Paros is Greek charm without the glitz, a retreat where you can live like a local away from the crowds. This island is brimming with tiny villages steeped in history – tangled streets of whitewashed stone and deep blue domes pepper the landscape. Soak up the sun on muted gold sand and dine on fresh goúna at traditional seaside tavernas. In Paros, you’ll experience the authentic side of the Cyclades.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Be sure to bring a spare camera battery for sightseeing here. History paves the way around Paros, so you’ll never have to stray far from your boutique hotel to delve into the island’s past. Temples such as Panaya Ekatontapiliani are living monuments to its heritage, and the Archaeological Museum is full of artefacts dating back to 470BC.
BEACHES
Visitors flock to cosmopolitan Kolymbithres and Santa Maria. But if you’re looking for something more low-key, seek the solitude of Ambelas Beach. It has dreamy appeal without making you fight for sand space.
FOOD
When in Paros, be sure to try delicious twists on traditional Greek cuisine. Swap feta for mizithra, a creamy goat’s cheese – best in salads or spread into fresh pita. It would be a sin to visit a fishing village and not sample the day’s catch, too. Goúna is a mouth-watering mackerel dish served grilled with a squeeze of lemon, best savoured by the sea.