2 Days in Paros: The Forgotten Gem of the Cyclades

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It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me that I loved Paros. A Greek island that until I started researching my island hopping trip, I had never heard of. Big time names like Mykonos and Santorini are the Cyclades that draw all the crowds. An unknown name can make you wonder – is there anything there? Is it worth seeing? The answer is, unequivocally, yes.

Why Should You Visit Paros

Paros has the same quintessential whitewashed streets of Mykonos, the same glittering Aegean, the same abundance of mewling cats, the same frothing bougainvillea. All this without the crowds and the price tag. Sure if you want to party go to Mykonos or if you want dramatic sunsets go to Santorini, but if you want a laid back, beautiful Greek island then Paros is the perfect choice.

You could be forgiven for thinking there might not be as much to do on Paros. But this island has so many gems to explore, from mountain villages to secluded beaches. This softer Cyclade begs to be discovered slowly, over mornings sat by the harbour and long lunches gazing out over the sea.

How to Spend 2 Days in Paros

Explore Naousa

This dainty harbour town is the kind to make you sigh it’s so pretty. At nine in the morning there are more locals and cats than tourists. For a moment I thought, maybe it’s too quiet, if such a thing is possible. But no the town woke slowly, lazily, as I tucked into the best crepe I’d eaten on the islands at Xamilothoris Patisserie where local ladies claimed the sunniest table for a morning coffee – as it should be.

Stroll along the harbour and inhale the sharp tang of salt in the air. The town feels real and soothing, a place where you can sit and watch the world go by.

Wander through the streets of the town and enjoy snapping pictures of the gorgeous streets while it’s so completely quiet. Chat to the cats and admire the flowers.

Relax at Kolymbithres Beach

If you’re staying in Naousa this is an easy boat ride across the water. If you walk along the harbour you will find a kiosk selling tickets and the timetable. The boat costs 6 euros return. If you visit in low season as I did there won’t be many times so make sure to remember the time of the last boat! The man did shout out several times the last time though so don’t worry he will make you aware. Even though it’s nice to have a beach on your doorstep I find a small boat trip makes the experience even more lovely. (There is actually a small beach in Naousa but I didn’t have time to visit.)

Kolymbithres is definitely worth a visit. It has crystal clear waters and small coves of sand divided by huge lunar boulders eroded into eeire shapes. If you like your beaches interesting and unusual this is a must! Again it was peaceful and quiet with only a few other people scattered along the coves. Because there is so many different little sections to the beach it makes it seem even more secluded. If you’re too stingy to pay for a sunbed (like me) then there are lots of rocks you can curl up on.

There’s a beach taverna close at hand which also serves food and drinks to your sunbed (you still have to pay for the sunbed first). But I opted for a taverna slightly higher up away from the beach. Taberna Vigla didn’t look much from the outside but the view from it was wonderful and the food was cheap and delicious!

Greek servers will never rush you away from a restaurant and what you intend to be a quick snack for lunch will turn into a long lazy lunch mellowed by wine and stuffed aubergine moussaka. But why would you want to move when you have such a wonderfully seductive view?!

Drink Cocktails at Sommaripa Consolato

Naousa at night is much like Naousa in the day – a gentle buzz that oozes class and relaxation. It was quiet when I visited in October and I do think the atmosphere would be slightly better in high season. The cocktails at Sommaripa are expensive but still more reasonable than Mykonos and you can grab a chair with a view from the second floor terrace. The bar had a great vibe, even late in the season.

Drool over the baklava at Ragoussis

Ah this bakery… there were so many treats on offer. My sweet tooth was in heaven! As if the regular choices in the cabinets wasn’t enough they also brought out fresh trays of treats to lay on the counters. There are so many things to choose from I wish I had more days to spend in Paros so I could try everything!

