12 Awesome Things to Do in Paros (Full Bucket List)

It’s no secret that we love spending time in Greece, specifically on Greek islands like Paros.

The main reason we love Paros is that there are so many unique things to do. It’s even more appealing when you realize that the island is so small that you can drive around it in less than an hour, making it easy to fit multiple stops and activities into each day!

That’s why it’s growing so much in popularity as a summer destination.

Most of the ‘touristy’ things are actually worth doing, so we’ll be sure to tell you a bit about them.

However, there are also some places on the island that you can only find if you travel to the more secluded areas! These hidden gems allow you to experience a more authentic side of the island away from the crowds!

1. Explore Naoussa

Naoussa is easily the most famous neighborhood in Paros. It’s a gorgeous town constantly described as ‘cosmopolitan’ because of the upscale vibes, whitewashed streets, greek cats roaming around the city, and numerous cocktail lounges and restaurants.

It’s the exact kind of spot that comes to mind when picturing a relaxing holiday with good shopping, food, and scenery.

As you can probably guess, it’s also the busiest (and most touristy) part of the island.

People love seeing the Old Port and Venetian Castle and walking up to Faneromeni Church, which overlooks the town.

Food is also a big deal in Naoussa. You can make reservations at the world-famous Barbarossa Restaurant or enjoy a drink at Fotis All-Day Bar.

If you’re looking for more underrated places to eat/drink, check out Afros Sip | Bites for coffee, Taverna Glafkos for dinner, or Agosta Bar for an evening drink while looking over the harbor.

2. Tour the Moraitis Winery

There are only a handful of wineries in Paros, but Moraitis Winery (a.k.a Moraitis Estate) is a really good one to visit on the outskirts of Naoussa.

It’s a peaceful spot where you can take an official wine tour. The guides are passionate, and you’ll get to tour the whole vineyard and learn about the wine-making process.

But the atmosphere is honestly the best part of the winery. So, if you aren’t looking for a tour, we’d just order a wine + cheese pairing and lounge on their terrace for a couple of hours.

3. Stay in Parikia

Parikia is more of a local village. Since it’s just 10 minutes from the airport and all ferries arrive here at Paros Port, it leans much more commercial than Naoussa.

The back streets here are just as pretty as Naoussa, and we love browsing through the capital’s local shops, bakeries, and lounges around town.

Αlexandrou Mayrou (a street) is the epitome of the Greek Island aesthetic!

We also love the number of great tavernas and coffee in Parikia. To Souvlaki Tou Pepe (Souvlaki), Pagkaki Cafe, and Evinos Bar are the first places that come to mind!

All of this is why we prefer to book villas in Parikia. Everything just feels more authentic, cozy, and cheaper. Also, the rest of the island is extremely accessible from here.

4. Panagia Ekatontapiliani

One of the more underrated things to do in Paros is visit Panagia Ekatontapiliani.

The Greek Orthodox Church is more commonly known as the ‘church of 100 Doors’ (although I don’t think there are actually 100 doors–lol), and sometimes more formally known as the ‘Holy Shrine of the Virgin Mary’).

It’s extremely easy to visit from anywhere in Parikia, close to the Paros Port, and totally free to visitors.

The church’s complex dates back to the 4th century and is considered to be one of the best-preserved churches in Greece. Its courtyard, chapel, baptistery, and holy shrine all have stunning architecture.

5. Stroll Through Lefkes

Lefkes is a pedestrian-only village in the mountains of Paros. It’s very close to the highest point on the island, meaning that it has pretty insane views that go all the way to Naxos across the sea!

The most popular place to see here is Agia Triada, a Byzantine-era Greek Orthodox church at the edge of the town. The marble architecture is breathtaking, and walking through the village to get there isn’t any less interesting. The streets are full of flowers, painted doorways, several small coffee shops, local tavernas, and a bizarre number of cats!

Get here early if you’re visiting in the summer because it tends to get very crowded!

6. Hike the Byzantine Path

The Byzantine Path is an ancient marble path that leads all the way from Lefkes to the nearby town of Prodromos.

It’s 3.7 km (2.3 miles) long and offers incredible views of the Aegean Sea. The descent is pretty gradual, so even inexperienced hikers shouldn’t have much trouble.

This is one activity in Paros that can really be enhanced by a guided tour. This way, you’ll learn even more about the area’s history as you hike the famous route.

