Things to Do in Paros

Paros sits right in the heart of the Cyclades, and it offers one of the most complete island experiences in Greece. It has a beautiful capital with one of the oldest churches in the country, a chic fishing harbour that fills with restaurants and boutiques, a granite beach unlike any other in the islands, ancient marble-paved footpaths through the hills, and some of the best windsurfing in the Aegean. It is well connected, good value, and it rewards visitors who look up from the sunbed. Whether you have come for the beaches, the villages, the history or the water sports, here is what to do when you visit.

The best things to do in Paros at a glance

• Explore Naoussa, the chic fishing harbour and its lanes of restaurants and boutiques
• Visit the Church of 100 Doors in Parikia, one of the oldest churches in Greece
• Swim at Kolymbithres, the unique granite boulder beach
• Walk the Byzantine road from Lefkes through the hills
• Windsurf at Golden Beach, one of the best spots in Greece
• Take a boat trip to Antiparos, for the famous cave and the archaeological site of Despotiko
• Tour the hill villages of Lefkes, Prodromos and Marpissa
• Taste the local wine at the island’s wineries

The main things to do in Paros

Explore Naoussa

Naoussa is the jewel of Paros and one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Cyclades. At its heart is a quintessentially Cycladic fishing harbour, where small wooden boats still tie up beside the tavernas, overlooked by the ruins of an old Venetian sea fort you can walk out to. The atmosphere shifts effortlessly through the day, from laid-back and sleepy in the morning to elegant and lively in the evening, when the lanes behind the harbour fill with diners and the wine bars and boutiques come alive.

Wandering the whitewashed alleys of Naoussa, discovering the little shops, workshops and hidden churches, is one of the great pleasures of Paros. There is a restored shipyard where wooden fishing boats were once built, a reminder of the island’s proud maritime heritage, and the harbour at sunset is one of the best spots on the island for an evening drink. The beaches near Naoussa, including Kolymbithres and Santa Maria, are among the best on the island. For more, see our guide to the villages of Paros.

Visit the Church of 100 Doors

In the capital, Parikia, stands the Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani, one of the most important and least-visited Byzantine monuments in the whole of Greece. Its name means the Church of 100 Doors, and a local legend says that only 99 of its doors have ever been found, and the hundredth will only be revealed when Constantinople becomes Greek once more. Parts of the church date back to the 4th century, making it one of the oldest continuously active churches in the country, and its simple, powerful architecture and peaceful courtyard offer a genuine sense of calm away from the beaches.

Entry is free, modest dress is required, and the best time to visit is before 9 in the morning, when you may have the place almost to yourself. In the courtyard is a Byzantine Museum with a collection of icons. Nearby, the Archaeological Museum of Paros is compact but holds some genuinely important pieces, including part of the Parian Chronicle, one of the oldest surviving historical records in the world. Behind the waterfront, the old town of Parikia is a maze of alleyways full of shops, tavernas and artisan workshops, with the ruins of a Venetian castle built partly from ancient marble at its heart.

Swim at Kolymbithres

Kolymbithres, across the bay from Naoussa, is the most distinctive beach on Paros and unlike anything else in the Cyclades. Over thousands of years, the wind and sea have sculpted the huge granite boulders here into smooth, sinuous shapes, creating a series of small sandy coves tucked between the rocks. The result is a beach that feels almost like a natural sculpture park, with clear shallow water perfect for swimming.

You can reach Kolymbithres by car, by bus, or most enjoyably by the little water taxi that runs across the bay from Naoussa port. It is one of the most photographed beaches on the island and a wonderful place to spend a day exploring the coves between the rocks.

Walk the Byzantine road

One of the best things to do on Paros is to walk the Byzantine road, an ancient footpath paved with slabs of the island’s famous Parian marble, running for around three and a half kilometres through the hills. The classic route starts from the beautiful marble hill village of Lefkes and winds down through the countryside to Prodromos, and on to Marpissa, passing old chapels, terraced fields and wonderful views along the way.

It is a moderate walk, best done in the cooler parts of the day, and it gives you the timeless, rural heart of Paros far from the beach resorts. The path is part of a wider network of trails around the island, including routes from Lefkes to other villages, and it is one of the most rewarding walks in the Cyclades. Take water, a hat and proper shoes, and check the Paros weather page before setting out.

Windsurf and kitesurf

The east coast of Paros is one of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations in the whole of Greece, thanks to the reliable summer wind. Golden Beach, a long stretch of sand over a kilometre in length, is the classic windsurfing beach, a former World Cup venue with several rental centres and schools, while the nearby Pounda Bay is the kitesurfing hub. There are schools offering lessons for all levels, and the combination of steady wind and good facilities makes this a superb place to learn or to improve. Even if you are a beginner, a couple of days of lessons can turn you into a rider. The beach club at Punda also brings a party scene to this side of the island.

