Things to do in Paros

The two towns, which are not interchangeable

Naoussa, on the north coast, is the one people photograph: a working fishing harbour with a half-sunken Venetian fort at the end of the quay, a dense grid of lanes behind it, and the island’s best eating. It has its own guide.

Parikia, where the ferries dock, gets dismissed as the port and should not be. Behind the waterfront is a real old town, and in it stands the island’s most important building.

Ekatontapyliani, which is older than almost anything you will see

The Church of a Hundred Doors in Parikia is one of the best-preserved early Christian churches in Greece, with a core going back to the fourth century and substantial sixth-century work under Justinian.

It is not a ruin. It is a functioning church, in a walled compound with a courtyard, a baptistery with a cruciform font, and a small museum. Go in, and go quietly - it is in use.

The name is a puzzle nobody has settled: ninety-nine doors are said to be findable and the hundredth appears only when something specific happens. Treat that as folklore rather than architecture.

Marble, and where it went

Paros produced Parian marble, the finest white statuary marble in the ancient Mediterranean - translucent, fine-grained, and the material of choice for the sculptors who could get it.

The quarries at Marathi, inland from Parikia, are open ground: tunnel mouths going into the hillside, spoil, and cut faces. There is no visitor centre and little signage, and you should not go into the tunnels. What is there is the raw fact that the Venus de Milo and a great deal of the best Greek sculpture came out of this hill.

Lefkes and the interior

Lefkes is the old capital, up in the hills: marble-paved lanes, a large church, and views across to Naxos. It is the coolest place on the island on a hot afternoon and the quietest place on it in August.

The Byzantine road, a paved marble path, runs from Lefkes down towards the east coast and makes a good walk of an hour or so, downhill if you arrange the logistics sensibly.

The wind decides your day

Paros sits in the path of the summer meltemi, and this is not a footnote - it determines which coast is usable.

The east coast around Golden Beach catches it, which is why the windsurfers are there and why it hosts international competition. The sheltered bays are on the other side. Check what the wind is doing in the morning and pick a coast accordingly rather than committing to one beach the night before.

Antiparos, across the channel

A short ferry from Pounta takes you to Antiparos, a smaller, quieter island with a single main street and a large cave in its interior, reached by a long flight of steps down. It is a straightforward half-day and a genuine change of pace.

Where to start

If you have one day: Parikia’s old town and Ekatontapyliani in the morning, Naoussa in the evening, and a beach picked by the wind in between.

For where to sleep, where to stay in Paros sets Parikia against Naoussa. For getting here, see Athens to Paros, and for the short hops, Naxos to Paros and Mykonos to Paros.

Common questions

What is Paros known for?

Being the crossroads of the Cyclades ferry network, its two harbour towns, and Parian marble - the finest white statuary marble of the ancient Mediterranean, quarried here.

Is Paros worth visiting for more than the beaches?

Yes. Ekatontapyliani in Parikia is one of the oldest churches in Greece, the marble quarries at Marathi are open ground you can walk, and Lefkes in the hills is a genuine mountain village.

What is the Church of a Hundred Doors?

Ekatontapyliani in Parikia, an early Christian church with fourth-century origins and major sixth-century work. It is still in use.

Do you need a car on Paros?

Not really. The island is small and buses from Parikia are frequent in season. Wheels help for Lefkes and the quieter southern beaches.

Which side of Paros is windy?

The east coast, around Golden Beach, catches the summer meltemi - which is why it is the windsurfing centre. Pick your beach by the wind on the day.

Is Antiparos worth a day trip?

Yes, as a half-day. A short ferry from Pounta reaches a quieter island with one main street and a large cave in the interior.

Next

Read Naoussa, Kolymbithres beach, Paros beaches or where to stay in Paros.