Also, if you continue past Prodromos through Marpissa, you’ll eventually reach Kalogeros Beach (one of our favorite beaches in Paros).

7. Relax on the Beach

The Greek Islands are synonymous with stunning white sand beaches, colorful sunbeds, and crystal clear water.

And Paros lives up to that stereotype!

Admittedly, the beaches are not quite as nice as those in Naxos, but there are quite a few great beaches to check out while staying in Paros.

8. Ferry to Antiparos

If you have extended time in Paros (more than 2-3 days), we’d encourage you to spend a day in Antiparos!

It’s a tiny island off the west coast of Paros, but it takes less than 10 minutes to get here by ferry and costs just €2-5.

Once you arrive in Antiparos, you can relax on the town beaches like Paralia Psaraliki and Paralia Sifneiko. You can also venture to more secluded parts of the coast, such as Faneromeni Beach or Soros Beach.

People also love exploring the famous Cave of Antiparos and walking around the Chora (town center).

Another activity here that’s very popular is sailing to some of the sea caves on full-day Boat Tours of Antiparos and Despotiko.

There are actually quite a few different boat trips available in Paros. You can book a semi-private tour on a traditional Caique, a romantic catamaran tour, or book out a RIB Speedboat for you and your party!

9. Go Sailing/Snorkeling

Everyone should try to get out on the water at least once while island-hopping in Greece, and Paros is one of the best places to do that. We’ve already talked about booking a sailing excursion to Antiparos and Despotiko, but that’s not your only option.

This snorkeling tour takes you to some of the best blue lagoons around Paros.

You could opt for a more luxurious catamaran cruise around the island, which would take you to Faneromen, Tripiti Seacave, and Farangas Beach along the south coast of Paros.

There are also day trips like this one that take you to the island of Koufonisia and include all food, drinks, and snorkeling equipment for the day.

Finally (if you’re feeling extra adventurous), you can even rent your own boat from Aliki fishing village and sail around the island yourself!

10. Marpissa Villiage

Another traditional village to visit in Paros is Marpissa. This town is much more modest than other areas of Paros, including Lefkes, and it’s becoming a popular place to stay for people who travel to Paros regularly and want to avoid as much heavy tourism as possible.

One of the most famous parts of Marpissa is the Perantinos Sculpture Museum, but there are also a handful of local tavernas where you can have a long lunch and small boutiques. Then, you can easily venture down to Piso Livadi to spend time on the beach or have a romantic dinner by the sea.

11. Dine at a Local Tavern

The local food is a huge reason why we love traveling to Greece. Everything tastes so fresh, healthy, and full of flavor here.

From the complementary bread with olive oil and house wine to authentic meze (dakos, saganaki, dolmades) and classic entrees (Mousaka, Spanakopita, Souvlaki), Paros is full of excellent tavernas where you can order authentic Greek food!

These taverns almost always have fresh seafood specials, too!

Here’s a quick list of the best local tavernas to try all around Paros!

• Stella Taverna (Chrisi Akti)
• Kafenion (Lefkes)
• ARANTO (Lefkes)
• Aroma Traditional Taverna (Parikia)
• To Souvlaki Tou Pepe (Parikia)
• Taverna Glafkos (Naoussa)
• SoSo (Naoussa)
• Safran (Naoussa)
• Ouzeri Halaris (Piso Livadi)
• Anthi Meze (Piso Livadi)
• Apoplous Greek Restaurant (Aliki)
• Siparos Seaside Restaurant (Siparos)

12. Stay up for the Nightlife

No matter where you are in Paros, the nightlife is a big part of the culture here (especially among travelers), which is why there are so many cocktail lounges and seaside bars around town.

Naoussa is the most famous place for nightlife. Fotis All Day Bar and Barbarossa Cocktail Bar have become famous all over Europe and have led to more quality cocktail lounges popping up in the city, with a cozy atmosphere and views of the Aegean Sea. We prefer less crowded places like Kialoa Bar & Café, Agosta Bar, or Sommaripa Consolato.

But Parikia has a couple of lively places to enjoy the nightlife and quite a few great boutique hotels in the area that provide cozy accommodation that’s close to all the action!

In Parikia, Evinos is a beautiful seaside bar that’s great for sunset, Maroon is a more affordable option with live music, and Pirate Bar is a more fun and energetic bar in the heart of the capital.