7 Days In PAROS, GREECE | A Travel Itinerary (without a car!) — Transcript

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1. 0:02Are you planning a trip to the beautiful island of  Paros in Greece? In this video we'll be sharing a
2. 0:08seven day itinerary from our own trip to help you  make the most of your time on this idyllic Island.
3. 0:14From sandy beaches with crystal clear  waters to breathtaking hikes through
4. 0:18charming villages, Paros has something for everyone.
5. 0:22What's more you can still explore the island and  have a memorable trip even if you don't hire a
6. 0:27car so this itinerary is ideal for anyone  who will be relying on public transport.
7. 0:35Our first full day in Paros started by exploring  Naoussa, an extraordinarily pretty village nestled
8. 0:41on the northern coast of the island that  we used as our base for the first three
9. 0:45days of our trip. Nauossa is the perfect place  to wander without a set plan. Once a sleepy
10. 0:51fishing village Naoussa is now a cosmopolitan hub  of portside cafes, swanky bars and boutique shops.
11. 0:58There's even a winery at the edge of the village.  The historical pedestrian only part is perfect
12. 1:03for aimlessly exploring and getting lost.  We moseyed around the quaint spot where you
13. 1:09can watch small boats bobbing back and forth  and listen to the gentle lapping of the waves.
14. 1:14From there you can wander out to the remains  of a small Venetian Castle. This 14th century
15. 1:20fort was used to help protect Naoussa from pirates.  Just be warned you will have to walk along the
16. 1:25wall to get there so if the waves are rough you  might get a little wet. While exploring Naoussa
17. 1:30if you look up you'll see the third largest  church on the island perched on top of a hill.
18. 1:38Walk up to the church and stroll around the  grounds and you'll get some stunning views.
19. 1:45Just a short walk away lies the family-run  Moriatis Winery and it's well worth a visit.
20. 1:50We did a one-hour guided tour of the winery  which was really interesting. The winery is
21. 1:55over a century old and has underground cellars  and organic vineyards. We learned all about the
22. 2:00history of the place and how they make their  wine and then of course came the best part -
23. 2:04the tasting. We got to try three different  wines: a white, a rose and a red. Now we're
24. 2:11definitely not wine experts but we really  enjoyed all three, even the rose which is
25. 2:15usually not our thing. If you do want to visit  the winery I'd recommend booking in advance.
26. 2:20To do this we just emailed them a few days  before our trip. If you don't have time for
27. 2:25the full tour then they do have a wine bar  in the center of Naoussa where you can still
28. 2:29sample their wines or you could just grab a  bottle from the supermarket. Just as delicious.
29. 2:37After the winery we popped into a  bakery to grab a spanakopita which
30. 2:40is a Greek savory pie made of flaky  filo pastry, spinach and usually feta.
31. 2:46The rest of the afternoon was spent  at one of Naoussa's two village beaches.
32. 2:52Piperi Beach is just a few minutes work from the  port and it's a bit of a mixed bag. It's a small
33. 2:58unorganized beach that's sandy and a bit pebbly.  When it's windy the waves can get pretty rough so
34. 3:05keep that in mind if you like your waters a little  calmer. It definitely wasn't the most beautiful
35. 3:10beach that we visited on Paros but it still had  that gorgeous crystal clear water and there were
36. 3:15trees lined along the back of the sand for anyone  in need of some shade. Plus it's really convenient
37. 3:20if you don't want to go too far afield. Perfect  for a quick dip after walking around the village.
38. 3:30After watching a gorgeous sunset from our balcony  we headed back into the center of the village.
39. 3:35After the sun goes down the picturesque port is  bathed in the warm glow of the street lamps and
40. 3:40the winding alleys are packed with restaurants  bars and cafes for you to choose from. For dinner
41. 3:45we headed to a popular waterfront restaurant  called Taverna Glafkos. We had stuffed vine leaves,
42. 3:51grilled octopus and fish with sauteed vegetables.  The food was delicious and they even surprised us
43. 3:58with a complimentary slice of lemon cheesecake  for dessert - a great way to end our first full
44. 4:03day on Paros. After breakfast on our terrace we  took a boat from the ports to Kolymbithres Beach.
45. 4:11Our plan for the day was to visit both  the beach and Paros Park. We caught the
46. 4:16first boat of the day from Naoussa harbour and  enjoyed the 15-minute ride across the water.
47. 4:22Kolymbithres Beach is one of the most  well-known beaches on Paros and for good reason.
