Island hopping in the Cyclades - Paros - Ios - Santorini
Island life at its best in the Cyclades. Are you as fond of islands as I am? Then island hopping in the Greek Cyclades is definitely for you. In 2024, we travelled for two weeks from Paros to Ios and Santorini. Highly recommended! Of course, before our trip, I did extensive research into the best hotels, restaurants, villages and beaches. Curious? Then read on!
Paros
Paros is a gem in the Cyclades. We were here for the second time and stayed at Cove Paros. This fantastic hotel has a wonderful boho vibe with beautiful rooms, a lovely swimming pool with the most fantastic sunbeds ever, and if you walk a little further, you'll find yourself on a small beach, where there are also these fantastic sunbeds, which hotel guests can use for free. Grab a coffee, a book, apply some sunscreen and enjoy.
At the end of the afternoon, the village of Naoussa comes to life. From the hotel, it's a 10-minute walk to this fantastic village with white cobbled streets and houses. Here you will find the nicest shops and restaurants; you really want to go here.
Restaurants op Paros
There are lots of nice restaurants in Naoussa. My favourites:
Luaz Paros is located on a corner by the water, a fantastic place to dine during sunset. My favourite! Super friendly staff and delicious food. Do you like fish? Then you've come to the right place, as you can choose your own fish in the kitchen. But you can also enjoy meat and vegetarian dishes here. And don't forget to order the delicious chocolate mousse for dessert.
Barbarossa is a well-known restaurant in the harbour of Naoussa. Here too, you can enjoy a fantastic location, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle with a view of the harbour, and delicious food. Do you like sushi? Then you've come to the right place, but there are also plenty of other dishes to choose from. And they like to party here too, so in the evening the music gets louder and there is often dancing.
The small square near the harbour is filled with blue wooden tables and chairs from the various restaurants around the square. It's a very cosy place to sit and enjoy a delicious meal.
Rada Restaurant belongs to Cove Paros, but you can eat here even if you're not a guest. It's a wonderfully peaceful place with fantastic food and a view of the sea.
Be sure to explore on your own, because there are many more nice restaurants and bars in the picturesque streets of Naoussa.
Beachclubs en stranden op Paros
Cabana Beach Club is located directly opposite the harbour town of Pariklia. It is a pleasant, small-scale beach club with comfortable sunbeds, good music, and excellent food.
Monastiri Beach Club is located opposite Naoussa on the other side of the water in a lovely bay. Here you can rent luxury sunbeds, enjoy good food and even try your hand at water sports if you wish. Don't forget to make a reservation, otherwise you run the risk of not being able to rent a sunbed.
Daytrip to Antiparos
A day trip to Antiparos is also great fun. The crossing from Pounda takes only 10 minutes and you can take your hire car on the ferry. Antiparos is a small island with a charming harbour village (where you arrive). In the white cobbled streets, you will see beautiful pink bougainvillea growing on every corner and there are a number of lovely boutiques and cafés where you can have a drink or something to eat. Super idyllic!
We had coffee at The Rooster, an amazing hotel in the middle of the island. And in the afternoon, we relaxed on the beach at Soros Beach Club. Fantastic! Then you drive back to the ferry and arrive back on Paros in no time. A super fun day trip!
Transport on Paros
Paros does not have an airport. We therefore flew from Amsterdam to Mykonos and from there took the boat to Paros. The boat trip from Mykonos to Paros takes just over an hour, depending on which boat you take.
There are taxis and buses, but personally, I always prefer to hire a car and explore on my own. If you have just arrived on the island, it is always handy to arrange for the hotel where you are staying to pick you up. Most hotels offer a pick-up service, but it is best to check with the hotel where you are staying.
After Paros, we went to the island of Ios. Read more about Ios in my next blog.
Comments