Paros Parikia

General information

Parikia in Paros (also called Paros Town or Chora) is the capital of the island and has about 3,000 inhabitants. The settlement was built on the same site where the ancient city and capital used to stand. This little town is the commercial and cultural center of Paros as well as the main harbor of the island.

Parikia is built amphitheatrically around the port and flaunts typical Cycladic architecture. Whitewashed cubic and flat-roofed houses with spare architectural lines and colored wooden doors, windows and balconies adorn the streets. At the entrance of the port, a superb whitewashed windmill, the trademark of Paros, welcomes visitors. The bus station and taxi station are also located nearby the port.

Numerous restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars and nightclubs are lining the promenade, which is closed to cars during the evening.

A few-minute walk from the port will take you to the heart of the traditional Cycladic settlement of Parikia, which is clustered around the hill of Kastro (Castle). This quarter is typically Cycladic, full of whitewashed two-story houses with colored windows, doors and balconies, and old mansions, separated by narrow whitewashed streets, forming a labyrinth.

The castle, called Kastro, was built during the 13th century on the highest point of the town. Material and columns from an ancient temple that used to stand in the same place, were used for the construction of Kastro. Nowadays, only part of the wall and a tower remain from the Frankish castle.

Hotels in Parikia

We have made a selection of the best hotels in Parikia.
Recommended by Greeka

White Blossom

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Hotel 

Hotel White Blossom is a recently constructed unit, located in Parikia, the capital town. Tranquility and convenience are combined with elegant looks and genuine hospitality for an unforgettable accommodation experience. Its purely Cycladic design is complemented by modern touches.

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Recommended by Greeka

Nautilus

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Apartments Suites 

Discover the modern facilities of Nautilus Apartments and Suites in the neighborhoods of Parikia! This is a great place to stay if you are looking for a beautiful Cycladic environment complemented by modern amenities. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity in your bedroom or explore the hotel’s garden ...

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Recommended by Greeka

Paros Palace

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Hotel Apartments Studios4 stars

Paros Palace can guarantee for its guests moments of peace, luxury and relaxation in a cozy environment. The friendly staff of the hotel will cater to the needs and satisfy all the desires of each and every guest. There are modern and commodious studios, apartments and suites available, all of which ...

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Things to See & Do in Parikia

Check out the things to see & do in Parikia during your stay and explore what the area has to offer.

Parikia Map

Explore our interactive map of Parikia.

More info about Parikia

Many churches surround the area of Kastro, including Panagia Septemvriani (The Virgin of September), the Church of Agia Eleni (Saint Helen) and, the most imposing and impressive of all, the beautiful Byzantine church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Our Lady of the Hundred Gates), which is considered as one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Greece.

Another interesting museum is the Archaeological Museum of Paros, located behind the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, which exhibits a collection of various findings dating from the Neolithic and Roman periods. Other very interesting sites to visit nearby Parikia are the ruins of Asclepieion, the Ancient Cemetery, the church of Agios Konstantinos and the Byzantine Museum.

Reviews

3.5/5.0
6 Reviews
  • Leroy James Frampton 02 Jun 2023
    Mr
    Sadly a common silly issue with many parts of Greece. Beautiful country lovely people but very little pride in its up keep..over flowing street bins and dirty beaches. Especially cigarette packets thrown on the beaches. Shame.
  • mrnickers60 16 Jun 2012
    My favourite restaurants in Parikia
    I have visited Paros every year since 2002, and have dined in many of its restaurants, and my top 3 in no particular order are as follows.
    Porfira, a few minutes walk east of the ferry quay, serves excellent seafood dishes, from simply grilled fresh fish, to the more unusual such as sea urchin and oysters, and wonderful kakavia.
    Ouzeri Mouraggio, a similar walk the other way from the ferry quay serves great traditional taverna fare and meze, especially the grilled octopus and cheese and spinach pies.
    Apollon Garden in the chora is my final choice, situated in a magnificent walled garden, with a more refined cuisine and excellent wine list, together with photos of the rich and famous who have dined there.
    Apart from the great food that these establishments serve, what always makes them stand out for me is the hosts who make every visit welcoming and memorable.
  • paul.watkins 22 Jan 2011
    Perfect place
    I have been coming to Paros for over 30 years. Parikia is a fantastic town, with everything you need for a great holiday. Brilliant Restaurants (Hibiscus, Paros Family Taverna), lovely beaches- Krios is great for kids (fab taverna, clean beach, new clean toilets) and has free sunloungers. If you can, stay in the Old Town, it is the most convienient and the prettiest.
  • carolin 19 Sep 2010
    More of a quarter than castle
    Not actually a Castle but an old quarter. It has this name because it used to be the main town a couple of decades ago. The town was surrounded by castle walls. When piracy ended in the Aegean at the end of the 19th century, the town spred out of the castle, too. Today, this quarter has old houses, narrow arched streets and many gift shops. There are some rooms to rent, too, but not very good because buildings are old. Nice place to walk.
  • elenabulg 28 May 2010
    Interesting experience to see other religion
    My husband is a great culture lover and he insisted on going to the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, the main church of Paros obviously. This is a beautiful monastery and it actually has five smaller churches. We saw nice things from older times in this monastery complex in Parikia, the capital of Paros. There was an ancient baptistery with marble baptizing tub and interesting icons in the churches.

    My husband was very fascinated by the Byzantine museum inside the temple. It had a collection of various heirlooms and icons from the Byzantium period, some gospels and clothes of priests. It is always fascinating to see aspects of other religions and visiting this monastery was a nice experience in Paros. We believe a Greek island is not only the beaches and the villages, it is also the culture, the museums, the religion and the people.
  • fotis.st 26 Jul 2006
    Nice village but dirty beach
    Nationality: French

    Age: 37

    Date on the island: July 2006



    I got to the village by boat

    My accommodation is situated at Krios and it took me 40 minutes to reach the village. The conditions of the roads are good

    The trip to reach the village was very beautiful but a little stressing with children

    The village was perfectly indicated.

    I went to this particular village because it is the main village of the island of Paros and read about its beauty in the ?Guide du routard?



    Description: Parikia is a picturesque and authentic village located by the sea. It is located in the middle of beautiful surroundings. It was a fishing port that was turned into a touristy industry with a great amount of restaurants and hotels.

    There are too much cigarettes on the beach of the village, plastic bags in the sea and it is a pitty that people do not think more ecology. Local people and authorities should think to protect their beautiful island.

    The village of Parikia has everything to offer: telephone, bamks, restaurants, shops, bars, internet cafes etc?

    The village met my expectations and I rate it 8/10

    My favorite thing about the village: The views

    Anything negative: No except the fact that they should clean the beach



    I will come again in the village

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