Paros island

General info
Being one of the most beautiful islands among the Cyclades island cluster, Paros attracts plenty of visitors each year. It covers 73 square km and has a population of 14.000 residents approximately.

Paros’s exceptional landscape, a combination of smooth mountains, fertile valleys and sandy beaches with blue clear waters, is complemented harmonically with the traditional Cycladic white-painted houses of the villages and the white mills, making Paros one of the most favorite tourist destinations.

Though the island is quite developed concerning to accommodation facilities and offers many alternatives for entertainment and promises for an intense night life, it has preserved its own traditional colour and customs.

Historical profile
Being one of the most beautiful islands among the Cyclades island cluster, Paros attracts plenty of visitors each year. It covers 73 square km and has a population of 14.000 residents approximately.

Paros’s exceptional landscape, a combination of smooth mountains, fertile valleys and sandy beaches with blue clear waters, is complemented harmonically with the traditional Cycladic white-painted houses of the villages and the white mills, making Paros one of the most favorite tourist destinations.

Though the island is quite developed concerning to accommodation facilities and offers many alternatives for entertainment and promises for an intense night life, it has preserved its own traditional colour and customs.

Villages
Paros’ villages are characterized from their simple yet fine Cycladic architecture.
Parikia (Parikia), the capital of the island, has all the features of a modern city, offering a wide range of choices for accommodation and for entertainment for all ages and tastes. The archaeological monuments, the remains of ancient temples and the Byzantine churches remind to the visitor that Parikia has been a significant city since antiquity.

Other worth-visiting villages are Naoussa, a natural picturesque harbour that is transformed  to a centre of night life after sun-set, gathering plenty of people till early in the morning, and Lefkes, an amphitheatrically- built  hilly village among forests (about 10 km southeast to Parikia) with  astonishing view and  remarkable Byzantine churches.

Beaches
The beaches of Paros are famous for their fine sand and the crystal clear waters. If you are seeking for well organized, full of life beaches which also offer sea sports facilities,  you should visit the Golden beach (Chrisi  Akti)  and the New Golden beach which  are found  25 and 26  km accordingly  southeast from Parikia  and  the Parasporos  beach which is very popular among young people and it is found 3 km approximately south to Parikia and  Agia Maria beach (Santa Maria) which offers many seas sports facilities and a great view to Naxos island.

If you prefer less crowded beaches, you will certainly enjoy the Kolymbithres beach   (10 km northeast to Parikia) known for its serenity and its fascinating rock formations and Logaras beach with excellent crystal clear waters (about 18 km southeast to Parikia) and Agia Irini beach (Santa Irene), an exotic non-organized beach with palm trees.

Access
Access to Paros is easy by sea or by air since there are scheduled trips from Piraeus Port, as well as regular flights from Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). There is also a connection with the islands of Naxos, Santorini (Thira), Myconos, Milos, Ios, Delos, Amorgos, Tinos, Sifnos, Syros, Folegandros and Crete.

An island that you shouldn’t fail to visit is Antiparos, which is quite close to Paros and with easy access by Punta or Parikia harbour. Antiparos is a tiny Island of exquisite natural beauty, untouched by massive tourism, with emerald waters and impressive caves of stalactites. Though the island does not provide many choices for entertainment, by many is considered to be a forgotten part of Eden on earth!