Polished, poised and positioned for take-off, why do tourists pine after Greece’s pretty girl next door?
Last updated: 3 July 2024
Boasting a winning combination of sparkling shores and whitewashed village charm, Paros is not just pretty. She’s approachable. Within its pebble-shaped, 200 square meters of gently undulating land, all is easy to access.
She’s also delicately balanced. Whether your scene is sleepy or spirited, upscale or unpolished, the options for tourists are manifold. While the island recently welcomed Greece’s fourth Nobu outpost in luxurious Avant Mar, it was also the first to launch Greece’s free towel movement to reclaim sunbed-ridden beaches. Locals are bent on ensuring development does not trample over its natural heritage.
Like its translucent-white marble of unmatched luminescence, Paros’ shine is understated, but brilliant. It might lack the drama of some big hitting neighbours (Santorini, Mykonos and Milos), but its shimmer is steadily pulling-in the crowds.
WHERE TO STAY
Where to stay is usually a toss-up between the main port of Parikia, and Naoussa, the island’s second largest town. Alternatively, Alyki is a serene slice of a seaside village retreat that’s especially perfect for young families.
You can also let your location be guided a dream beach house find – always an attractive option when travelling with kids. Bordered by coastal beauties that ring its pebble-shaped land, Paros has more seaside villa options than on most other Greek islands. And wherever you pick, you shouldn’t be far from village conveniences like mini markets, bakeries and tavernas.
— PARIKIA —
The island’s capital and commercial hub, Parikia is where you will arrive if you’re travelling by ferry. Not particularly charming at first glance, a tourist-geared jumble of portside businesses and tavernas line its waterfront. But wander into its backstreets and you will discover an old town that hasn’t lost its village charm. Built on the ruins of 2nd millennium BCE settlement, colourful walkways are scattered with the unexpected remains of an intriguing past. Somewhere within this tangle of streets is Symposium – an idyllic coffee and crepe stop with a raised platform from which to people watch.
Parikia’s plethora of amenities make it delightfully convenience for families. Within walking range is Livadia beach, backed by cafe-bars that have furnished its shores with sunbeds and parasols for easy dips with baby. Meanwhile, parents can take turns at beach volleyball in front of the Paros Nautical Club. Looking for a dreamier splash? Child-friendly Marcelo is a 7-minute drive (or a 5-minute boat taxi trip from the port) the bay after, with shallow, sandy shores and aquamarine waters.
— NAOUSSA —
We prefer Naoussa over Parikia to avoid the hustle and heat of busy main ports. An enchanting old fishing harbour with resident ducks that totter along the waterfront, it’s one of the most well-photographed Parian neighbourhoods. Alive with smart boutiques, slick restaurants and impeccably hip cafe-bars, the magic of Naoussa’s nocturnal playground comes alive with the setting sun. Bathed in pink and gold, a stream of the fit and fashionable fill waterfront tables to order ceviche and champagne. All very inviting, but not particularly child-friendly. Moving around is only possible in a single file, sideways shuffle between tightly-packed tables. And if kids roam away, there’s the fear they might have fallen off the harbour’s edge. For a more relaxed dining experience, head to Thalami in the sleepy fishing village of Ambelas a 10-minute drive out. Serving excellent seafood you can savour over sweeping sea views, this is Greek island dining at its best, where food and an easy ambience delight in equal measure.
Naoussa is also strategically located for families. Close to stunning northern beaches (e.g. Santa Maria, Monastiri and Kolymbithres), attractions like Thanasis Horse Farm, Petra Farm, and the island’s best supermarket (AB Vassilopoulos) are all within close range.
— ALYKI —
If the summer holidays you envisage look more like days in quiet langour, consider Alyki. A 20-minute drive from Parikia, this unadulterated little village ticks all the right boxes for families. Anchoring the village beach is a tree-shaded playground located directly behind where the seaside promenade starts. It quickly became customary for us to whisk away a custard-filled bougatsa from Sophie’s to enjoy on a playground bench as the kids scampered and socialised.
The promenade (pedestrian-only in the evening) offers a complete selection of eateries, taking you from breakfast to seafood taverna dinner (To Mouragio and To Balcony tou Aki served our best meals). No energy for restaurant dining? Swing by Fusilli&Mandilli for takeaway packets of Italian vegetarian (e.g. eggplant lasagne) to heat-up in your Airbnb oven in 15 minutes. A restaurant you can take home is always easier after long days on the beach.
BEACH BEAUTIES
Paros’ beach scene is delightfully family-friendly. With a swimmable coastline encircling the island, you’re never too far from an easy-access, heat-relieving splash. Many are perfect for sandcastle building. There is also a beach for every taste: calm and crystalline coves (Faragas), lunar-like bays (Kolymbithres), windswept windsurfing havens (Golden Beach and Punda), and even an all-natural clay beache (Kalogeros) for healing mud baths.
So which of its 40 shores are the best places to throw down your towel and toys? We list our top three picks here.
OFF-BEACH ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS
If there were an all-inclusive island in Greece, it would probably be Paros. Visit a farm, hike through easy countryside terrain, take a pottery class…all you might envision from a tourist-savvy Greek island is available. And there’s more: horse ride down a Byzantine-era path paved in Parian marble, wander the gardens of a butterfly haven (with a café and playground) watered by natural springs, and drop into an evening watercolouring class in Parikia while mom slips off into the shops. If she can add a reformer pilates class (a number of options) or a game of tennis to the itinerary, it all starts to sound pretty irresistible.
And then of course there are villages to seek out pit-stops for ice cream on tap. The Cyclades charms with captivating walks through all-white villages cloaked in bougainvillea bushes. In the less-trodden villages like Lefkes (the old capital), Prodromos, and Marpissa (with four windmills), you can enjoy leisurely strolls without the kids bumping into too many people.
NEIGHBOURHOOD ATTRACTIONS
Located in the heart of the Cyclades, Paros is surrounded by beautiful neighbours. Antiparos (popularised by celebrity resident Tom Hanks) is just a 10-minute journey by the local ferry service that runs daily (and year round), every 45 minutes from the small port of Pounta. Naxos (30 minutes via high-speed ferry) and Koufonisia are also close by, with beaches of unrivalled beauty. And while boat tours combining the latter two destinations are available, we think they deserve more time in themselves.
WHEN TO VISIT
As with most small Greek islands, the main tourist season runs from June to September. June and September are my preferred times to visit for the best weather. July and August are peak months (and the hottest) prone to heatwaves, and better avoided for quieter beaches and easy village walks. Shoulder season weather (Spring and Autumn) is always lovely as well (if you don’t mind splashing into chillier waters), keeping in mind that the island’s businesses start to open in April, and close in October. By winter, the island’s population dwindles down to its 6,000 or so residents, and Paros is a dramatically difference place.
GETTING THERE
Swoop into the island’s domestic airport in an easy 40 minutes from Athens. Paros’ ferry port is a chaotic one, so flying in is likely a better idea for an easier time for families.
A high-speed ferry takes three hours from Piraeus port in Athens. Island-pairing opportunities according to ferry links available can be viewed here.
