Top 5 Things to See and Do in Paros, Paros, Greece

The fact that may people don’t know about Paros is probably a good thing. Think of this Greek island as the unassuming middle sister of glamourous Santorini and fun-loving Mykonos. Yet Paros isn’t just another beautiful blue and white island in the Cyclades, and its under-the-radar status actually works out to your advantage (translation: less crowds and all of the touristy craziness that comes with it). Paros is not too big and not too small, which makes it just right. So if you’re planning a visit to Greece, here are 5 things to see and do that helped make Paros my favorite island.

If you’re arriving in Paros by ferry, then Parikia will be your first introduction to the island. This port town has all of the elements of a typical Cycladic village and then some. Stroll through its maze of whitewashed lanes, bursting with bright pink bougainvillea flowers, equally colorful doors and the more-than-occasional cat. These cobblestone streets are made for wandering, as well as browsing adorable shops like Aithra for beautiful Greek-inspired jewelry, the quirky concept store Melissa across the street with everything from decorative items to playful accessories.

You’ll also find a handful of other sights in Parikia including an archeological museum, the remains of the former Frankish Castle built during Venetian rule in the 13th century and the Panagia Ekatontapiliani, known as the Church of 100 Doors. This Byzantine church was built by Constantine in 328 and its name comes from a legend that 99 of its doors have been found and the 100th will be discovered when Constantinople is Greek again. The streets will eventually lead you to the main road where you find windmills and a ton of tavernas and cafes lining the waterfront, an area that may appear sleepy during the day as old Greek men gather to sip coffee to pass the time, but comes alive at night as crowds spill out onto the streets. The island’s main bus station is here too just west of the port (weekly schedules are posted online and at the little yellow and white kiosk), making Parikia a convent home base. We stayed at the adorable Panorama Hotel about a 15 minute walk from the port. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).