Spend Family Time in Paros

The Greek Island of Paros may be close to the party island of Mykonos and the honeymoon haven of Santorini, but if you are looking for an island getaway great for the whole family without throngs of tourists competing for beach space, this is the place to go.

Located in the Cycladic island chain, Paros is known for its beautiful beaches, great wines, delicious food and windy climate. The ever-present wind keeps the blue skies clear and helps tame the sun’s heat during the summer months. The island architecture is in the traditional Cycladic style with white-washed buildings, cobblestoned walkways and splashes of blue at every turn.

Upon arriving on the island (if traveling by boat), you’ll find yourself in the bustling town of Paroikia. While the town is the largest on the island and has its share of traffic, you won’t find a single traffic light in town or anywhere else on the island, lending to a strong sense of the laid-back lifestyle the locals enjoy.

In Paroikia, you’ll find a maze of cobblestoned streets that wind through the town’s residential neighborhood and shopping district. The shops are fun to explore and have many unique and hand-crafted gifts that make great souvenirs and mementos of your trip. This port town is also home to the Panayia Ekatontapyliani, otherwise known as the Church of 100 Doors. This is a sixth-century orthodox church still in use today and well worth a visit to see if you’re up to the challenge of finding all 100 doors.

Traditional tavern in Naousa of Paros island, Greece. Photo: Costas1962 | Dreamstime.com

On the northern coast of the island is the fishing village of Naoussa, another picturesque village of cobblestoned streets and whitewashed buildings. The shops here are equally fun to explore as the ones in Paroikia and you will find wonderful bars, cafés and restaurants, many of which celebrate the island’s history as a hideout for pirates. Naoussa is not only fun to explore but has some of the most iconic photo opportunities on the island.

While there are regular buses to take you to different villages around the island, renting a car is a good idea as it allows you to visit remote beaches and go places buses would ordinarily not stop at. Stratos Rentals is a great rental option but plan on renting early if you need an automatic transmission as they are in high demand with tourists. In addition to cars they also offer motorbikes and quads so you can tour the island in your choice of vehicle.

Ideally, you should try to spend three to four days on the island to ensure you have enough time to explore all of its hidden gems. This will give you plenty of opportunity to visit its numerous villages, each of which has a unique personality, along with its many beautiful beaches and shopping districts.

Paros beaches are some of the best in the world and you can find something for everyone. There are calm, sandy beaches sheltered from the winds and there are wild and untamed beaches best left to the strongest of swimmers. On the eastern shore of the island where Paros is separated from the neighboring island of Naxos by a busy shipping lane, the beaches include warning signs about the strong and unpredictable waves and currents.

Picking flowers in Parikia, Paros, Greece. Photo: Jekaterina Voronina | Dreamstime.com

While there is no shortage of fantastic beaches for soaking up the sun on the island, Paros has plenty of other outdoor activities to entertain the family. The Byzantine trail is a great hike that lets you experience the hilly interior of the island. The trail is just more than two miles and easy to traverse thanks to the marble stones that pave the length of the trail. To try this hike, start out at Louki’s Cafe in the mountain village of Lefkes and follow the signs for the Byzantine Road. The trail will take you all the way to the village of Prodromos.

Butterfly Valley is another great way to explore the interior of the island. This valley is known for its population of Jersey Tiger Moths, as well as its tranquility and beautiful scenery. A popular way to experience the valley is by a traditional donkey ride that can be booked from several locations within the port town of Paroikia.

The island is easy to get to by ferry or airplane. Ferries travel to the island daily during the summer months and the trip takes four hours by regular ferry and three by high-speed ferry. Daily flights are available through Aegean Airlines and get you to the island in just 40 minutes from Athens.

Plan on spending one of your days exploring the nearby satellite island of Antiparos where you can see what life is like on a sparsely populated island. There is one main village, the port town of Antiparos, with a quaint shopping district and several cafés ideal for relaxing with a refreshing drink while you watch the activity in the small harbor. The remaining portion of the island is mostly undeveloped, but has amazing beaches and a cave worth exploring.

Getting to Antiparos from the main island is easy by taking the small ferry from Pounda. The ride takes approximately five minutes and travels back and forth throughout the day during the summer months. If you have rented a car or motorbike, simply drive it onto the ferry while it is docked at Pounda and purchase your tickets on board.