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Delve into Parikia

Paro’s port town is deceptive. When you arrive on the ferry the port is bland and uninviting in the dark and I was whisked off in my taxi to Narousa straight away. But once you start to wander through the town you discover it has its own charms with lots of nice shops, beautiful churches and the same charming bougainvillea-strewn streets as Naousa. As the main town on the island it had a local feel to it with school children playing.

I caught the bus from Naousa later than planned (I had an eye-related drama) and I was heading on to the mountain village of Lefkes from Parikia so my time there felt a little rushed. A cat curled up on my lap as I ate lunch and I was sorely tempted to remain there all afternoon but I only had two days in Paros and so much I wanted to see!

Lefkes and the Byzantine Trail

Lefkes is a charming village up in the hills of Paros with an air of tranquillity about it. I definitely sensed the season was long over there. If you’re staying in Naousa there isn’t a direct bus to Lefkes you have to go to Parikia first which is why I decided to explore them both on the same day.

I’d also like to mention that the bus trips on Paros are so scenic. It’s such a green and attractive island, especially after barren Mykonos. I do feel that Paros would be a nice place to explore by renting a car as there must be so many more off the beaten path pockets to explore. But it’s also very easy to get around by bus if you prefer.

The Byzantine Trail starts in Lefkes and winds down towards the village of Prodromos, taking in views across to the sea. It only takes 45 minutes between the two towns and is a fairly easy and very straightforward walk. It was the perfect way to clear my head and enjoy some time alone in nature – as I hardly saw anyone else on the walk!

Although many of the shops were closed for the season I found a small café served by a sweet old Greek lady. I had some delicious orange cake which was nearly stolen by a mischievous cat!

The only problem with getting two buses is the possibility of having to wait a while for the next one in Parikia. I ended up getting a taxi because I was keen to enjoy the sunset in Naousa again.

When to Visit Paros

Although it was delightfully peaceful mid-October I think mid-late September would be a better time to go. Paro’s season ends much earlier than Mykonos or Santorini and there would be slightly more buzz in the atmosphere and more shops and restaurants open.

One example is that I had planned on visiting Paros park and doing some hiking. To get there from Naousa you can take the boat to Monastiri beach. But when I asked for a ticket there I was told the beach was all closed up so the boat wasn’t running. According to the website the park itself was still open but I didn’t have an obvious/easy way of getting there so I opted to go to Kolymbithres beach instead (which was no bad thing!) But this is another reason why I’d advise going slightly earlier in the year.

How Long to Spend in Paros

Two days in Paros is long enough to see the highlights as Paros is a small island! If you’re on an island hopping tour as I was it is easy to fit it in. But I highly recommend taking a week to fully relax and explore the island.

How to Get to Paros

The most common way to get to Paros is by ferry. It’s very easy to island hop around the Cyclades. See the ferry timetable and book tickets here.

The island does have a small airport so it is possible to fly from Athens or Thessaloniki.

For more info on getting to Paros see the Paros website. As you can see catching a flight and a ferry on the same day would not be easy! So I recommend staying at least one night where your flight lands.

As mentioned earlier, getting around by bus is very easy and straightforward. Bus stations have timetables and kiosks where you can purchase tickets for 1,80 euros. They are slightly more expensive (2 euros) but you can buy them on board. For example in Lefkes there was no manned kiosk so there was no other option. Buses were usually very prompt, the only one that was late was picking up in Lefkes. Taxi’s were also fine and might be necessary late in the season when the buses are more infrequent.

Where to Stay on Paros

Vounali Rooms

A short walk from Naousa’s main town these rooms offer stunning views over the sea for a very reasonable price (I stayed for three nights for just over 100 euros in October). The room was very spacious and bright. I was offered an upgrade to a room with a recently renovated bathroom which was indeed very smart.

I really couldn’t fault the rooms at all. If you want a simple room with a view they’re perfect. Out of all the places I stayed on my island hopping trip this room definitely had the best view. They were very quiet as well which would be an advantage in high season. Book Vounali Rooms on booking.com here.

Search for more accommodation in Paros.

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