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Photo Tour: Paros Island

Paros island is one of the most visited islands in Greece.  Here’s a little photo tour of some interesting and beautiful corners during my visits over the last few years.

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Paros Island Beaches

Paros island is ringed with so many golden sand beaches.  A good amount of them are perfect for wind surfing and compete in that windy beach category with the neighboring Greek isles of Mykonos and Naxos.

Many Parian beaches hold a Blue Flag accreditation for quality and cleanliness. There are beaches to suit every beach style from party beaches, family friendly to small secluded swimming coves.  Golden Beach, Santa Maria Beach, Pounta Beach, Aliki, Livadia and Krios are all quite popular.  My favorite however is…

Kolimbithres Beach

On the north coast you’ll find this really cool beach. It’s  fascinating because the entire scene of strange rock formations looks like it was painted by Salvador Dali.
I shot these photos off season, so the sun wasn’t out and the beach was empty! Kolimbithres is a different kind of beach experience…

Visit Charming Paros Villages

Naoussa

Just down the road from Kolibithres beach is a lovely harbor town called Naoussa. It’s a fishing village that has grown to accommodate more tourists. Still, it is lovely to spend some time eating at one of its restaurants by the sea. I recommend the tavern Mediterraneo.
After your great meal get lost in Naoussa’s little lanes and poke into the cute little boutique shops there. Naoussa is much quieter than the island’s main town of Parikia, but it has its own kind of animated nightlife options too. Loved the atmosphere, history, view and cocktails at the bar Sommaripa Consolato.

Bougainvillea and whitewashed walls.
Bougainvillea and whitewashed walls in Naoussa

 

Naoussa port view at night in Paros.
Naoussa port view at night in Paros

 

Parikia

Parikia is the capital of the island. It has a large harbor where the ferries dock and a historic old town.
Some sights to see in Parikia include the Byzantine landmark church called Panagia Ekatontapiliani which was built in the 4th century. The name translates to the church of 100 doors.
Parikia’s old town was once a fortified castle during Venetian rule. Today it is called kastro and it is really fun to explore. It has those whitewashed lanes the Cyclades are famous for. There are some great restaurants and nightlife options there too. Entropy is fun for creative shots and a laid back fun environment. Pebbles is great for cocktails and jazz.  I love Levantis restaurant, a beautiful location and beautiful Mediterranean dishes to match.

Parikia harbor in Paros.
Near Parikia harbor in Paros

 

Lefkes

Besides visiting Parikia and Naoussa, you will want to head to some smaller villages that are absolutely charming.
Lefkes is set on a hillside and is considered by locals as the most picturesque.  I agree. There are beautiful little homes,  little cafes and lovely taverns.  Some old churches date back to the 15th century. There are a few traditional pigeon houses. I wrote about the traditional Cycladic island pigeon houses in an earlier post about neighboring Tinos.
In Greece, Paros is famous for inspiring great art and has its own community of artists. If you want to meet a wonderful local artist in her Lefkes studio visit my friend Angelika Vaxevanidou. Her commissioned portraiture is emotional and impressive.

Whitewashed village in Paros.
Whitewashed villages in Paros are worth a visit

 

Aliki

A nice little seaside village I like is Aliki. There’s a large stretch of sandy beach.  It’s a great place to eat by the sea.

Aliki village view in Paros.
Aliki village view in Paros

 

Aliki village tavern.
Aliki village tavern. What’s for lunch?

 

Valley of the Butterflies

Look closely do you see them? The Valley of the Butterflies is also known as Petaloudes Park.  In Greek, butterfly is petalouda which translates to flying flower.  (How cute is that!) Every summer these red and brown colored Jersey Tiger Moths take over the valley. There’s an organized park to see the butterflies that is quite popular for families. The website is www.parosbutterflies.gr.
The only other place in Greece that has this kind of natural phenomenon is Rhodes. Across the world, you can also find butterfly valleys in Turkey and Britain.

Butterfly valley in Paros.
Butterfly valley in Paros. I see eight of them!

 

More favorite scenes from Paros island

Scenes from Paros island.
Scenes from Paros island

 

Pretty beaches of Paros island.
Pretty beaches of Paros island

 

Refreshing pool view at Astir of Paros hotel.
Refreshing pool view at Astir of Paros hotel

 

A window I love in Paros.
A window I love in Paros.

 

For more a listing of where to stay and what to do on Paros, check out my mini travel guide right here on this blog.

There is much more to do on Paros island. These are just a few snapshots from my visits over the past years.  What would you add to this list?

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10 Comments

    1. Ah, Charles! Thanks so much for visiting the blog my friend. See you soon on the G+ side. Hope you are having a lovely weekend and thanks for the comments. They are always inspiring to me. 😀

  1. Wow. This looks beautiful. Greece is a true wonder of the Mediterranean. Hope I visit it soon!
    Good work with blogsite Marissa, will come to back to read some more :)!

    1. Thanks so much for visiting and for the comments. Greece is the best travel bargain for sure – beauty, culture, food and relaxation all in one. Thanks and I hope to see you again here.

  2. Great photo tour Marissa!! If you ever guys visti Paros don’t hesitate to try the traditional drink of Paros witch is SUMA(ΣΟΥΜΑ)!!

    cheers!!!

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