Summer has officially launched, and the lively and cosmopolitan Cyclades await visitors old and new to reveal why they’re so worth visiting. This wonderful cluster of small to medium-sized islands has experienced growing tourism for decades, yet they skillfully maintain a truly unique region’s authentic charm and character.
One of the Cyclades‘ most popular islands, Paros starts welcoming travelers as early as May or June. The island’s villages become idyllic retreats during a time of year when the sea might not yet be warm enough for most to take their first dip of the season, but sitting on squares and hiking is highly enjoyable.
We suggest you visit before and after peak season and the thick crowds that come with it to experience serenity and calm even in the busiest spots. The beaches are quieter, the most famous and Instagrammable spots of the island are more welcoming and you most likely won’t need a reservation to get a table at a great restaurant.
Here’s what you need to know to make the most out of your stay through a quick guide of the island.
01
Parikia and the Main Port
As the ferry enters the harbor, the gleaming white Parikia village with its Cycladic houses and blue shutters unfolds before your eyes. As the capital and commercial hub of Paros, Parikia is not only home to the port and all administrative services but also to the famous church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani, one of the most iconic and historic temples in Greece. Additionally, the Archaeological Museum of Paros and the renowned Frankish Castle, which commands a hill overlooking Agios Konstantinos, cast their shadows over the countless cafes, bars, and restaurants on the island.
No matter how short your stay on the island, a stroll through Parikia is highly recommended. This spot in the Cyclades, which has been a significant economic hub since the 13th century, is now one of the most vibrant settlements in the Greek islands.
We suggest saving your walk around Parikia for the afternoon, once the offices and services have closed. The large ferries that regularly arrive from Piraeus and other Cycladic islands often create traffic congestion in the streets and alleys. Parking can also be challenging, so it’s best to visit in the late afternoon when things are quieter and more relaxed, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of Parikia undisturbed.
02
Naoussa and its Buzzy Nightlife
Beautiful and confident, Naoussa proudly exhibits its seductive beauty at every turn. This isn’t just one of the most famous, photographed, and Instagram-worthy settlements in all the Cyclades. It’s a small place where labyrinthine alleys intertwine and lead dreamily to the sea. Here, cosmopolitan flair merges with the tranquility of the Cyclades‘ purest side. These two elements harmoniously blend, combining and alternating at nearly every turn, creating a unique experience you won’t easily find elsewhere.
While Naoussa is peaceful and unique in the morning, in contrast with Parikia, it becomes vibrant, glamorous and lively at night. From sunset time, people descend from the main road to the cobblestone streets for dinner and at later hours or drinks at some of the island’s hottest spots. Beyond a fantastic seafront harbor-type zone, where some of Paros’s most popular restaurants are located, all roads seem to lead to the Old Port, where the party continues until the early hours.
A visit to the Venetian Castle of Naoussa is also worthwhile. This medieval fortress, which protected the harbor from the 13th century, belonged to the French noble family of Lord Somaripa. He built a small castle to oversee the bay of Naoussa and monitor the movement of ships approaching the island.
03
Lefkes and Other Mountain Villages
No matter how much is written about the beaches of Paros with their crystal-clear waters, it is never enough. However, those who have visited the island multiple times know well that this truly wonderful Cycladic island has another, quite different side. For those wanting to discover the more authentic version of a truly cosmopolitan island, their steps will inevitably lead them to the mountainous part of Paros, where charming small villages are spread out one next to the other, offering breathtaking views of the sea and featuring traditional taverns with excellent food—reasons enough to venture here.
The most well-known mountain village on Paros is undoubtedly Lefkes, a beautiful village about 11 kilometers from the port of Parikia, which was the island’s first capital. Make sure to visit the Church of Agia Triada, considered by many to be the second most magnificent on the island after Panagia Ekatontapyliani, completed in 1835.
One of the most delightful experiences in Lefkes is simply relaxing at the quaint coffee shops, where the unobstructed view of the Aegean Sea is usually enchanting. If you find yourself here, rest assured that you won’t need to go far to enjoy a great meal, as it’s no coincidence that even during summer, visitors leave the island’s beaches and head up to Lefkes or even the nearby village of Prodromos to savor excellent meats and fantastic local delicacies at some of the top taverns in the Cyclades.
