25 Best Things to Do in Paros, Greece

Wondering what to do in Paros? Short answer: more than you'll have time for. The island packs beaches, Venetian harbours, marble-paved villages, water sports and easy day trips into one compact, drivable package. Here are the 25 best things to do in Paros, roughly grouped so you can plan by area — and by how far you'll need to drive.

In and around Naoussa

1. Get lost in Naoussa's old town — the lanes behind the port are the prettiest in the Cyclades. Full guide here.
2. Walk out to the half-sunken Venetian kastro at the harbour mouth at sunset.
3. Swim between the granite boulders at Kolymbithres — Paros's most photographed beach.
4. Hike to the abandoned monastery on the Ai Giannis Detis peninsula and swim at Monastiri beach below.
5. Cocktails on the old port — arrive before 8pm for a waterside table.

In Parikia

1. Visit Panagia Ekatontapiliani, the 4th-century "church of 100 doors" — one of Greece's oldest churches.
2. Climb through the Kastro quarter, where houses are built from ancient marble columns.
3. Browse the Archaeological Museum — home of a piece of the Parian Chronicle.
4. Watch the ferries come in over a sunset drink along the Parikia waterfront.

Villages worth the drive

1. Wander marble-paved Lefkes, the old mountain capital — see our villages guide.
2. Walk the Byzantine Path from Lefkes to Prodromos (about an hour downhill).
3. Explore Marpissa's Sunday-quiet lanes and the windmill square.
4. Stop at Kostos for a coffee in a village most tourists drive straight past.
5. Fish lunch at Aliki, the little harbour in the south.

Beach days

1. Claim your spot on Golden Beach — 700 m of sand on the southeast coast.
2. Learn to windsurf — Golden Beach hosted the Windsurfing World Cup for years.
3. Try kitesurfing at Punda, in the channel facing Antiparos.
4. Float in the shallows at Santa Maria — the clearest water on the island.
5. Drive south to Faragas for the calmest swimming when the meltemi wind blows.

Our full ranking, with parking notes for each: best beaches in Paros.

On (and under) the water

1. Day-trip to Antiparos — take the 10-minute car ferry from Pounta and see the famous cave. Plan it with our Antiparos guide.
2. Boat trip around Antiparos and Despotiko — uninhabited-island swimming stops included.
3. Scuba diving or snorkelling off Santa Maria or Punda.

Eat and drink like a local

1. Order gouna (sun-dried mackerel) at a Naoussa fish taverna.
2. Taste wine at the Moraitis winery in Naoussa — Paros has its own PDO appellation.
3. Finish a night with a rakomelo (warm honey raki) in a backstreet bar.

How to fit it all in

The list above spans every corner of the island — Naoussa in the north, Golden Beach in the southeast, Aliki in the south, Lefkes in the middle. Buses connect the main towns in summer, but the villages, southern beaches and viewpoints really need your own wheels. Most visitors rent a car for at least part of their stay: see do you need a car in Paros? or go straight to our fleet — compact cars from €42/day, SUVs and quads too. Then turn this list into a route with our 3, 5 and 7-day itineraries.

Frequently asked questions

What is Paros known for?

Historically, for Parian marble — the translucent white stone used for the Venus de Milo. Today, for Naoussa's harbour, golden beaches, windsurfing and its central spot in the Cyclades ferry network.

Is Paros good for families?

Very. Shallow sandy beaches (Santa Maria, Golden Beach, Logaras), short driving distances and a relaxed pace make it one of the best Cycladic islands for kids.

How many of these can I do without a car?

Roughly a third — the Parikia and Naoussa items are bus-friendly. Everything involving villages, southern beaches or Pounta is much easier with a rental car or ATV.

Cover image: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.