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CHRONICLES THE GREEK ISLANDS

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GET TO KNOW THE GREEK ISLANDS

Giassusant omnimus aciusam volum rendi voluptiunt. Orepero et apitis voluptam

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CON TENT PAROS

SANTORINI

MYKONOS 12

Paros w o n K

The island is easily reachable via plane from the International Airport of Athens and by ferry from the ports of Athens (Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion). Being close to the most renowned Cyclades islands, such as Mykonos, Santorini and Naxos, Paros is the perfect starting point for island hopping! Filled with ubiquitous Greek island elements

such as historic villages, endless marmalade sunsets, sun-drenched hilltop towns, bougainvillaea-covered laneways, endless golden beaches and hidden coves, Paros is quintessential Greece, and a visit here is a must on any Greek Island-hopping

Find out everything about your holidays in Paros Greece in our travel guide! Discover the best things to do, beautiful sights, fantastic beaches, as well as a wide selection of breathtaking photos! Paros sits in the heart of the Aegean sea and belongs to the Cyclades. It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece, mainly known for its traditional Cycladic architecture and enchanting sandy beaches with transparent waters. Less popular than nearby Santorini and Mykonos, Paros is slowly emerging as the star of the Cyclades, and it’s not hard to understand why.

The island can satisfy anyone! Are you ready to discover it?

Paros BUCKET LIST This list includes the absolute must-sees and must-dos on the renowned Cycladic island: places to visit, attractions, where to swim, activities, tours, where to eat, and more. We have also added some more authentic and upcoming trends.

1. Stroll around Cosmopolitan Naousa

A must-visit place in Paros is the buzzing town of Naoussa, the second largest town and the center of nightlife, with fine restaurants and luxury hotels. Being a true Cycladic gem, Naoussa has gracefully retained its traditional architecture and authentic essence despite the substantial growth of the tourism industry. Naoussa is built around its port and offers a variety of excellent shops, seafood taverns, bars, and things to do. It tends to get overcrowded around dinner time, so it is best to visit it during the early morning hours to capture a unique sight of hundreds of colorful fishing boats and the bluedomed chapel of St. Nikolas on your camera lens! Spot the sun-drying Gouna fish at the entrance of most restaurants, as well as the photogenic white and fuchsia Linardo bar. Sandy beaches also envelop the settlement. Monastiri, Kolympithres, and Santa Maria are easily accessible by the local bus routes and even by caique (small traditional boat) from Naoussa’s port.

2. Kolymbithres & other beaches Visiting the most amazing beaches of Paros is one of the top things to do on the island. • Kolymbithres: One of the most unusual ones is the beach of Kolymbithres, which has shallow turquoise waters and a rocky lunar scenery creating a breathtaking background for your photographs. Being easily accessible from Naoussa, the bay has become famous thanks to the smooth, eroded granite rocks and small, sandy coves created in between them. • Santa Maria: Another bay with azure waters and shimmering golden sand is Santa Maria, located on the northeastern part of the island and consisting of two beaches facing Aliko bay of neighboring Naxos. At Santa Maria, you will find both watersport and camping facilities, while diving and snorkeling are highly recommended. It can easily be approached by car, the local bus, or boat taxis departing from Naoussa. • Marcello: When looking for a clean, accessible, and relaxing bay to spend the day on, the golden Marcello Beach is one more great place to visit. At less than 5km from Parikia, the sandy beach welcomes visitors to explore its eroded rocky coves and frolic in its crystalline waters. For travelers who prefer a more flexible vacation style, the nearby campsite completes the experience. Thanks to its coves, Marcello is a nudist-friendly bay, accessible both via land and sea from Parikia.

3. Stroll around Parikia village Parikia is the capital town and main port of Paros, as well as the center of commercial and cultural life. Despite being the biggest town in Paros, it has maintained its authentic Cycladic architecture. The neighborhood of Kastro is full of whitewashed cubic houses with wooden doors, located in narrow alleys, where bougainvillea trees give a colorful touch to the scenery. Strolling around Parikia, you will come across small boutique shops, centuries-old churches, ruins of the Frankish castle, museums (the Archaeological and the Byzantine museum), and of course, the major landmark of Panagia Ekatontapiliani monastery, situated near the port. Numerous hotels, restaurants, and cafes lie at the port and in Parikia’s picturesque neighborhoods.

Santorini When you think of a quintessential Greek island holiday you’ll probably conjure up dreamy images of Santorini. Without doubt, it’s one of the most romantic Greek Islands to visit. Find everything you need to plan your perfect trip in this travel guide to Santorini. From the incredible architecture and views to the gorgeous sunsets and delicious food, this beautiful little island has so much going for it.

A guide for first-timers

There’s no time to feel blue in Santorini 10

antorini, or Thira to use its ofﬁcial name, is part of the Cyclades islands. It sits in the Aegean Sea almost halfway between Athens and Crete. Santorini suffered a huge volcanic explosion around 1500 BC. The eruption, probably the largest the Earth has seen in the last few thousand years, completely destroyed the centre of the island which sank into the Aegean.

he Santorini we know today is a crescent-shaped island with a huge crater (caldera) on its western side. The island of Thirassia is nearby to Oia and two smaller islands sit within the caldera makes for the most incredible sunset views from Santorini’s steep clifftops opposite.

