Paros: Island Guide, Parikia, Naoussa, Beaches & Hotels

The island of Paros

Paros lies in the heart of the Cyclades and works well as a base, with good beaches on the south and east coasts and a string of contrasting villages. For shopping and sights head to the capital Parikia; for beaches the south and east are best. The island is famous for its fine white Parian marble, quarried since antiquity, and for the Byzantine church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani in Parikia. Inland stands Lefkes, the old Chora and one-time capital, kept authentic and largely untouched by tourism.

Parikia, the capital

Parikia is the capital and main resort, set in a protected bay on the west coast and inhabited since the Bronze Age. At its centre is a typical Cycladic Chora with a piece of Venetian wall built in 1207 on the site of the old acropolis; the old town lies to the west and the beach and modern part, with most of the hotels, to the east. The ferries dock by the large white windmill, near the bus station, the taxi stand and the boat to Antiparos. Along the quay are tavernas, ticket offices, shops, cafes and ancient relics, and behind the promenade are narrow shopping streets, white houses with bougainvillea and small squares. The town beach is not the most inviting with ferries coming and going, so head to the long sandy beach of Livadia just outside the centre.

Naoussa

Naoussa is a picturesque fishing village in the north of Paros, with a beautiful harbour of colourful Greek boats, an old white Chora, a promenade of tavernas and the old Venetian houses behind the kaiks. It is dominated by a large church and gets very busy in the evening, when everyone returns from the beaches - quieter and pleasant in the daytime. There is no really good beach in the village itself, but boats and buses run to better beaches nearby, including Santa Maria.

Alyki and the villages

Alyki, also spelled Aliki, is a small, pretty village on the south coast: a few houses, some hotels, a harbour front of restaurants, two supermarkets and a little white church with a blue dome, with a big, good beach and more beaches around every corner. Reach it by bus or a cheap taxi from Parikia, or walk the coast from the small ferry harbour of Punta. On the east coast, Piso Livadi sits in a protected bay overlooking Naxos, quieter than Parikia or Naoussa and close to many beaches, among them the long, windsurf-friendly Chrissi Akti (Golden Beach). Inland, Lefkes is the authentic old Chora, once the pirate-era capital.

The beaches of Paros

Paros has so many beaches it is hard to name them all, spread mainly along the south and south-east coasts, with more in the west between the cliffs and in the north. In the north are Santa Maria and Kolymbithres, the latter with a striking rock in the sea; on the east coast Chrissi Akti, or Golden Beach, is rated the best on the island and popular with windsurfers for its wind and waves. The quieter, smaller beaches in the south around Aliki and Pounta are just as good and much calmer, and there is a naturist beach north of Parikia at Krios and more quiet coves between Aliki and Pounta. See the full guide to the beaches of Paros.

The church of Ekatontapiliani

Panagia Ekatontapiliani, better known as the church of a hundred doors, is a major Byzantine monument 200 metres from the port of Parikia. Tradition dates its beginnings to the reign of Constantine the Great (280-337 AD), and it is built in three parts from different periods. Its name comes from its hundred doors, of which only 99 have been counted; the last, it is said, will reveal itself when the Greeks take Constantinople back. The church was ruined in the 1773 earthquake and rebuilt, and only the belltower was not restored, so the bells hang outside beside the entrance in a big tree.

The history of Paros

Paros has been inhabited since 3200 BC, shown by excavations on the islet of Saliagos between Paros and Antiparos. In myth King Alkaios of Crete was its first king, and the Cretans made fertile, central Paros a naval base; in 1100 BC the Ionians took over, and around 1000 BC the Arcadians under Parios, who gave the island its name. Paros then grew into a maritime power. Like the other islands it passed to the Romans and then the Byzantines, who brought Christianity and built the church of Ekatontapiliani; the Venetians ruled from 1207 to 1389, the Ottomans after them, and Paros joined the new Greek state after the 1821 revolution. Read more on the Paros history page.

Getting to Paros & car rental

Paros is reached by ferry and by plane, and Parikia is well connected across the Cyclades. Renting a car is a good plan, because the island has a lot to offer and the quieter beaches and inland villages reward exploring; wooden boats, buses and taxis also serve the beaches away from the towns. Plan a trip to Paros and, when you are hungry, the Paros restaurants guide lists places to eat in Parikia, Naoussa and the villages.

Where to stay on Paros

Below are two places we like; there are many more on the Paros hotels page.

Hotel Manto, Naoussa

Hotel Manto stands in a quiet spot a few minutes' walk from the centre of Naoussa, built in the traditional Cycladic style. It offers free internet and spacious, air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom, balcony and fridge, all with a TV and views over the Aegean or the gardens. Breakfast with fresh juices and home-made delicacies is served daily, and there is a sea-view terrace with sun loungers, next to the restaurants, bars and shops of Naoussa.

Ikia Studios, Alyki

Ikia Studios sit in Alyki in the south of Paros, close to the beach, in an A-class complex built in 2001 - our own choice and, over the years, more of a second home than a hotel. The tastefully decorated studios, apartments and complete houses are a short walk from a supermarket, a bakery, tourist shops, tavernas and a small bar, with a petrol station in the village and the two village beaches plus fabulous coves such as Faranga and Makria Myti (both also naturist) nearby. Owner Anna is always welcoming, the prices are low, and she sometimes has special offers for stays of six days or longer.