If you’re looking to escape the crowds of Santorini and Mykonos, you’d do well to consider Paros, whose stylish boutique hotels are fast making a name for themselves.
Paros’s stylish capital, fashionable resort towns and pretty rural villages are all the more charming for their relative lack of crowds.
For its small size, Parikia packs a punch, boasting a labyrinthine Old Town, a waterfront crammed with tavernas and bars and one of the finest churches in the Cyclades.
Perched on the shores of Plastira Bay, Naoussa offers access to some excellent beaches, including Kolimbythres, set among fabulous rock formations, and Monastiri, which is great for snorkelling.
Lefkes clings to a natural amphitheatre among hills whose summits are dotted with old windmills; wander its charming alleyways to its impressive cathedral and bell tower.
Hire a yacht for the day to explore the remote islands around Paros, visiting the Blue Lagoon, the sea caves of Antiparos and the uninhabited island of Despotiko.
Unspoiled and authentic, Paros is characterised by its secluded coves, cubist villages, long sandy beaches and half-abandoned marble mines, where stone was cut for both Napoleon’s tomb and the Venus de Milo. Highlights include the capital Parikia, whose pristine Old Town is a labyrinth of boutiques, cafes and restaurants, and Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the oldest church in Greece in continuous use.
Also don’t miss the picture-perfect fishing village of Naoussa, where cafes line the quay next to a half-submerged Venetian castle, or mountainside Lefkes, the capital under Ottoman rule and Paros’s highest and most charming inland town.
Still not quiet enough for you? Then perhaps take the boat to Antiparos, where out-of-the-way beaches and traditional tavernas lie waiting to be explored.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds of Mykonos and Santorini then this high-end, high-design boutique hotel on the north-east coast of picture-perfect Paros could be just what you’re after.
Perched on a pretty hillside on the island of Paros, with commanding views of Kolympithres Beach and the village of Naoussa, this all-villa retreat is perfect for those looking for a little more privacy and independence than you would find at a traditional hotel.
Set in a half-moon bay, this beach-fronted boutique hotel is next to the charming harbour town of Naoussa, where guests can enjoy eclectic dining, upscale shopping and nightlife, all within an 8-minute walk.