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Getting to Paros
Paros ' harbour claims to be one of the busiest in the Aegean. There are frequent ferry connections
to Piraeus (4.5 - 5.5 hours), Naxos, Ios, Santorini, Syros, Mykonos, Crete, Sifnos and Antiparos. Paros is also
connected with Samos, Ikaria, Rafina, Amorgos, Tinos, Rhodes.
Catamaran and hydrofoil connects Paros to Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, Naxos, Ios, Santorini, Tinos, Mykonos,
Crete.
Journey time to Paros with catamaran takes less than 3 hours (from Piraeus).
There is daily flight service from Athens International Airport (50 minutes).
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Getting Around
There is a frequent bus service. Buses are connecting Paroikia with
Naoussa, Piso Livadi, Drios, Punta and Aliki. In the Summer there is a boat service from Piso Livadi to
Agia Anna In Naxos. There is also a boat service to some of the beaches. Cars, bikes and bicycles are available for hire in Paroikia and bikes and motorbikes
are available for hire in Naoussa. Taxis are also available.
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Nightlife
There is an excellent selection of restaurants, bars, cafe shops and discos to suit everyone's taste.
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Excursions, Places of Interest
Lefkes (the medieval capital) and Marpissa are two pretty mainland villages worth for a trip.
Naoussa, the second port of the island, with the excellent beaches, the ruins of a Venetian castle and the Byzantine Museum.
Chrysi Akti, 800m golden sand beach is the best of the island. Psycopiani or Petaloudes with swarms of tiger moths
setup house keeping (July - August). In Paroikia the Byzantine Cathedral Church of Panagia Ekatondapyliani (Church of a
hundred doors), the Archaeological Museum, the ruins of a Venetian castle.
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Water Sports
Paros is well known among the windsurfing professionals all over the world. The Professional Windsurfing
Association has been organizing the world cup for many years now on the eastern side of the island.
The location of the island, the variety of winds and the location of the beaches make Paros Island ideal place
for professional and amateurs water sports lovers.
New Golden Beach
Diving club - Tel: +30 22840 41778, 41878
Golden Beach
Sun wind surf club - Tel: +30 22840 41789, 41714
Sun wind - Tel: +30 22840 42900
Santa Maria
Surf & diving - Tel: +30 22840 52491-6, Santa Maria Surfing Beach >>
Pounda
Eurodivers - Tel: +30 22840 92071
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Beaches -
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Aquamania in Kolymbithres
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Parikia
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Paros ' capital, is a small town with
2,500 inhabitants. It is a lovely town, with whitewashed houses and a maze of
narrow streets. The best part of it, is away from the sea in the
heart of the old village. Around the coastline there are beautiful safe sandy beaches.
The history of Parikia goes back the centuries, as the archaeological finds, which are many, confirm.
Parikia has been inhabited for almost 4,500 years and as a result of that there are many ruins in the area.
The Church of Ekatondapyliani or Katopoliani (picture on the right) is one of the most
important Byzantine monuments and one of the finest churches in Greece. It is dominated to the Dormition of
Our Lady and according to the tradition was founded by Santa Helen, the mother
of the Emperor Constantine. On the Assumption of Virgin Mary day, 15th of August, there is a great
celebration on the seafront.
In the Archaeological Museum a fragment of the Parian Chronicle is
exhibited, which is an inscription of the history of Greece from 1500BC to 264BC. The chronicle found in 1627
is caved in marble tablets and the remaining of it is now in Ashmolean Museum in Oxford (UK).
For beaches, Livadia is the beach in town. Agios Fokas and Krios are beautiful sandy beaches accessed by boats which run frequently from morning till late.
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Aliki
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is a the southernmost village of the island.
It is a small (but busy during the summer) fishing village, with an attractive sandy
beach.
The most famous beaches in the area are Aliki, Pisso Aliki, Saint Nikolas, Pigadaki and Tripiti.
All offer a wide choice from sands filled with umbrellas to quiet deserted beaches.
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Chrissi Akti
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(23 Km from Paroikia) is one of the most popular
beaches in Paros and probably the best one. It is 800 in length, with golden sand and water sports.
In Chrissi Akti there are tavernas and hotels. Chrissi Akti was the venue for the
World Windsurfing Championships in 1993.
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Dryos
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is the most fertile area in Paros Island.
It has streams and a lovely crystal clear beach.
It is ideal for family and quiet holidays.
Nearby is the unexplored cave of Kalabaki.
North of Drios is the Monastery of Agios Goergios (Saint George), a fine monument of archtectural art.
Boudari bay is the nearby and it is a beautiful sandy bay ideal for those looking for a pieceful place for swimming.
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Lefkes
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(11 km from Paroikia) is the most beautiful village in Paros
on amphitheatric location on the hills, with whitewashed houses, old churches
and monasteries. Lefkes was the island's capital during the period of Ottoman rule.
It is worth visiting Agia Triada Church constructed out of white marble.
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Logaras
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is further south from Piso Livadi. It has a long sandy beach shaded by trees and it is ideal for swimming.
Accommodation, restaurants, shops are available
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Marathi
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(5 km from Paroikia) are the island's ancient
quarries which were last used for Napoleon's tomb.
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Marpissa
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(16 km from Paroikia) is another beautiful village
with windmills, the ruins of a 15th century Venetian fortress, the Metamorphosis
church with 17th century frescoes, the Ag Antonios monastery which is situated on hill.
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Naoussa
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is situated on the north side of the island and
(11 km from Paroikia) has one of the most picturesque harbours
in Cyclades.
It is a lovely fishing village with tiny streets
and beautiful churches (Panagia Pantanassa,
Ag. Ioannis), the ruins of the Venetian castle.
The settlement around the port of Naoussa was closed off with a protective wall from the Northern side.
This wall ended in Kasteli and it was a barricade made by Venetians.
Part of this construction which is from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine period,
still exists today.
Marks of Byzantine and post-Byzantine period can also still be seen onto the houses and churches of both the village and the wider area.
Among the beaches close to Naoussa, Kolimbithres is a nice sand beach with wind-sculpted rocks.
Lageri is a good beach (nudist) which can be approached by caique from Naoussa.
Santa Maria is pretty beach on the open sea.
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Piso Livadi
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(17 km from Paroikia) with sandy beach, is one of the
largest holiday communities in Paros.
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Pounta
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(19 km from Paroikia) is a nice place to visit with a beach. From
Pounta you can cross to Antiparos.
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Useful Information
| Population |
7,000 |
Port Authority |
22840 21240 |
| Distance from Piraeus |
95 NM |
Archaeological Museum |
22840 21281 |
| Tourist |
22840 21673 |
Olympic Airways |
22840 21900 |
| Police |
22840 23333 |
Paros Airport (PAS) |
22840 91256-7 |
[]
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Please send your enquiries to
paros@thegreektravel.com
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Paros Island,
the third largest island in cyclades, is dominated by its picturesque villages,
beautiful beaches and the Greek island atmosphere.
Although the island attracts thousands of visitors each summer, due to its size,
is never becoming overcrowded. Paros has been inhabited since very ancient times
and was famous for the quality of its marbles.
Paros Greece capital Paroikia (Parikia), is another beautiful
cluster of whitewashed houses, tiny streets and arches.
It is an ideal island for those seeking the cosmopolitan bustle
as well as the Greek atmosphere, the simple life of the fishing villages.
