About Paros

Paros is the ideal destination for travellers of all ages…

Paros situated in the central Aegean Sea and is part of the Cyclades island group. Paros’s surface area is 196 square kilometers, with the ring road’s length at nearly 52km.

Parikia is the capital of the island. The town has a unique Cycladic style with white walls, blue-painted doors and narrow well decorated passages. Above the central stretch of the seafront road, are the remains of a medieval castle built of marble remains. Upon arrival, whether by air or by sea, you will already be charmed by the beautiful blue of the Aegean and the characteristic whitewashed houses that dot the island landscape. Once ashore you will find yourself immersed in the sights, sounds and fragrances of life here on Paros. Perhaps you will stroll around the narrow, meandering, cobblestoned streets of the village with its flowered balconies and cats lazing amidst the bustle of daily life there. As you pass by, you can catch the aromas of the place – someone preparing the mid-day meal, the smell of fresh-baked bread from the town bakery, further on the wafting sweetness of incense and beeswax from a chapel.

Historically, Paros was known for its fine white marble which was in high demand by great Greek sculptors from the 6th century BC onwards. Today, Paros is famous for its crystal-clear waters, raw nature, Cycladic architecture and its friendly, laid-back atmosphere. Additionally, Paros has developed an eclectic food scene over the years.

Paros has over 40 beaches with various lengths, characteristics and accessibility. From quiet coves with no infrastructure to long sandy beaches with beach bars, restaurants and water sports. Windsurfers head to Golden Beach and New Golden Beach, two very popular beaches for wind sports. In fact, the Windsurfing world Cup takes place often at Golden Beach and Kite-boarding World Cups have been held at Pounta Beach near the airport. On the other hand, Martselo beach is for all ages and only a few minutes boat ride from the port of Parikia. This is just a sampling but there are many more special and beautiful beaches depending on your preference.

There are around 16 traditional settlements within the island, ranging from 100 people to nearly 5,000 in Parikia. Among them, Naoussa with its picturesque alleys and the Venetian castle on the beach, illuminated at night, add a magical note to the scenery, in combination with the marina and the small traditional boats. Entertainment in Naoussa lasts till the small hours since there are all kinds of places to go. Another notable village and the first capital of Paros is Lefkes. It is the most mountainous village of Paros and the most green. The village is located under a pinewood on the hill. A walk around its beautiful narrow streets with the white joints will impress you. Smaller villages such as Prodromos, Marpissa and Marmara in the south east showcase the original raw and traditional small settlements of Paros with the locals living simple island lives.

Paros also offers great opportunities to experience or participate in other endeavors such as trekking, horseback riding, yoga, various ongoing art, sculpture, music and literature projects, or exploring the rich archaeological sites abundant throughout the island. As Paros is located in the center of the Cyclades, holidays here can be easily combined with trips to other Greek islands, especially our nearest neighbors which include Naxos, Mykonos, Delos, Tinos and Santorini among others.

Paros is a versatile vacation spot which offers plenty of different options. From relaxing in fantastic beaches and enjoying watersports, to hiking hills and small mountains all the way to discovering the unique Cycladic culture, cuisine and architecture.

Explore our Blog and get ideas on what to do while on Paros based on a local’s perspective!

How to get to Paros

Ferries from Piraeus, Rafina and many of the Cycladic islands

There are multiple ferries daily from Piraeus port (1.5h by bus from Athens airport) and Rafina port. There are several options to choose from but most ferries are quite modern, large and very comfortable (Blue Star Ferries). The length of the trip is 3-4h depending on the ferry and a single ticket costs from 36€ to over 50€.

A starting point could be some websites such as:

Flights from Athens International Airport

Sky Express and Olympic air operate daily flights from Athens to Paros. During the winter months, there are typically 2 flights a day which increase to about 9 or 10 flights during the peak season summer months.