If you asked us to recommend a single island for a first-time visitor to the Cyclades, we would almost always say Paros. Not because it is the most dramatic (that is Santorini) or the most unspoiled (that is Folegandros) or the most historically rich (that is Delos). But because Paros does everything well, and it does it with a grace and ease that makes it one of the most satisfying islands in Greece.

Why Paros Works for Almost Everyone

Paros is the Cyclades in miniature. It has the whitewashed villages, the blue-domed churches, the turquoise water. It has excellent beaches for every taste — long sandy stretches, sheltered coves, dramatic rocky headlands. It has a food scene that ranges from the simple and excellent to the genuinely sophisticated. And it has a pace of life that is relaxed without being soporific.

It is also well-connected. Ferries run frequently to Naxos, Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens. It makes an excellent base for day trips or as part of a longer island-hopping itinerary.

The Villages

Naoussa is our favourite village on the island, and one of our favourite places in the Cyclades. The old fishing harbour — whitewashed houses, a Venetian castle ruin, fishing boats reflected in the still water — is one of the most beautiful in Greece. The village has grown into a sophisticated resort town, with excellent restaurants and bars, but it has retained its character. The evening here, when the harbour lights come on and the restaurants fill, is magical.

Parikia (the main port town) is larger and busier than Naoussa, but it has a beautiful old town — the kastro — with medieval walls built from ancient marble. The Panagia Ekatontapiliani (the Church of a Hundred Doors) is one of the most important Byzantine churches in Greece and worth an hour of unhurried attention.

Lefkes is the island's most beautiful inland village — a traditional Cycladic settlement in the hills, with marble-paved lanes, a magnificent church, and views over the island that make the drive up worthwhile. It is almost entirely free of tourists and feels like a different island from the coastal resorts.

Marpissa and Prodromos are quieter villages in the eastern part of the island, traditional in character and largely undiscovered. The area around them has some of the island's best walking.

The Beaches

Paros has beaches for every mood and every kind of traveller.

Kolymbithres is the most distinctive beach on the island — smooth granite boulders sculpted by wind and water into extraordinary formations, with clear water and a sheltered bay. It is best reached by water taxi from Naoussa.

Santa Maria is a long sandy beach north of Naoussa, popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers (the Aegean winds here are reliable and strong). The beach has good facilities and a lively atmosphere.

Golden Beach (Chryssi Akti) on the east coast is one of the longest sandy beaches in the Cyclades — a wide arc of golden sand with clear water and consistent winds. It is the windsurfing capital of the island.

Logaras and Piso Livadi on the east coast are quieter, more sheltered, and better for families or those who want a beach without the wind.

Faragas and Alyki in the south are among the most beautiful beaches on the island — clear water, white sand, and a quietude that the northern beaches cannot always offer.

The Food

Paros has one of the best food scenes in the Cyclades, and it extends well beyond the tourist restaurants of the harbour.

The seafood is exceptional — the island's fishing boats supply restaurants that have been serving the same families for generations. Order the grilled octopus, the fresh fish of the day, the garides saganaki (prawns in tomato sauce with feta).

The local cheese (arseniko and lagoto) is produced on the island and is unlike anything you will find elsewhere. Ask for it at the local shops or at the better tavernas.

The wine from Paros — particularly the local red, made from the Mandilaria grape — is underrated and worth seeking out.

The bakeries in Parikia and Naoussa produce excellent tiropita, spanakopita, and loukoumades (honey doughnuts). Breakfast from a Greek bakery is one of life's simple pleasures.

Combining Paros with Other Islands

Paros is the natural hub of a Cyclades itinerary. From here, you can reach:

• Naxos in 30 minutes (the largest and most varied Cycladic island)
• Antiparos in 10 minutes (a tiny, beautiful island with a famous cave and a very relaxed atmosphere)
• Santorini in 2 hours by fast ferry
• Mykonos in 1.5 hours
• The Small Cyclades (Koufonisia, Iraklia, Schinoussa) in 1–2 hours

A week on Paros with day trips to Antiparos and Naxos, and a ferry to Santorini at the end, is one of our most popular Cyclades itineraries.

When to Go

May, June, and September are the ideal months — warm, sunny, and manageable in terms of crowds. The island is at its most beautiful in the soft light of early summer and early autumn.

July and August are busy, particularly in Naoussa, but Paros handles its summer visitors better than many Cycladic islands. The beaches are large enough to absorb the numbers, and the village atmosphere survives.

Paros is one of those islands that we recommend without hesitation. Tell us when you want to go.