Who doesn’t love a secret?! I’ve got a juicy one for you today. It’s one that’ll change the game if you’re a traveler, especially if you’re looking for the best Greek islands to visit. Ready for it?
Paros.
That’s it. That’s the secret. You’re welcome. Round of applause, please and thanks.
I honestly can’t believe I hadn’t heard of Paros before researching places to go while on our Greece trip. As we were rounding up suggestions to consider from others, Paros was noted. (Here’s a roundup of reader suggestions on where to go in Greece, if you’re interested!) Doug’s coworker had just returned from Greece, and mentioned that Paros was his favorite of all the islands that they visited.
I hate to say this, but at first I kind of blew the suggestion off. We only had time for a few islands, and Santorini was on the “Must” list, so I was gravitating toward other well known spots like Mykonos or Crete. But as we started diving to the islands further, we found some interesting information about Paros that made us go, “Actually….” Here’s what we found.
Fun facts about Paros
Paros is filled with authentic culture and was described to be, “What Mykonos was 30 years ago, before Mykonos became such a huge tourist destination.” This was appealing to us, because while we were excited to go to a tourist hotspot like Santorini or Mykonos, we also wanted to balance that with an island where we could really experience Greek culture and a slower pace.
It has quaint towns with delicious restaurants and boutiques, scenic settings with sea views at every turn, rolling fields and mountains that invite exploring, incredible beaches, and of course, ancient history.
The island has been noted to be one of the best Greek islands to visit by travel sites we love, including Goats on the Road and Santorini Dave. In fact, Travel and Leisure named it the best island to visit in Europe.
After visiting this magical island, I can attest that all the above is true.
In fact, we came away from our time in Greece agreeing that Paros was our favorite part of the entire trip.
Bold statement, I know. It was truly the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure; a place where we talked about returning to time and time again because we simply couldn’t get enough. Not to mention, we had so much fun with the incredibly helpful and inviting locals, and still talk about the island’s serene beauty.
We were there for 3 days, which certainly was not long enough but did allow us to get a great feel for the island. For the sake of having so much to share, I’m breaking my reflections on Paros into two parts. Part 1 – this post – is all about Naoussa, where we stayed and spent most of our time. Part 2 – coming next week – is all about all that we did outside of Naoussa, including the adorably quaint towns we visited, beaches we lounged on, and favorite adventures while on the island.
I’m so excited to share our favorite parts of this special place with you! It’s definitely one of the best Greek islands to visit, if you ask me! Let’s now dive into…
Naoussa
Naoussa is a traditional fishing village that’s considered to have one of the most beautiful ports in Greece.
How we got there + Logistics
From Athens we took a ferry to Paros, docking in Parikia, the capital of the island. (Side note: I got sea sick on that ferry ride. Be prepared if you’re inclined to motion sickness!) Once we arrived, we hailed a taxi (they’re super easy to find and all lined up as soon as you emerge from the dock) and drove to Naoussa.
It’s about a 15-20 minute drive from Parikia to Naoussa, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. Rolling hills, where you’ll spot ancient churches, and little villages galore.
To get around the island after, we rented a motorcycle, to which the rental was just steps from our hotel. Naoussa was where we stayed, so that was our main “hub”, but we’d motorcycle around the island and saw the entire place via our cute little ride. I can’t recommend this route enough! It was incredible to be cruising through the hills and go from town-to-town with the wind in our hair. Plus, this way we didn’t have to worry about hailing taxis, or finding places to park a bulky car. We felt much more free to explore!
What & where we ate in Naoussa
Okay, so, here’s the thing. I’m embarrassed to tell you that I have no idea of the restaurant names we went to. I know…blogger fail. <Insert embarrassed monkey emoji here.>>
We were a bit of happy-go-lucky wanderers while in Naoussa — we’d get up and just go, eating and stoping at the places that looked delicious along the way, where and when we felt like it. This is actually my recommendation on how to go about food destinations in Naoussa. They’re all good; centered around authentic Greek cuisine and feature incredible seafood caught that day. Really, how could you go wrong?!
I’m actually salivating thinking about some of the fresh-caught fish we ate. For most of our meals in Naoussa, we walked to the central harbor area, where there’s hundreds of tables and chairs set up to eat at. (When you’re there you’ll know what I mean – you really can’t miss it!) We picked one, sat, and enjoyed. Each time we’d pick a different restaurant. It was really that easy.
Suggestions on things to do in Naoussa
Wander The Town & Harbor
Naoussa is actually pretty quaint, and it’s fabulous to explore! There are a ton of luxury boutiques and stores that you could spent hours in. I loved wandering the alleys and seeing the famous Cycladic architecture that Greece is famous for. My favorite part of this town by far was its harbor. There are countless fishing boats along the waterfront that are fun to look at; many had that morning’s octopus or fish drying in the sunshine!
Venetian Castle
A historic fortress from the 15th century, located in the heart of the harbor. Though much of the fortress is in ruins, we enjoyed walking along the sea-lined path to get there, and also enjoyed the views of Naoussa’s harbor from that vantage point.
Visit Nearby Beaches
Our favorite was a beach called Kolymbithres. It’s a short ride from Naoussa’s harbor – we motorcycled there – and we loved it so much that we ended up spending 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! (And – crazy side story – we met two couples from Michigan while there! Small world, right?!)
Nightlife
For being such a quiet fishing town during the day, we were pleasantly surprised to see Naoussa really come alive at night! One night we went out clubbing – I know, who am I?! – even though we were in bed by 1 am which is when most places really start to pick up. Still! We did it. 😉
The Affordable Hotel We Stayed At That Took Our Breath Away
Hotel Senia was where we stayed while in Paros – one of the best Greek islands to visit – and oh my gosh THIS PLACE. We stayed here based on a recommendation from a friend; after reading the positive reviews online, we were convinced.
It’s a seafront location that is a quick 5 minute walk into the heart of Naoussa’s harbor. My favorite part of the hotel was its infinity pool, which we spent an entire afternoon relaxing at, which lights up at night. The hotel and pool overlook a beautiful view of the sea and a distant mountain, to which we enjoyed the most stunning sunset one night.
Our room was quaint but really, all we needed. Who spends much time in a hotel room while traveling, anyways?! Plus, we loved that it was cost effective, especially considering its location and amenities.
I can’t recommend this place enough and absolutely hope to return!
A random, kind of hysterical note.
Cats are literally everywhere on Paros. Don’t worry, they’re friendly! But, Doug is super allergic to them. And for whatever reason, they gravitate toward him. We’d sit down to eat, and cats would literally come up and roam around his legs, meow at him to pet them, and pat his feet. Here’s a photo of un-happy Doug, avoiding his little “friends”, in Naoussa. After we took this photo those guys followed him for a few blocks – poor Doug!
I’ve really only just scratched the surface with the above — Paros has so much to do and offer. I can’t wait to show you more about why Paros is one of the best Greek islands to visit in Part II; Look for that next week! And, in the meantime…
Ef Charisto! (That means “Thank you” in Greek.)
Have you been to Paros? Did you love it as much as we did? Have you visited another Greek island that is a “Must See?” Leave your suggestions in the comment section below!
PS – Top Places To Travel In Greece – A Roundup of Reader Suggestions + 24 Hours in Athens: A Complete Guide
