paros, greece
the greek island that keeps calling us back
Paros, Greece - the first Cycladic island we visited, and the one we make sure to return to year after year.
Looking out to Naxos Island from Paralia Santa Maria
I swear I could have cried the first time I laid eyes on this Paros. Maybe it was the fact that our original plans were quashed by the Covid pandemic and made our visit that much more long-awaited, or maybe the magic of the place itself. Maybe both, and our love for the island only grew as we came to learn how much of it we could enjoy with Ozzy at our side.
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Family-run and literally just steps from the charming town of Naoussa, 8 Keys is definitely somewhere we’ll stay again. They also offer a huge and tasty breakfast (optional) that is a great value, not to mention convenient.
Still within walking distance, Zefi is the first hotel we stayed in Paros and really enjoyed it. If a pool is important to you, look no further!
Acron Villas are stunning, stand-alone Cycladic-style homes that look out over Naoussa Bay, so definitely not walkable to town, but a great option if you plan to rent a car for your visit.
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Souvlakia KARGAS (Σουβλάκια ΚΑΡΓΑΣ)
We would be eating here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if it were up to me. Of all of the pita gyros we have tried to date, these outshine them all (as far as chicken and halloumi go). Bonus points that the woman in charge refers to Ozzy as her boyfriend and makes sure to always steal some chicken from the pita for him.
Tsachpinis
We tried both Tsachpinis and Mario’s (definitely the better-known of the two) on our first time to Paros, but preferred Tsachpinis for an authentic dinner in the harbor - if you love salt like I do, you can’t not try the sun-dried mackerel - a local delicacy.
Kafeneion - i Palia Agora
An absolute must. I think we ordered just about everything on the menu our first time here and didn’t regret a single thing. The eggplant and chicken fricassee are just divine. Get there early if you don’t want to wait in line, but if you do have to wait, I promise it will be worth it.
With mom in the kitchen, you can’t go wrong. Wonderful service and really lovely, fresh dishes.
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Paralia Kolympethres
Take the boat shuttle (yes, of course it’s dog-friendly) from Naoussa harbor over to Kolympethres with its crystal clear water and moonrock-like landscape. Sunbeds are available with food and drink service through the nearby tavern, or grab a spot wherever else you like and pack some snacks!
Wakeboarding
Feeling really adventurous? Walk a few minutes over from Kolympethres to try wakeboarding or waterskiing with WaterSkiZone. Shea wanted to go out for his birthday - how many times can you say you wakeboarded in Greece?
Hop on a daily sailing cruise
Go out for the day with Pantasoulas Daily Cruises, a family-run operation that will give you an unforgettable day around Paros and one of the tastiest lunches you’ll ever have on the sea.
Try the local wines
Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting at the Moraitis Estate, which is within walking distance from Naoussa town.
Explore inland
Take the drive up to Lefkes, a charming village in the center of the island.
Santa Maria beach (Paralia Santa Maria)
For a really quiet beach day, head over to Santa Maria , which looks across to the neighboring island of Naxos. If you drive, park on the street near restaurant Το Δίχτυ, then follow the little path down to the water. While there is also an organized beach here, we decided to keep walking right to see what we’d find and just about had the beach to ourselves with the exception of a few locals.
Paralia Agioi Anargyroi
How about just an easy beach day? Agioi Anargyroi is, at most, a 10/15-minute walk from Naoussa town. Best to go earlier in the day, as much of the beach will be taken up as the tide rises towards the afternoon.
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Although entirely possible to have an amazing time in Paros without your own mode of transportation (which we have done without 2 of the 3 times we have been), I will say it’s nice to have the flexibility to see what you want when you want to. The one time we did opt for a buggy, it was on a whim from Ride Moto Rental just outside of Naoussa town - they were friendly and the prices were fair.
We’ve also found KTEL, the bus system on Paros, to be sufficient as well as convenient, at least for getting from Parikia to Naoussa when we first arrive. Pets under 10kg are allowed and should be in their kennels during the trip.
