The Hidden Gem of the Cyclades

There is no better way to experience summertime Greece than visiting the Aegean islands. Known for their white-washed houses, barren landscape, blue-domed churches and paradise beaches, the islands of the Cyclades are a real trap for tourists. We all know that Mykonos and Santorini are the crowned “King” and “Queen” of this island group and pretty much everyone has them on their bucket list. But if you wish to escape the Santorini’s crowds or Mykonos’ s monstrous prices, Paros is definitely your place to go.

The picture-perfect Paros lays in the heart of the Cyclades – the iconic island group that we know so well from movies and advertisements. If I have to be completely honest with you, I did not know anything about the island until a few years ago, when I met my boyfriend. The fact he has a summer house there, made Paros my favorite place to be on my vacation . But the island also gained my attention with the numerous places to visit, beautiful beaches, many opportunities for entertainment and its proximity to other islands like Antiparos, Naxos and Mykonos which creates the great possibility of island-hopping.

How to Get There

The trip from Athens to the island is always an adventure for me. Every time I am excited to go to the majestic port of Piraeus and take the Blue Star ferry which will lead me to my destination. The trip usually takes about 4 hours but it can be longer depending on the stops the boat makes before reaching Paros. There usually are 3 or 4 boats per day from Piraeus – early morning or afternoon. The price of the ticket is about 35 Euros without a booked seat. For valid timetable and prices click here.

There is also a boat from Rafina port in the afternoon from the company Golden Star. Although I really liked the little port with its surrounding natural beauty and cute little tavernas where you can sit and wait, Blue Star is my preferred ferry company to travel with. I have not tried the speed boats of Hellenic Seaways, but due to the coronavirus pandemic they do not operate in 2020. If we compare the Blue Star boats to Golden Star, they are much bigger which makes the experience lass shaky and definitely helps my sea sickness. They also have more food options on board and quite comfy air seats. Let me also mention that recently I have been a coronavirus prevention freak and the fact they enforce the rule for the passengers to wear their masks is a huge plus for me (on the Golden Star ferry it was also obligatory to wear a mask but the staff was turning a blind eye to the people who weren’t).

If you prefer to pay a little bit more, you can always book a direct flight or a flight from Athens airport. Olympic Air offers flight 5 times a day during the high season and it takes about 45 minutes to reach the island. It is convenient but I much prefer the boat experience during which you can enjoy the sea and there are no luggage restrictions 🙂

The Accommodation

I cannot say much about this as I am usually visiting my boyfriend when I go, but there is something for everyone – from more affordable hotels to the more exclusive White Key Villas. No matter which category of accommodation you will choose it will be for sure more affordable that nearby Mykonos, where the price per evening can be 3 times higher.

One thing that I find imperative for this or any other island is to have a car. Surely, there are buses between the different little towns but it will be definitely more difficult to follow the timetables or to reach a more secluded villa without it. The more affordable the accommodation, the further it is from the main attractions.

The Beaches

Ok, I have to confess that I am not too much of a beach person. I do not enjoy laying in the heat for hours and hours at a time. But Paros’ s little hidden gems are able to impress even the biggest of skeptics like me. I like the fact that they are mostly sandy as I do not like the rocky ones too much. The water is the most beautiful shades of blue – from turquoise to royal and just invites you for a little jump inside. It is not too deep and you can always take your favorite floatie if, like me, you are not the best of a swimmer. The one thing I do not particularly like is that the temperature of the sea seems to be a little bit low even in the midst of summer, unlike for example the water in Halkidiki or on Santorini. On this account, though, my boyfriend thinks I am crazy and it is warm enough for a swim.

There are a lot of popular places you can visit with organized beaches and bars all around. I loved the Monastiri Beach which is also near one of the most Instagramable places on Paros.

Me and my boyfriend prefer the less crowded and more secluded places of which there are also plenty. You can just jump in the car and explore – that is how the best of hidden beaches are found.

