Flights from Athens take about 40 minutes flights from Thessaloniki take about 65 minutes. If swimming and hot weather are not priorities, then April, May, and October are perfect for sightseeing, dining, and shopping.īoth Sky Express and Olympic Air offer direct flights from Athens and Thessaloniki to Paros. The best time to visit for warm weather, great swimming, sunbathing, sailing, and nightlife is from late June through early September.

Most hotels in Paros open from late April to mid-October, though a few are open from late March to early November. Paros has a shorter travel window than its neighbors Santorini and Mykonos. The Ottomans conquered in the early 16th century and controlled the island until it became part of newly independent Greece in 1832. In the 13th century under Venetian rule as part of the Duchy of the Aegean (the ruins of a Venetian castle – built to defend Paros from pirates – remain in the sea just a few meters from the Old Port in Naoussa village). Paros became a stronghold for pirates and lost a great deal of its wealth. Numerous churches were constructed in Paros during the Byzantine era, the most important of which is Panagia Ekatontapiliani (The Church with 100 Doors), supposedly founded by Saint Helene, mother of Constantine the Great.īeachfront dining at Ephessus restaurant in Parikia, Paros.Īround the 8th century A.D. Paros was soon taken over by the Byzantine Empire. The island later came under the control of the Spartans, Macedonians, Ptolemies, and Romans. Paros sided with the Persians during the Persian War, and was ultimately defeated by the Athenians. Its central location in the Cyclades made it an important maritime base, while its exports, primarily high-quality marble and agriculture, made it a prosperous trade hub of the ancient world. Minoans and Mycenaeans were the primary occupants of Paros, until the Ionians conquered the island around 1100 B.C., followed by the Arcadians a hundred years later. and was later settled by the Cretans, who gave it the name Minoa (along with several other locations also called Minoa). Paros was first inhabited around 3200 B.C.

It takes about 30 minutes to drive the longest way (north to south) from one end of the island to the other. The length of the island is around 22 km, and it measures around 13 km at its widest point. km (more than 3 times the size of Manhattan). Paros has a population of around 12,500 and a land area of 196 sq. Most people travel to and from Paros by Greek ferry. Flights to Paros take 40 minutes from Athens and 65 minutes from Thessaloniki.

Paros lies about 40 km south of Mykonos, 180 km southeast of Athens, 85 km North of Santorini, and 200 km north of Crete. Paros is an island in Greece, part of the Cycladic group located in the Aegean Sea. See Also: Greece: Tips & Information for First-Timers Where is Paros? Taking a ferry from Paros is the only way to access Antiparos, a smaller and more secluded island located just west of Paros. I often describe Paros as a perfect mix of Mykonos (trendy clubs and restaurants) and Naxos (fantastic beaches and authentic inland villages). Paros is best known for its great beaches, lively nightlife, and wonderful white-washed towns. Paros is a beautiful Cycladic island only 2 hours by ferry from Santorini and 3 hours from Athens. The charming beach town of Piso Livadi in Paros.

Budget hotels in paros island