Paros, Greece

Approaching the island of Paros from the sea, you can’t help but feel relaxed just looking at it.

The rolling terrain being baked by the sun and the white buildings nestled along the coastline are a welcome site after the extensive travel you likely did to get here.

A 20 minute drive to the north side of the island puts you in Noussa—a small fishing village with a bustling little harbor. This is where we made ourselves at home for our stay. Our stay at the Sivanis Apartments (found through AirBnb!) was exactly what we needed. It was a comfortable place to hang out but also a short walk from town if we needed to get out. Just steps out the front door is Piperi Beach, a great local beach with large trees providing ample shade and water in the temperature range of perfection.

A walk through the town of Noussa will flood your senses with all the things you would expect from a Greek Island—stone pathways winding through bright white buildings, bougainvillea hanging over head, and plenty of al fresco dining. The warm glow of the golden hour before the sun sets feels like pure magic. And you can’t go wrong by ordering the fresh caught fish grilled up for dinner.

You would be missing out if you didn’t rent a scooter and ride along the coastline, soaking up the sun and breathing in the fresh ocean scents. There are great beaches and spots a short distance from town. Spend a day swimming in the white rock coves of Kolympḗthres and end up enjoying a lounge-y happy hour on the beautiful patio of Monastiri Beach. Don’t miss dinner at Siparos while watching the sunset over the water.

This low key destination was fun but also very relaxing and restful. If you want to experience a more local Greek Island experiences, you can’t go wrong!

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STAY

Sivanis Apartments were great! A building with 4-5 apartments, they were a short walk (<5 minutes) in to town and right across the street from Piperi beach. The apartment was well appointed, designed, and kept. The hosts were also super helpful and kind.

FOOD

Sousouro - casual & healthy breakfast/lunch spot with fresh juices, smoothies, sandwiches, and salads.
Siparos - incredible dinner spot along the beach. Everything we got there was really delicious and the vibe is so great. If you can time it so that the sun sets about half way through your meal.
Soso - Adorable restaurant tucked in an alleyway in the back of town. Think quaint tables stacked in the walkway and bouganvilla over head.
Mediterraneo - Our first meal after arriving was here and it was delicious. Typical Greek food done well and with a great patio.
Sigi Ikthios - There are lots of restaurants that all cram tables out on the harbor and serve fresh seafood. I’m sure lots of the places are good and comparable, but we really enjoyed our dinner here. Experiencing the bustle of the dinner crowd and picking your fish fresh from a platter caught that day is pretty great!

ACTIVITIES

Santa Maria - A bustling beach with palm frond shades and old school beach chairs that you can rent for the day for fairly cheap ($20/pair). They have food & beverage service and the water is so clear and blue—a great spot to swim.
Kolympḗthres - Cool rock formations surround a shallow cove great for wading and long swims out to where it’s deeper. Umbrellas, chairs, and limited food service are available but it’s a lot more rickety, yet still charming.
Piperi Beach - A straight forward little beach with plenty of sand space and trees along the edges that you can find shade under if needed. Can rent chairs and order food from the little hotel on the beach but no umbrellas unless you are a guest. Nice, easy access from town.
Monastiri Beach / Paros Park - We didn’t do the beach here, but there is a nice little beach as well as a really great patio area where they serve food and drinks and have lots of spots to sit and relax. The vibe on the patio and restaurant were great and they also show movies outside at night.
Wander around Naousa. There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore and it’s just fun to wander around and see what you find!