Paros lies at the centre of the Cyclades and is one of their main hubs. In antiquity it was famous for Parian marble, pure white and translucent, from which works such as the Venus de Milo and Praxiteles' Hermes were carved. Today it is a lively but still authentic island, loved by families, young people and windsurfers.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Parikia | The main town and port, with a Venetian Kastro built from temple marble and the Panagia Ekatontapiliani, the "church of a hundred doors", one of Greece's most important Early Christian monuments |
| Naoussa | Fishing harbour with colourful boats, a small Venetian castle and the trendiest bars |
| Lefkes | Mountain village, with the paved Byzantine path down to Prodromos |
| Marathi | The ancient underground marble quarries |
| Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) | A small valley where moths gather in summer |
| Archaeological Museum | With part of the Parian Chronicle, an ancient chronological inscription |
Beaches
Kolymbithres, with wind-sculpted granite rocks, and Santa Maria near Naoussa; Golden Beach and New Golden Beach on the east coast, windsurfing capitals; Pounda, for kitesurfing; Farangas and Lageri, quieter.
Antiparos
From Pounda a few minutes' ferry ride brings you to Antiparos, a relaxed islet with a small Venetian castle, fine beaches and a cave with stalactites, visited since antiquity.
Getting there
The airport has flights from Athens. Ferries from Piraeus take 2.5-5 hours; from Paros it is easy to reach Naxos, Mykonos, Santorini, Ios and many others. On the island there are frequent buses and car and scooter rentals.
See also Naxos and island ferries.