Particularly charming is the downhill route from Lefkes, passing through Prodromos, Marpissa, and Marmara – three small villages where you can even find accommodation if you prefer a more budget-friendly stay. A few minutes from Marmara, you’ll discover two beautiful and undeveloped beaches on the island, Molos and Kalogeros, perfect for swimming away from the crowds. Just a bit further along, you’ll come across the seaside village of Piso Livadi, which looks like it came straight out of a postcard and is one of the island’s most idyllic spots for dining and drinking by the water. Close by, the village of Logaras is filled with small taverns right on the water and beach bars with umbrellas and loungers for rent.
04
The Valley of the Butterflies
Southwest of Parikia, you’ll find a lush green valley full of shrubs and trees that, during the summer months, fills with hundreds of beautiful butterflies preparing for their final journey. They belong to the species Panaxia quadripunctaria. Make a stop here for a truly unique experience, but don’t forget to advise the younger visitors to remain quiet and discreet during their stay in the valley, avoid shaking the trees, and not scare the butterflies, as this causes them to expend the energy needed for their reproduction.
There is also a small shop and a café on-site where you can enjoy the beauty of the landscape for a while.
05
The Unmissable Beaches
Golden Beach
Widely known as the beloved spot for windsurfers spending their summers in Paros, the enchanting Golden Beach is one of the most famous beaches in all the Cyclades. However, it offers much more than that. This expansive beach transforms completely depending on where you find yourself. It’s a blue shoreline where you can safely let your children play in the very shallow waters while you relax on one of the comfortable loungers at the countless beach bars.
One of the newest additions is the “exotic” Beach Project, a large beach bar and restaurant sloping towards the stunning waters of Golden Beach. It features fluffy, orange loungers, paper parasols equipped with USB ports for charging phones, and excellent food including pasta, pizza, and burgers. You can easily spend the whole day here without realizing how quickly time passes.
Nearby, both the beach bar and restaurant of the Golden Beach Hotel, a serene complex, offer umbrellas and loungers all day long, and homemade, hearty meals, from pastitsio and moussaka to delicious meats and fresh fish. There’s also an organized watersports school for both the very experienced and complete beginners. You can rent windsurfing boards to challenge the waves or inflatable donuts to keep your kids entertained.
Monastiri Beach
After the iconic Kolymbithres, a series of small, rocky coves that form one of Paros‘ most famous beaches, the tranquil and sheltered Monastiri is the ideal destination for those who love water sports and beach games. The shallow, crystal-clear waters here are a true paradise for young children who can enjoy hours of swimming, playing with their buckets on the serene shore, and perhaps even a fun ride on a paddle boat with mom and dad.
If you have children, your day likely starts very early. Arriving here early will be rewarding as there is a large parking lot right outside the organized beach, offering convenience and the chance to find shade for your car under a tree. You’ll then walk through the entrance of Monastiri Beach Bar before reaching the golden sand to choose the perfect spot to set up. At that time, all the loungers are still free, but note this: if you choose the large wooden loungers in the center of the beach, the charge is 25 euros per set. However, if you opt for one of the blue-covered metal loungers (many are stacked to the side) and place them under a tamarisk tree, you’ll pay just 5 euros per lounger.
As the beach bar starts operating after 11 am, if you arrive at Monastiri very early, make sure to bring your own supplies. The enchanting tranquility that prevails in the early morning at Monastiri is something you’ll carry with you for a lifetime. There is also a restaurant on-site, and in the evenings, movies are screened in a small stone amphitheater.
Ambelas Beach
If you have spent many summers in Paros over the past decades, you’ll know that Ambelas, this indescribably beautiful bay on the northeastern edge of the island, used to be a very quiet retreat for a select few. Mainly families who rented a nearby room with their children and simply came down early in the morning for a swim before retreating for lunch in the calm of the Cycladic midday.
