Paros developed its tourist industry in the late 1960s and it is, today, one of the most visited islands in the Cyclades. Paros has almost everything that a holidaymaker to a Greek island expects. For instance, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, with intensive nightlife combined with ancient monuments, monasteries, churches and, most of all, wonderful sandy beaches.
What to see in Paros
Parikia is the capital town of Paros and lies on the northwest side of the island. It is the landing point for all visitors arriving from Piraeus and neighbouring Greek islands.
Naussa is a picturesque town on the north side of the island. Here exists the ruins of a a Venetian citadel from the 15th century . Around the port and promenade you will find many taverns, restaurants and cafes.
Marpissa is a little picturesque mountain village around 16km from Parikia.
Piso Livadi:About 8km south of Naussa is the wonderful resort of Piso Livadi.
What to do in Paros There are various water sports around the island and you can also go scuba diving, which is quite unusual in Greece. You can also go biking or jogging quite easily since the island is basically flat. Among other things that have made Paros so popular is that the island is ideal for windsurfing and every summer Paros hosts windsurfing competitions.
Beaches Paros has many beaches and it is difficult to say which are the best.
For families, the Kolymbithres beach is considered ideal.
The beach of Livadia in Paros Livadia beach
Golden Beach the sea can get rough, but the winds attract windsurfers from all over.
Nightlife Just like anywhere else in Greece, you will find little bars and taverns even in the smallest village on Paros. If you really want to party, it's best to stay in Parikia - that's where the clubs and discos are.
Food and Restaurants Paros restaurants are very varied, and you can get traditional Greek food or more international meals. Shopping Most shops are in Parikia, and here you can get everything from cheap souvenirs to antiques and jewellery.
Getting Around There are fairly good roads on Paros connecting all the major villages on the island. You can rent a car or a bike, take taxis or use the local buses. The road infrastructure is excellent and you can make the round of Paros within few hours on a bike or a car.
Getting to Paros Paros has its own airport with daily connections to Athens, and as mentioned there are excellent Ferry connections to the whole of Greece from here. Many charter companies choose not to land here, but fly to Mykonos or Santorini instead.