media being a useful travel resource and travel opening up again, Greece is an attractive country to visit over summer months. It is only a matter of time before Paros becomes as popular as Santorini and Mykonos.

Bisous, ‘Bugo x