Paros offers a large variety of exciting experiences and services, from culinary, sports, sightseeing and art.
Paros
Places to eat
Dryos
Kyma on the shore of Dryos is an excellent tavern with fish delicacies as well as traditional oven-cooked meals.
Green Project is a must! Great place, very relaxing atmosphere, great music and the best burger in the Cyclades!
Arethousa is the best place to have a late breakfast / early lunch, under the largest naturally shaded area on eastern paros
Naousa
Mario’s at the old harbour (book in advance, one of the tables next to the water)
Fish, seafood and Greek cuisine
Kafeneio ‘Palia Agora’ in the old town, with tables on the street, behind the old harbour. From 7pm. Best fried meatballs and french fries on the island and a lot more, in a very authentic setting
Soso – no views out to sea, but a really cute setting in a tiny building off the busy alleys of Naoussa and really good food. With a total of 8 tables, it’s best to book in advance.
Parikia
A walk on the pedestrian market street in the old town is a must.
Apostolis fish taverna, on the port towards its north end. Apostolis has his own fishing boat, so it’s a guarantee for grilled fresh local fish.
Boudouraki in the south end, last balcony along the coast (casual)
Pounta (at the port to Antiparos)
Thea restaurant, Special recipies from Asia Minor and one of the densest and most interesting wine cellars in Greece. You will also enjoy a beautiful sunset over Antiparos. Book in advance if on a weekend or a Friday.
Aliki (fishing village south)
Thalassa mou by the beach, Piso Aliki. We personally love the green salad with grilled white cheese (manouri) and the grilled squid (kalamari) here. It’s open both for lunch and dinner and serves on the courtyard or at the beach, under the pine trees.
Piso Livadi
Halaris at the port (salads, seafood tapas, evening)
Marpissa
Haroula in the heart of Marpissa village with slow cooked food and casseroles. The typical Greek village tavern on the stair landing, under the shade of the mulberry trees.
Ambellas
Thalami tavern – fish under the pine trees on a natural balcony over a sandy beach.
Santa Maria
Siparos restaurant – very good food, Mediterranean style recipes… lovely environment. Book in advance one of the tables next to sea.
Katsounas tavern is a family tavern hidden away in a shaded courtyard of a traditional Greek home. Secretly tucked away at the end of the very busy peninsula of Santa Maria, on the north-east end of the island (lunch or dinner). Best combined with a day at the beach, either Lageri or Santa Maria (long sandy beaches, perfect for the children).
Other
Giorgos and Anna, located off the main road between Logaras and Marpissa offers very tasty lamp chops and other grill meats on the spit. Go early, as it gets busy after 9pm. Nicely combined with a visit to St Antony Monastery at the top of the hill.
For lunch or dinner, ‘Vigla’ tavern is on the main road just across Kolymbithres beach
Sports – activities
Paros offers a great deal if sports is your thing.
– Wind surfing (Golden beach and New golden beach, Santa Maria)
– Kite surfing (Pounta to Antiparos, Golden and New golden beach, Santa Maria)
– scuba diving (Golden Beach, Alyki, Santa Maria)
– Sailing (Parikia)
– Skiing (water – not mountain)
– Canoe / kayaking / Sap
– horse riding (Thanassis farm in Ysterni )
– Tennis (Ag. Irene)
– mountain biking
A great place to start for most activities is the awake paros team.
footpaths
– The old Byzantine path from Prodromos to Lefkes (uphill) or Lefkes to Prodromos (downhill, less than one hour) to make it easier for the children. It’s 3 kilometers long, marked, going through farmlands, meadows, a stone bridge over a stream and many olive groves.
– Monastery of St Antony, on the top of the hill over Marpissa village
You can either drive almost all the way up the asphalt road (be carefull, it’s very narrow so go slow), or park the car halfway up, by the watertank building and walk up the back route, another Byzantine path, under the pine trees to the entrance of the Monastery.
The Monastery rarely opens these days for a service, but the courtyard is freely accessible to wonder around, have a picnic and enjoy the view. It’s best to visit in sunset or moonrise!
– Environmental Park of Ag. Ioannis Detis
– Lefkes – Afklaki spring – St George Monastery
– Aspro Chorio – Lagada
– Lefkes – Marathi (Ancient Marble Quarry)
Other highlights
– The Ekatontapiliani cathedral of Parikia and its Byzantine baptestry
– The archaeological Museum in Parikia
– Marathi ancient Marble Quarries
– Moraitis winery
– Noe ceramic workshop on the south side, between Aspro Chorio and Glyfa (a must visit! – owned by very good friends!)
– Kolymbithres beach
– Monastery beach and the Environmental Park of St.John
Antiparos
The ferry boat leaves every 30 min (on the hour and on the half hour) from Pounta to Antiparos. You just queue and drive into the ferry and buy your ticket on board (young children don’t have to pay). It only takes 10 minutes to cross. It may be hot to walk in the village (the port) in the morning, as there is no shade, but you can visit the famous cave in the heart of the island, which is always cool. There are numerous beaches along the east coast, from the village/port to Soros and Faneromeni. If you keep driving south, you will reach Aghios Giorgios. Not exactly a village, more like an unsuccessful planning experiment, built at a unique location, protected from the North wind and right across Despotiko island.
Despotiko is an uninhabited little island, with one of the most important archeological sites in the Aegean. A whole ancient settlement, a temple to Apollo and many statues were discovered there about ten years ago by archaeologist Yannis Kouraghios who is happy to walk groups around the site.
Apart from its location, beach and archaeological importance, Aghios Giorgios is also famous for Captain Pipinos, a local fisherman who used to live there. He would walk barefooted all year round, catch and cook fish for the boat crews and yaghters that would stop by. Eventually this became a taverna, which grew famous for its fresh fish and seafood. His grandson now fishes and runs the place.
If you prefer something easier, the Beach House, halfway between the port and Soros, combines swimming, a shaded beach, an exclusive gourmet restaurant and occasionally yoga and pilates sessions or massage bookings.
The main village of Antiparos, at the port is more charming in early evening, when the sun is going down. If you walk all the way to the end of the main market street, leaving the port behind you, you’ll reach the old ‘Castle’, a fortified densely-build square-shaped settlement of white-plastered 2- and 3-storey traditional houses.
There are many food options in the village. Klimataria taverna serves grilled meats in a courtyard under a large vine. Margarita café serves nice salads, pizza and pasta on the market street. Little La Louche restaurant a little further up the street serves more sophisticated Mediterranean dishes and wines. YAM bar-restaurant combines light food, cocktails and a natural playground/landscape for the children to explore.
