Truth: I left a little piece of my heart in Paros.
It’s such an incredible place; one of our favorites that we’ve ever visited. So much so that we actually talked about whether it was feasible to have a second house there. At a minimum, we want to return soon on a family vacation. Which is saying a lot, because we don’t tend to go to the same place twice. The world is so big with too many amazing places to see! But there are just so many things to do in Paros — places to see, towns to stroll, restaurants to eat in. We simply didn’t have enough time, but the things that we did have time for, we absolutely loved.
If you haven’t read it already, definitely check out my Part 1 post on Paros, which is all about why this is the best kept secret of the Greek Islands + our favorite town, Naoussa. Part II, this post, is all about the adventures we took outside of Naoussa, including the adorably quaint towns we visited, beaches we lounged on, and favorite sights we saw while on the island.
Let’s jump on in!
Here are 7 things to do in Paros that’ll make you want to move there. Just make sure if you do, you have a room set aside for us to visit. 😉
Rent a Motorcycle and Just Riiiiiide
I can’t tell you how much I loved cruising around the island. Wind in our hair, rolling hills around us…it was truly out of a movie. Through exploring this way, we came across many things we normally wouldn’t have, including the Ancient Marble Quarries and scenic views of neighboring islands.
Stroll Around In Lefkes
With views of neighboring Naxos, Lefkes is a quaint village that we loved to stroll in. I’d say this is easily one of the most beautiful villages on the island. It had all the traditional makings of a Cyclades town – white houses, blue doors and roofs, and vibrant pink florals. We ate a delicious lunch here, hiked the Byzantine Trail (more on that below), then followed up our hike with coffee just outside of the Church of Agia Triada. It was the makings of a perfect afternoon!
Hike the Byzantine Trail
The Byzantine Trail is an ancient path that connects Lefkes to another village called Prodromos. We had ambitious goals of hiking to Prodromos, grabbing a beer, then hiking back to Lefkes afterwards. But it was so darn hot mid-day that we only made it half way to Prodromos before deciding to turn back.
This is an absolutely stunning hike, and I highly recommend it, but you do need to beware that it gets quite difficult at points where there are up-hill climbs. The view is worth it, though! Just make sure to bring lots of water. (And maybe don’t go mid-day like we did – DOH!)
Visit Parikia
As the capital of Paros, Parikia is also the main port hub. We loved the picturesque alleys and postcard-worthy buildings. Parikia was very much set up like Lefkes and Naoussa, with white houses and blue roofs and doors, only I’d say it’s a bit bigger than both. This was actually the town where we spent the least amount of time, but not because it wasn’t stunning! It was just a bit more crowded than the others because of its central port access where all the ferries arrive on the island. Our favorite thing to do here was watching the sunset one night, and visit the “Church of a Hundred Doors.” More on both below!
Climb up, up, up & watch the sunset
One day while cruising around the island, we cruised to Parikia to explore the town. While there, walking along the waterfront, we found some old stairs and decided to climb up as far as we could go. What met us at the top was a stunning old temple that overlooked the sea, which I believe was the Archaic Temple of Athena. There was hardly anyone there, and the views were incredible. We loved this setting so much that we came back later that night to watch the sunset – it was one of our favorite moments on the island!
Panagia Ekatontapiliani
This church is from the 4th century ( I can’t even wrap my mind around how old that is!) and is located in Parikia. Also known as the “Church with a hundred doors”, this is one of Greece’s most important Byzantine monuments. There was no photography allowed inside, so while I don’t have much to showcase here in terms of imagery, I can definitely tell you it’s a sight to see. It’s historic, beautiful, and we enjoyed some quiet reflection time, and of course some prayers, while visiting.
Visit Kolymbithres Beach
I noted this in my Paros Part 1 post, but it’s worth saying again. Kolymbithres Beach is a short ride from Naoussa’s harbor; we spent an entire afternoon lounging in the sandy cove that’s lined by gigantic rock formations. The water was stunning and refreshing, and the rock formations were cool to climb on. Definitely one of the most unique beaches I’ve ever been to!
Here’s the thing about all the above, though. We only had 3 days there, and so I know that we only scratched the surface on things to do in Paros! I’d love to go back and spend an entire week exploring further. Or, hey, maybe just retire there? One can dream.
Have you been to Paros? What else do you recommend doing? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!
PS – Why Paros is The Greek Islands Best Kept Secret + 24 Hours In Athens, Greece
