Paros is circled by coastal gems. Where do you start if you have limited time and twitchy tots with little patience for exploring? Stunning Kolymbithres is hard-to-miss with sparkling bays framed by eccentric rock-sculpted beauty. But you’re likely to have to jostle with crowds of sunseekers for the slivers of space between its boulders. Golden Beach sounds like a winner. But the wind-whipped waves that make it a windsurfers playground can be off-putting for little splashers.
With our girls, we look for shallow, calm, fuss-free, along with crystal clear, in addition to somewhere where an iced coffee is within easy reach. So where are the dreamiest, most reliable waters in Paros? From north to south, here are three:
— MARCELO —
So close to Parikia you can see it in the distance, the sheltered port waters of Marcelo beach make this one of the calmer spots for pool-like swims in bright blue seas.
Parking is located right behind the sunbed-free end of the beach that graduates into rocky shore pocked by rock pools. Little D loves catching shrimp, spotting hermit crabs, and dislodging rocks to uncover surprises within its cavities. There’s quite a bit of sea life to keep you company in the waters as well, so bring goggles or a snorkeling mask. Take a stroll towards the beach bar (there are two you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas from) and you’ll find a mini jetty where kids take endless turns jumping off into adult waist-deep waters.
Backing its shores, a scattered assembly of beach houses overlook its beauty. It’s the perfect set-up for young families that understand the singular conveniences of beach living.
— SANTA MARIA —
Wide, expansive, and probably the most beautiful stretch of sand in north Paros, Santa Maria’s transparent waters shimmer in the faintest shade of blue stretching as far as the eye can see. This is where the “towel movement” of Greek residents seeking to reclaim free beach space began, keeping part of its grounds blissfully bare and noise pollution free. Two beach bars continue to rent sunbeds and umbrellas for EUR 30 to 60 a set, and parking is directly behind.
— FARAGAS —
Faragas cafe and restaurant on the southern tip is on our favourite stretch of sand. Located in one of three stunning coves that make up Faragas, the beach has crystalline, sheltered waters that are calm even on the windiest of days. Parking is right behind its palm tree studded grounds, and the restaurant and bar, just meters from the beach. With thickly padded sunbeds, summery soundtracks, and cocktails on-call, we were in parental bliss when we first discovered this with D as a baby.