Tip! Be sure to book your air

ticket months in advance, these routes are very popular and to stand a chance of bagging a good fare, you’d deﬁnitely need to book ahead.

WHEN TO VISIT SANTORINI From November through to March, Santorini sees a massive decline in tourist numbers. These are not the best months to visit since the weather conditions and availability of activities and experiences may limit what you can see and do. Many bars, restaurants and accommodations don’t open until April/May. From May through to early-October, when the charter ﬂights operate, the island buzzes with activity. July and August are extremely busy and crowded during the peak of summer. As such, I would recommend you consider visiting either May through mid-June or mid-September through October to make the most of your stay and to best avoid the over-zealous throngs of tourists that descend upon the island.

Top Recommendations FIRA - FOR THE BUZZ

Fira (Thira) is the capital of Santorini and the biggest and most cosmopolitan town on the island. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and boutique shops. Fira is also where the cruise ships dock at the old port at the bottom of the cliff. This means at times it can be overrun with tourists, especially when there are more than one or two cruise ships in port. There can sometimes be as many as ﬁve or six. A cliff walk pathway runs through Fira so ensure that your room doesn’t look onto the path for privacy from passers by.

OIA - FOR THE SUNSETS

Oia is Santorini’s best known town for sunsets but because of that it has its drawbacks. Every evening crowds of people arrive in Oia to catch the sun going down. Oia has a good range of high end restaurants and shops. It’s also the most expensive town on the island for accommodation. Admittedly there are some absolutely fabulous places to stay – think boutique cave hotels with private plunge pools overlooking Santorini caldera. If you have the budget or it’s a special occasion then go for it. Oia is located at one end of Santorini so it’s not central if you want to easily explore the whole of the island.

IMEROVGLI - FOR THE CHILL

Imerovgli is within easy walking distance (20 mins) to all the nightlife and activity of Fira and also has incredible views out over Santorini caldera. It’s far less crowded in Imerovigli and quieter than Fira or Oia. Imerovigli also has some of the most beautiful hotels in Santorini although they do come at a price. Grace Hotel is listed in Condé Nast Traveller Gold List of the world’s best places to stay. Places to stay in Imerovigli worth checking out include: Above Blue Suites, Remezzo Villas, and the gorgeous Dreams Luxury Suites. There are hotel options in Imerovigli to suit every budget, all offering incredible views and toprated hospitality.

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GET LOST IN THE MAGIC OF MYKONOS Mykonos is known as the Greek party island – but it’s much more than that and one of our absolute favorite places to go in Greece. Mykonos boasts stunning beaches, quaint boutique shopping, picturesque whitewashed buildings, luxury hotels, and vibrant beach clubs and nightlife. But the club scene is easy to avoid if you’d rather focus on swimming, shopping, and great food. If island hopping is your thing (and it should be) then Santorini, Naxos, and Paros are just a few hours away by ferry.

Where is Mykonos?

Mykonos is an island in Greece, part of the Cycladic group located in the Aegean Sea. Mykonos lies about 150 km southeast of Athens, 150 km North of Santorini, and 230 km north of Crete. Flights to Mykonos take 4 hours from London, 3.25 hours from Paris, 2 hours from Rome, and 40 minutes from Athens.

What is the history of Mykonos?

According to myth, Mykonos was created in the Gigantomachy, the war between Zeus and the Giants. Zeus’ son Hercules eventually killed the Giants, throwing them into the sea; the giants turned into stone and created what is now Mykonos. The island was named after its ﬁrst ruler, Mykonos, who was either the son of the King of nearby Delos Island or the son or grandson of Apollo. The island Delos, just a short ferry away, was believed to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Mykonos has historically been a poor island, reliant on sailing, ﬁshing, and textiles, and was almost completely abandoned after WWI. Tourism later came to dominate the economy around the midtwentieth century, owing initially to the archaeological excavation of Delos. Mykonos is now among the richest islands in Greece and the world.

Must Do’s HIT THE BEACHES

There are countless beautiful beaches around Mykonos, so be sure to check out at least a few. At most of the beaches, you’ll ﬁnd local tavernas and beach bars, perfect for a drink and snack while you enjoy the crystal blue water. Even party at the famous Tropicana Beach bar at Paradise Beach, work on your bronze at Scorpios on Paraga Beach, or go for chiller vibes at Pasaji on Ornos Beach.

VISIT THE ARMENISTIS LIGHTHOUSE

While the lighthouse itself isn’t that remarkable, the panoramic view from the lighthouse is absolutely stunning! Plus, it’s a fun day trip on a scooter.

PARTY TILL SUNRISE

Mykonos nightlife is well-known around the world. Start the party at one of the beach clubs and continue until the sun comes up! Be sure not to miss the Scandinavian Bar, Tropicana Bar or Paradise Club for some of the best parties in Mykonos.

DINE AT LITTLE VENICE

This famous stretch of seaside restaurants and shops is a great spot for evening strolls at sunset. It might break the bank, but have dinner at one of the restaurants here for one of the most picturesque meals in Mykonos.

Keep calm and

TRAVEL TO GREECE Thank you for reading and enjoy your trip!

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