16 Fantastic Things to Do in Paros, Greece, on Your Visit

Paros, a beautiful Greek island in the stunning Aegean Sea, is known for its traditional villages, pristine beaches, and vibrant nightlife. It is a laidback holiday destination that has seduced travelers for centuries. If you plan a trip to the island, you might wonder how to get there. There are no direct flights to the island from anywhere, and the only way to reach it is by ferry from mainland Greece or another neighboring island.

Once you are there, you have a lovely island to explore. How do you put together an excellent schedule for your trip so you don’t miss out on key locations, sites, and landmarks, though? You take our advice and follow our recommendations, that’s how.

In the following post, you will find 16 of the best things to do in Paros, regardless of your travel arrangements or budget.

1. Visit the Butterflies Valley

Let’s start our guide with one of the unique things to do in Paros—visit the Butterflies Valley, known as Petaloudes. This is a stunning biotope in its own right from the start of the year to the end. However, it is during the summer that something truly spectacular happens—a natural phenomenon that occurs while the valley is verdant.

What happens? The rare Jersey Tiger Moths, a species found only in a few places worldwide, cover the valley. A specially designed park allows you to walk around parts of the valley and see these striking butterflies up close.

2. Enjoy Some Fun at Monastiri Beach and Paros Park

Are you traveling with the whole family? One of the best things to do in Paros with kids is visit the stunning Monastiri Beach and Paros Park. This sprawling and pioneering park covers over 800 acres and has something for everyone. Run mostly by volunteers, it offers a first-rate experience. There is plenty to see, do, and explore whether you are interested in history, culture, or geology. However, even if you are just looking for somewhere to have a pleasant stroll through a beautiful area of natural beauty, this park is one place you won’t want to miss. Did we say you also have access to the pristine beach that hugs the coastline? As well as taking a dip in the crystalline waters of the sea, you can pull up a sunbed and umbrella and have a relaxing nap under the warmth of the Grecian sun.

3. Bar and Club Hop When the Sun Goes Down

The island shares similarities to the other popular Cycladic destinations of Ios and Mykonos in its vibrant and loud nightlife. Therefore, if you have the stamina to enjoy a drink or two and a dance, one of the best things to do in Paros at night is go to a pub or club crawl. Naoussa and Parikia are the best places to drink and dance.

With stunning seafront views, upbeat music, exquisite designs, and a wide variety of drinks, you can easily spend a whole night dancing and drinking until dawn breaks.

4. Panagia Ekatontapiliani

Panagia Ekatontapiliani is one of the most historically critical Byzantine monuments in Greece's islands. Known as the Church of a Hundred Doors, it was constructed in the 4^th century. According to the legends surrounding this curious landmark, 99 of the 100 doors within the church have been found thus far, and the 100^th will only be found when Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, is given back from Turkey to Greece.

Whether you are looking for something different to do or are interested in the island's unique history, this is one of the best free things to do in Paros. It costs nothing to enter and explore this site.

5. Scuba Dive and Shipwreck Exploration

What if you are looking for adventurous things to do in Paros, Greece? Well, given that the island is surrounded by water, it’s not surprising that many of the best things to do on the island are actually off the island and in the spectacular turquoise waters. If you are already interested and experienced in diving, there are many great opportunities for underwater exploration. X-Ta-Sea Diving Center offers explorative dives for certified scuba divers around sea caves, the intricate reefs teeming with life, and the various shipwrecks in the area. Dives occur twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. One of the shipwrecks you can explore is the KT 18 Pelican vessel that the German Navy used during WW2. You can also explore the Marianna ship and the Express Samina vessel.

6. Explore the Island’s Cultural Heritage

One thing you will want to do is learn more about the importance of Paros Island in Greece and the country’s history. The island has been inhabited for centuries, and many archaeological sites and museums highlight its past. You can explore the ancient marble quarries, where the best Parian marble is sourced and used for many of the most famous Greek sculptures. For art lovers, you can explore the beautiful Archeological Museum of Parikia, home to many archeological findings, and then visit the cemetery beside the sea.

7. Take Your Tastebuds on an Adventure

While on the island, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with some of the best dishes and examples of its unique take on Greek cuisine. Many of the best restaurants in Paros are surprisingly affordable and showcase the local, fresh ingredients they use. When spending time at a seafront restaurant or tavern, you should try dishes like Kakavia, Greek fish soup, and Gouna, sun-dried, roasted mackerel.

Soso, Siparos, Mario, and Thalassa Mou are some of the best restaurants. However, when looking for something a little different, there are also many Japanese, Thai, French, and Italian restaurants throughout the island.