Take a boat trip to Antiparos

Just across a narrow channel from Paros lies the smaller island of Antiparos, and a trip there is one of the best day outings from the island. Antiparos has a pretty main village, quiet beaches, and its famous cave, one of the most impressive in Greece, a deep cavern full of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites reached down a long stairway. Boat trips run to Antiparos from the port of Pounda just south of Parikia, and many sailing and catamaran trips take in the sea caves, cliff jumping and swimming along the way, with lunch included.

Some boat trips also visit the uninhabited islet of Despotiko near Antiparos, home to an important ancient sanctuary that is still being excavated. A catamaran day trip around Antiparos and the surrounding waters is one of the most memorable ways to spend a day on the water. See the full guide to the caves of Paros for more.

Tour the hill villages

The rural interior of Paros is dotted with beautiful traditional villages that offer a quiet, timeless contrast to the coast. Lefkes is the most famous, a beautiful marble hill village where time genuinely seems to slow down, with a lovely church, a ceramics studio where you can try the potter’s wheel, and the start of the Byzantine road. Prodromos and Marpissa, a village of windmills and a castle, complete the classic hill village trio linked by the ancient path.

Elsewhere, the south coast fishing village of Aliki has a small folklore museum and a genuine local feel, and Piso Livadi on the east coast is a relaxed little port. Wandering these villages, stopping for a coffee in a shaded square, is one of the best ways to see the authentic side of Paros. See the full guide to the villages of Paros for more.

Relax on the beaches

Paros has beaches all around its coast, and the map is the easiest way to make sense of them. On the north coast near Naoussa are the granite coves of Kolymbithres, the popular Santa Maria, the quiet Monastiri below its blue-domed church, Marcello and the naturist beach of Lageri. The east coast has the windsurfing sands of Golden Beach.

Elsewhere you can find the natural clay spa at Kalogeros, where you can cover yourself in the mineral-rich mud, and the sheltered south coast bay of Faragas, which is good for families. The full Paros beaches guide covers all of them and how to reach each one.

Visit Paros Park and the blue-domed church

On the peninsula north of Naoussa is Paros Park, a free environmental and cultural park criss-crossed by walking trails, with beaches, coves and one of the most photographed sights on the island: the little blue-domed church of Agios Ioannis Detis, standing alone on the headland overlooking the endless blue of the Aegean. The park is open all year, free to enter, and reachable by car, bus or water taxi from Naoussa. In summer it hosts an open-air cinema and cultural events, and it is a lovely place for a walk, a swim in a quiet cove, and a sunset.

Taste the local food and wine

Paros has a good and growing food scene, particularly in Naoussa where excellent restaurants line the harbour and the lanes behind it. The island is known for its wine, and a visit to one of the local wineries for a tasting is a lovely way to spend an afternoon, learning about the island’s wine-making tradition and tasting the local varieties. Seek out the island’s wineries and wine tastings and cheese making experiences, and do not miss a long, slow seafood dinner in the harbour at Naoussa as the sun goes down.

Best things to do in Paros for…

First-time visitors

For a first visit, the essentials are exploring Naoussa and its harbour, swimming at Kolymbithres, visiting the Church of 100 Doors and old town in Parikia, walking the Byzantine road from Lefkes, and taking a boat trip to Antiparos. Four days covers the essentials of Paros comfortably.

Couples

Naoussa is one of the most romantic bases in the Cyclades, with its harbour restaurants and stylish lanes. Combine sunset dinners in Naoussa with a walk on the Byzantine road, a slow afternoon exploring the coves at Kolymbithres, a wine tasting, and a catamaran day trip around Antiparos for a wonderful couples’ holiday.

Families

Paros suits families well. The calm bays near Naoussa and the sheltered Faragas in the south have shallow water good for children, the granite coves of Kolymbithres are fun to explore, the boat trip to Antiparos and its cave is an adventure, and the windsurfing schools at Golden Beach are great for teenagers. Check the Paros weather page before travelling.

Windsurfers and water sports lovers

Golden Beach and Pounda Bay on the east coast are among the best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in Greece, with reliable wind, rental centres and schools for all levels. Beyond the wind sports, there is good scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding and sailing, making Paros a superb island for anyone who wants to get out on the water.

History and culture lovers

The Church of 100 Doors and the Archaeological Museum with the Parian Chronicle in Parikia, the ancient Byzantine road, the marble quarries at Marathi where the famous Parian marble was cut, and the archaeological site of Despotiko near Antiparos give Paros a genuine depth of history to explore alongside its beaches.

Planning your visit

Paros is a well-connected island and its highlights are spread around the coast and the interior, so how you get around matters. A good bus network links Parikia and Naoussa with the main beaches and hill villages, and the two towns are a short ride apart. For the quieter beaches, the hill villages and the boat trip departure points, a hire car or scooter gives you more freedom, and a water taxi is a lovely way to reach Kolymbithres from Naoussa. See our guides to getting around Paros, the bus timetable and taxi and car hire for full details.

To decide where to base yourself for the things you most want to do, read our guide on where to stay in Paros. To plan your arrival, see how to get to Paros and the main ferry page. To see how everything on the island fits together, use the Paros map, and for the wider region, the Greek islands map shows how Paros connects to the rest of the Cyclades.