Paros, Greece
If you’re searching for quaint villages, lively atmospheres, and a family friendly destination… then look no further, because you’ve found it.
With only 12,000 inhabitants, the island offers many opportunities to find your own private beach for the day. Unless you’re a well-equipped hiker, in order to access these beaches, you’ll need to rent a car. Most private beaches are not easily spotted, so it takes some adventuring off the beaten path to find them, including small gravel roads that look like they haven’t seen a car in 20 years. One thing I’ve learned from traveling in Greece over the years is that, the rougher the road, the better the beach. Normally, the beaches less traveled end up being the ones you’ll never forget. For me, these beaches mean getting rid of those awful tan lines. You’ll find nude beaches all over Paros, but for me, I prefer to go nude when I’m alone. Growing up in Europe as a child, I was always running nude at the beaches. As I’ve gotten older, and moved to the US, I seldom find an opportunity to lay nude comfortably. The various beach terrain ranges from large pebbles, sand, rocks, or clay - so I would recommend to always bring a towel to lay on. Along the east coast of the island, there is a public beach called Kalogeros beach, where you can find natural pockets of clay hidden in the rocks. You’ll see some of the locals walking around covered in watered-down clay, while you’re there go ahead and give it a try (I did!). As for access to food on these beaches, many of the public beaches are within walking distance to cafes or small markets. However, if you’re planning on spending the day at a private beach, be sure to pack a snack, some beers, and water for the day.
The actual island of Paros has a lot to offer in terms of things to do. The island’s capital, Paprika, is home to many shops, restaurants and tourist attractions. One thing I can never recommend enough to people visiting Greece is going on a boat tour. In the harbor of Paprika, there are dozens of different boats you can charter for the day or week, depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re planning to do a boat tour on a yacht with other people, I recommend booking before your trip, so you can get a better price, and assure you have a spot on the boat. Depending on what is offered on the boat tour, you can expect to pay around 100 USD for a full day tour with food and drinks included.
If I haven’t convinced you that Paros is the place for you already, let me tell you about Leftkes. A quiet village up in the mountains of Paros, Leftkes is centrally located and provides easy access to all the Island’s towns and beaches. I’m normally someone who prefers to stay directly on the beach, but with the abundance of restaurants, jewelry shops, kid friendly play areas, and more, Leftkes makes for a perfect spot to end your day. During peak summer, since this village is such a contrast to the beach towns of Paros, it can get pretty busy. If you are planning to eat dinner in the village, you should call ahead and make a reservation.
All of Greece is notoriously cheap, but prices do differ between the islands. While you can still find cheap taverns and cafes, in comparison to other islands, Paros is sightly more expensive. I have attached links and information to some of my highlights, stays, and restaurants in Paros below, as well as my favorite private beach!
til’ the next trip, cheers!
leez