48. 4:28The beach is characterized by its strange and  smooth rock formations rising out from the sea.
49. 4:33The whole area looks pretty otherworldly. There  are some beds for hire here although they are
50. 4:37pretty pricey. As we weren't spending the whole  day here we left our stuff by a rock and spent a
51. 4:42couple of hours waiting in the turquoise shallow  water looking for fish. The beach is
52. 4:49dotted with a few small cafes restaurants and a  beach bar suitably playing rock music. It was a
53. 4:54great spot to relax for the morning although  we could have happily stayed there all day.
54. 5:00Once we were able to tear ourselves away from the  water we walked around 20 minutes to Monastiri
55. 5:04beach in Paros Park. This route takes you along a road with no pavement so be careful.
56. 5:12As you get closer you'll pass a monastery  perched on the rocky coast. This tranquil
57. 5:1717th century Monastery is absolutely beautiful  with its white washed walls and blue domed roof,
58. 5:22and breathtaking panoramas of the sea. From  here drop down to Monastiri beach.
59. 5:28You can rent lounges at the upscale  beach but like the previous beach they
60. 5:36were pretty pricey. We saw some that cost  up to 60 Euros for two people. The water
61. 5:42here stays shallow for a really long way  this clip here is taken from waist height.
62. 5:46After enjoying a quick dip and a picnic  on the rocks we moved on to Paros Park.
63. 5:52Paros Park covers 80 hectares of rocky  cliffs, hidden coves and rugged walking trails.
64. 5:58We hiked along one of the well-marked walking  paths to get a view of the lonely lighthouse.
65. 6:03The hike itself was relatively easy but the  terrain does consist of loose rocks and spiky
66. 6:08plants so watch your step. When you're ready  to head back to Naoussa you can catch one of
67. 6:13the regular boats back to the village that  departs from the vicinity of Monastiri Beach.
68. 6:26That evening we went to what would be one  of our favorite meals of the entire trip.
69. 6:31At this restaurant you could order smaller plates  that were basically like Greek tapas. The quality
70. 6:36was fantastic and really great value for money  too. Because it was so dark the clips I took of
71. 6:41the food really didn't work out so I'll link their  tripadvisor page down below so you can check out
72. 6:46photos and decide for yourself if you'd like to  visit. You'll probably need to join a long queue
73. 6:51to eat here but it is totally worth it.
74. 6:54The next day we took the pleasant 30-minute bus ride to Golden Beach on the South Eastern side of the island.
75. 7:01There are other beaches closer to Naoussa but after a friend told us how much they adored Golden Beach we had to give it a try.
76. 7:08Here you'll find a long stretch of soft warm sand  and bright clear waters set to a stunning backdrop
77. 7:14of rolling hills. Perfect for relaxing in a lounge  chair and letting the tranquility wash over you.
78. 7:23If you're feeling a little more active you'll  find plenty of water sports on offer, particularly
79. 7:27windsurfing which Golden Beach is renowned for.  This peaceful coastal strip is lined with beach
80. 7:33bars so if you want to hire a lounger then  take a walk up and down the beach first to
81. 7:37decide which one appeals to you the most. We  quickly settled on The Beach Project, drawn
82. 7:42in by its rustic decor, healthy food options  and comfy looking loungers. We paid 10 euros for
83. 7:48the day for chairs on the second row but that  coveted first row cost more at 20 euros. Still
84. 7:54a lot cheaper than the loungers we'd seen   the previous day. There were people coming out
85. 7:59to your loungers throughout the day or you could  go to the bar yourself if you prefer self-service.
86. 8:04To give you an idea of prices at the beach project  we paid four Euros for a cold Greek lager, 9 Euros
87. 8:10for a Greek salad and 16 euros for sea bass  ceviche. Not bad for nutritious, good quality food!
88. 8:18They did play music at this beach bar which some  people will love, some people won't. I fall into
89. 8:22the category of people who are happy either  way as long as the music isn't overbearing.
90. 8:27We found the music playing to be pretty low-key  and while you could hear it on the beach it
91. 8:31certainly wasn't loud. Again whether this is a good  thing or a bad thing will be entirely down to your
92. 8:36personal preference. After a relaxing beach day we  caught the bus back to Naoussa from the same place
93. 8:43we were dropped off. While we thought the beach was  absolutely worth the bus journey, if you're looking
94. 8:48for an option closer to Naoussa then Santa Maria  is a firm visitor favorite. That night we went
95. 8:55out for pork gyros. For anyone unfamiliar this is  roasted meat cooked on a spit and then served in
96. 9:00a pitta with tomato, onion, lettuce, tzatziki and  fries. This popular Greek street food is a good
97. 9:07option if you're after something quick and cheap  that's also filling and mouth-wateringly delicious.
