Imagine white-washed building with sky blue steeples surrounded by azure waters, the friendliest people, and the most delectable food. You’ve just imagined the Greek Isle of Paros. And I am going to tell you how to have the perfect trip on the Greek isle of Paros.
What is the best time of year to go?
I personally think that September is the most ideal time to go to the Greek islands in general. The Greek isles get very hot. July and August are not only extremely hot, but they’re also the height of tourist season. September, you’ll still be very warm, able to swim, snorkle, and explore, but it won’t be as scalding or as busy. Be sure to bring a wrap or sweater for dinner after the sun goes down.
Getting to Paros
If you are headed to Paros, you’re probably going to be coming from another Greek island, like Santorini. That is where we were coming from. One of the main ways to get to Paros is by boat. But you can also fly into the island. We chose to take a ferry. I recommend upgrading to first class for your ferry. It’s just a small extra fee but 100% worth it! Blue Star is the superior ferry, if you can book them over the other ones.
Do I Need a Car in Paros?
Yes, if you plan on exploring Paros, you will 100% need a car. Also, you will need an international Driver’s License because the Greek alphabet is different than the Latin script that are English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, ect. So if you went to a place like the UK, France, Italy, or Portugal you wouldn’t need one, but you 100% do need one for Greek since they have a completely different alphabet. Technically you may get away with someone renting you a car without one, but it is a pain and you will end up paying 5x as much as you would if you had the permit. So, just get the permit. It takes 20 minutes to get one, just go to your local AAA. Or do the online form with plenty of lead time. Also, if you don’t drive stick, be sure to reserve an automatic. In Europe, stick is the go to, and automatic is the outlier and they’re harder to come by. Paros is a pretty big island with lots to discover and you’ll want a car to get around it easily!
Where to stay
There are two main villages I would recommend staying in Paros- Parikia or Naousa. You can’t go wrong with staying any of these two villages! Both are exceptionally lovely and have incredible food. Parikia is where the ferries dock, so you’ll be there straight away when you land. Naousa is just a little bit farther. No matter which you decide to stay in, you’ll definitely want to explore the other for at least a day.
Places to Stay in Naousa
Archipelagos Studios is a budget-friendly hotel, located 350 feet from the beach and 5 minutes’ walking from the central square of the village. Enjoy a calm and peaceful atmosphere. This small hotel offers basic, quiet and clean accommodations, and an ideal base for discovering the area.
Offering a pool and a fitness center, the Cycladic-style Stelia Mare Boutique Hotel is 100 feet from Agioi Anargyroi Beach. It features elegant accommodations with a spa bath and free Wi-Fi. Naoussa Village is a 4-minute walk away.
With a prime location right before Piperi Beach, Katerina mare is only 650 feet from Naousa’s central square. The sea-facing complex consists of luxury studios and apartments in a sleek and contemporary Cycladic style.
Places to Stay in Parikia
Located in Parikia and with Livadia reachable within a few steps, KOKOON has express check-in and check-out, non-smoking rooms, a garden, free WiFi throughout the property and a shared lounge. The property is around a 8-minute walk from Church of Ekatontapyliani, 0.4 miles from Archaeological Museum of Paros and 5.7 miles from Venetian Harbour and Castle. Each room is equipped with a balcony.
Housed in a traditional Cycladic building, Hotel Dina is located in Parikia Town of Paros, just 650 feet from the port and 0.6 mi from Livadia Beach. It offers free Wi-Fi in its public areas and air-conditioned units with a balcony or patio.
Villages to Explore in Paros
In addition to exploring Naoussa and Parikia, you’ll need to explore other adorable parts of the Paros to make your trip perfect.
Lefkes
I recommend spending an afternoon exploring this village in Paros. Its narrow stone walkways adorned with the lovely pink bougainvillea will steal your heart. It is a tiny village that takes you right back to what it would have been like as a 17th century Greek islander. While you are there, grab food from Chrisoula Mezes Tavern, Honey Gelato, or the Stratis bakery. This village was built on the side of a cliff so you may need a refreshment throughout your exploration.
Antiparos
If you would like you can take a day trip to Antiparos, the island right across from Paros! It is stunningly beautiful with cute shopping and of course, the Aegean waters.
Where to Eat in Paros
Taverna Glafkos (Naoussa)
This was by far the best food we had on our honeymoon! And the you cant beat the ocean front view either.
Taverna Yannis (Parikia)
This was exceptional food, just absolutely amazingly delectable.
Little Green Rocket (Parikia)
Believe it or not, this place had the most amazing chicken wings!
Balcony Tou Aki (Aliki)
You can’t beat this beach front restaurant. The view is stunning and the food, and wine, incredible!
Cooking Lesson
Don’t forget to throw in a traditional Greek cooking lesson while you’re in Paros! We absolutely loved learning how to make authentic, Greek food. We had no idea how much we loved Greek food until we were there! This is the cooking class we took. If you are going to Greece in the hotter months, which you probably are, I would recommend asking them not to teach you how to make Moussaka, the national dish. You will need to request this ahead of time. The Greeks love it, but it is so heavy, you’ll be sweating.
At the end of your Greek excursion to Paros, I can guarantee, you wont want to leave! Paros was our favorite Greek isle and it was just perfect.
Talk soon,
Rach