Things to Do

Restaurants

The island offers an exquisite selection of restaurants and the night life is also quite developed, especially in the town of Naoussa. We have two favorite places in particular, which we visit every time we are on the island. The family-owned Markakis restaurant in Piso Livadi offers the best sea food on the whole island on decent prices. The service is always on point and they treat you a nice desert after your meal. Agnadio in the mountain village of Lefkes offers more home-cooked style of dishes, but the place definitely specializes in meat. Every day they have a bunch of different specials, which are perfect for every taste.

One thing you cannot find on the island is good hookah (nargile). We have tried a place in Naoussa called Fotis All Day Bar and it was just a horrendous experience. We had to return the hookah three times because my boyfriend kept swallowing water through the pipe. If you thought they had made a discount because of that – think again! We paid full price and it was not cheep at all.

Activities

Paros is situated right next to the “windy” island – Mykonos, which makes it the perfect destination for wind and kite surfing.

The one activity that I was most impressed in, though, was riding a donkey! That is right, you read this correctly, a DONKEY!

Paros Horse Riding and Donkey Tours is a company that offers different experiences with horses and donkeys, like swimming on a horse (which I am totally doing next time) or nice picturesque walks. We chose the donkey walk to the beautiful Butterfly Valley (a place worth taking some photos) because I am not a good rider and I thought it will hurt way less falling from a donkey than a horse. After we called and were convinced that the animals would not have a problem with our weight, we booked two spots for the Morning Riding Tour on the really low price of 30 Euros per person.

When we went to the meeting point which was in front of a nice bakery shop, the owner of the company was waiting for us. He allowed us to grab a quick breakfast and lead us to the starting point of our walk. We were offered refreshments and introduced to our donkeys – Arapina and Dina. It turned out that due to the Corona virus we would be the only guests for the day.

Here is the place to say that I and my boyfriend love all kind of animals and we would never encourage any kind of cruelty towards a living thing. That is why we were pleased to see that those donkeys are well taken care of and live in very good conditions. A different animal is chosen for every tour so they do not overwork and their well-being is checked by the European Union every 2 years. The donkeys that were not working were peacefully grazing grass in a near-by field. We were even allowed to treat the ones we got with some figs that I had picked for them in our house.

The tour itself was this wonderful experience and was led by the most typical Greek guy I have ever seen. He took us up the mountain from were the view to the island and the sea is just breathtaking. We had as much free time as we wanted in order to visit the butterflies and he did not rush us even for a second. My boyfriend and I have left our backpack with our wallets in the car, so our guide allowed us to borrow some money for water and souvenirs. After finishing the tour he even offered us a discount, but we were so impressed with the service that we even tipped him on top of the original price.

Places to Visit

Paros is full of beautiful little towns that you may be able to visit. First of all, is the capital and port town of Parikia. If you are looking for a place that strictly represent the island culture with narrow streets, white washed houses and flowers everywhere, you should definitely put this place in your agenda. Full of small boutique stores, picturesque tavernas and friendly locals, this little town is the epitome of island life.

Naoussa is the place for those of you that enjoy the bustling night life. The town is famous for its clubs and bars and is the best place to party on the island. Those, who are looking for history and culture, are also welcome here – the Venetian Fortress is its most characteristic landmark. Build in the 15th century as a look-out spot against pirate attacks, it made it impossible for enemy ships to approach the near-by port, where commercial vessels used to moor.

Aliki is one of my favorite places on Paros. It does not possess the charm of Parikia or Naoussa but is the perfect, little beach village. Here you can find a bunch of tavernas offering delicious sea food and spectacular sea view. We would recommend sitting in Mouragio, where we enjoyed a serene lunch this summer. It is also very near the port, from where the boat for Antiparos starts. And the little but charming beach is one of my all-time favorites.

Most Instagrammable Places

For those of you who are fond of a good picture Paros offers variety of places. Hunting down the most Instagramable of them will not be a huge challenge. I made my favorite pictures at the following places:

So, guys, this is Paros in a nut shell. If you are going to take advantage of the early bookings and are already planning your vacation for next year, this is the perfect island to choose. Leave me a comment if you are interested in the same review for another island 🙂 And for now…

… See you on my next adventure!

Photos: Personal Archive