8. Walk Around the Upmarket and Beautiful Naoussa

One of the most popular Paros attractions you should not miss out on is the beautiful and cosmopolitan village of Naoussa. It is the second biggest on the island, home to a thriving nightlife and many luxury hotels and restaurants. That is only some of what the town has to offer, though, because although it feels very modern, there is still much of the past displayed through Naoussa. Built around its iconic port, there is some beautiful ancient architecture to feast your eyes on along with many seafood taverns and shops selling locally produced items.

9. Take One or More of the Fabulous Boat Tours Available

While there is more than enough to keep you occupied on the island, one of the best activities to participate in while on Paros is island hopping. With places like Delos, Antiparos, and Mykonos close by, Paros boat tours are a great way to get even more out of your sunny Greek vacation. Given their closeness to the island, Mykonos and Delos can be visited and experienced in a day.

Generally speaking, you should allow at least three hours to enjoy the full delights of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while making sure you visit the Archaeological Museum, considered one of the best in Greece.  

10. Enjoy the Quiet Village Life of Marpissa

When you go to the island during the summer, you may find it claustrophobic due to the influx of tourists. That’s when a trip to Marpissa is one of the best things to do in Paros. Found in the island's southwestern hills, this little village is pretty and has a very simple but dazzling color scheme of bright white with touches of color here and there.

One of the best things about this part of the island is how untouched it is. Just a short drive from the more thriving and modern town of Naoussa, it feels like almost a completely different world.

11. Learn to Cook Like a Paros Local from a Paros Local

We have already highlighted that eating local food is integral to any trip to Paros. However, if you are a keen home cook or work professionally in the catering or restaurant industry, taking a Paros cooking class is an eye-opening experience you may not want to miss out on.

There are many of these held throughout the island. They all follow the same basic premise—you join a local who will talk you through choosing the ingredients, following a recipe, and any essential techniques to create a delicious Greek meal that you will then generally eat with the other class members in a communal dining session.

12. Paros Beach Club

While it may not enjoy the same notoriety or have the same uber-luxurious and exclusive clubs as Mykonos, Paros has some beach clubs that are still worth checking out. These include Paralia Beach Club. Formerly known as Tango Mar, this beach club is located a short, 10-minute walk from Paros Port and is known for its affordability.

Don’t let that affordability put you off. Although the sunbeds are old school and not like those in other locations throughout the Cyclades, the price of renting them makes it more than worthwhile.

13. Spend time at the Beach as a Family

Since it is an island, many of the best Paros activities to enjoy revolve around the beach. However, for a more unusual beach experience, you should check out the immensely popular Kolymbithres. This offers shallow crystalline turquoise waters and a curious rocky lunar-like background. The unusualness of the terrain, with eroded, smooth granite rocks and smaller, private sandy coves and inlets, make it especially popular with locals and tourists.

Santa Maria is a more traditional beach in that it offers beautiful, glittering sand and stunning azure waters.

14. Take a Boat Out and Sail Around the Neighboring Islands

We’ve already mentioned boat tours and trips, but if you want to do something a bit more independent and don’t want to go too far from the island, one of the best Paros activities is hiring a boat and taking it out for a sail around the island and its neighbors. In addition to a chance to island hop, you can enjoy the unique viewpoints of the land you get from out at sea.

15. Learn How to Kitesurf

Another of the more adventurous things to do in Paros, Greece, is kitesurf, which is incredibly popular in the area. Whether you have previously kitesurfed or are a rank beginner in this sporting activity, the Paros Kite Centre offers sessions catering to all skill, ability, and experience levels.

There are also various options, whether you are looking for a short or long session, one-on-one or group session, or planning to take the children with you.

16. Outdoor Movie

What about those days when you are on vacation and want to enjoy something similar to what you have back home while enjoying the laid back atmosphere of your idyllic Greek paradise? One of the more unique things to do in Paros is watch a movie at one of the two open-air cinemas on the island: Cine Rex, which is found in Parikia, and Cine Enastron, which is in Monastiri Beach and part of the Environmental and Cultural Park there.

There are two screenings every day at Cine Rex, the first beginning at approximately 9 pm and the second at approximately 11 pm. The latest releases are screened from this cinema with Greek subtitles and the original language audio.

However, at Cine Enastron, you can enjoy older, classic movies, and admission is free.

Final Thoughts

That's a wrap for the best things to do in Paros. If you plan a trip to the beautiful Greek island on your next vacation, you should have a better idea of the best things to do there. Your Paros itinerary can include many frugal activities, sites, and landmarks alongside many great places to eat, drink, and explore.

While we have tried to ensure that our guide is as detailed as possible, there are some places we may have missed. Please let us know in the comments section below if you believe this is the case and if your favorite Paros activities have yet to be included.