98. 9:16After a slow morning drinking coffee on our  balcony and admiring the gorgeous shimmering
99. 9:21Aegean Sea we checked out of our lovely studio and  caught the bus to Parikia where we would spend the
100. 9:26next four nights of our trip. It's worth mentioning  at this point that you really don't need to split
101. 9:31your stay like we did and that either Naoussa or Parikia would be a good home base if you're
102. 9:36relying on public transport. However we really  couldn't decide between the two and for a seven
103. 9:41day trip we felt as though splitting our base  worked quite well, but for a trip shorter than
104. 9:45one week I would recommend picking just one  location. After dropping off our luggage we
105. 9:51set out to explore Parikia. Parikia is the main  port town in Paros and like so many charming
106. 9:56villages on this island is known for its maze of  winding streets lined with traditional whitewashed
107. 10:01buildings and colorful flowers. There are several  interesting sights in Parikia with one of the most
108. 10:07well known being the Church of 100 Doors... which  doesn't actually have 100 doors. This stone church
109. 10:14is considered to be one of the oldest and most  important Greek Orthodox churches in Greece and is
110. 10:19an important site of pilgrimage. Other notable sights in Parikia include the small Frankish Castle
111. 10:25which was built by the venetians in the 1200s,  the Chapel of Saint Constantine with its blue
112. 10:30domed roof and spectacular vantage point and the  ancient cemetery which admittedly is too small to
113. 10:37warrant a detour, but hey - walking along the harbor  is so pleasant that why not? If you're ready to
114. 10:43take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a hearty  lunch then we liked lemon...e. This simple restaurant
115. 10:49offers a small selection of filling dishes that  can either be taken away or enjoyed on their
116. 10:54outdoor benches. Our moussaka and chicken with rice and  spinach may have been an odd choice for us on a hot
117. 10:59day, but they were flavourful and satisfying, and at  five euros a dish they were outstanding value too.
118. 11:05As it was getting closer to sunset we  went to Bebop for cocktails with a view.
119. 11:13This modern rooftop bar serves high quality  cocktails with the perfect view of the warm sun
120. 11:18setting over the sea. It's understandably a really  popular spot so while we found we easily got a
121. 11:24table without a reservation we did arrive at least  30 minutes before sunset and it wasn't long until
122. 11:30the bar was full. The cocktails are a little pricey  as expected given the quality and the location
123. 11:36so if you don't want to go to the bar you could  still just grab a spot along the coast or in front
124. 11:40of the chapel of Saint Constantine and you'll  still experience the amazing sunset view for free.
125. 11:53Around 5 kilometers south of Parikia lies the Valley of the  Butterflies. Well, these butterflies aren't actually
126. 12:00butterflies but are jersey tiger moths. A plethora  of these striking black and cream insects with red
127. 12:07under wings migrate to the valley each summer. For  three Euros you can follow shady trails through
128. 12:12a serene oasis and observe these moths in their  unique natural habitat. The area is only small but
129. 12:19it's very tranquil visitors are asked to be very  quiet so as to not disturb the resident insects.
130. 12:25As you walk along the winding trails the only  sounds you'll hear are the gentle footsteps
131. 12:30of other visitors, the soothing trickle of the  nearby stream and the cheerful chirping of cicadas.
132. 12:39The jersey tiger might start to arrive at  the end of May and stay until September.
133. 12:44Our mid-September trip was towards the end of the  season so while we did see a lot if you visit in
134. 12:49the height of summer you should see a much larger  swarm. As the population was lower the entrance
135. 12:54fee was reduced to 2 euros. After exploring the  trail stop in their lovely little cafe where
136. 13:00you can enjoy snacks, juice or apparently  very strong coffee under a canopy of trees.
137. 13:05To get to the Valley of the Butterflies we caught  the number three bus from the bus station which
138. 13:10terminates at Aliki. Check the bus timetable for one  that's not going via Boutakos. You then walk for around
139. 13:1620 minutes up a hill towards the reserve. It's well  signposted and very easy to find.
