Why visit Paros
Paros is still considered a hidden Gem. It has the beauty of other Greek Islands minus the party scene or an overwhelming amount of tourism. Since we were traveling as a family we really wanted to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Paros. It truly delivered on our expectations and then some.
How to Get to Paros
The best way to get to Paros is by booking a ferry in advance. We booked through go-ferry.com. We departed from Athens so the ride was about 4 hours and 15 minutes.
Where We Stayed
City: Naousa this is a harbor town that is pretty quiet during the day but can really come alive at night. It has the typical winding picturesque streets.
Hotel: We stayed at Kalypso Studios & Apartments, Paros because of the location. It was very easy for us to walk over to the “old Port.” The old port had plenty for us to explore throughout the day.
Since we weren’t going to be going out late at night we got a hotel room that had a little private patio that we could have some at the end of the night.
If you are interested in booking this hotel I recommend making sure you are actually staying at the hotel. The reason I say this is that Kalypso Studios has a hotel part and apartment that are located about a quarter-mile from the hotel. Staying at the hotel offers the convenience of lounge chairs by the water as well as easy access to the restaurant.
Things to Do
Shopping
The winding streets are covered with cute little boutiques with jewelry, purses, find goods, and unique clothing stores. I recommend checking them out if anything we enjoyed window shopping.
Where to Eat
The seafood here is incredible. One of the things that stood out was the octopus that restaurants would have outside.
When you are around the streets before getting to the water you will find only a few restaurants that are open in the middle of the day. Most restaurants seem to open later in the evening. If you want to have access to good food available all day, I recommend going to the old port. Since it is such a main attraction you are sure to find a tasty restaurant to accommodate you.
Sunsets
Yes, the best things in life are free. The sunsets are so beautiful and serene here. One of the nights we walked around the port while the sun was setting and the other time we enjoyed the sunset with some wine at one of the restaurants along with the port.
Wine Tasting
Moraitis Winery was located within a quarter-mile from our hotel. We got to do a wine tasting that included 9 wines. The selection was great and the woman that attended us we very knowledgeable about the history of the winery and grapes. I really enjoyed the experience.
Tips when planning a trip to Paros:
If you are looking to explore more of the Island you can arrange for one-day trips to Antiparos or Naxos.
We were told there are about 30 taxis in Paros. So when it comes to picking a place to stay its all about location location location!! We were within walking distance from everything we could have wanted.
We got the number of the taxi driver that drove us to the hotel and arranged for her to pick us up a day prior to make sure we had no issues or delays. If you find a driver save their info!
Arrive at the port early! It is much better to arrive at the port early and relax, have a snack, and/or drink until the ferry arrives. Since we were traveling a lot during our trips it was nice to just sit and relax until it was time to get on the ferry.
Those are my tips for planning a trip to Paros, Greece. If you are interested in other destination tips here are a few you might like:
