VILLAGES OF PAROS ISLAND GREECE

If you’re looking for the best places to travel in Europe, the Greek Islands are probably on your bucket list! Paros Island, Greece is quickly becoming one of the most popular islands in the cyclades. People say it’s the next hot spot in the Greek Islands. After visiting, I can see why people are falling in love with this lovely little island! My favorite part of exploring was the charming little seaside villages of Paros Island Greece.

My recommendation is to set aside at least three days to fully explore the island. For a small island, there are plenty of things to do in Paros. I did my fair share of research before visiting Paros but honestly didn’t realize how much there is on the island. Below I’ll go through everything you need to know including the must visit villages of Paros Island Greece.

And don’t forget to pin this for later :)

Paros is located in the Cyclades meaning it’s a quick 4 hour ferry from Athens to Paros. The ferries in Greece are absolutely huge! I recommend going prepared with water and snacks as prices on the ferry are expensive. You can also fly to Paros from Athens on a quick 40 minute flight. Generally, riding the ferry is the more budget friendly option.

Booking:

• We primarily used Let’s Ferry throughout our travels in Greece.
• If you’re planning to fly I recommend using Google flights to find the best option!

There are two main places to base yourself for your stay in Paros. You can stay in the port town of Parikia or Naousa which is approximately 20 minutes from the port. The public transportation system in Paros is pretty frequent and reliable so it’s easy to travel around the island. Because of this, it really depends on what you’re looking for as a base. We stayed in Parikia which was great. It’s an adorable town with nice beaches and a ton of restaurants. The town of Naousa is pretty different from Parikia. While it was my favorite town on the island it’s pretty quiet during the day. With that being said, it’s known to have quite the night scene.

Booking: Honestly, our hotel was fine for us but isn’t a place I would recommend. We booked the basement room which might have tainted our experience! I’ll link better options below.

• Parikia: Argonauta Hotel and Diplos Studios
• Naousa: Alexandros Apartments and Paliomylos Spa Hotel

The island of Paros is relatively large however, it’s easy to get around the island. You can rent a car/ scooter or rely on public transportation. If you plan on renting a car or scooter make sure you have an International Drivers License. Greece requires foreign drivers to have an International Drivers License. Most rental companies will still rent vehicles without an International Drivers License. I don’t recommend this because if you get pulled over, you run the risk of a hefty fine by local authorities. The public transportation on Paros is very reliable. Buses leave consistently making it easy to travel around the island. The most frequent bus line is between Naousa and Parikia. Bus schedules will be posted at the bus stop. You can either purchase tickets at the bus station or on board.

Like most of the Greek Islands and Europe in general, I recommend visiting late May, mid June, or September and October. The island will be less crowded and touristy than peak season. As a result, the hotel prices will be slightly cheaper during these months. The Greece weather is hot enough to enjoy the beach and swim in the sea making it the perfect time to visit! If you prefer hiking and sightseeing, visit between October and May since the prices will be even lower and the weather will be cooler. However, the best time to go to Greece really depends on the activities you want to do during your trip.

Whether or not you’ve based yourself in Naousa, it’s worth spending at least a day wandering around this quaint seaside village. The whitewashed town is located along the water offering the most breathtaking view. While the main activity in Naousa is to simply wander the streets of this picturesque town, make sure to visit the Venetian Fort as well as the Church of Agios Antonios. The Venetian Fort is located in the old port and was constructed in the 15th century to protect Naousa. The Church of Agios Antonios is a typical white washed Greek Church located in the harbor.

Some of the best beaches in Greece are a quick 10-15 minutes from Naousa. Santa Maria beach and Kolymbithres beach are some of the most popular Paros beaches; both of which look amazing. If you have the time, be sure to check them out! If you’re limited on time, spend your morning in Naousa and head to the beach in the afternoon. You can take a bus from Naousa to Santa Maria and a water taxi from Naousa to Kolymbithres.

If you’re a wine drinker, head to Moraitis Winery Paros Greece. The winery was started in 1910 and is absolutely adorable! It’s a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Village of Naousa. You can do a wine tasting or order wine by the glass and bottle. The pricing is reasonable and there is plenty of seating scattered throughout the winery.

Hours: The winery is open from 10 am to 6 pm and is closed on Sunday.

Unlike the popular seaside villages on Paros, the village of Lefkes is in the mountains! Therefore, it’s such a unique stop for tourists. Lefkes is a pretty small mountainous village so it doesn’t take too much time to explore. The main square of Lefkes is located near the Church of Agia Triada. Consequently, the square is the perfect place to soak in the streets of Lefkes! The town is a mix between white washed houses and Venetian architecture. Set aside about two hours for your trip to Lefkes.

If you enjoy hiking, there are a number of hiking trails that surround Lefkes. We actually hiked from Lefkes to the next town on my list, Piso Livadi. The trail was a little questionable at times however, the views were spectacular!

Piso Livadi is a unique fishing town on Paros island. It’s feels different from the typical village. Rather, it feels like a low key fishing village mixed with a white washed town. Head to Piso Livadi if you’re looking for a mellow small town with great beaches. The town of Piso Livadi is super small as there is really just one street filled with restaurants and shopping. It’s the perfect place to relax, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the view.

There’s a nice beach in Piso Livadi or you can head to Golden Beach; one of the most popular beaches on the island. Golden Beach is approximately 10 to 15 minutes from Piso Livadi in the town of Drios. Buses run frequently between the two places.

Many people base themselves in Parikia because it kind of has the perfect balance. It’s a port town filled with plenty of charm. The idyllic windmill represents the center of town. Actually, most travelers will notice the windmill the second they exit the ferry. If you walk to the interior of the town, you’ll notice small alleys filled with white washed buildings. The streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and churches. On the waterfront, there’s a sidewalk along the sea connecting popular beaches to the center of town in Parikia. Restaurants line the opposite side of the street offering gorgeous views of the Mediterranean.

Honestly, it’s Greece, every restaurant will be amazing but I figured I would share one of my favorites! I’m only doing one restaurant recommendation because the food in Greece is always next level. My personal fav was Mylos Traditional Grill House. The location is kind of random but the place lives up to their reputation. The food is delicious, the portions are huge, and the prices are reasonable. My husband and I ate at Mylos around 4 pm and the place was doing the business!

Paros is absolutely adorable! It’s the perfect island to visit for a relaxing European vacation. I hope you enjoy exploring the quaint villages in Paros as much as I did.

If you’re planning to travel to Greece, here are a few more articles to help plan your trip!

• Paros vs Naxos Island
• 3 Days on Naxos Island
• Santorini in 3 Days

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

I’ve linked a few of my favorite travel essentials below. Visit our travel shop for more of my favorite gear as well as my top travel essentials for babies!