140. 13:29As we had a big walk planned for the next  day we used saving our feet as an excuse
141. 13:33to spend the afternoon at the beach. We  headed via an obligatory Greek salad to
142. 13:38the beach located at the edge of the town.  Like Naoussa the most convenient beach in
143. 13:43Parikia is not the best you'll find and is  understandably very busy, but it still has
144. 13:48those clear waters and is a good spot to  throw down a towel for a couple of hours.
145. 14:05The next day we went on a hike which would turn out to be our favorite activity on the island.
146. 14:11This route consists of five idyllic villages, the  rolling Greek countryside, a small relaxing beach
147. 14:20and the oldest road on Paros. The walk we did was  around seven kilometers but if you would like to
148. 14:26do something shorter then Lefkes to Prodromos via  the Byzantine Trail alone is a very popular option.
149. 14:34In the morning we caught the bus Inland to left  case which is the highest village on Paros. This
150. 14:39traditional cycladic village is surrounded  by olive groves, pine trees and rugged hills.
151. 14:45This was the capital of Paros during  the Middle Ages with its protected
152. 14:48position meaning it was a good place  to avoid the relentless pirate attacks.
153. 14:53Stroll the narrow streets and admire the grand  Agia Triada church, built by local craftsmen using
154. 14:59the esteemed marble of Paros. After that relax with  the coffee it's one of the little cafes.
155. 15:13From Lefkes you can hike three and a  half kilometers along the Byzantine Road.
156. 15:17This renowned marble paved path is the oldest road  on Paros and connects Lefkes with the equally
157. 15:23beautiful village of Prodromos. The trail begins  with one steep ascent then the rest of the path
158. 15:30mostly consists of flat or downhill terrain. As  you journey through the picturesque countryside
159. 15:35take in breathtaking views of the hills, villages  and even the sea, all the way off in the distance.
160. 15:41Prodromos was a little less busy than  Lefkes and just as breathtaking,
161. 15:45with the same white-washed houses  dotted with pretty pink bougainvillea.
162. 15:51Here we stopped for lunch at a lovely  little cafe before continuing on to the
163. 15:55next two villages - Marmara and Marpissa. Not  many walkers must have continued this far
164. 16:01as we felt as though we had these villages almost  to ourselves. Apart from the cats, of course.
165. 16:12If you enjoy walking and want to escape the crowds then
166. 16:19I would definitely recommend that you keep  going and explore these beautiful villages.
167. 16:25From here the final stretch of the hike  takes you down to Piso Livadi where you'll
168. 16:29be rewarded with a charming little harbour  and a small but clean and sheltered beach.
169. 16:34There's a handful of cafes and restaurants  overlooking the water if you're ready to
170. 16:38eat or you could just relax on the beach  before catching the bus back to Parikia.
171. 16:47Today was our last day on Paros before we  would be catching the ferry to Santorini.
172. 16:52After a full day of walking yesterday we  decided to squeeze in one more beach trip.
173. 16:59Krios Beach is a small bay just three kilometers  from Parikia and shares the same beach line
174. 17:04with the also popular Marcello beach. With its  tranquil waters and powdery sand, Krios Beach
175. 17:10is the ideal spot for swimming and relaxation  while enjoying the views of the passing ferries.
176. 17:18We spent our day at Pedros where we paid  15 euros for a comfy pair of sunbeds and an
177. 17:23umbrella for the day. They also serve food and  drink if you don't bring your own. While it's
178. 17:28not quite as convenient as the beach we visited on  day five, Krios Beach is still easy to get to and
179. 17:33we found the sand softer than the beaches closer  to the port. To get to Krios beach one option is
180. 17:40to take a boat from the port in Parikia, or you  can walk along an enjoyable trail from Livadia
181. 17:45Beach. Just follow the coastline for around 20  minutes before dropping down to Krios Beach.
182. 17:52We wrapped up our day with one last stunning  Parikia sunset before heading over to Bountaraki
183. 17:58for dinner. This cozy restaurant was another  where we had to wait in line to get a table
184. 18:03but again the queue was totally worth it. The  food was amazing authentic Greek fair and the
185. 18:09staff was super welcoming. It all came at a great  price too. It was the perfect way to end our week
186. 18:15on the enchanting island of Paros. I'll be sharing  a video packed with practical information and tips
187. 18:21for visiting Paros so as soon as that's ready  I'll link it here. We will also have a short
188. 18:27video on how to spend one day hiking on Santorini  so keep an eye out for that if you're doing a bit
189. 18:31of island hopping while you're in the Cyclades.  Thanks for watching and have a great trip to Paros.