Paros Greece - Greek Holiday Destinations
Cyclades Islands: Amorgos > Andros > Folegandros > Ios > Kythnos > Milos > Mykonos > Naxos > Paros > Santorini > Serifos > Sifnos > Sikinos > Syros > TinosMore on Paros - Accommodation - Beaches - Car Hire - Day Trips - Night Life
Paros is one of the Greek Cyclades Islands located in the Aegean Sea 168 kilometres south east of the mainland port of Piraeus. It's the main ferry hub of the Aegean with regular services to all the main Cycladic islands, the Dodecanese, the North Eastern Aegean islands and Crete. But the island has become much more than a place to wait a day or two for the next ferry - it's a hugely popular tourist destination in its own right offering fine beaches, pretty fishing hamlets, some of the best restaurants in the Cyclades and a nightlife to rival that of frantic Mykonos.
There are several ferries a day to and from Piraeus with a journey time of five hours. Pay more and cut the journey time by half by taking one of the regular Flying Dolphins which zip between Paros and the mainland. Olympic Airways has daily flights to and from the mainland - the airport is in the south west corner of the island and regular buses link it with the main port of Parikia where the majority of the island's holiday accommodation is centred.
See - MQSEARCH for the latest advertised hotels - self catering apartments - villas - package holidays.
If you're thinking of treating Paros as nothing more than a ferry interchange point, consider its many attractions and you might be tempted to spend a few days here as part of your island-hopping adventure.
The place is a paradise for hikers, watersports enthusiasts, gourmets and night owls. Star attractions include the incredible Valley of the Butterflies where the fresh water spring and dense foliage attract thousands of brightly coloured tiger moths to mate each year. Explore the famous marble quarries of Marathi which have produced the raw material for some of the world's most treasured ancient statues and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Marvel at the workmanship of Parikia's beautiful Byzantine Cathedral which is one of the most splendid of its kind in the whole of the Cyclades. Its sheer beauty led to the demise of both the architect and his jealous mentor who, according to legend, plunged to their deaths from the roof top in an unseemly scuffle after the cathedral's completion in 326 AD.
Enjoy the island's beaches which offer wonderful opportunities for snorkelling, scuba diving and salivating over some of the freshest fish imaginable. One of the most popular beaches, Chrissi Akti (Golden Beach) in the south east corner of the island, has played host to the World Cup Windsurfing Championships every year since 1993.
Pop over to the quieter island of Antiparos for a day trip and visit the famous cave full of fantastic stalactites. Paros was a favourite haunt of the English poet Lord Byron who is among the many who have left an inscription on the cave walls.
Accommodation - Beaches - Car Hire - Day Trips - Night Life
Greek Guide
North Eastern Aegean Greek Islands 