Now, Ambelas is where the heart of cosmopolitan Paros beats. While Naoussa is bustling with people at night, the fun moves to Ambelas early in the afternoon, where some of the island’s finest beach bars stand out thanks to their design and services. However, if you arrive early, you will find the same old tranquility and the option to lay your towels somewhere at the edge if you don’t want to pay for a lounger. The waters are more than enchanting, calm, and warm.
If you don’t mind the cost, Ambelas is still an ideal destination for you. Choose the highly popular Aspro Paros Seaside Restaurant and enjoy your coffee or juice with five-star amenities. However, for dining, move a bit further along the main coastal road, where you’ll find two of Paros’ top restaurants: Christiana and Thalami. They not only serve excellent food and fantastic fish brought daily by well-stocked caiques but also provide a wonderful Parian experience worth having. Arrive very early, no later than 1:30 pm, as Thalami doesn’t take reservations and can get very crowded.
06
Restaurants You’ll Love
Anna Giorgos
Considered one of the best taverns on the island, Giorgos and Anna is a must-visit. Situated literally in the middle of nowhere, this restaurant stands out on a small hill with unobstructed views of the surrounding areas. If you love meat, a meal at Giorgos and Anna is a must. You’ll enjoy excellent pancetta, burgers, kontosouvli, and traditional Parian sausage. The menu also features delicious, hearty appetizers, fresh salads, and local cheeses. There are also a few select seafood dishes. This is truly an excellent choice for dining on the eastern side of Paros. If you plan to come for dinner, it’s wise to make a reservation as it gets very busy, especially in July and August.
Kapari
This place might look like a quiet, well-kept tavern, but the menu has the aspirations of a full-fledged restaurant. On the cool, elevated terrace and in the garden, you’ll be served seafood dishes with a twist, such as unique sauces or unusual garnishes. Among the appetizers, the salad with kalcani, pink peppercorns, and fresh scallions garnished with mayonnaise stands out. The grilled cuttlefish has a sweet, delicate flavor. Fresh tuna fillet from Kalymnos is grilled to perfection and served juicy, accompanied by quinoa salad, pickled Parian greens, and “cheirovoskos” (a local fennel oil and lemon dressing). The restaurant features many family recipes from owner Manolis Kapari and his son Andreas, offering polite and efficient service.
Palia Agora (Gavalas Cafe)
Operating since the 1960s, this place continues the tradition with meze like calamari and smelts, its famous meatballs, eggplant salad, and more. In the evening, there’s often a line outside its characteristic green door, and those who find one of the coveted tables in the alley beside the shop are considered lucky.
Thalassamou
The setting is idyllic—right on the sand with tables under tamarisk trees or in the cool courtyard at Piso Aliki. The cuisine is light, aromatic Greek. Notable dishes include the gopa with beetroot couscous, mackerel in tzatziki gazpacho, and cod mosaic with parsley powder, wild garlic mayonnaise, and samphire. The relaxed vacation atmosphere makes it feel like you’ve gone straight from the sea to the table.
Aranto
A beautiful terrace in the mountain village of Lefkes with views of the mountains that has been a soothing and relaxing spot for years. The menu features simple, well-prepared dishes that balance tradition and modernity: eggplant rolls, tomato fritters, pastirma pie, stuffed chicken fillet, oven-baked chickpeas, perfect rib eye, beetroot risotto, and cuttlefish risotto. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
Mario
Having moved from the Old Port of Naoussa to Parikia, Mario remains one of the island’s favorite and best restaurants. Apart from its famous seafood pasta, try the excellent grilled sardines with grape leaf sauce and beetroot quinoa salad. A standout dish is the fresh tuna fillet (cooked tataki-style) with smoked eggplant puree and red sauce, reminiscent of Hünkar Beğendi with tuna.
Ouzeri ton Naftikon
This historic and much-photographed meze place in the old port of Naoussa has been in operation since 1950. It is packed daily with people coming for its seafood meze and especially for the “guna”: mackerel or bonito dried in the sun and then grilled over coals. The professional service is unfazed by the crowds and high demand.
