Things To Do In Paros, Greece

Paros is one of the Cycladic islands in Greece that is quite popular among international and local tourists. I, like a lot of tourists, find Paros as pretty as Mykonos, but way less crowded and much cheaper. Therefore people who are tired of overcrowded places would rather spend their vacation exploring Paros than getting lost in foot traffic on one of Santorini’s streets. For those people I wrote a list of The Best Things To DO in Paros. 

Things To Do In Paros, Greece

Visit Parikia

Parikia is the capital of Paros. Many great restaurants, charming shops, bakeries, and other things are located in Parikia. 

Parikia is a cute town with whitewashed buildings and narrow streets. It is one of the best locations to stay in Paros. All the services you might need (like renting a car, doing laundry, taking a ferry to another island) you can easily get in Parikia. 

Parikia also has a 4th century church that is called the church of a hundred doors. There is a legend to this name that you can learn by visiting the church. 

Relax At Krios & Marcello Beaches

Krios and Marcello beaches are located just on the other side of the Parikia harbor. 

These are two beaches that you can really count as one since they are not actually split. I find Krios and Marcello beaches a better choice than Livadia beach which can get very crowded. 

Krios and Marcello beaches have fine smooth sand and crystal clear water. It is also not completely deserted, there are a few cafes that offer sunbeds and sun umbrellas for tourists. 

To get to Krios and Marcello you can go by walking along the coast from Parikia (it will take you around 20 minutes to get there), or by a water taxi. 

You can find a water taxi next to the main ferry port. One way ticket costs 3€ . The boat leaves every 30 minutes, so you won’t have to wait for long. 

Visit Antiparos

One of the must do things in Paros is visiting the neighboring island of Antiparos. 

It is very easy to do from Parikia. You can just take a ferry in the morning and come back the same day. 

Antiparos is another Cycladic island with whitewashed buildings, and narrow cute streets. 

For some reason I found Antiparos even more tourist oriented than Paros itself. 

As soon as you get into the old town, you will see a lot of souvenir shops that offer various things from pottery to summer clothes.

Explore Naousa

Naousa village is a small fishing village that is located in the North of Paros. 

It is very easy to get there from Parikia. You can take a bus (near the main ferry port) and get to Naousa in about 30 minutes. 

Naousa fishing village is the second most popular location to stay in Paros. It is a little bit quieter than Parikia, however I find it a bit more expensive as well. 

Naousa village is a labyrinth of whitewashed buildings and narrow streets. There are a bunch of amazing cafes and restaurants along the harbor and inside the village that you definitely will enjoy. 

One of the things to do in Naousa is to visit the ruins of the Venetian fort. There is not much left to see, but this place is a great spot to take photos. 

Overall, I find Naousa a very picturesque village, where every corner has perfect scenery for an interesting photo.

While in Naousa village, you can also visit Piperi beach. Piperi beach is the main beach in Naousa. It is quite a pretty beach, but Piper beach can get very crowded during the high season. 

Visit Kolimpithres Beach

Kolimpithres beach is my favorite beach in Paros. There are a few reasons for that. 

First – a beautiful rock formation that surrounds this beach. The beach itself is divided by big boulders that have been smoothed by the water over many years. You can see the same rock formation on the Seychelles (this is actually what they are famous for). 

The second reason is the water temperature. Water at Kolimpithres beach is always a few degrees warmer than everywhere else in Paros. It can be due to the shallow water level, or to how this beach is protected from the open sea, but the fact is that water here is warmer and more pleasant. 

The third reason is that because Kolimpithres beach is a bit secluded, sometimes it is way less crowded than the other beaches in Paros. Of course during the high season every beach in Paros has tons of people, and Kolimpithres won’t be an exception. 

However in shoulder season (the best time to explore Greece), Kolimpithres beach can be quite deserted, so you kind of have the whole place for yourself. 

To get to Kolimpithres beach you can do so from Naousa village. Just take the bus which is affordable and takes around 15 minutes. 

Things To Do In Paros, Greece